Issue 118 September

MUSLIM

AUSTRALASIAN

Multimedia News & Views

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Issue # 118

September 2015; Dhul Qa’dah 1436

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Fringe groups oppose Muslim developments Abu Anees

There is evidence to suggest that opposition to the establishment of Muslim institutions in Australia is being actively opposed by a handful of anti-Islam fringe groups spreading Islamophobia in the mainstream community.

Last Saturday members of the United Patriotic Front staged a violent protest in Bendigo, Victoria against the construction of its first Mosque in the city.

This was in spite of approval for the Mosque given by Bendigo Council mid last year after a bitterly contested campaign by those opposed to the Mosque.

An appeal against the Council’s decision, lodged with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, was rejected by the Tribunal on 3 August this year, giving the green light for the construction of the Mosque.

There is a regular pattern where anti-Islam

elements from outside the local area initiate campaigns in order to oppose establishment of Muslim community institutions spreading fearmongering amongst residents by vilifying Islam and demonizing Muslims. Key words like Sharia, Halal, Jihad, Islamists, Arabs, Lebanese, terrorists are frequently used to create suspicion.

Once they fail in their campaign to sway public opinion and local councils against the projects, they take the matter through various court systems thus delaying the projects for years.

While the Australian justice system uphold the rights to establish community institutions for all Australians including Muslims, these extremist groups then resort to intimidation and violence in order to stop these project from completion.

Another campaign against the establishment of a mosque was started in Penrith last year that failed to sway the local council and finally approval was given for its construc-

tion.

Similar has been a classic case against the development of Malek Fahd’s new campus at Hoxton Park in south-west Sydney that has been going on through various courts for the last five years spearheaded by Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc (HPRAG).

Last month on 7 August the Land & Environment Court of NSW rejected Malek Fahd Islamic School, Greenacre. the application by HPRAG to stop the development of the till 21 August to change the costs judgment.

School and ordered them to pay the costs of the proceedings. The HPRAG was given Continued on Page 7

there is a great demand for quality Islamic investment products in the community. Managing an ultra ethical, trustworthy and sharia compliant organisation is not an easy task, yet Crescent Wealth has demonstrated excellence in this field.

Mr Yassine said “Achieving the $100 million benchmark is a significant validation of our business model and signals that we have the scale necessary to accelerate growth in Australia and abroad. It proves the depth of our market and cements Islamic finance as a significant segment of the sophisticated Australian financial services market.”

As Crescent Wealth grows, it will continue to reinvest into the community, through social events, outreach programs and community initiatives that are in line with their values.

Crescent Wealth Community Development & Marketing Manager, Mr Jamel Rath-

borne said “There is nothing as comprehensive at the moment, the return itself are at the same level as world leading conventional funds. The values that Crescent Wealth hold is that its something for everyone but represents what a Muslim company should be like.”

Two Crescent Wealth’s Islamic Funds have defeated most of their conventional competitors. The Crescent International Equity fund ranked as the #1 Ethical Fund in Australia for the 2015 Financial Year (according to Financial Express rankings) and the Crescent Property fund ranked #2 best performing Property fund in Australia for the 2015 Financial Year (according to Morningstar Managing Director of Crescent Wealth, Mr Talal rankings).

Yassine with Lakemba MP, Mr Jihad Dib at a networking event in Sydney held on Thursday 27 AuContinued on Page 7 gust organized by the Crescent Institute.

Crescent Wealth achieves $100M milestone Zia Ahmad

Mr Talal Yassine OAM, Managing Director of Crescent Wealth has announced that the company has reached an excellent milestone of managing over $100 million in Islamic Super & Investments within two years of it’s establishment.

Crescent Wealth is Australia’s leading Islamic Super and Investment firm offering all members an attractive alternative in socially responsible investing while avoiding any company that earns profits from prohibited goods and services.

While thanking the community for its support, Mr Yassine said, “We would like to also extend our gratitude for the plethora of support we have received from cultural groups, mosque associations, professional networks and every day Muslims across Australia.”

“We are going to increase our investment in education, continue supporting the growth of our cultural groups, while forever celebrating diversity and variety as the face of Muslim Australia.” Mr Yassine added.

Exceeding this benchmark proves that

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AUSTRALIAN RELIEF ORGANISATION

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VIC 22-24 Lismore Street, Dallas VIC 3047 WA 12 Karri Way, Ferndale WA 6148

twitter.com/aro_org www.aro.org.au | info@aro.org.au | 02 8065 8469

2015 Qurban Campaign This year the Australian Relief Organisation (or ARO for short) is organising its third qurban campaign. Cihan Tumen, the CEO of the charitable organisation, has made the following statement about the qurban activities: “We started our activities in March 2013 at our Sydney head office.

We are accredited by the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission) as a PBI (Public Benevolent Institution).

Due to high demand shown towards our activities, we have decided to open up branches and rep offices in other cities of Australia. Our Victoria branch became operational in Melbourne as of May this year.

Wollongong and Perth rep offices were also established in the first half of the year.

Overseas Activities In addition to a number of local charitable activities, we are involved in many overseas projects at the moment. Providing water well establishment services, orphan sponsorships and refurbishment of orphanages, we operate in a total of 15 countries at present.

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Australasian Muslim Times

We also run annual campaigns including the Ramadan Iftar and Food Pack and the Qurban Appeal.

Such projects are supporting underdeveloped communities in Asia and Africa through providing relief to thousands of families.

In accordance with Islamic practices, donors names were called out along with Takbirs during the sacrifices.

When our representatives gave out the Islamically sacrificed meat packs of two kgs, there was joy and happiness from the locals who were struggling to survive under the poverty line in those countries.

Previous Qurban Activities Over the past two years, we have run qurban appeals in a number of African and Asian countries.

In Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Gambia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, we were able to reach out to those who were less fortunate with thousands of qurban donations. Our volunteers travelled to those countries and celebrated the Eid al-Adha together with the poor and needy, orphans, sick and elderly.

2015 Qurban Campaign This year, the qurbans will be sent to Kenya, Uganda, Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Qurban donations are $120 per share and the campaign ends on Friday, 18 September 2015. We urge our community to help those people that are in dire need in African and Asian countries.

In addition to compulsory qurbans, donors can also provide their support by undertaking nafila (optional), aqiqa (baby birth) and nazr (now) qurban donations. Should you wish to donate your qurban, please note the bank account details outlined in the artwork below.

Including the promotional video, more information can be reviewed on the following link https://aro.org. au/qurban-appeal-2015/ On behalf of the Australian Relief Organisation Board of Directors, we wish you and your family a happy Eid al-Adha.�

As usual, our representatives will be travelling to those countries to monitor and oversee the slaughtering process as well as the distribution of meat packs to the poor and the needy.

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September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

BOOMERANG

SOCIAL 23

Muslim world in turmoil The Muslim World is in turmoil as a of our immediate environresult of internal divisions and external ment. As global citizens, exploitation. we all have a stake in the No one is in denial of this sad state, but welfare of all on this planet. it seems that not much is being done to end Waging wars in far away this situation, neither by the people in these lands surely comes back to countries themselves nor by the interna- bite us. There are lessons tional community at large. from Vietnam, AfThere are tens of millions of inghanistan and Iraq. ternally displaced refugees in SyrFirst it was the EDITORIAL refugees probia, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, as a Assalamu result of atrocities committed lem and now it by ruthless regimes, opposition is refugees as Alaikum groups and external attacks. well terrorism.

Greetings The life has become so unbearThe vicious circle of terrorof Peace able that men, women and chilism and war on terror and being dren, young and old are desperately indifferent to oppression in Mustrying to escape to neighbouring counlim countries has made the whole tries and finally to Europe at great risks to world more insecure. their lives. Large numbers are dying and Injustice, intolerance and violence to setsuffering in their efforts to save their life tle differences and disputes have rendered and that of their loved ones. communities and nations to great hardships These were relatively affluent countries and suffering. with oil wealth, but are now failed states.

The people in Gaza living in an open jail Their infrastructure has been destroyed, are still suffering from the destruction of the economy is in ruins, the health system their infrastructure and denial of building obsolete and food and water resources in- materials and other amenities of life to recreasingly diminished. store better living conditions.

Failed states, not only pose problems for The pseudo democratic regimes in Egypt their citizens, but affect us all on a global and Bangladesh are decimating the opposilevel. In this contemporary global village tion using their kangaroo court systems and now, the international community is not jailing a large number of people together immune to the turmoil taking place in any with passing death sentences. part of the world.

The regime in Syria continues to bury ciIn the modern world, we can not afford to vilians, men, women and children through live in our comfort zones, concerned only their indiscriminate bombardment of resi-

AMUST

AMUST Issue # 118 Friday 4 September 2015; 19 Dhul Qa’dah 1436 News .................................1 - 2 • Muslim Development • Crescent Wealth $100M Boomerang ..................... 3 - 5 • Muslim World in Turmoil • Democracy in Decline Community ..................... 6 - 9 • Creating Connections • Saarban Centres

. dential areas. ISIL is still creating havoc in Syria and Iraq with its intolerance of people of other faiths, sects and ideas.

Rohingyas from Burma continue to flee as a result of policies of an intolerant regime and refugees keep being exploited by people smugglers making money from people in misery.

Relatively successful Muslim countries like Malaysia and Turkey are now bogged down by corruption, greed and political power play.

The only way out of this miserable condition would be when people in the Muslim world, individually as well as collectively realize that wars, violence, injustice and intolerance only produce losers and for global peace and it order to achieve a formula for win-win for all needs to be found and implemented.

Z I Ahmad

Australia ....................... 10 - 13 • Abraham Conference 2015 Lifestyle ...................... 14 - 16 • Arshad Saeed Poetry • Organ Donation Education ..................... 17 - 18 • Evolution and the Believer Ummah ........................ 19 - 20 • Pakistan: Time for Analysis • Reflections on Afghanistan Travel .................................. 21 • FlightFox Business ............................ 22 • Game Review: The Crew Social .................................. 23 • Hijab Tutorials

Australian Census 2016 – an opportunity Professor Shahjahan Khan The peak statistical body of the nation, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced that the next Australian census will take place on Tuesday, 9 August 2016.

This is the first time the census operations will make use of the technology, especially the internet and digital facilities to collect data using the online environments. ABS expects that two thirds of the population, or more than 15 million people will complete their census form online.

In Australia census is conducted regularly in every five years. We had our last census in 2011. There are countries that have census once in every decade. In the olden days the kings and emperors used to collect data on their kingdom for the purposes of taxation, recruitment of members of the army and management food production and supply among other things.

Census is an old statistical method of collecting information from each and every household of a nation. It aims to gather demographic and economic data on every resident, citizen or visitor, as well as those in the hospitals, hotels, stations, terminals and streets, of a country at a specified night.

Thus a census operation requires to cover 100% of the people on the reference night.

Normally census means population census, but there are other types of census including agricultural and industrial censuses.

It is well known that census is a major part of statistics and many statistical methods are used in conducting any census in the contemporary world. The Arabic term for statistics is al-ahsa’ (statistics), and the subject is ilm al-ahsa’ (the discipline of statistics). The term `al-ahsa’ means “to count, enumerate, calculate, compute, reckon.”

The Qur’an uses the term in many places including chapters/verses at-Talaq 65:1, alKhaf 18:12, an-Nahl 16:18, Ibrahim 14:34, al-Mujadila 58:6 etc in its various forms.

Al-Kindi [d. 870 AD] was a pioneer in cryptography, and he introduced the idea of

September 2015

maximum likelihood which is a key concept in statistical inference.

“To understand God’s thoughts we must study statistics, for these are the measures of His purpose.” Florence Nightingale.

The Federal, State and Local Governments in Australia depends on the census data in many ways. The census data provides an integrated numerical image of the nation and regions within the country. Based on the population size governments plan for infrastructures – roads and highways, transport and delivery system, requirements of hospitals, schools, recreation facilities etc.

It also provide guidance for human resource development and strategies for population redistribution and settlement of immigrants.

In the countries under democratic system the number counts as it shows the strength.

This is particularly important for the Muslims in Australia. Different levels of government in this country will use the data on Muslim population to formulate strategies to deal with the problems and prospects of the community. Unfortunately many Muslims do not bother to tick the question on religion due to not being aware of the importance to do so. An accurate and reliable figure on the Muslim population would help the community to sort out its priorities, ensure allocation of appropriate resources, and achieve desirable attention from the policy and decision makers. That is why the census agency emphasise that every resident must complete the census questionnaire, online or otherwise.

The census data is also used for many important areas of modern society including domestic as well as international policy making. It is the key to the planning and development of any nation as well as for international and regional agencies. It is important to view `planning and development’ in a much wider perspective, which include but not limited to, the government and businesses. Planning and development are also equally applicable in varieties of industries, education, health, environment, welfare, and research context.

Professor Shahjahan Khan, based in Toowomba is a Professor of Statistics, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba and Vice President, Islamic Council of Queensland.

Reuben Brand Here is my take on the disgraceful “Operation Fortitude” and the Border Force farce: Racism thinly veiled in the guise of so called public safety needs to end.

The controversial “Operation Fortitude” has thankfully been cancelled.

Australian Border Force officials were to be included in a major policing operation

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over the weekend in Melbourne’s CBD, but people power has prevailed, with protests bringing the operation to a halt… For now…

Reuben Brand is a freelance Australian Journalist. Visit his website www.reubenbrand.com.

Australasian Muslim Times

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AMUST

BOOMERANG

NEWS 1-2

Website comments

Aborigines support Muslims namese, then the Lebanese, then the Sudaagainst racists and extremists nese, I am glad that the nation has moved Dear Elder Sol Bellear, Thank you for your beautiful words of support for the Muslims of Australia. As a white Australian revert I have been amused by the idea of reclaiming Australia and have wondered what fantastical period of our ‘proud’ history we should be returning to.

AlinaH Dear Elder Sol Bellear We the non Aboriginals are beholden to you and your people for the hospitality offered to us to settle in Australia. The group that wants to reclaim from something that is not theirs make a mockery of their integrity.

Islam has thought us to be colour blind and our place of worship has no mosque reserve for a particular colour. The current unfortunate sectarian skirmishes eke on by political opportunism is nevertheless colour blind too. You have many who have reverted to Islam to escape persecution due to their skin pigmentation or caste as a Muslim would ultimately be judged by his/her piety. This black/white, male/female conundrum playing out by their respective champions with ulterior motives is foreign to Islamic values.

Mal Dear Elder Sol Bellear, Thankyou very much for this well thought article and the support . I as a Muslim feel very strongly for the rights of all Human Beings and unfortunately especially here in Australia for our fellow Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

You have pointed out correctly at the hypocrisy of it all when they say they want to reclaim it back!

Also as you have mentioned the cyclic hatred historically directed at the Chinese, then the Greeks and Italians, then the Viet-

on, however disappointingly this time it is not directed at cultural minorities as such , for you see Muslims belong to all of the aforementioned cultures and more, there are many Aboriginal Muslims, so we all are being offended. But I am sure , as you say, it will pass InshaAllah GodWilling.

Mohamed

Oldest Quran manuscript discovered in Birmingham Aint time to all nun-muslims (in UK and the world) to convert Islam after getting this evidence in their country; that Muslims’ current Qur’an is similar as the Qur’an was written at 632..?

F This is very interesting, reminds me of the discovery of The Dead Sea Scrolls. I know Islam considers the Torah and Injeel to be Holy Books and that Islam has a long and distinguished history in academics and philosophy, but I would like to know what light Greco-Roman Golden Era philosophy is seen in, notably the works of Plato?

Given the Republic is clearly inspired knowledge its only defect of note is that glory was not assigned to Allah, even though that could be deduced without official declaration.

Raymond Butler

Politics: a systems evaluation In any society a diversity and relative equality of powers independent of each other is vital, any one power that prevails over the others will oppress society no matter its nature. This includes Theocratic power, that even with its values in origin it will become tyrannical in enforcement.

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

So the more different kinds of powers to keep each other from domination the better, including wealth even though it is possibly the worst kind of power.

I would like to add that a secular Republic is the only valid system, Democracy needs a Republic base to work but a Republic does not need Democracy to work, albeit a Republic without Democracy will be weak.

So establishment of a secular Republic with Egalitarian Values in Constitution with Public Service Leadership standards on all relevant incarnations of power is vital, at which point you can expand democratic participation under academic stylised process to contribute ideas for policy and even make decisions to certain degrees, or to create practical and fair window for relevant interests to negotiate settlement within.

There will remain issues of urgency that lack time for the bureaucracy of democratic process just as there will be issues that require security classification, these would fall to the Republic to address.

As I said about the ideal of experts appointed per issue I would also point out that legal experts will always be necessary, so in addition to temporary appointments you should also have more permanent professionals that have proven dedication to Duty for public service in legal and similar fields such as Judges, Magistrates, Attorneys especially District, Barristers, etc.

Raymond Butler

Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in articles, and Letters to the Editor, Website Comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Australasian Muslim Times.

AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

LIFESTYLE 14 - 16

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Managing Editor: Zia Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Chief Adviser: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Journalist: Mobinah Ahmad Columnist: Dr Abul Jalaluddin (Finance) Columnist: Bilal Cleland (Victoria) Columnist: Manarul Islam (ACT) Columnist: Lydia Shelly (Sydney) Columnist: Anne Fairbairn (Sydney) Promotion: Dr Wali Bokhari Web Developer: Shadow Approved Multimedia: iMoby Productions Printers: Spotpress Pty Ltd Distributers: Wrapaway Transport Pty Ltd Distributers: Abul Fateh Siddiqui, Shujaat Siddiqui, Usaid Khalil, Aamir Ahmad, Ibrahim Khalil, Usman Siddiqui, Zahid Alam, Shahab Siddiqui, Mahmoud Jaame, Mateen Abbas, Rashid Idris, Kamrul Zaman, Sakinah Ahmad, Anjum Rafiqi, Hasan Fazeel, Dr Quasim, Ismail Hossain, Hanif Bismi.

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September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

BOOMERANG

SOCIAL 23

A democracy in decline Bilal Cleland We have seen ourselves as “The Lucky Country” for the past forty years. A high standard of living, a good and affordable education system, a well maintained and accessible health system, plentiful supplies of reasonably priced energy and a high standard of civil liberties in an incorruptible political system were all accepted as just part of life.

Now we are being confronted with features of Australian life which we thought were either buried, or “would not happen here.”

As we developed an accepting, diverse multicultural society, with a great deal of agreement between both the political left and right, it seemed that the days of the White Australia Policy were gone forever.

We welcomed Vietnamese asylum seekers who arrived in their thousands by boat. We established a superb well funded English teaching system to allow them to take full part in Australian life. Similarly with the 1967 referendum, we thought that the old exclusionist attitude to our First Nations people was on the way out.

For a time, tertiary education was free.

Families which had never had access to higher education produced children with masters and doctorates. A national health system was introduced, with some rumblings from the doctors union, but it got through. There was a real attempt to introduce equality of educational opportunity and the Schools Commission spent millions of dollars and years of work to create an inclusive society with a highly skilled workforce.

One of the headlines which with we were

confronted on 22 August 2015 gives stark illustration of where we are now headed.

“One woman lies catatonic in hospital after being raped and beaten. Another was raped and immolated. This is the world awaiting refugees released from detention on Nauru.”

[Martin McKenzie-Murray in The Saturday Paper].

The journalist put it very succinctly in his account of this “war on women” on Nauru, in our camps: “We have built camps in our name that house damaged children, yet denude privacy and employ guards without background checks. Camps that encourage abuse, intimidation and the hypersexualisation of children. Camps that cannot provide nominal release dates to its subjects, creating purgatories. …….. . “If I see child abuse in Australia and I don’t report it, I can get into enormous trouble,” David Isaacs, a paediatrician, said last week. “If I see child abuse on Nauru and I do report it, I might go to prison for two years.”

Secrecy is used by totalitarian regimes afraid of opposition from public opinion.

This is now being used in Australia.

Regimes fearful of their people also attack civil liberties and the judiciary. Daniel Ellery deals with this in “Abbott’s fear-mongering threatens our civil liberties” [Independent Australia 21 August 2015]. It is intended to put mining projects beyond the power of the courts while the fear campaign on terror continues to be useful in justifying reductions in civil liberties. He calls on Australians to be vigilant in defense of democracy, concluding: “If Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party can be given one concession, it is that they have hopefully shaken the trappings of apathy and indifference from the Australian public.”

Apathy and ignorance are our greatest enemies.

If you’re like me, you avoid inter-faith dialogue gatherings like the plague.

Why? How boring is it to sit on comfortable lounges listening to well-meaning men (and the occasional token woman – we are, after all, taking about patriarchal religion!) talking about what their faith means to them. The only way to stay awake is imagining a voice screaming out: “You’re all a bunch of heathens!” and “Are those Iced Vo-Vos on the table over there?

YUM!” Still, boredom is far better than participants grabbing AK-47’x and blowing each other heads off just because we couldn’t be bothered figuring out what we actually don’t agree on. For centuries, religions ancient and modern have provided the trigger for their adherents to pull triggers at others outside and inside their tent. Words and phrases like “holy war” and “jihad” and “crusade” have given war an even worse name than it already had.

Many readers will be familiar with the narrative of orientalism – the attempt by nasty Western folk to say and write nasty things about poor suffering Muslims. We’ve been warned not to read books about jihad and Muslim history by persons with European names. Yours truly was inundated with such advice when growing up – a time when books about Islam deemed the most reliable were those printed on South Asian rice paper, with English straight out of the East

September 2015

India Company Style Manual and pages often stuck together.

You can imagine how I must have felt a few months ago when I received a Facebook alert promoting a book written by a pastor and entitled “The Jihad of Jesus”. Gosh! Is this some kind of far-Right Christian polemic with an introduction penned by Danny Nalliah and endorsed by the Q Society and Reclaim Australia?

I then looked at who had confirmed their attendance. A young rabbi known for reaching out to Muslims. A Muslim female academic. What was going on? There was only one way to find out.

There were some 40 people seated at the launch at an inner-Sydney bookshop when I arrived. The author was introduced by the Muslim academic. He then stood up to address the crowd. I’d never seen him before, and couldn’t stop my brain exclaiming: “Jesus Christ!”

Which was quite appropriate because Dave Andrews really does look like the stereotypical Jesus Christ. He sports a very beard so Sunna-ish that he may as well have just arrived after spending 40 days with the tabligh jamaah. Dave’s hair flowed down to his shoulders, the kind of hair you see on Jesus pictures and read about in shama’il literature featuring physical descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad (s).

Dave’s message was quite straight forward. Both Muslims and Christians must understand that “you cannot rightly pursue jihad without Jesus, or rightly pursue Jesus without jihad”. We may see this as almost heresy, but that’s because we neither understand jihad nor Jesus.

Dave also argues that the essence of jihad

Battle of Lone Pine Dr Anne Fairbairn AM

Dave Andrews, The Jihad Of Jesus – The Sacred Nonviolent Struggle for Justice (2015) $29.95 is nonviolent struggle. Jesus was a mujahid, a “radical messianic activist” as Reza Aslan claims. ISIS claim also to be waging jihad, though theirs is of an extremely violent variety.

This book will challenge both Christian and Muslim readers. It isn’t a polemic nor is it bland Islamophilia. Dave Andrews may not provide you with stuff to agree with. But he will certainly provide stuff to think long and hard about.

This year, 6 August marked one hundred years since the most brutal and tragic battles of World War I – The Battle of Lone Pine.

For many Australians who visit Gallipoli, it is the beaches and the stories of the 25 April landings that captures their imagination.

But the fighting on the ridges, at Lone Pine, Quinns Post, The Nek and Chunuk Bair is what defines the campaign. The August Offensive is where eight out of the nine Victoria Crosses won by Australians during the Gallipoli Campaign were awarded. It is also where huge numbers of men fought and died over a space of parched soil no bigger than a few tennis courts.

The August Offensive was the last throw of the dice, the final attempt to break out of the low heights and push on to the rises overlooking the prized Dardanelles.

Launched at dusk on 6 August 1915 the battle of Lone Pine was part of a diversionary attack to distract Turkish attention from the thrust of Britain’s planned August Offensive.

The attack at Lone Pine signaled the start of the allied August offensive in the ANZAC area.

At 4.30 pm on 6 August intensive from both land and naval guns, pounded the Turkish positions at 400 Plateau – Lone Pine, The bombardment was the climax of a slow but constant shelling of the ANZAC front line over the previous three days.

As soon as the bombardment ceased at 5.30 pm, Australian soldiers of the 1st Brigade leapt from trenches and underground firing positions to rush the Turkish front line at Lone Pine.

Many Australians entered the front-line trenches through gaps in the covering, as the Turks had not roofed the entire run of these trenches.

Once in the trench system they worked their way back toward the front line or set up barricades to defend their new forward posts. In this way, fighting through a maze of trenches, the Australians reached their objectives within the first half-hour of the opening assault.

The bloody battle resulted in more than two thousand Australian casualties and is now remembered more for the lives sacrificed than as anything won or lost.

Seven bravery awards, The Victoria Cross, were awarded for soldiers as the fought to dislodge Turkish troops from the trenches.

My forebear Sir George Houston Reid, who as First Australian High Commissioner to Britain, had arranged for the Australian troops to be trained in Egypt, since as a Scot he decided that this would be better than in England.

According to his diaries he believed that the Australians were used by the British to help weaken the Turkish army at whatever cost in casualties.

Irfan Yusuf is a lawyer and an award-winning writer and reviewer. His first book, “Once Were Radicals: My Years As A Teenage Islamofascist”, was published in 2009.

Dr Anne Fairbairn AM is an accomplished poet and writer. She is passionate about First Nation peoples, Muslims and Arabic literature and culture. She is based in Sydney

Bilal Cleland is a keen reader, a prolific writer and a regular columnist of AMUST based in Melbourne.

Unpacking Holy and not-so-Holy War Irfan Yusuf

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Opposition to Muslim developments Continued from page 1 Campaign against Malek Fahd Hoxton Park Campus Mr Amjad Mehboob, who played a vital role in the establishment of AFIC Schools in general and Malek Fahd School in particular and is currently Incharge of Projects and Facilities Development, MFIS, has written the following report in relation to the Campaign against Malek Fahd Hoxton Park Campus: Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc (HPRAG) was set up in 2009 by a few residents to oppose the development of Malek Fahd’s new campus at Hoxton Park in South-west Sydney. HPRAG vigorously opposed the application but it was subsequently approved by the Liverpool City Council (LCC) on 30 June 2009.

HPRAG took the matter to the Land and Environment Court (LEC) and lost on the grounds that they did not lodge objections within the specified time.

HPRAG however appealed against the LEC decision in the Supreme Court (SC) which upheld the appeal on the grounds that LCC had not followed the letter of the law when advertising the school development.

The SC sent the matter back to the LEC which decided to put a stop order on the construction and other works at the school site. The LEC however ruled that the school operating in demountable buildings would continue but would not be allowed to enrol further students. The LEC also allowed the school to lodge a fresh Development Application. This was done and a new DA was approved on 14 March 2013 and construction on the project recommenced on 30 Sep-

dozen persons.

The local and mainstream media have identified links of this group with One Nation Party, the Q Society, the Australian Defence League and other fringe anti-Islam groups.

The group’s solicitor has had involvement with the group vying to stop the Bendigo Mosque in Victoria and with the challenges to stop the Camden Islamic School and Centre in NSW. The group’s president has stood as a One Nation candidate in the Liverpool Council elections.

The Q Society was founded in 2010 in Melbourne and has as one of its main platforms to educate the Australian people about Islam. The group openly claims to be “Islam-critical” and are avowed opponents of sharia law.

They have also published a book “Getting Through: How To Talk To Non Muslims Mr Amjad Mehboob tember 2013.

However, this was not the end of the problem for the new school. HPRAG commenced proceedings in the LEC to challenge the new approved DA. The Residents Group in Liverpool Sydney established in 2009 has been objecting to Malek Fahd Islamic School’s Hoxton Park Campus ever since.

The Group is made up of a few individuals from one family and does not have widespread resident support. Meetings called by the Group have attracted fewer than half a

Crescent Wealth $100M milestone

Continued from page 1 “We’ve had some non-muslim investors who came across to our brand and while seeing that the way we invest is socially responsible way sparked an interest in to know more about Islam”, Mr Rathborne added.

The achievement stands as a testament to the success and popularity of Islamic values based investing and highlights the rapid rise of Crescent Wealth as the world’s first private Islamic pension fund.

The firm is iconic in the market as the brand that proves the success of Islamic investment principles, and teaches that Islamic values equate to ethical values.

Crescent Wealth has offices in Sydney and Melbourne and they have opened a new office this year in Kuala Lumpur in order to increase exposure to global investment opportunities.

“We’ve had significant interest from

abroad and will continue our growth in the short to medium term with the firm continuing to reach out internationally,” Mr Yassine said.

Crescent Wealth offers a series of investment funds as well as the Crescent Wealth Superannuation (pension) Fund. It manages all aspects of its funds in accordance with its Australian Financial Services Licence including product development, registration, legal, accounting, auditing, marketing and distribution.

Crescent Wealth does not invest in activities prohibited by Sharia such as arms production or trade, alcohol, pornography and gambling.

Thousands of members who have joined the Crescent Wealth Superannuation fund include high achievers in the Muslim community including professionals, sportsmen, community leaders and business men and women.

About The Disturbing Nature of Islam” and have produced a YouTube video ““How to stop a mosque”. The Society has all the hall marks of a secret society with few public faces.

HPRAG has been suing the Liverpool Council for illegally approving the school development and question the Council’s powers to grant development approvals under the Australian Constitution.

They have also sued the State and Federal Governments for funding “religious based Islamic schools”. Defendants are Malek Fahd, AFIC, Liverpool Council, NSW State and Commonwealth Governments.

The proceedings have been to the Land & Environment Court, the Supreme Court and the High Court and are still ongoing, costing hundreds of thousands to the parties for the past six years. People have always wondered how they were being funded!

Creating Connections The creating connections dinner was established to offer a safe space of networking, engagement and robust discussions between media professionals and the Australian Muslim community on the current state of the relationship between the two.

The dinner was an initiative by the Lebanese Muslim Association held on Saturday 29 September in Lakemba, and was a great turn out of mainstream and cultural media representatives including SBS, and the ABC. The night was a networking opportunity with the hopes of achieving fairer representation of the Australian Muslim community in mainstream media.

The program began with LMA’s media officer, Widyan Fares as the Master of Ceremony who greeted the attendees and spoke about the importance of creating connections.

The first speaker of the night was Mostafa Rachwani, policy officer for the LMA who spoke about changing a communities’ narrative. “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for the Muslim community to be granted the opportunity to speak for ourselves, to be able to speak on our own terms and set our own agenda.”

He spoke about how difficult it was to publish an op-ed piece to a relatively prominent news agency ‘on the enormous issues around the government’s countering violent extremism agenda’ after being turned down repeatedly. Majority of the time, Muslims are not represented accurately by the person being interviewed or they are spoken about from an external perspective.

Mr Rachwani said “There needs to be a recognition from the media that, largely, as this does not apply across the board, but that the voices from the Muslim community at the moment are not doing their platform justice, as well as recognition that the current narrative is doing damage to the Muslim community.”

Lydia Shelly, the second speaker for the evening spoke about her direct experience in dealing with the media as a lawyer. Specifically speaking about being captioned in a photo as ‘a female companion’ in a photo with a client she was representing.

Mrs Shelly spoke directly to the media representatives on the mistakes that have been committed in the past and practices to avoid in the future.

These kind of events are of great importance to the Muslim community, rather than complaining about the media, we should engage with them.

Photos by Huss Fares Photography.

Lydia Shelly

Mostafa Rachwani

Mobinah Ahmad

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Events Calendar The Crisis of Domestic Violence in the Muslim Community Saturday 5 Sept, 2015 7:00PM - 9:00PM Lebanese Muslim Association. 71-75 Wangee Road, Lakemba, NSW www.fb.com/events/ 389862451212595/

Sydney Sacred Music Festival 2015 Saturday 5 Sept, 2015 All Day All over Sydney www.sydneysacred musicfestival.org

If You Come To Australia @ The Sydney Fringe Festival Tuesday 8 Sept, 2015 7:00PM - 9:00PM Five Eliza 5 Eliza Street, Newtown, NSW

BUSINESS 22

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SOCIAL 23

Saarban centres for organised Daawah Shafqat Ali Sarban Masajid projects under the patronage of Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) is playing a key role in organised daawah work and rendering valuable services to the Australian community at large.

All the three masajid in Bankstown, Campbelltown and Queanbean were highly active during the month of Ramadan. In addition to 20 rakaat Taraweeh prayers with Khatm-e-Quran, regular lectures and innovative activities were organised at all venues in order to get youth involved in living Islam.

IFAM from its very formation concentrated on three major aims in order to carry out organised Daawah work in Australia namely close knot organisation, centre for activities and publication.

In 2011, IFAM established Saarban Islamic Trust to build Masajid across Australia. Within a span of four years span, they have delivered three Masajid in Bankstown, Campbelltown and Queanbeyan and the fourth one is in progress in Melbourne Saarban Bankstown Masjid Ramadan activities kicked off in Bankstown Masjid with “Welcome to Ramadan”

programme couple of weeks before Ramadan where Dr. Zachariah Matthews delivered a talk on Health and Ramadan. Parallel to this a Children/Youth “Welcome to Ramadan” was run as well where they were introduced and enrolled in Ramadan Diary programme.

During Ramadan, regular Taraweeh were led by Ali Akbar Nadwi with Usaid Khalil delivering summary of Taraweeh Quran Recitation. These talks were also uploaded to Youtube for wider audience.

Masjid Team also held four Shab Baidari (Night Out at Masjid) on each Saturday night for group and individual learning and spiritual training.

Masjid also arranged a community Iftaar for local Families on one of the weekends where everyone enjoyed the Iftaar together and also did bit of socialising. Ramadan Diary team also performed there too.

Saarban Campbelltown Masjid In Campbelltown Masjid, Ramadan activities were initiated with Welcome to Ramadan lecture followed by Ramadan Diary initiatives for youth.(For Report on Ramadan Diary program, see AMUST August issue).

During Ramadan, Maulana Nazir ul Hassan Thanvi led the Taraweeh followed by short Bayan by him on relevant recitation.

On night of 27th of Ramadan, Masjid team prepared special programme for Khatul-Quran. They prepared presentation about the Masjid performance over the year fol-

www.sydneyfringe.com

The Middle East: The New Asia – at the September Dinner

Wednesday 9 Sept, 2015 7:00PM - 9:00PM Show Map Villa Blanca Reception 53 Raymond st, Bankstown, NSW

www.fb.com/events/ 861961150560300/

Racism, Responses & Western Sydney – ft.

Alana Lentin + Aamer Rahman + More

Wednesday 9 Sept, 2015 10:00AM - 11:30AM Western Sydney U Parramatta Corner of Victoria Road and James Ruse Drive, Rydalmere, NSW www.fb.com/events/ 880792088671995/

R U OK?Day 2015 Thursday 10 Sept, 2015 All Day Anywhere ruok.org.au/

View more events online or add your own at www.amust.com.au/ calendar September 2015

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lowed by a Bayan about Lait tul Qadr.

Saarban Queanbeyan Masjid Queanbeyan Masjid, conducted Welcome to Ramadan with a lecture by Sameer Alam on Real Purpose of Sawm. Regular Taraweeh Salat was led by Hafiz Mohammad Mahmud.

A a Fundraising Dinner was arranged to support Masjid phase II project where Rais Khan delivered a talk on Infaq fi Sabilillah.

There was also Shab Baidari event on at Friday 10 July 2015 with the theme topic “Fitan (Trials) in the Ummah”.

Four community Iftaar events were held at Masjid for local community to provide them opportunity to break fast together and socialise in blessed month.

Khatmul Quran occurred on 27th of Ramadan led by IFAM ACT Nazim Bilal Mahmud.

Shafqat Ali is an IT professional/businessman and a member of IFAM, associated with the Campbelltown Masjid.

SAMAA celebrates Eid Milan

Khalid Wang passed away

South Asian Muslim Association of Australia (SAMAA) held Eid Milan on 9 August at Auburn Town Hall to bring together community elders to celebrate the annual Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

Several parliamentarians, representatives from aged care agencies SAMAA volunteers and community members also joined in to make it a joyous occasion.

Senator Concetta Fierravanti Wells, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services Scott Morrison, Mr Laurie Ferguson, senior Labor member for Werriwa and longtime supporter of SAMAA, Mr Shaoquett Moslemane, the first Muslim MLC in NSW Parliament representing Mr Luke Foley, the Leader of the Opposition in NSW Parliament, Dr Geoff Lee, state MP for Parramatta representing Mr John Ajaka Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Multiculturalism graced the occasion and delivered fine speeches.

They spoke of issues relating to ageing industry, commended SAMAA for its endeavours and assured their support to the elders of South Asian Muslim Community.

Mr Steve Teulan, Director, UnitingCare Ageing extended his support to SAMAA. Caroline Collins, Deputy General Manager Operations and Margaret Russell, Relation-

Khalid Wang, 44 passed away on Monday 17 August and was buried next day at Rookwood Cemetery. The Salat-alJanaza was held at Lakemba mosque attended by family and community members.

Khalid was the only son of late Dr Mohammad Ali Wang who played a key role in the foundation of AFIC in 1976 together with its founding President Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad.

Dr Wang was the first Chairman of Islamic Council of NSW, President of AFIC from 1978-1982 and the Chief Organizer of highly successful AFIC Youth Camps for almost a decade. Supported by his wife Mrs Salma Wang, the family rendered a lasting contribution in the development of the Australian Muslim Community.

The Wang family is survived by Mrs Salma Wang and three daughters, Asma, Najma and Alia and their grand children, all living in Sydney.

Dr Mohammed Ali Wang’s father was an Islamic scholar and Imam in Peking and left to settle in Pakistan during the communist uprising. Dr Wang completed his medical Education from Lahore before the family migrated to Sydney in the early 1970s. He finally retired from the position of Superintendent, Newcastle Hospital.

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ship Manager at SummitCare gave a fine presentation “How to Navigate the Aged Care Maze” detailing various options and upcoming changes in aged care services.

Mr Zahid Jamil from SAMAA briefed the audience about various SAMAA programmes. He spoke of MoUs, SAMAA has signed with various aged care providers to offer culturally and religiously sensitive care to our community elders, about the volunteering programmes and regular cultural gatherings, SAMAA intend to hold in coming 12 months.

Syed Afzal Hussain presented an initial proposal to establish a retirement village.

SAMAA is seeking expressions of interest from people willing to be part of this project either for the purpose of staying in the village or for investment purpose and future use of themselves.

A major SAMAA sponsor Crescent Wealth made a presentation about their Islamic Superannuation Fund.

The audience enjoyed gahazals and songs by highly accomplished singers Adil Pervez and Sadaf Pervez.

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Red, green and blue: Abraham Conference Philip Feinstein

The 2015 Abraham Conference was convened on Wednesday 26 August in Parramatta with 100 guests from three of the main religious groups: Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The evening had unique seating arrangements - at each table were coloured serviettes, red, green and blue, to ensure people sat according to their colour coding: red for Christians; green for Muslims; and blue for Jewish people.

Tamana Daqiq, MC for the night, spoke of past successes of the conferences since commencing in 2002.

“From 2003 these conferences have led to many other interfaith initiatives including important Christian, Muslim and Jewish activities” she said. “Australia is becoming a more cohesive community”, she said.

Tamana then introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Maha Abdo.

Maha spoke of the importance to interact with people of other faiths, or different ‘humankinds’, as she put it. “It is OK to sometimes disagree - it can even be healthy as long we are aware of our approach”, she said.

She reminisced about her arrival in Australia in June 1970 saying “I had no idea about differences between Muslims, Christians or Jews until then, but growing up with friends of different religions taught me that we could all get along. We ought to respect each other, not just tolerate them. And then it becomes a journey with other people and

a journey with respect - this becomes a catalyst for us to accept each others narratives.” Maha concluded: “We are all always evolving in life and that transition can be positive.”

The heart of the evening then got underway . . . .

At every table there were two Maha Abdo printed questions: 1: What do you understand by the expression “respecting the other’s narrative and values”? and 2: What can we, as a community, do to increase respective for the other’s narrative?

Everyone at each table got to express their feelings, with table leaders then reporting back to the full audience.

The following points were made: From question 1: We need to . . . . recognise commonalities; have more respect for each other; learn to walk in other’s shoes; overcome fears of each other; learn from others experiences; become more accepting; make new friendships; interact with others; break away from negativity; respect all religions; bring faiths together; respect different cultures; and to “Australianate”.

From question 2: We need to . . . . interact more frequently; invest in youth; get communities to meet with other faiths; be open to inter-marriage; initiate new directions; come out of our comfort zones; affirm that

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‘God within me is my power’; learn to walk in harmony; and become more educated about each other and the different faiths.

After the table leaders summarised their points, the two panelists Alice Priest and Rabbi Gad Krebs, plus Maha, added their constructive ideas.

The evening concluded with Rev Dr Manas Ghosh then reminding us that next

year’s event will be bigger and better.

Everyone left with a strong bond for uniting all of Australia’s cultures, faiths and religions.

Philip Feinstein is a Sydney based writer, musician and activist working for MUSIC FOR REFUGEES www.musicforrefugees.org Photographs by Samet Erku http://affinity.org.au

Manarul Islam

with a Vote of Thanks by Helen Wilson, Treasurer and Executive Committee member. Concluding remarks were made by Mohammed Ali, Founder and current Vice President of Aussie Forum.

The talks were followed by a Q&A session in which it was stressed that focus should move from Mixed Up to Mixed In with an emphasis on better understanding between the generations of each other’s perception and reality.

For example, Andrea Ho related how her parents’ reaction to racism was more accepting than her generations reaction because in their generation you had fewer avenues to complain and had to “suck it up” whereas now racism is more widely unacceptable.

Aussie Forum is supported by the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs to assist in building stronger inter-cultural ties within the ACT. The Forum, formally known as Aussie Forum Inc, has since 2005 brought diverse views together for engagement and discussion. It will celebrate its 10th anniversary in its November 2015 Forum. For those interested register your interest on the Forum website www.aussieforum.org.

The “Mixed Up” have their say Canberra-based Forum Australia held a dinner and discussion on Wednesday 29 July to gather thoughts of speakers who have grown up or dealt with families and communities with mixed cultural baggage.

Billed as Mixed Up! Intergenerational Views on Living Across Cultures, the aim of the evening was to understand the perspectives of those who across generations have had to struggle with competing cultural and religious values and practices.

The dinner was held at Taj Agra in Dickson. Speakers at the dinner were: Kanti Jinna, an advisor to the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum; Samreen Syed, a Law Student at the Australian National University (ANU); Andrea Ho, 666 ABC Radio & Online Manager; Jeevan Nadanakumar, a student at the ANU and Member volunteer youth broadcaster at FM91.1 Community Radio.

Also providing a community perspective to the topic was Rolf Bachmann, a Case Management Team Leader at Southside Community Services.

The Master of Ceremonies was Elliott Dunn of ABC 666 Radio.

Welcoming the guests and speakers was Mansoor Syed, President of Aussie Forum

For further information including photos and complete videos of the forum visit the Aussie Forum website above or use the QR code.

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Seated L-R: Kanti Jinna, Rolf Bachmann, Mansoor Syed, Aussie Forum President and Jeevan Nadanakumar listen to Samreen Syed recount her experience as Russian-Pakistani-Australian.

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EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

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Workplace Relations Framework: Recommendations FINANCE Dr Abul Jalaluddin Background Productivity Commission has recently released its draft report into the Australian workplace relations framework, mainly recommending to abolish Sunday penalty rates and introduce a new industrial agreement labelled as Enterprise Contract. Many in the trade and union movements dubbed this report as a delivery of “Work Choice part two” and that it will create a two-tier penalty rate system for millions of Sunday workers which would be equivalent to an “economic apartheid.”

Australian workplace relations framework comprises of a complex array of industrial laws, regulations and institutions which regulate employers and employees. In July 2015, around 11.8 million people worked in more than 2 million workplaces across Australia. Of these people, around 70 percent were covered directly by the Fair Work Act 2009. The rest is covered by state public sector systems including Western Australia Award and independent contractors.

Despite significant issues and an assortment of peculiarities, Australia’s workplace relations system is not dysfunctional and hence, it just needs repair but not replacement. Australian labour market performance and its flexibility are relatively good by global standards. Strike activity is low, wages are responsive to economic downturns and there are multiple forms of employment arrangements that offer employees and employers flexible options for working relationships.

Sunday Penalty Rates Productivity Commission recommended Sunday penalty rates for cafes, hospitality, entertainment, restaurants and retailing

should be aligned with Saturday rates. This recommendation has been the most contentious and created a stir in the community. As a comparison, New Zealand no longer has regulated penalty rates but employers pay penalty rates to many industries.

Sunday penalty rates are usually around 200% of base rates of pay. This is at odds as evening shift penalty rates can be as low as 10% which is an important time for social activities and night shift loadings are as low as 15% which demonstratively represent more health risk and sacrifice of convenience. The Commission cites survey evidence showing overall social costs of daytime work on Sundays are similar to Saturdays.

Traditionally, Australian community did not accept weekend work and was not essential for the efficient operation of the economy. In the past few decades, this has changed and community now demands services 7 days a week, especially in industries where high penalty rates are prevalent.

Many social and economic factors contributed to this change including increased female workforce participation, reduction in religious observance, changing social norms about hopping times, softening of trading hour restrictions and the emergence of 24/7 international online commerce.

The report predicts that if penalty rates are abolished, employment and hours worked on Sundays will rise. Lower regulated penalty rates would likely to increase the opening hours of businesses and encourage higher staffing ratios leading to greater job opportunities for all Australians. This proposal will reduce incomes of people who work Sundays only. The Productivity Commission is proposing a lag time before this change occurs allowing people to adjust their lives and working patterns.

Enterprise Contracts Productivity Commission is floating an idea of a new type of statutory arrangement called “Enterprise Contract” to fill the gap

between enterprise agreements and individual arrangements. This would allow employers to vary an award for entire classes of employees such as entry level pharmacy assistance or for a group of particular employees, without having to negotiate with each party individually or to form an enterprise agreement.

It is suggested that it would offer many of the advantages of enterprise agreements without the complexities and would particularly be suitable for smaller businesses. This proposal affords a right to revert to the existing award if the relevant employees wish to do so.

For possible implementation, Productivity Commission has suggested a methodology to establish this enterprise contract, a regime for compliance and enforcement and finally evaluation and reporting of this new type of statutory contract in Australian workplaces.

Employment Conditions of Migrant Workers

Digital economy affecting us all Zia Ahmad The digital economy has allowed marketers to speak to all subgroups of Australia’s diverse cultural population but understanding the changing interests of multicultural audiences, rather than targeting by background and ethnicity is key, according to Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of multicultural marketing agency, MultiConnexions.

Ms Nandkeolyar spoke on a panel about digital multicultural marketing during Aus-

tralian Multicultural Marketing Awards (AMMAs) Business Luncheon with Doug Chapman, Managing Director at Razorfish Australia and Alex Siewert, Strategy Director at The Hallway held on Monday 24 August in Sydney.

Mr John Ajaka MLC, NSW Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Multiculturalism, delivered the keynote address, acknowledging overseas migration as the main driver of population growth in the past decade – contributing to more than 50% of Australia’s population growth since 2005.

“Our multicultural society is no longer a

The Panel from left: Doug Chapman, Sheba Nandkeolya and Alex Siewart.

September 2015

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Permanent and temporary migrant workers face higher risks of exploitation in Australian workplace. This is due to several reasons including limited English language skills or lack of awareness of their rights in the workplace relations framework.

Productivity Commission has recommended to provide additional resources to the Fair Work Ombudsman to strengthen education, information sharing and compliance activities on 457 visa and all employment related visa classes. In addition, it has proposed a two-part penalty regime on employers: a punishment for breaching the Migration Act 1958 to employ migrants without having a proper visa and a fine equal to at least whatever the worker was underpaid over the duration of their employment to deter underpayment to migrant employees.

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Dr Abul Jalaluddin is an Islamic Finance expert, Director of MCCA, taxation advisor and a regular columnist of AMUST. He is based in Sydney.

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Mr John Ajaka MLC small segment of our community but a vital piece of our identity as Australians. Almost 50% of the NSW population were born overseas or have one parent born overseas,” said Minister Ajaka.

Over the past 26 years the AMMAs have showcased multicultural marketing campaigns from the likes of Woolworths, Coles, our big banks, Qantas and the NRMA, as well as State and Federal government agencies, local government and small community organisations including AMUST Publications, publishers of the Australasian Muslims Times.

Nominations for the 2015 Australian Multicultural Marketing Awards (AMMAs) close on 17 September. This year’s awards will be presented at the Sydney Opera House on 12 October.

For more details go to: http://www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/awards_and_events/ amma .

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Marvellous Multicultural A parrot and boy observe one another.

Kids, in pairs enjoying a thrilling camel ride

Pictured: MEFF Patron Usaid Khalil, MEFF Vice President, Hanif Bismi & Rabbi Zalman Kastel hold up signs: I (Heart) MEFF. The 2015 annual Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair (MEFF) welcomed tens of thousands of people from the Australian Multicultural community at Fairfield Showground on

Sunday 02 August 2015 at Fairfield Showground in Prairiewood, Sydney. As one of the most anticipated events on the multicultural calendar, MEFF is the first, the largest

Colourful Jewellery from different cultures

Kung Fu Panda, Batman, Dora The Explorer

Students from the Australian International Academy gave marvelous performances throughout the day.

The Australian International Academy have been performing at the festival for many years and it is such a privelege to provide the students with a platform to showcase

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pride in their school. The stage provides children and performers from the community to showcase their school, community group, culture and so much more. The stage is one of the best highlights of the festival.

If you would like to perform on stage, please visit www.meff.com.au.

Australasian Muslim Times

and the longest-running Eid Festival in Australia, serving the community for the last 30 years. Photography by Jane & Nikolay at Prema Photo.

Two little girls give the thumbs up on a ride.

The festival was turned into a multicultural marketplace selling traditional cultural dresses, shoes jewellery, perfume, prayer mats, Books & Music, artworks, Calligraphy on Canvas, Islamic art, balloons, showbags, beauty products, oils, creams gifts,

toys, and henna art – it was a great source of bargain shopping and an incredible variety to choose from. A festival attendee said “I love coming here just for the shopping! I could walk through the aisles of the market stalls for hours”.

Women praying at the festival. The call to prayer was made on a loud speaker and an

open space was provided to both genders to emphasise the importance of prayer.

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AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

UMMAH 14 - 16

EDUCATION 17

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l Eid Festival in Fairfield

The wonderful female performers showcase traditional bosnian dancing.

The Stage at the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair is a beautiful reflection of the loving spirit of cultural diversity at the festival.

The stage showcased traditional children folk dances and songs from cultures all over the world. Performances included beautiful

Quran recitation, Anasheeds, Bosnian Folk Dancing, The Australian Anthem, Islamic Quiz Prizes, Poems, Promoting Books.

There were also talks promoting Charities and Organisations that help the community.

A place to sit, relax and watch.

The festival also offers the best in providing sumptuous international food covering a number of different traditional dishes from around the world. Foods include Doner Kebab, Gozleme, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Vegetarian Food, Waffles, Seekh Kebab, Pluto Pup, Salads, Falafel, Hotdogs, Burgers, Japanese Cuisine, Curries, Samo-

Tarek the T-Rex, the life size animatroni c baby dinosaur was a huge success as it walked around the showground astounding festival attendees. Being 4m in length from head to tail and 2m high, Tarek the T-Rex

September 2015

sas . Snowcone, Icecream, Fairyfloss, Froyo, SugarCane Juice, Corn in a Cup, Chip on a Stick, Slushies, Chocolate Fondue, Coconut Drinks & More! As one attendee said “I just love the festival food. MEFF is where I find such a diverse range of stalls, there’s even a halal Japanese food stall, it’s Awesome!”

The president of MEFF 2015, Mr Manar Ahmad at the VIP Opening Ceremony speaking to the festival attendees.

The president of MEFF 2015, Mr Manar Ahmad at the VIP Opening Ceremony speaking to the festival attendees.

Two friends from different backgrounds embrace each other as they enjoy the festival.

The Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair has always been a meeting place for old friends, family to come together and spend time to-

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gether. It is also a place of opportunity to meet other people, see budding and thriving businesses and discovering new types of cultures. The event truly embodies the values of Multiculturalism.

walked through Market and Food Stalls and the Crowd, becoming a sensational feature of the festival, and was a great thrill for everyone who passed him. Book the T-Rex at your next event, email meff@ifew.com.

A spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky which brilliant colours and wondrous explosions of light.

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The Hon Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, member of The Greens, in front of the Greens market stall.

Market Stalls sell a range of different items including these beautiful glass objects which portray the ninety-nine names of Allah (swt) Message from the President Mr Manar Ahmad.

“We all - Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, buddhists, in fact those of all religious or non-religious backgrounds and beliefs, Australians from all walks of lives and values - all have a stake in a peaceful, accepting and respectful Australia. That’s what all Australians should reclaim and hold.”

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The Modest Bride: Mehal & Khaled

a delightful bed of potpourri. They were then placed in little off-white organza bags (which we ordered online). Each bag contained a little quote about love. Some were serious and others were just funny.”

Place cards “Place cards were ordered off Etsy and they were so cute, with little bicycles on them because Khaled is an avid cyclist. The table numbers also had little bicycles on them for the exact same reason.”

Guest book “My guestbook table was super cute and designed especially for me by the exceptional Subhi Bora. I loved the book idea because I’m a total nerd and both Khaled and I are teachers. This tied in perfectly with the chalk board at the front of the reception hall.

You know chalk boards and teachers, but also that beautiful floral theme kept coming through.”

Makeup “Makeup was done by Sumaya Manor who was really understanding of the fact that I wanted a very natural look. It was important to me that I could recognise myself and I really loved the freshness of it.”

Saltanat Bora

I’m honoured to share this wedding with you all, not because of the beautiful dress, or the stunning location, or the heartfelt favours, or the personal touches in the decor, but because of the incredible couple, so joyous in their union, and to be an audience to their notions of marriage. There is so much to learn from a couple who so clearly understand the demands and nature of marriage, before ever even being married. The overall humility in their wedding, the sheer love and happiness on the bride and groom’s faces...this is one wedding that will stay with me for a long time yet...

Mehal shares with us the meaning behind the choices she made for her special day: What marriage means “Marriage for us is about the union of two souls who always strive for the best together. It’s about building an eternal bond - which takes a lot of work and some sacrifice. It’s about honesty even when it’s difficult. It’s about forgiveness and kindness. It’s about the acceptance of imperfection and the fierce protection that comes with knowing your partner’s flaws. Marriage means talking everything through...repeatedly. It’s laughter and love and adventure. And it’s about going through all of these things to attain the pleasure of Allah All Mighty. It’s that strange mix of extremely messy poetry.

Style of wedding I’m not sure we had one, to be honest. Khaled and I were so jaded by the time we met that neither of us had any real dreams for a wedding. We just wanted something that would resemble our future together; simple and tasteful but we wanted to insert bits of our quirky personalities into it. I needed something fuss free and low maintenance because I was extremely time poor. So I didn’t go to bridal expos or do hours of research about anything really. I usually just went with the first thing I liked, and I’m so glad I did because it really kept us focused on the bigger picture.”

Bride’s dress “My dress was bought off the rack from a bridal store in Parramatta, that no longer exists. However, it was adjusted to my liking.

The initial dress was sleeveless with a long train. I wasn’t a fan of the train or the lack of sleeves so we cut the train and used the lace to make sleeves. It was also quite low cut so we bought a fancy wedding bolero which was adjusted so that it could be worn backwards. This gave the illusion that my dress

had a high collar at the front and it made hijab styling much easier. I have no idea what kind of lace my dress was made from, except that it was gorgeous. I do know it was infused with swarovski crystals though, so I hope that helps.”

Location “Our wedding was a day wedding at Panorama House in Bulli, just outside of Sydney. The people at Panorama House were so understanding and accommodating. We got to taste test our entire menu TWICE (which we were super excited about). We opted for a buffet style because there were so many delicious options to choose from and there were hot chips, which I will say was nearly the highlight of the day for me. But the cake wins out. I’ll get to that in a little while.”

Flowers “Flowers were provided by the lovely Sindy at ‘Sindy Flowers Express’, in Toongabbie. She was efficient and wonderful. I found a photo online of the bouquet I loved and sent it to her. Sadly, she couldn’t replicate it because the flowers I wanted weren’t in season but she did a great job at using roses as a substitute. My centrepieces were a gorgeous and simple floral arrangement. To be honest, I plagiarised the idea from a wedding at the same venue a couple of weeks before ours. When we had gone up to finalise our wedding details I saw these arrange-

ments and fell in love. So cheers to the bride with exceptional taste!”

Wedding Cake “Cake was the most wonderful creation ever. I found a photo online and sent it through to our cake maker, Islam. She was just amazing. I loved the naked cake idea because I really really do not like fondant and she was so excited about making our cake that I knew it was going to be awesome. It was red velvet and raspberry with a cream cheese filling. She spent all night making the cake and assembled it at the reception hall because she wanted it to be perfect and fresh and that to me is amazing, because I didn’t spend all night doing anything to prepare for my own wedding, so I appreciate the sacrifice.”

Photographer “Our photographer was Khaled’s cousin, Sam. He was so personable and really fun to work with. I hate posed photos of myself, I always feel stiff and fake and just not myself.

He was understanding of this and only made us pose for a few photos. The rest were just natural snapshots and I really loved that. My only regret was that I didn’t take the wedding photography more seriously.”

Wedding Favours “Wedding favours were incredibly special to me. They were little rose soap bars, handmade by my extraordinary aunties, on

This article was originally posted on www.themodestbride.com.au.

Arshad Saeed’s poetry book launch Dr Fasihuddin Khan A book of poetry “Hudood–e-Shaam Se Agey”, by the prominent Sydney based Urdu Poet Arshad Saeed was released on Sunday 16 August at a gala dinner held at Himalaya Restaurant in Granville.

The event, hosted by Urdu International

Ahbab-e-Arshad Saeed, family and friends of the author, was attended by a large number of poets, artists, academics and community leaders from Sydney, Wolongong, Canberra, Melbourne as well from overseas.

The book launch ceremony was presided by well known poet/writer and journalist Mr. Ashraf Shad while the guest of honour was prominent Urdu poet,writer and columnist Mr. Muhammad Izhar ul Haq who both pointed out the salient features of Arshad Saeed’s poetry.

Other speakers at the event included Dr

From left: Ashraf Shad, Muhammad Izhar ul Haq, Arshad Saeed & Fasihuddin Khan

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Mohammad Ali, Dr Kausar Jamal, Dr Yasmeen Shad, Arif Rana, Syed Zeeshan Haider, Sana Javed Haque, Farjad Mahmood who highlighted selected passages from the book while praising the talents of the author.

“Hadood–e-Shaam Se Agey” is the first comprehensive poetry collection by Arshad Saeed focusing and incorporating romance, love, pain, sufferings, sadness and sentiments in his poetry. Arshad Saeed’s poetry is inspirational, emotional and spread the message of justice, equality, peace, coexistence and brotherhood.

The well attended event was also an outreach to associate Urdu with general masses and to open a debate on how to promote, preserve and propagate Urdu Language in Australia among young readers and children.

Dr Fasihuddin Khan, based in Sydney is the founder member of Urdu Society and ex-President of AMU Alumni of Australia.

He is a close friend of Arshad Saeed and acted as the MC at the event.

Guests of Honour at the book launch with the Author (right).

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September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL 23

I’m moving on to Cirebon MOBYDAYZE Mobinah Ahmad This is part 4 of the Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program series Read previous parts at http://goo.gl/yfYJzT On the day we arrived in Cirebon, we all were given nicknames. Sarah was called Gameelah (Beautiful), whilst I was called “INDIA” because of my cultural background. Umi would bellow out ‘INDIA!!!’ to get my attention. It was hilarious and I’ll never forget it.

Whilst getting a better feel for the city of Cirebon, we visited the grave of Sunan Gunung Jati, a 16th-century ruler of Cirebon. Sarah told me he is one of the nine legendary wali’s who helped to propagate Islam in Indonesia. It a place of worship for pilgrims from all over Java. We sat and joined the recitals and watched on as people entered to sent their salams.

Grave of Sunan Gunung Jati, Photo by Sarah Chaabo.

We then went to the town centre, Alunalun and visited the beautiful At Taqwa mosque. with its distinctive architecture to the rest of the mosques we’ve visited.

Sarah said that “Like many of the mosques we’ve visited here both men and women use the same entrance and enjoy the communal space out front with their families.”

We both commented on how amazing the environment created with the mosques here, especially when it comes to accommodating ample space for women.

The next day we were introduced to the wonders of the moving Mie Ayam cart. A man with a small blue cart equipped with a little stove to boil the broth as well as little bottles of sauces parked in front of the Pesantren.

When it was my turn to get the food, I ordered just some greens and noodles in broth, unsure of whether to order ‘street chicken’.

He asked me if I wanted a half or full serving. Ordinarily I would always go for a full serving, but as I was unsure of the taste - I ordered half. That was probably one of the top ten worst things I’ve ever done.

It was so good, so tasty and fresh and incredibly delicious. By the time I wanted more, the vendor had disappeared! I regretted my decision for the rest of the week.

Never had I had such amazing Mee Goreng.

It was one of the highlights of my trip.

Our hosts were Puat, Khotibul Umam, Ibnu and Muhammad wearing their traditional batik patterns of Cirebon.

That evening we went to a Batik making workshop and all had our turn learning such a beautiful ancient artform. It definitely is not as easy as it looks! The hot wax and learning the method was really inspiring.

We then went shopping to buy some Cirebon style batik. Two students dressed in their uniform noticed my camera and my general tourist demeanour and shyly asked if they could take a photo.

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Before I knew it, there were 50 school girls all wanting to take a photo with me.

I felt like a celebrity. They were from Smpt riyadlul ulum waddawah tasikmalaya cibeurem.

We visited NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) Board.

A photojournalist was there and snapped a photo of us as a group. Little did we know where the photo would lead to.

At the train station, the guard stamped my ticket and moved me on, however when Tasneem’s ticket was stamped - the guard instantly recognised her and held up the Cirebon newspaper with our smiling faces.

It was pretty exciting for us, the guard was kind enough to give us his copy of the newspaper. What a nice way to leave Cirebon.

Modest Street Fashion Photography by Benny Baharuddin

Mona, 24, Travel Agent The skirt was from an Islamic fashion store named Integrity Boutique. Denim jacket is from Sportsgirl. Scarf is from a random Asian store and my headscarf is from Amalia Collection. I go for a simple look with classics like denim jackets and black skirts and a bit of old school like these chucks.

September 2015

The Modest Street Fashion series will capture the diversity of expression and style. This series explores Sydney’s emerging modest fashion market.

Alvino, 22, Physiotherapist Jacket is from Industrie, shirt and pants are from Cotton On and the shoes are sponsored by Adidas. I like to wear basic colours, mostly neutral colours and white and something that stands out like my jacket.

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Farisa, 23. Work in Retail The boots are Wittner, the dress is from Glebe markets and I believe my jacket is from Top Shop and the bag is from Cream in Newtown. My style depends on my mood but I always have a bit of colour.

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LIFESTYLE

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

Social Media PDAs AMUST

Zeynab Gamieldien

‘Hubby made me breakfast in bed!’ (Accompanied by #marriedlife and a photo of said breakfast.)

We’ve all seen posts like this. Many of us have done the social media PDA thing and thought little of it. But what are we really trying to convey when we do and what effects does it have on those in our online vicinity?

Arguably, people who post things about their partners aren’t trying to convey a particular message at all. Many of us are so accustomed to sharing bits and pieces of our lives online that it becomes an entrenched, unthinking habit. Graduate? Post a graduation shot and watch the likes roll in. Wearing a cute new outfit? Post a selfie. Sitting at home on the couch? Snapchat a story about it. Sharing things about our partner simply becomes part and parcel of this unselfconscious sharing process.

The phenomena of making ‘announcements’ about our personal lives covers anything from a new job to a new car to a new handbag, but it’s particularly interesting to see how Muslims announce their relationships online. Because so many relationships remain undercover until the engagement, it can come as a complete surprise to many when a friend (i.e. some person we met once at a party) updates their relationship status to ‘Engaged’. (It’s rare that Muslims will update their status to ‘In a relationship’, given the ambiguity this seems to carry, but I’ve often thought that if Facebook had a ‘in-a-secret-getting-to-know-thing’ option, we’d be all over it.)

Many people post little hints before the

Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Grand Mufti of Australia has come in for strong support for organ donation.

“I am very pleased to have worked closely with the OTA and my advisors to proclaim a Fatwa in support of organ donation and I look forward to our ongoing partnership in helping inform my community,” said Dr Ibrahim.

For many people, faith is an important aspect of how lives are lived and how life decisions are made. In recognition of this, the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) has been working closely with the religious leadership in the Buddhist, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

“The OTA understands the significant role that faith can play for many people. In reaching out to the major religious leaders through the DonateLife .. the greatest gift campaign, we have gained as a mutual understanding about organ and tissue donation and forged close partnerships” said Ms Yael Cass, CEO of the OTA. “We have found that the majority of reli-

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Marriage Bureau

Seeker & Sought For An initiative by the Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare (IFEW)

Seekers

actual exchange of rings, but we seem to be used to people announcing their engagements or even marriages with little to no preamble.

A person’s posts about their partner often reflect the stages of the relationship as it progresses. Initially, there’s a lot of wonder, gratitude and general all-around mushiness. Love hearts and emojis will be thrown around willy-nilly. ‘Alhamdulillahs’ and ‘MashaAllahs’ will abound. Photos will often be high in volume and may be sweet and cutesy to the point of tooth decay. Once the wedding is over, wedding shots will be circulated for months to come, often with neat little hashtags to remind everyone that it’s been #threemonths.

But soon enough, these posts will decrease in their frequency and ones which

Fatwa supports organ donation Zia Ahmad

AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

gions allow and even encourage organ and tissue donation as the ultimate act of generosity” said Ms Cass.

“The Muslim faith places saving a life very highly” said Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed. “Islam accepts organ donation and is seen as an act of merit.”

OTA research shows that while religion plays a major role in many people’s lives, they are often unaware of their faith’s position on organ and tissue donation. People may also seek guidance from their Imams on this matter.

Deciding to register to become an organ and tissue donor means you could give life to someone with a serious or life threatening medical condition.

Staff in hospitals will assist families of potential organ donors in contacting a spiritual advisor and will help accommodate end of life practices related to the donor’s religion or culture.

For more information visit www.donatelife.gov.au. Information is available in a number of languages, as well as statements from several religions about their position on organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

are shared will begin to exhibit a quirkier, slightly irritating side to their partner, like them leaving their socks on the dining table or making a witty wisecrack at their other half’s expense.

And then there are those who remain completely undercover. No photos will be posted and no relationship statuses will be updated, leaving the general online populace slightly confused as to whether a wedding has actually taken place. For those who use their social media presence as a political/intellectual/da’wah tool, this lack of personal updates seems fairly standard. But their online silence regarding their partner arguably leaves room for potential misunderstandings and mishaps.

Some would argue that we have a responsibility to ensure that people know we are well and truly ‘off the market’, and that if our social media presence is silent on this issue, people may get the wrong idea. Is this person engaged, married, divorced or a unicorn? No one really knows.

Another issue to consider is the effect posting lovey dovey things about a partner may have on those who are struggling to find one. Frequently, we think about this from the perspective of attracting envy and the evil eye, but it’s also important to consider that the negative aspects of relationships are very rarely displayed. It’s easy to forget this when our newsfeeds are groaning under the weight of cutesy couple photos, but all relationships have their hidden struggles and disappointments, ones which aren’t easily packaged for social consumption.

The stories of sorrow behind the anniversary posts and the perfectly captured holiday shots are all too easy to miss, to the point where people even begin to compare their very real, flawed relationships to people’s heavily edited Facebook relationships.

How, when and why we share things about our relationships still seems to be somewhat unclear. As with any of the things we share, there’s no real ‘need’ to do so, but there’s also nothing inherently wrong with expressing joy and gratitude for our blessings. In fact, if we weren’t able to do so on social media, it’d be a pretty bleak, boring and meme-ridden space.

Family and friends all over the world can be connected to celebrations and even people they’ve never physically met, and this can only be a beautiful thing. But it’s also important to think carefully about the way in which we depict our relationships and how this may feed into a general culture of gratuitous, narcissistic oversharing. We don’t need to tell all 500 of our followers every time our partner buys us a chocolate muffin; we can just thank them personally and tuck right in.

Zeynab is an Australian lawyer, social inquirer, traveller and chronic human observer. She created Love Haqtually as a space for Muslims (and anyone interested) to discuss relationships, love, the weirdness of being a Muslim in the 21st century.

Australasian Muslim Times

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F157: Female, age 35, an Australian from Bangladesh An accountant working as a finance manager. Enjoys reading books, likes cooking and loves to travel. Seeking for an educated and practicing Muslim who comes from a good family.

F156: Female, 23, New Zealand-Indian, Engineer I enjoy reading books, learning more about Islam, exercise, cooking, watching tennis and socialising with friends.

I am a practicing Muslimah and enjoy attending community Islamic events.

I work for a multinational company. I am seeking an educated, honest, caring, loving, upright and religiously compatible life partner who is committed to grow with me to achieve our dreams of fulfilling life together.

F155: Female, 29. Sri Lankan Indian (Bahrain), Pharmacist I enjoy spending time with family, reading books, cooking Arab dishes. I read the Quran and pray 5 times a day.

I’m looking for a Muslim man, aged between 30-35 yeas old, who is cultured, open-minded and who has high respect in family values.

M156: Male 58 divorced Pakistani Australian. I have been in Australia for 30 years and worked in IT and now I am retired. I am seeking for a Sunni muslimah widow or divorced from any culture.

M154: Male, 42. Pakistani Australian, Accountant I come from a respectable family, I have been brought up with traditional Pakistani culture. I am a Sunni Muslim. I like reading Islamic Books, attending Islamic seminars and meeting friends of a similar background. I also like watching movies, listening to music and watching various sports. I am looking for a Sunni Muslim Pakistani woman who is educated and comes from a respectable family background.

M153: Male, 32, Sri Lankan Australian, Engineer. I’m an engineer and revert to Islam. I have high emaan. My hobbies are fitness, reading, learning Arabic, engineering, modern history, cafés and restaurants, innovation. I’m looking for a devout practicing Muslim (Sunni) sister from any cultural background. Ideally a sister with very high emaan.

M152: Male, 33, Indian Australian, Financial Analyst. I’m a revert to Islam, and I work as a financial analyst in a multi-national IT company seeking an educated Muslim woman from a cultured family.

See More at www.amust.com.au/seekers Placing/Responding a notice If you would like to place or respond to a notice, fill out the matrimonial form at: www.amust.com.au/marriage-bureau All information is held in strict confidence

September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

EDUCATION

SOCIAL 23

AMUST

The 99 Divine attributes of Allah Part 13 - Attributes 56-58 of Allah BEYOND THE BOX Dr Q Ashfaq Ahmad This issue continues the series exclusive to AMUST on the 99 divine attributes of Allah.

Read previous parts at www.goo.gl/L1wvP2

56. Al Hameed – The Most Praiseworthy And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful to Allah .”

And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] - then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Most Praiseworthy.

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah . Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.

But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.

[And Luqman said], “O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.

O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] resolve.

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.

Do you not see that Allah has made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply bestowed upon you His favors, [both] apparent and unapparent? But of the people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book [from Him].

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our fathers.” Even if Satan was inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze?

And whoever submits his face to Allah while he is a doer of good - then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of [all] matters.

And whoever has disbelieved - let not his disbelief grieve you. To Us is their return, and We will inform them of what they did.

Indeed, Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.

We grant them enjoyment for a little; then We will force them to a massive punishment.

And if you asked them, “Who created the heavens and earth?” they would surely say, “ Allah .” Say, “[All] praise is [due] to Allah “; but most of them do not know.

To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Indeed, Allah is the Free of need and the Most Praiseworthy” (Luqmān, 31: 12-26) 57. Al-Muhsi – The Reckoner Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and

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what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it – When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said, “Indeed, we are messengers to you They said, “You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies.

They said, “Our Rabb knows that we are messengers to you, And we are not responsible except for clear notification.”

They said, “Indeed, we consider you a bad omen. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and there will surely touch you, from us, a painful punishment.

They said, “Your omen is with yourselves.

Is it because you were reminded? Rather, you are a transgressing people.”

And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers.

Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided.

And why should I not worship He who created me and to whom you will be returned?

Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me?

Indeed, I would then be in manifest error.

Indeed, I have believed in your Rabb , so listen to me.”

It was said, “Enter Paradise.” He said, “I wish my people could know Of how my Rabb has forgiven me and placed me among the honored.”

And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so.

It was not but one blast (from the sky), and immediately they were extinguished.”

(Yā seen, 36:12-29) 58. Al-Mubdi’ – The Originator Indeed, your Rabb is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days1 and then established Himself above the Throne2, arranging the matter [of His creation].

There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah, your Rabb, so worship Him3. Then will you not remember4?

To him is your return all together5. (It is) the promise of Allah, (which is) truth6. Indeed, he begin the (process of) creation and then repeats it that He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds, in justice.7 But those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they used to deny8.

It is He who made the sun a shinning light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases – that you may know the number of years and accounts of (of time).

Allah has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know Indeed, in the alternation of the night and day and (in) what, Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allah 9.”

(Yunus, 10:3-6) 1. The word ‘day’ can be used similar to a twenty four hours period or considered as a day or could be considered as an epoch used in chapter number 22 al-Hajj verse 17 where one day is considered equivalent to 1000 years. Allah knows the absolute truth.

2. Allah does not become defunct after the performance of creation. Rather He accepted His own governance of the universe and now looking over all its management. It is very difficult for us

to decipher the word Throne (Arsh) in the Quran given by Allah. It may be either a pious reverend locality as the status of Allah’s Grace and Blessing or are maybe taken as the locality of Allah’s Sovernance. This word is basically one of the mutashabihat (not actually clear); mostly these expressions are beyond the human perception this phrase is used in the Quran that Allah is not only mere the Creator of the universe but also the Planner and the Executor of the affairs of the worlds.

3. No other being has any jurisdiction to interfere in the management and affairs of the universe. Neither anyone can get any divine decree changed. The much that can be performed by anyone is to supplicate to Allah about his or her ideas for plans but again it entirely rests upon the Almighty to accept or reject it.

4. Rabubiyah (Sovereignty) entirely belongs to Allah It consists of three performance; a) Nourishment, b) Control and c) Management. Hence the three performance of worship, slavery and submission are out of question for the Almighty Supreme.

5. After the declaration of this reality, will you not open your eyes and persist in the foolish indulgent behaviour.

6. This is the second principle of the teaching about Resurrection. Finally your Rabb (Lord) is only Allah Himself and therefore you have to worship Him and after rendering the best for this world every human has to give the account for all his deeds and actions.

7. This expression is the consolidation of the claims and arguments carried together. The assertion is that Allah shall create the humans after the departure from this world again. And the argument is that by entering the human beings first time it has been established that Allah has started the process of creation first. And therefore it is not impossible that Allah would repeat the task of the humans recreation again.

8. Since the non-believers have been destined to drink scorching boiled water and unbearing punishment because of the dis-

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belief of the truth. Now the repetition of creation is essential by virtue of justice and logical. It is quite just that the both groups of persons believers and non-believers deserve to get well reward and punishment in full. If still it is not fulfilled in the present duration of life then it shall be compensated in future after death.

9. This is the third argument for the resurrection faith. All the manifestations of the divine performance is present before the humans as the glaring indications and proofs of divine manifestations in the presence of day, moon, night and other phenomena.

All these provide clear indications that the Creator of the universe is not a simple child who has begun all these only for the sake of enjoyment or sport for children.

It is clearly manifested that in each and every performance of Allah there is wisdom, strategies and full purposiveness.

Since the manifestations and signs of all His wisdom have been obviously presented before then how do you expect that after handing over the powers and control of the world affairs Allah would not take an account of your dealings in this world. Therefore Allah can never leave any task incomplete.

It is quite obvious that all the manifestations and realities in the performance of life are directing towards the hidden realities. Still, the full realization and understanding of the whole divine system can be procured only by those who have the following two virtues: a) Should be totally above the prejudices and favours and bias for a particular system of knowledge and take everything honestly according to their own human nature b) In their own self there should be sincere earnest desire to avoid all the mistakes and adopt the true procedures and methodologies.

Continued in AMUST issue #119 October

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EDUCATION

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

LIFESTYLE 14 - 16

Removing the First Nations People Bilal Cleland As a First Fleeter, a former teacher of Australian History and as a Muslim I am acutely aware of our past. The memory of what our forebears were part of is constantly on my mind.

When my great great great grandparents came to Australia in 1788 and 1791, there were hundreds of nations speaking hundreds of languages across this continent. The diseases we brought from the cesspools that were the industrial towns of England in the 1700s decimated the indigenous population, even before the shootings started. My convict forebears were on Norfolk Island where there was no indigenous population to wipe out.

One of the features written about in 1788 was the presence of millions of birds on the island. They were soon eaten. Ellen Wainwright and Thomas Guy were in the first settlement, which was relatively benign. It was closed in the early 1800s and everyone moved to Van Diemen’s Land. It was reopened in the 1830s as a place of secondary punishment. A place so terrible that men drew lots as to who was to kill the others, so they would be hanged, to escape the torture of the place.

Granted land in the Derwent Valley,

near New Norfolk, my ancestors did well.

My great great great grandfather, originally sentenced to death as a highwayman in Gloucester England, became a constable in 1815. If his sentence had not been commuted to transportation for life, I would not have come into existence. When they arrived in their new home there was a thriving community of indigenous inhabitants. By the time my great great great grandmother died in 1839, they had been all but eradicated.

One of their daughters, my great great grandmother, married a recently transported convict and crossed Bass Strait to Portland in 1837. They were, with the Henty family, the first white settlers in Western Victoria.

Indigenous tribes were plentiful in that area as there were many animals to hunt and the climate was relatively mild. By the 1870s they had been so decimated that they were concentrated onto mission stations, where they were Christianised, forbidden to speak

their language and forbidden to perform traditional ceremonies. In one generation cultural genocide was carried out.

My great grandmother and grandfather lived near the Condah Aboriginal Mission, where the indigenous tribe had lived for centuries in stone homes, near fish traps cut into the rock, which are still famous but unfortunately, neglected.

The history of convict transportation is blood curdling, as anyone who has visited the convict prisons in Tasmania can bear witness. Marcus Clarke’s “For the Term of His Natural Life” written in the 1870s, gives a good, partly fictional, impression of the highpoint of the system on Norfolk Island and in Tasmania. However the suffering which this work displays is as nothing compared to the suffering and physical and cultural genocide of our First Nations people.

When we hear otherwise normal civilized looking people denigrate the indigenous people of this country we must speak up.

The recent attempted humiliation of Adam Goodes brought all this to mind for millions of Australians who are aware of their history and who love their country.

We cannot allow the blight of past crimes destroy our future, which is what will happen if racism and bigotry are encouraged by stupid, shortsighted politicians without strong popular opposition.

Evolution and the Believer

Dr Herman Roborgh

No scientific theory has yet succeeded in explaining the origin of life. Darwin’s theory of evolution was a theory about natural selection, not a theory about the origin of life.

The beauty of humans, animals and plants in the universe requires the existence of someone who brought this beauty into being. Just as a painting does not just appear from nowhere but requires the work of a painter, the presence of design and beauty in the universe points to the work of an Intelligent Designer.

The theory of evolution claims that new species have developed from already existing species and that this process of evolution gradually led to the appearance of human beings on this planet.

But while there is much evidence of adaptation and mutation in the natural world, there is no evidence of inter-species evolution. All we can say is that each species has learnt to adjust to its own changing environment.

God is the Creator of each and every human being. But God does allow humans to pass through some sort of change and development. The Qur’an suggests that God

creates life in stages.

Why will you not fear God’s majesty, when He has created you stage by stage?

Have you ever wondered how God created seven heavens, one above the other, placed the moon as a light in them and the sun as a lamp, how God made you spring forth from the earth like a plant . . .

(Surah Nuh 71:13-17,) While the above verse is usually understood to refer to the development of a human being in the mother’s womb, this verse also suggests that God is the One who brings forth a variety of life forms, each one dependent on its own, unique environment for its continued life and growth.

Many species have disappeared due to the damage done to their habitat. The whole universe is subject to the effects of climate change. The Qur’an describes the delicate way life is formed in the womb to make us more aware of life in all its forms.

It is God who created the heavens and the earth and everything between them in six Days . . . He first created man from clay, then made his descendants from an extract of underrated fluid. Then He moulded him; He breathed from His Spirit into him; He gave you hearing, sight, and minds. How seldom you are grateful!

(Surah Al-Sajda 32: 4 & 7-9)

One thing the theory of evolution can do for us is to make us more aware of the variety of life forms that God has created.

The invitation for believers is to recognize that God is the Source of this enormous variety. By becoming more aware of the fact that God constantly sustains all these different life forms and allows them to grow and adjust to their changing environment, we may discover the desire within us to care for

our physical universe.

Dr Herman Roborgh, spent many years working in Indonesia and Pakistan as a missionary. After completing his PhD in Islamic Studies from Aligarh Muslim University in India,he returned to Australia where he is engaged in various projects connected with interfaith dialogue. He lives in Melbourne and can be contacted at herman.roborgh@ yahoo.com

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Calling people by what they are Rev Dr Patrick McInerney Half a century ago, the Catholic Church released a ground-breaking document. It was entitled: Nostra Aetate, Latin for “In Our Day”.

The rest of the title was, “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”. The body to implement this radical new teaching was called, The Secretariate for Non-Christian Religions.

At the time, no one questioned the name “non-Christian”.

However, slowly the awareness dawned that it is inappropriate to call people by what they are not. Muslims are Muslims; they are not “non-Christians”. Buddhists are Buddhists; they are not “non-Christians”.

Hindus are Hindus; they are not “non-Christians”. And so on. In this light, the negative descriptor became unacceptable.

Because it is important to call people by what they are, not by what they are not, in 1988 Pope John Paul II changed the name of the Secretariate for Non-Christians to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The new name better reflects a positive engagement with people from other faiths, reaching out to them in dialogue as they are.

In recent weeks we have seen polarizing attitudes being expressed on the AFL field, with accusations of racism. While we must

stand up against such negative discrimination, the odd thing is that by using the very word “racism”, we may in fact be aiding and abetting the very thing that we oppose. We inadvertently give the impression that we are two races, a black race and a white race, not the one human race.

I have noted in recent years that as Muslims grow in numbers and self-confidence they sometimes assert “the Muslim community”. I hear Muslims talk proudly of “the community”. This is fine. It is great. It is wonderful to be proud of one’s own community. It is right and proper, especially in an atmosphere of Islamophobia when some are

Media Scan

that sound the death knell for freedom of expression in Egypt”, Amnesty International said in a statement.

Washington and the United Nations had called for the journalists’ release, and their trial was seen as damaging to the country’s international standing.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists at least 18 journalists, many accused of being part of the Muslim Brotherhood, are behind bars in Egypt.

Ainullah

Halal creates Australian jobs and is not a tax - Aus Gov Halal certification assists in job and wealth creation, particularly in regional areas, and those voicing opposition to the process have “a lack of understanding” about how it works, according to a government department. In a detailed rebuttal to arguments circulated by anti-halal activists, the Department of Industry and Science bluntly

In Australia, there should be no “us” and “them”, no “black” and “white”, no “Christian” and “non-Christian”, no “Muslim” and “non-Muslim”. We are a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious society. Yes, we follow diverse religions - but at the heart

of each of them is the teaching that the “other” is my “brother” and “sister” and “mother”; and the Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated” (Mat 7:12, Lk 6:31), or in modern language, “tweet others as you want to be tweeted!”.

By getting to know one another, we give birth to new possibilities, to wider horizons, to bigger minds, to expanded hearts. We are all citizens together, equal under the law, with the same rights and responsibilities. As such, we should “…. do right to all manner of people …. without fear or favour, affection, or ill-will.”

I congratulate the organizers of MEFF for their 31 years of serving the whole community. Yes, MEFF is a Muslim Eid festival, but people of all cultures, all religions and all citizens are invited. This is the generous, open, welcoming, hospitable type of society we need to promote, to protect and to celebrate.

I hope and pray that MEFF may continue to provide this example of hospitality and openness for generations to come.

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney, based Sydney is Director of the Columban Mission Institute and Coordinator of of its Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations. This is a slightly edited version of his speech given at the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair (MEFF) held on Sunday 2 August 2015 at Fairfield Showground.

Greste sentenced to at least three years’ jail Peter Greste and his Al Jazeera colleagues Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have been sentenced to at least three years’ jail at a retrial in a Cairo court.

The trio were charged with supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood and operating in Egypt without a licence.

Amal Clooney, lawyer for Fahmy said “It sends a message that journalists can be locked up for simply doing their job, for telling the truth and reporting the news,” “And it sends a dangerous message that there are judges in Egypt who will allow their courts to become instruments of political repression and propaganda.”She said.

The sentences are “an affront to justice

fearful of and hostile to Islam and Muslims (or more accurately, to their false perception of Islam and Muslims). So this positive Muslim self-esteem is indeed a good thing.

But there is a problem if this positive affirmation hides a shadow side, that “the (Muslim) community” is set over against “them”, the “other”, the “non-Muslim community”.

AMUST

rejected the accusation that the process – by which foods are certified as appropriate for practicing Muslims to consume in line with religious specifications – imposes any kind of tax on other consumers.

Indonesia’s beef with Australia

First, dependence on Australian live cattle, boxed beef and wheat imports greatly undermines Indonesia’s food security. Bilateral trade in this area rests on a fragile foundation. Indonesia continues to find itself held hostage to Canberra’s quasi-tribal

domestic politics. Indonesia is often treated merely as a rhetorical device whose interests and insecurities deserve neither consideration nor consultation. Jakarta’s growing reluctance to steadily continue, let alone expand, its trade with Canberra is the result of numerous precedents of perceived Australian unfairness toward Indonesia.

(Pierre Marthinus, Jakarta Post 18August 2015)

Asylum seekers on Nauru waterboarded by guards

Jon Nichols worked in the island’s Australian backed detention centre for almost two years, and says on two or three occasions he observed asylum seekers leaving a tent in which he believes they were waterboarded. While he did not witness an actual incident of waterboarding, he said staff later boasted about performing it. Nichols told a Senate Inquiry this evening that the asylum seekers targeted were Palestinian, and he

observed them leaving ‘tent 11’ coughing up water. “I’ve seen members of the [Wilson] Emergency Response Team exit tents and later I’ve seen asylum seekers come out of these tents, come out of them covered in water, coughing,” he said.

(Max Chalmers. New Matilda 20 August 2015

(Max Chalmers New Matilda 19 August 2015)

The new inquisition: Are you now or ever been a Muslim?

Dawkins has flatly dismissed any need to know anything about religion itself, saying such a requirement would be akin to demanding expertise in “fairyology” before being able to dismiss belief in fairies. Yet the fact is, if someone is going to actually criticise the substance of a system of belief and rituals relating to fairies, and claim that those practices and beliefs are actually harmful, that person should actually know what they’re talking about. One doesn’t need to know much about fairies to dismiss belief in them as nonsense.

However, Dawkins goes much further,

September 2015

without feeling any concomitant need to actually be informed on the subjects he talks about. The new atheists have garnered quite a devoted, even fanatical following, and it’s not hard to see why. Their message is essentially that religious people are idiots, atheists are really rational and logical, and the super-smart atheists need to band together to fight backwards religious folk and their pernicious beliefs and agenda.

(Michael Brull New Matilda 19 Aug 2015)

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NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

LIFESTYLE 14 - 16

Pakistan: Time for analysis AMUST

Hasan Fazeel

On 14 August 2015, Pakistan turned 68 and the birthday celebrations were held by Pakistanis living all across the globe.

The idea of Pakistan was to establish an independent Islamic state in the North West of India - where Muslims can live Islam in their daily life, where all citizens will be free to practice their religion and will be protected by the state promoting mutual respect, tolerance, justice and merit based educational and employment opportunities.

The idea was later converted into a national Indian Muslim Anthem, “Pakistan ka matlab kya LA ILAHA ILLALLAH.” (What does Pakistan mean, ALLAH is the ONE).

This anthem became the binding force and the spark amongst the Indian Muslims to strive for the cause of Pakistan.

And finally it became a reality after a political struggle of 31 years on 27 Ramadhan eve.

During the partition, lives were lost, women raped and abducted, children butchered, literal rivers of fire and blood; more than a

million people were killed in riots. Close your eyes and imagine you have to cross the very street you grew up playing in by hopping over bodies and blood – food for thought; millions went through this and live to date with those nightmares.

Allah’s Sunnah is to give a chance to prove yourself when you promise and commit; and this is what Allah did back then by giving Pakistan to the Muslims of the sub-continent to establish a true Islamic state, like Prophet Mohammad (s) formed an Islamic state in Madinah. The state of Madinah - where all religions were protected and practiced freely, everyone’s dignity, life and property were safe.

Unfortunately that Pakistan never came into being, geographical boundaries were set but the idea got lost after the formation of this new country. The history of Pakistan is full of controversies, injustice, targeted killing, racial clash and the list goes on.

On a positive not yet, Pakistan has contributed, in a short span of its existence in the field of sports, music, literature, science, The core problem is the betrayal to Allah; for not fulfilling the promise for establishing a just Islamic state.

Rationale of Pakistan is long lost by Pakistanis during the last 68 years and we need, impartial and impassionate analysis of the

current situation of Pakistan in the light of its history; re-visit the promise their fore fathers have given to Allah and start acting towards keeping this promise.

People will have to bring individual change and it will immediately start impacting over the entire system - the time will eventually come when Allah will shower His blessings upon the nation.

On 14 August every year it should not only be a proud moment to celebrate Paki-

My reflections after a trip to Afghanistan Mahdi Housaini Recently I came back from an Afghanistan trip that I was anticipating for a long time. And now that I have seen it, I cannot wait to get back. Something powerful pulls on me from that land.

On the roads I always boldly stood out of the sunroof and I gazed around as our car sped swift onwards. My mouth was halfopen out of wonder and I wasn’t blinking as I took in the beautiful nature, the lush green, the soaring mountains and the roaring river below and the sweet, colorfully-clad children playing by.

I don’t like exaggeration, but I simply cannot leave out the fact that at some points I felt that I was at the gate of heaven, so beautiful the scene ahead was. And all these natural wonders would have been colorless for me were they not brimming with some of the best humans of the world, the brave and the graceful. The defiant men and women who united to kick the communist empire out of their country and they did, and the men and women whose kindness and

whose hospitality is what you come across in fairy tales.

Almost every night that I was in Kabul I would go up on the roof and for a while I would watch the city. Kabul looks magical at night. Mountains surround it and there are houses built on them and their lights shine at night and so it looks as though the mountains are studded with a thousand stars! And what I came to realize to the bones during my time in Afghanistan and on that last night on the roof, was that this country has so many stories.

Truth is, earlier that day a bunch of kids swarmed the car that I was in and all their hands were reaching towards me, they had seen the packet of money that was in my hand and that from it I was giving money to one of their friends. The whole thing was so grotesque. But it was also deeply sad. I thought later that night at the roof that each one of those extended hands represented a tragic story of loss, desperation and suffering.

Of course I also went to Mahboba’s Promise orphanages and I came to deeply feel affections for the orphans there, like

they were my little brothers and sisters. I was so surprised at first at how quickly they warmed up to me, how joyfully they clung to me and insisted with childish passion that I don’t leave them. But I realized later that it was because they were deprived of love and attention in their own lives, that was the reason why they wanted me to be with them so much.

Afghanistan is a beautiful but bleeding country. That was my experience. 30 years of literally imposed war has devastated a people. But oh how gracious they are! How good they make you feel! And it’s the kind who deserve to be shown kindness the most.

For more information about Mahboba’s Promise activities in Afghanistan refer to the website at www.mahbobaspromise.org or call the office at 02 9887 1665.

Mahdi Housaini has been working as an intern in the Mahboba’s Promise office. He writes about how development has been and should remain a key focus objective for organisations working in Afghanistan.

stan’s independence but to re-visit the history, look within oneself, plead to Allah for forgiveness, guidance, plan to act and then act.

Then and only then, we can be proud of not only having the gift of Pakistan on the 27th night of Ramadhan but celebrate for delivering the long forgotten promise.

Hasan Fazeel is a Sydney based IT professional of Pakistani origin.

HAIA Qurban Project 2015 Junaidi Amzar An annual sacrifice made by Muslims around the world every year during the time of Hajj, Qurban commences on 10 Dhul-Hijjah (the first day of Eid Ul Adha) and continues until 13 Dhul-Hijjah.

Human Appeal International Australia undertakes Qurban every single year as a major project. Last year we distributed over 40,000 Qurbans in 21 different destinations around the world.

This year HAIA continues its Qurban Project, a distinct and leading campaign in which we facilitate the donors in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji to donate their Qurban to the poor and needy.

For only $ 120 HAIA, on behalf of its donors, will purchase and slaughter the Qurban, ship and distribute the meat to beneficiaries in: Syria, to Syrian refugees, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Indonesia, Fiji and Solomon Islands.

HAIA also is implementing local Qurban Projects in Somalia, Cambodia, Sudan, Eritrean refugees , Tunisia, Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burmese refugees, Sri Lanka and India.

The HAI Qurban Project will be implemented as follows depending on the capabilities available in each country: Local sacrifice: the purchase of sacrificial animals, slaughtering, then distributing the meat, this way beneficiaries can eat fresh meat of Qurban on Eid days.

Frozen sacrifice: the purchase and slaughter of sacrificial animals in Australia, where they are cut up into six parts, each part packaged separately, full Qurban per box, then shipping of meat in refrigerated containers to be distributed to the beneficiaries.

Canned sacrifice: the purchase and slaughter of sacrificial animals in Australia packaged and shipped for distribution to the poor and needy as per the above mentioned countries. In this process meat is cooked and kept in cans, then boxed. In this way meat can be kept for a long time guaranteed to reach remote areas.

To participate in the Qurban project, please call us on 1300 760 155 or visit us online at www.humanappeal.org.au

The author with Afghan children.

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September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

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FlightFox: The key to multi-trip planning WAYFERER’S COMPASS Sana Gillani I often say that half the joy of a trip is the planning stage. This time round, however, I have felt the stress of organising a more complex itinerary.

Initially, my husband and I had made the intention to travel to perform Umrah and visit family and friends in countries along the way as well. We later learned we would not be able to travel for Umrah this year as our travel availability dates clash with the end of the Hajj season, in which you cannot obtain a visa to Saudi for Umrah. Allah is the best of planners, and we will do what we can to achieve this in the future, inshaAllah!

We still intend to visit family and friends, however, we’ve decided to couple that with a trip to Iran via a brief visit to Turkey, God-willing. Iran has special significance to me as part of my ancestry lies there, a part of my heritage yet unexplored. Despite this being an ambitious and seemingly expensive journey, we haven’t been deterred and have gone about planning our multi-city vacation.

I began by approaching Flight Centre with my proposed itinerary, which at the time included Saudi. Now Saudi is replaced with Jordan, where we will visit some friends and sight-see but other than that the itinerary is pretty much the same as our original plan.

Flight centre gave me a quote exceeding AUD (Aussie Dollar) 3500 per passenger for the entire trip. I expected as much, but I wondered how possible it would be to cut the price down so that we could purchase both of our tickets within a budget of AUD 5000. That would mean we’d need to receive a quote reduced by at least AUD 1000.

My friend and contributor to this site, Zeynab, mentioned the Flightfox service

to me (well she had forgotten the name and referred to it as “something with a ‘cat’ in it”). She had heard that the service was especially useful for booking multi-city trips, and the concept of the site sounded promising. The way it works is pretty simple.

You provide a Flightfox agent some details about your planned itinerary, they get back to you usually within 48 hours and suggest a set of bookings for your trip. They charge an outright fee for the service, and are not working on commission. You can detail your preferences with them in a chat style communication feature which is set up on their website for you. My agent, Alex, was quite responsive and understanding of our needs. He answered our questions helpfully and we were quite satisfied with the bookings he suggested to us.

Flightfox agents search far and wide to source the best flight and try to meet the preferences you specify, including: number of stop overs, time spent in transit and even which airlines you prefer. Flightfox also know how to source flights from the domestic and budget airlines that aren’t easily found in your own online searches. They take a lot of the hard work out of piecing together a complex itinerary, which can often take a lot of time to figure out on your own, and are often a lot more efficient than mainstream travel agents. Unlike using a regular travel agent, it is yourself that needs to make the individual bookings for each flight. This was the part of the process we found the most difficult, but we don’t necessarily attribute that to Flightfox. They provided us with all the links to make the online bookings and payments for our flights, and explained the steps clearly. The issues that arose were with some of the online booking sites. Some international booking sites are in languages other than English and you have

to figure out how to change the language to English and book correctly. One of the online booking sites also rejected our booking as the payment verification from banks is not always smooth, and can be cancelled as a revenue protection measure. Thankfully, our agent provided us with alternative booking options online, and we were able to be refunded (after waiting a week or so) and book. It was fortunate that we didn’t miss out on the cheap flights despite the troubles.

Considering the number of flights in our trip, we were charged a fee that equated to approximately AUD 190. This was a reasonable price to me, given it was inclusive of two passengers, and that our overall savings from the booking was substantial. Through Flightfox, we were successfully able to meet our budget. Using Flightfox does mean that

Travelling Around the World Mobinah Ahmad

September 2015

Wayferer’s Compass is a Muslim Travel Hub created by Sana Gillani. This article was originaly posted on www.wayfererscompass.com.

(Left) A fishing boat floats on an ocean of green and blue hues with beautiful mountains in the distance.

(Phuket, Thailand) (Below) Unwrapped Paan: A betal leaf filled with coconut, maraschino cherries, herbs and spices wrapped up. Eaten as a dessert snack. (Delhi, India)

Ever since I could remember, I’ve had the privilege of visiting different countries each year.

Throughout my travels, I’ve learnt to understand how other people live in their own culture, religion and socio economic status.

It has made me appreciate all the privileges I am accustomed to, and be thankful for what I have.

Travel has shaped who I am, I have developed a great insight into history, traditional and modern cultural food, architecture, art and traditions of each countries I’ve been to.

Travel has given me the resources to be able to engage with people of all cultures and religions.

I’ve been to India (north and south), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, America, England, Morocco, Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Egypt, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Abu Dhabi and more.

My passion for travel continues as I visit China this November.

Young boys embrace each other for a photo. (Tangier, Morocco)

you do need to be more involved as you are completing the actual bookings once they create an itinerary for you. You also need to make yourself available to be quickly responsive when organising the itinerary with your agent. The benefits are desirable enough to go through the process. I would feel confident in recommending the Flightfox service, especially to people booking more complex journeys.

Have you used Flightfox before? If so, what’s your review? Are there any similar services online that can be recommended?

Two young girls do their washing on steps that lead into a nearby river. (Aleppi, India)

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A man looks out of the window of the Mezquita, a beautiful mosque, turned into a Cathedral. (Cordoba, Spain)

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BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 13

LIFESTYLE 14 - 16

Review: Crew-sing through the United States AMUST

Afzal Ansar

If you’re someone who enjoys a racing game with beautiful, customisable cars, but gets bored of the usual race-to-thefinish-line gameplay, The Crew is what you’re looking for.

At first glance, the game seems to lack in its graphics quality, but as you speed through the streets of the United States in over forty main missions, prove yourself in eight different skill types, and swap from all-terrain trucks to exotic sports cars to suit the occasion, you’ll quickly forget about that. And while the game is designed for multiplayer, most of it is just as suitable for single player.

Underlying the beautiful gameplay of The Crew is a deep story following Alex Taylor

as he joins the FBI to take vengeance on the leader of a nation-wide underground motor club named the 5-10s. As he travels from state to state, he recruits friends to help him rise through the ranks of the criminal organisation.

The multiplayer game features five distinct car specifications; you’ll find yourself teaming up with friends and other online players to weave through the streets of New York in your Street car, drifting on dirt roads in your Dirt spec, racing down Route 66 in your Performance supercar, taking down rivals in your Raid truck, and hugging the racing line of designated tracks in your exotic Circuit spec.

However, you’ll find that the game has its fair share of drawbacks. The first few missions, which are completed in your Street car, are quite short and hence less rewarding. Once you move onto Performance, the races will become much lengthier, allowing the pace to ramp up to frantic speeds as you

narrowly dodge traffic on windy highways.

The rubber-banding is also definitely lacking; if your car is too levelled up in lategame, the other AI racers will fall behind in the first stretch, and the distance will grow as the race progresses. This isn’t an issue during multiplayer, when you can focus on beating your friend – but when you’re playing alone, it often feels like more of a cruise than a race.

On top of that, don’t expect the police chases to be too challenging. While this isn’t the game’s main feature, this is one aspect that could have been implemented much better. I’ve found myself too easily losing track of the cops because they can’t keep up, and this takes away from the enjoyment of having the police hot on your heels while drifting around the block.

While the game can definitely be enjoyed in single player, I would recommend grab-

bing a few friends and hitting the roads. If none of your friends are crazy for a racing game (or, alternatively, if you have no friends…), you can join up with whoever’s online around the world to give yourself a better challenge. Either way, The Crew is a truly enjoyable game for the story-driven gamers looking for varied gameplay.

The Crew

Available on PC, PS4, XBO Overall Gameplay Story Graphics

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National Zakat Foundation (NZF) Are you a Muslim here in Australia • struggling to make ends meet or know someone who is • need help to calculate your Zakat • pay your Zakat or Sadaqah?

SAMAA South Asian Muslim Association of Australia (SAMAA) aims to provide care to the elderly of South Asian Muslim Community.

Phone: (02) 9543 9769 Website: www.samaa.org.au

Hygienic Spray (for toilet) Shattaf Tahara Spray. Stainless steel hose.

Including free installation with diverter/ connector. Long distance charges apply Phone: 0418 204 251 Email: sasdqi@gmail.com

Fujiyama Japanese cuisine 100% Halal Japanese made by chefs with 12 years experience in Japan. Contact our team today for catering enquiries big or small.

Phone: 0490 402 164 Website: www.facebook.com/ FujiyamaJapaneseCuisine

Contact NZF on 1300 663 729 or info@nzf.org.au today!

NZF is the premier Zakat institution for the Australian Muslim community, serving Zakat payers and receivers locally since 2013.

Australian Relief Organisation (ARO) Our mission is to help people from all races, ages, religions, and social statuses in order to spread kindness around the world and to create and follow social support models.

Phone: (02) 8065 8469 Website: www.aro.org.au

UAK Design Design and construction. Architectural & structural plans, Renovation & Extensions, Project Management, Duplex, Granny Flat.

Phone: 0411 081 624 Email: info@uakdesign.com.au

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Great Wall Kitchen Great Wall Kitchen makes great Indian style Halal Chinese food. We are located at 154 Haldon Street, NSW. Phone: (02) 9759 9531 Website: www.facebook.com/gwkhalal

Halal Square Australia’s favourite online guide to restaurants and eateries offering halal food, halal groceries and restaurant reviews.

Covering all major capital cities in Australia Website: www.halalsquare.com.au

Human Appeal International Human Appeal International (HAI) works on a number of charitable causes, specialising in areas from Social and Educational Development to Health Care and Emergency Relief.

Phone: 1300 760 155 Website: www.humanappeal.org.au Islamic Relief Australia Islamic Relief Australia promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease.

Phone: 1300 308 554 Website: www.islamic-relief.com.au

Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair MEFF provides stallholders the opportunity to sell or promote to the Muslim community. Stall bookings open on Monday 20 May 2015 Phone: (02) 9823 2063 Website: www.meff.com.au

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AMUST is circulated among all Australians but specifically targets the Muslim population of Australia. It is distributed to a variety of communities, different faith groups and government bodies within Australia.

AMUST lets you reach thousands of people all over the world with its website and email newsletter advertising. AMUST also has a strong online presence that includes social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+

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Homebush Halal Meats A halal butcher in Ashfield, provides you with the best and freshest halal meats in the area. We stock lamb, beef, goat, poultry and game meat.

Phone: (02) 9799 7049 Website: www.homebushhalalmeats.com.au

September 2015

EDUCATION 17 - 18

UMMAH 19 - 20

TOP 5 Muslim Memes

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

#SOCIAL TOP 4

SOCIAL 23

TOP 5

VIDEO

Instagram Accounts

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Facebook Pages to Like

To Watch

Fashion Edition

@Deldaga

@haifaalabel

Ever since Youtube started, tutorials have been a great tool for users to watch and learn how to do anything, from boiling an egg to putting on your hijab.

Have you ever wanted to change up your hijab style but have had the dismaying experience of sitting in front of your mirror with a whole lot of fabric unsure how it’s going to go on your head?

OR if you don’t wear Hijab, have you ever seen a Muslim woman wearing one style it so perfectly and wondered how did they do it?

Hijab Tutorials on Youtube is a large part of the online youtube fashion industry. There are thousands and thousands of videos showing how to wear a hijab using different materials, cultural styles and for particular occasions.

Muslim Funaddicts

We are not fanatics, we are funaddicts. www.muslimfunaddicts.com

Here are four famous fashion and beauty vloggers who also do hijab tutorials.

AmenaOfficial What is a Hoojab?

@Hijab_House

The Muslim Mum

British Beauty & Style Vlogger, CEO of Pearl Daisy

A place for women to post their personal issues anonymously and ask for advice.

DinaTokio Five Turban Tutorials

@thehijabstylist

Kuwait Designer and personal style blogger

YazTheSpaz89 Hijab Tutorial #15

The Crudely Islamified Lakemba Mannequin Man Perched on the corner of Haldon and Gillies Street, he watches over the Monocultural Emirate of Islamic Lakemba (also known as ‘Sydney’s Muslim Land’).

@theGirlBeneaththeHeadscarf

American Fashion & Beauty Vlogger.

DianPelangi 1 min every day hijab tutorials

Blackfulla Revolution

Indonesian Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, Fashion & Travel Blogger.

September 2015

www.amust.com.au

Aboriginal Media in Aboriginal Hands Community-driven media by Aboriginal people and out to the world!

Australasian Muslim Times

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As one community, there’s nothing we can’t do.

Sana is one of thousands of Australians who have chosen to join Crescent Wealth’s Islamic Super.

Together we are building a stronger community and a better world through ethical investing.

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Australasian Muslim Times

www.amust.com.au

September 2015