Issue 121 December

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AMUST Issue # 121

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December 2015; Safar 1437

Looking Beyond Condemnation

School Kids Build Wells

You and Your Heart

Making Your Will

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COMMUNITY PAGE 9

LIFESTYLE PAGE 12

BUSINESS PAGE 22

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Dramatic increase in Islamophobia Zia Ahmad There has been a three fold increase in the reported incidents of Islamophobia in Australia after the Paris attacks.

The preliminary findings, which are based on reported incidents to the Islamophobia Register, Australia over a 12 month period were presented to the Second Australasian Conference on Islam in Sydney.

“Our preliminary findings offer a small window into the types of racially and religiously motivated hate incidents taking place out in suburban Australia.” Mariam Veiszadeh, Lawyer and President of the Islamophobia Register Australia told the conference.

“Based on our preliminary observations, the victims appear to be predominately women wearing religious headwear and an alarming number appear to be taking place in the presence of young children.” She said.

The conference on Radicalisation & Islamophobia, Roots, Relationships and Implications in Religiously Diverse Societies was held in Parramatta, Western Sydney from Monday 30 November to Tuesday 1 December organized by ISRA and Charles Sturt University.

A report titled “The resilience and ordinariness of Australian Muslims” containing a survey of almost 600 Muslims in Sydney

by Western Sydney University and Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) was released at the conference The study found that Muslims in Sydney experience discrimination at three times the rate of other Australians, but most believe relations between Muslims and non-Muslims are friendly.

The report’s main author Professor Kevin Dunn, said the survey was further evidence

Photo by Rouba Issa Hanan Dover speaking at the Radicalisation & Islamophobia conference in Sydney. of high rates of Islamophobia in Australia. rates of exposure to racism.

But he said the fact that Muslims face • 86 per cent believed relations between high levels of discrimination “yet still beAustralian Muslims and non-Muslims lieve Islam is compatible with Australian were friendly. norms, bodes well for the future”.

The conference also witnessed the launch“Because of things that are happening in ing of a book by the conference convenor the world and the various representations Dr Derya Iner, and Salih Yucel published by of Muslims, and these are problematic, and Cambridge Scholars Publishing “Muslim it means that some people unfortunately Identity Formation in Religiously Diverse feel more emboldened to say things and do Societies as well as the launch of an e-jourthings which are prejudicial and which are nal “Australian Journal of Islamic Studies”. hurtful towards Muslims,” Professor Dunn The two day conference included a large said. number of presenters from US, UK, New He also said that most Sydney Muslims Zealand and all states of Australia, mainly had a high sense of religiosity that was pos- academics and researchers on Islam and itively associated with a sense that Islamic Muslim Societies as well as PhD students ways align with Australian norms. and professionals.

Some of the key findings of the study inThe keynote speaker Professor John Escluded: posito, from Georgetown University, USA • 57 per cent had experienced racism. spoke at length on the root causes of radi• 62 per cent had experienced racism in the calization that need to be addressed. workplace or when seeking employment.

“One of the things that does wind up al• 1 in 10 Sydney Muslims had “very high” ienating some youth is the extent to which

anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic diatribe, hate crimes, attacks on mosques make people feel alienated and marginalised from their societies,” he said.

On a global level he said that radicalization and violent extremism was not as a result of religious teachings but use of religion for political purposes specially among societies living under authoritarian regimes suffering from injustice and repression.

He advised that Western governments need to review their foreign policies with respect to support for authoritarian regimes in the middle East as well as to check Islamophobia in general.

Deakin University Professor Greg Barton, a counter-terrorism said that a recent spike in protests against mosques and multiculturalism fuels the ISIL message.

“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s comments after the Parramatta shooting had strengthened ties with the Muslim community”, he said.

Professor Barton concluded that Mr Turnbull’s rhetoric was inclusive and measured in comparison to those of former prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Ms Randa Abdel-Fattah in her third year of PhD at Macquarie University told conference attendees the anti-halal debate in Australia was being fuelled by Islamophobic remarks from politicians and the media.

Ms Abdel-Fattah said the language from certain politicians and media commentators had contributed to an increased sense of fear towards Muslims and Muslim-related issues, such as halal food.

In a message to the conference Senator Concetta Fierraventi-Wells, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs welcomed the conference’s focus on the causes of radicalization as well as looking at Islamophobia in the Australian Society.

Police target charity workers ANIC organizes nationally coordinated Juma Khutbah Abu Anees

On Saturday 28 November, a small group of Muslim charity workers were pulled over by two police cars in Lidcombe preventing them from attending the Stereosonic Festival.

The members were hauled down from their well marked van, each searched individually and had their van searched as well with nothing incriminating found. With time more than 100 police officers were called down including a SWAT van with armed officers.

The group’s leader said that they were on their way to attend the event and educate youth in attendance on drug-prevention and pass anti-violence messages.

The group known as White Coats from a charity Homeless Run are well known for their services to provide free food and drinks to Sydney’s destitute and homeless people largely non-Muslims.

Later, as it turned out, there was a huge

AMUST Media

drug problem at the festival with one woman dying due to drug overdose and another ending up in at the hospital in a critical condition.

A further nine people were taken to hospital for suspected overdoses, 120 people were treated at the festival for the effects of drugs and a further 69 people were arrested possessing and supplying drugs.

The Homeless Run has started a petition drive in demanding formal apology from the police for their heavy handedness and over reaction against peaceful citizens performing humanitarian service.

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The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) declared last Friday 27 November 2015 as ‘National Khutbah (Sermon) Day’ in conjunction with ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women’ that was marked on Wednesday 25 November 2015.

ANIC called upon Imams around the country to deliver the coordinated Friday’s khutbah in all Australian mosques and Fri- Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed day congregational prayer venues denounc- aging parents.” The Grand Mufti of Australing all forms of domestic violence. ia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed said.

Imams were urged to talk during their “Each and every Australian Imam shares khutbah on equality and respect for women in the obligation to educate the community and Islamic teachings on Kind and compas- about the evils and harms of domestic viosionate treatment of women. lence. Hence I call upon Imams to rally in “Domestic violence is a growing problem full support of the campaign to denounce in Australia and it is the community’s obli- domestic violence in their Mosques.” gation to stand against all forms of violence in the home targeting women, children and Read report on ANIC 9th AGM on page 7 Dispose of this paper thoughtfully - PLEASE RECYCLE

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Looking beyond condemnation While Muslim leaders and other com- any discourse which attempts to apportion munity members have always voiced blame by association or sensationalises viotheir condemnation of terrorist acts of lence to stigmatise a certain segment of soviolence against innocent people, these ciety only serves to undermine community statements almost never get the attention harmony and safety”. of the media.

The media and the usual Islamophobes Our former Prime Minister Mr Tony Ab- went into a frenzy in order to curtain the bott exhorted the Muslim leadership to Mufti’s right to freedom of speech and condemn terrorism and put an extra speak his mind of what he thought demand that they should “mean was right.

EDITORIAL what they said”.

In spite of further explaining In compliance with these preshis stance, he is still being witch Assalamu sures, Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohunted where Josh Frydenberg, Alaikum hammed has been pro-actively the Resources Minister has now Greetings and promptly issuing statements accused him of leadership failas soon as any acts of terrorism ure. of Peace takes place either within Australia During the two day Sydney or overseas. conference on Radicalisation and After the Paris attacks, the Mufti on 15 Islamophobia held this week attended November promptly issued a statement and by high calibre academics from US, UK and condemned and mourned the loss of life on various parts of Australia and New Zealand, such a huge scale. various speakers have deliberated on the Rather than just parroting with condem- root causes of terrorism and how to address nation, an intelligent man and a thinker that them. he is, he went further and stated “These The conclusions drawn from the academrecent incidents highlight the fact that cur- ic research that was brilliantly exposed by rent strategies to deal with the threat of the keynote speaker Professor John Espositerrorism are not working. It is therefore to is not very different than what was being imperative that all causative factors such as said by the Mufti. racism, Islamophobia, curtailing freedoms It is important that our politicians, polithrough securitisation, duplicitous foreign cymakers, media barons and people at large policies and military intervention must be consider the following in order to address comprehensively addressed.” violence, radicalisation and human misery He also tried to minimize the backlash that is now affecting every one on the globe against the Muslim community by ap- and needs to be addressed. pealing for calm by stating “In addition, 1. Terrorism and War on Terror has been

Ibn Hajar is a widely loved scholar and commentator of hadith. He is the chief judge Shihab al-Deen who interpreted al-Bukhari in his valuable book Fath AlBari Fe Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari. He was born in 773 Hijri and died in 852 Hijri.

He is originally from Palestine, but was born and raised in Cairo. He was the product of family who sought to foster his education from a young age. Although his parents passed on when he was very young, a relative sponsored his education. This relative was Zaky Al-Deen Al-Kharouby, the chief merchant in Egypt. He enrolled Ibn Hajar in Kutab “old fashioned school” where his early excellence was manifested. He completed memorising the holy Qur’an at the age of 9 (other sources say 12). He was described by the ability to memorise everything he read.

Scholars stated that his ability to memorise chains was greater than Imam Al-Dhahabi.

Imam Al-Dhahabi (who preceeded Ibn Hajar) was renowned for his passion for hadith, so much so, that he said: If the narrators of hadith were on one hill and I was on another one, I would call them with their own names, their fathers’ and mothers’ names, their ranking, those they narrated from and those that

AMUST Issue # 121 Friday 4 December 2015; 21 Safar 1437 News .................................1 - 2 • Dramatic Increase in Islamophobia • Police Target Charity Workers Boomerang ..................... 3 - 5 • ISIS Fails to Sustain Bigotry • Need for Writers Than Doctors

feeding on each other. Since 9/11, during the last 15 years acts of terrorism have increased and become widespread. Hence the strategies to fight terrorism have failed miserably.

2. Regime changes, invasion of countries, bombing and killings by drones have neither diminished the number of terrorists nor subjugated the population in these countries to accept hegemony of the West on these countries.

3. Support for authoritarian regimes in the Muslim countries and silence in the face of their repression of the opposition in the name of fighting terrorism must be stopped.

4. Popular indulgence in vilification of Islam and demonization of Muslims in order to sell newspaper or to increase TV ratings or to get votes, and all forms of Islamophobia must stop.

5. Programs for safeguarding of human rights for all people and providing equal opportunity to live with freedom and dignity against national and vested interests must be implemented.

Z I Ahmad

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani Ummah Legends

AMUST

reported their narrations.” To surpass such a level is said to have a heart blessed with the mercy and light of Allah swt.

Furthermore, in Cairo, he studied under scholars of hadith such as Imam Siraj adDeen ‘Umar Al-Bilqini’ and Ibn Al-Mulaqn and Al-Iraqi. He accompanied Al-’Iraqi the scholar of hadith to the extent that he preferred him over his own son Abu Zar’a. He also learned from Sheikh Burhan ad- Din Ibrahim al Abnasi Nur Al-Deen Al-Haythami and Sheikh Taqi ad-Deen Al-Degwi.

It is narrated that Imam Al-Shawkani was asked: Why don’t you interpret Al-Bukhari for us? He replied: There is no migration after the conquest but jihad and good intention. How would I interpret Al-Bukhari after Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani who interpreted it in Fath Al-Bari?

It is said, after Ibn Hajar’s interpretation of Al-Bukhari in Fath Al-Bari, there is no need for further explanation.

Throughout his lifetime, he wrote almost 200 books. He had more than 50,000 people attend his funeral.

Courtesy of Ummah Legends: A journey to discover and celebrate the gems in Islamic history. Created by Peter Gould, Illustrated

by Iman Ayoubi. www.ummahlegends.com

Community ..................... 6 - 9 • Support Services for Women • Building Wells for Somalia

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Australia ....................... 10 - 11 • Taxation of Property Development Lifestyle ...................... 12 - 14 • Sydney Cycling Sisters • Journey to the Unknown Ummah ........................ 15 - 17 • India: A Struggle Against Intolerance • Convention of Faiths Education ..................... 18 - 20 • Prevention of Forced Marriage Travel .................................. 21 • Istanbul: Border of east and west Business ............................ 22 • Making Your Will Social .................................. 23 • Protest Ends in a Hug

Human Migration

Fazlul Huq Human migration is the movement of people From one place to another with the intention of settling Temporarily or permanently into a new location.

The movement is typically over long distances, And from one country to another or within a country.

And migration may be by individuals, families or large groups.

History would tell that the humans have always migrated Into new lands to create and build new communities, To avoid deprivation and harshness of the conditions, And more importantly for better well-being and the safety For themselves, their children and the coming generations.

Those who close the doorway under whatever pretext, Must not forget this is not what makes us the humans.

Empathy and compassion, care and awareness of the Others’ needs and distress and the rights of everyone, To cherish dignity, safety, enlightenment and to reach The peak of their potential, should be without question.

Yes, let us find the best within ourselves, And never sink to the lowest of the low!

Associate Professor Fazlul Huq is based in Sydney and leads the Biomedical Science Cancer Research Group in the School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School. A PhD from Imperial College London, he is author of over 220 peer reviewed publications and HSC textbooks.

He is also an accomplished poet with over 1400 compositions in Bengali and English and has also been involved in various community projects including establishment of mosques in NSW, Australia.

December 2015

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Website comments HAVE YOUR SAY The Compassion of Islam is personified

by Hazrat Ali the Fourth caliph of Islam when he was martyred. Below is his Last Will: The Last Will of Ali ibn Abi Talib to his sons Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS) after the attempt on his life by a stab from Ibn Muljam: My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it.

Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed.

I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah, to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties.

I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say: “Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting.” Fear Allah in matters concerning orphans.

Attend to their nutrition and do not forget their interests in the middle of yours.

Fear Allah in your relations with your neighbours. Your Prophet often recommended them to you, so much so that we thought he would give them a share in inheritance.

Remain attached to the Quran. Nobody should surpass you in being intent on it, or more sincere in implementing it. Fear Allah in relation to your prayers. It is the pillar of your religion.

Fear Allah in relation to His House; do not abandon it as long as you live. If you should do that you would abandon your dignity.

Persist in jihad in the cause of Allah, with your money, your souls, and your tongue.

Maintain communication and exchange of opinion among yourselves. Beware of disunity and enmity. Do not desist from promoting good deeds and cautioning against bad ones.

Should you do that,the worst among you would be your leaders, and you will call upon Allah without response. O Children of Abdul Mattaleb! Do not shed the blood of Muslims under the banner.

The Imam has been assassinated! Only the assassin should be condemned to death.

If I die of this stab of his, kill him with one similar stroke. Do not mutilate him! I have heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: “Mutilate not even a rabid dog.”

The so call Muslims of today if they do mutilate the bodies and go on rampage for revenge I would suggest that their inspiration comes NOT from Islam.

Mal

Geert Wilders alliance with ALA The blind eye to the military training and terrorism of the of the Ustasha in the 70’s was not all that blind. The political motivation of the Ustasha resonated with the conservative policies of the Liberal-National Party government of the day. Far from turning a blind eye to their activities the government clandestinely supported them.

The current crop of right-wing extremists are tolerated by the current government for exactly the same reason.

Gazza Mr Wilders came to Australia as bearer of hatred and discrimination. The fact that he was allowed entry shows that prejudice is not colour-blind.

A non-white with similar prejudice would be deemed to be detrimental to the law and order of the land but white Europeans are given leeway under the guise of Freedom of Speech. Inclusiveness and diversity are hallmark of a healthy society and to champion otherwise harkens to the dark days of discord and mayhem.

The violence of today is partly the polarisation of politics and partly the manifestation of them and us mentality. To invite the harbinger of such ugly message into one’s society is unwittingly sabotaging the majority’s desire for a cohesive society. I shudder to think that it is done wittingly.

Mal

Who was the Mufti of Palestine?

The truth is he was no mufti and of less use to the Nazis than the Jews and Christians who chose to collaborate with them.

Gazza

Faithful march together for refugees

Great article – very inspiring to see people from many different backgrounds and faiths uniting over such an important issue, especially in the current climate.

Sheree

It’s a bipolar world now

Sadly most of the current Arab leaders do not care about their people. The hold on power is what matters to them. They are aware that Western and particularly American intervention in their affairs have nothing to do with altruism. It have all to do with self-interest.

These Arab leaders if deprived of Western support will find themselves put into the dustbin of history by their own people. Syria on the other hand is a pain to their Arab neighbours and America as the leader is Iran friendly. Iran has refused to be a client state

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Email us at info@amust.com.au of the West and thus is being directly and indirectly targeted. Saudi Arabia’s servitude to America and the West has allowed them to be brutal to their people and neighbour.

Bahrain is another that has got away with their mischief.

Mal

India: A struggle against intolerance

Any politician that preaches intolerance and condone the mob mentality have an axe to grind. To further their personal interest they take the low road of prejudice and hatred for others. They do not have the charisma and vision for the betterment of their masses and it is often an arduous road to travel when consistent and constructive effort is required.

The drum beat of fear and hatred require less positive talent and riding on the fear of the uninformed these pseudo leaders reap material benefits for themselves and their kind. Dig into their personal life a bit deeper and you would usually find their involvement of corruption of some kind.

Mal

Ummah: Struggle for Freedom, Justice and Peace

I agree with the general thrust of Imam Mujahid article. However the sad reality is that some Muslims especially those in position of leadership play the sectarian card that put a spanner in this quest for Freedom.

Until the Muslims learn how to agree to disagree in their religious practices you would always have opportunist creating mayhem amongst them.

The ticket to Paradise is not dependent on any one sect holding its booking. Diversity in cultural and religious practices is a fact of Life. Education and knowledge may pave the way for Best Practice but subjugation and execution will not.

Mal

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Managing Editor: Zia Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Chief Adviser: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Mobinah Ahmad Journalist: Rouba Issa 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, Zohair Ahmad.

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ISIS failing to sustain anti-Muslim bigotry Bilal Cleland There have always been extremist Muslims around, since the time of the Kharijites.

Muslims who hold to the teachings of the Quran have mercy upon the entire creation, including unbelievers and idolaters, but the Kharaijites have no mercy for those outside their group.

They declare other Muslims to be unbelievers by misinterpreting or misapplying the verses of the Quran. A modern manifestation of this movement can be seen in the batch of extremists now fighting in Iraq and Syria.

In September 2014 over 120 international Islamic scholars wrote an “Open Letter to Dr Ibrahim Awwad al-Badri, alias Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi”, the self-proclaimed “Caliph” of Islam and the fighters and followers of the ‘self-declared Islamic State.’ [www.lettertobaghdadi.com/] They based all of their analysis upon what has been conveyed by the media and by eye-witness accounts of the activities of the ‘Islamic state’. “.. everything said here consists of synopses written in a simple style that reflect the opinions of the overwhelming majority of Sunni scholars over the course of Islamic history.”

After about 28 pages of text, just prior to the listing of signatories, they included a Saying of the Fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (r).

“Nu’aym ibn Hammad narrates in Al-Fitan, that the Fourth Caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib said: When you see the black flags, remain where you are and do not move your hands or your feet. Thereafter there shall appear a

feeble insignificant folk. Their hearts will be like fragments of iron. They will have the state. They will fulfil neither covenant nor agreement. They will call to the truth, but they will not be people of the truth. Their names will be parental attributions, and their aliases will be derived from towns. Their hair will be free-flowing like that of women.

This situation will remain until they differ among themselves.

Thereafter, God will bring forth the Truth through whomever He wills.”

This saying from Al Fitan, written 1200 years ago, is understood by many to refer to the Daesh/ISIS phenomenon. One of their characteristics will be a very public proclamation of Islam or ‘call to the truth, ‘but they will not be people of the truth.’ Their falsity will be exposed to the whole world.

The scholars suggest that this group will function ‘Until they differ among themselves’: the differences between the ‘Islamic State’ and its parent, the al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda in Syria) has led to around ten thousand deaths in a single year. This internal conflict will lead to their demise.

The conclusion ‘Thereafter, God will bring forth the truth through whomever He

wills’: Though a clear and correct Islamic proclamation (like this open letter) suggests that the furor which these ‘feeble insignificant folk’ will create, will result in the bringing out of the true meaning of Islam, clearly distinguished from the evil these muharibs have created.

ISIS intends to create an anti-Muslim pogrom in the West, believing that it will benefit from the persecution of the whole Muslim community. Given the general increasing level of public awareness about terrorism and ISIS, the upsurge of anti-Muslim bigotry will hopefully be short-lived and will not penetrate into society as deeply as the anti-Jewish movements of 80 years ago.

It is imperative that Muslims make sure that the image of Islam is not distorted by false and ignorant portrayals. We must be as active as possible in ensuring that the true image of Islam is projected to the whole community, believers and non-believers.

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

The voice of the soul Anne Fairbairn AM

I believe poetry is the voice of the soul transcending racial, religious and political differences and bringing many together in harmony. So I with the voice of the soul here in our now multicultural country urge those who are soul–voiced to constantly help maintain harmony in our diversity.

I have met many Arab poets over the years at poetry festivals in Iraq and Lebanon and realise how their tradition of poetry has continued for hundreds of years.

Professor Jabra Ibrahim Jabra the Head of the department of Literature at Baghdad University helped me collect poems for my anthology of Arabic poetry ‘Feathers and the Horizon.’

As a Palestinian and he told me a great deal about Mahmoud Darwish a highly acclaimed Palestinian poet. He knew how I feel deeply about the suffering of the Palestinian people.

He gave me this poem by Mahmoud Darwish to publish in my anthology: Defiance Tighten my fetters, Confiscate my papers and books, Fill my mouth with dust.

Poetry is the blood in my heart, Salt in bread, moisture in my eyes.

It is written with fingernails, with daggers,

December 2015

I shall proclaim in my detention cell, In the bathroom, in the stable, Under the lash, manacled, In the violence of chains, That a million birds On the branches of my heart, Are singing fighting songs.

Professor Jabra said that Mahmoud Darwish is considered to be the most important contemporary Arab poet. He was born in 1942 in the village of Barweh in the Galilee, which was razed to the ground by the Israelis in 1948.

As a result of his political activism he faced house arrest and imprisonment. Darwish was the editor of Ittihad Newspaper before leaving in 1971 to study for a year in the USSR. Then he went to Egypt where he worked in Cairo for Al-Ahram Newspaper and in Beirut, Lebanon as an editor of the Journal of Palestinian Issues. He was also the director of the Palestinian Research Center.

Darwish was a member of the Executive Committee of the PLO and lived in exile between Beirut and Paris until his return in 1996 to Palestine.

His poems are known throughout the Arab world, and several of them have been put to music.

His poetry has gained great sophistication over the years, and has enjoyed international fame for a long time. He has published around 30 poetry and prose collections, which have been translated into 35 languages.

He is the editor in chief and founder of

the prestigious literary review Al Karmel, which has resumed publication in January 1997 out of the Sakakini Centre offices.

He published in 1998 the poetry collection: Sareer el Ghariba (Bed of the Stranger), his first collection of love poems.

In 2000 he published Jidariyya (Mural) a book consisting of one poem about his near death experience in 1997. The same year a documentary was produced about him by French TV directed by noted French-Israeli director Simone Bitton.

He published his book of poetry “Stage of Siege” in 2002.

He is a commander of the French Order of Arts and Letters an honorary member of the Sakakini Centre.

Professor Jabra also spoke about anger and how in his view the West should understand why there is anger especially when one considers the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Professor Jabra gave me this short poem

by Iraqi poet Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri to emphasize this.

Transplant of the conscience.

We doctors have achieved the impossible Transplanting skulls and hearts and restoring rib-cages.

But when will the banner for your final victory be raised – Transplanting a conscience in minds devoid of conscience?

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

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We need more Muslim writers than doctors and engineers Irfan Yusuf

Yes, you can learn something from otherwise frivolous Facebook discussions. The other day an article appeared in a metropolitan newspaper penned by a Masters student of Pakistani heritage. The article was about what Australian Muslims needed to do about radicalisation.

Some people with whom I am Facebook “friends” were not happy with the article.

One complained that he had never seen the article’s author around “the community”.

Another said that the article’s author was not an “expert” on the subject.

As someone who occasionally dabbles in op-eds, I’ve been on the receiving end of such complaints. I’ve also dished out complaints at times when reading an op-ed by someone with a Muslimish name about a Muslimish subject. Or even worse, by a non-Muslimish name about a Muslimish subject. Yes, we allegedly enlightened Muslims can be so territorial sometimes.

It’s true that Muslims and Islam are largely misunderstood by the media. But are we the only ones? Try being a Scientologist or Mormon for a day. Or a member of Reclaim Australia. (Actually, don’t try that! Please!!)

Or a politician being hounded by a powerful special interest group.

Some of us imagine that people who write for newspapers – whether as reporters, reviewers or opinion writers – are all part of a massive Islamophobic conspiracy. They see people with Muslimish names whose photos and words are published as being turncoats who have sold themselves or made secret handshake deals.

We claim to be misunderstood but we simply don’t understand. We imagine the media to be exactly as how we imagine it to be. A major reason for this is that we have rarely had dealings with journalists.

We encourage our children to become doctors and lawyers and accountants and engineers and IT specialists. Our kids follow our instructions and enrol in the relevant faculty. They study in groups of their own discipline. They graduate and work in their profession. Then they read the newspaper and feel as powerless as their parents.

All too often we complain about being misunderstood. We feel powerless to do anything about it. And years go by in this collective depression.

What if we started encouraging our kids to do more creative stuff? OK, granted law can be pretty creative, as can engineering and all the other “desirable” professions. But what about journalism and writing? What about social sciences?

I was happy to see that young Australian Pakistani woman write about radicalisation.

I didn’t agree with a lot of what she said.

I thought she may have been generalising a bit too much based on her own personal experiences.

But why shouldn’t she share her opinions? Couldn’t we and other news consumers learn something from her? Maybe we do need to think about whether the cultural fetishes we force on our kids (especially our girls) are making them resentful.

And if we don’t like what she writes, we can always write a letter to the editor. Or perhaps encourage our kids to become journalists instead of just engineers or doctors.

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.

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EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL 23

Teachers unite for enrichment Sakinah Bokhari

A highly inspiring and motivating forum to bring together educators was held at the Emporium Lounge in Bankstown on Saturday the 7 November by the Muslim Teachers’ Association (MTA).

The MTA is a not-for profit organisation that is run by teachers for teachers. It has been a pioneer in providing a platform of open communication, networking and discussion for teachers to address the needs of students through supporting teachers and schools for the last five years.

The annual event attracted more than 70 passionate educators from all types of schools eager to continue to learn how to promote positive learning opportunities in their students.

Speakers included Dr Molook Al-Fadly and Mr Jihad Dib MP. Dr Al Fadly, head of science at Al Noori Muslim school, stressed that we need to guide, empower and chal-

lenge students to become producers rather than consumers.

Mr Dib, former Principal of Punchbowl Boys High School and now member of Parliament recalled that the hardest thing was changing the mindset of his students to believe in themselves in order to set goals and achieve them.

There were numerous focus groups, held by highly experienced teachers, including developing community schools by Mr Omar Merhab, debating across the curriculum by Mrs Alham Ardati and teaching with the five senses by Mrs Jameela Ho. The event ended with prize giveaways including an Umrah trip and book packs followed by a delicious lunch.

The MTA hopes to conduct further networking opportunities, develop culturally relevant resources for classroom use, conduct workshop addressing the needs of muslim students and create an avenue for communication and connection for teachers.

To join or find out more about the Muslim Teachers’ Association, visit their website at www.muslimteachers.com.au Sakinah Bokhari is a teacher based in Sydney.

Imam council th holds 9 AGM AMUST Media

The General Assembly of the Australian National Imams Council held its ninth session from Saturday,14 November to Sunday 15 November, 2015 in Sydney.

The AGM was convened in conjunction with a National Imams Islamic Conference that lasted two days.

The AGM was honoured by the participation of the Chairmen and members of the Councils of Imams representing the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and ACT. The General Assembly of the Australian National Imams Council discussed and considered numerous topics and affairs that concern the Australian Muslims at home and abroad.

It also discussed various proposals on different strategies and future plans for ANIC and the Australian Muslim community.

FATWA & Research strategy, Da’wah & Education strategy, Muslim Family Affairs strategy, Community Engagement strategy and Media & PR strategy were amongst the various topics that were deliberated upon.

At this Ninth ANIC AGM, the following ANIC office bearers were elected: 1. Imam Shady Alsuleiman NSW , President 2. Imam Abdel Aziem Abdel Rahman Afifi VIC, Vice President 3. Imam Moustapha Sarakibi: VIC, Secretary 4. Imam Mohamad Khamis

NSW, Assistant Secretary 5. Imam Mohamed Imraan Husain QLD, Treasurer 6. Imam Yusuf Peer QLD, Assistant Treasurer 7. Imam Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohammad NSW, Mufti of Australia 8. Imam Abdul Salam Zoud NSW, Executive Member 9. Imam Abdul Moez Nafti NSW, Executive Member 10. Imam Shabbir Ahmad NSW, Executive Member 11. Imam Mohamad Abou Eid VIC, Executive Member 12. Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa VIC, Executive Member 13. Imam Abdulla Abdalhamid Hawari VIC, Executive Member 14. Imam Riad El Rifai SA, Executive Member 15. Imam Ameen Abou Samaha SA, Executive Member 16. Imam Burhaan Mehtar WA, Executive Member 17. Imam Faizel Gaffoor WA , Executive Member 18. Imam Adama Konda ACT, Executive Member

The Australian National Imams Council would like to thank all the Imams who attended and participated in the AGM and the conference for their valuable opinions and worthwhile contributions that benefit immensely the extensive Australian society and particularly the Muslims of Australia.

From left: Badiah Jalloul, Jenan El-Ayoubi, MP Jihad Dib, Omar Merheb, Ali Dinch, Rayan Hagemrad, Samira Moustapha, Najla Ismail

Divine rights in the modern world Rouba Issa

The Second Sydney Muslim Conference (SMC) was held on Sunday 29 November at Rosehill Gardens Pavilion in Parramatta, Western Sydney with the theme “Divine Rights in the Modern World”.

Encouraged by the great success of the first conference last year, the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) decided to hold the second conference aiming to continue its legacy of bringing together Muslims in Australia belonging to different cultures and to focus on the values and message of Islam in the modern world.

In addition to the main speakers from overseas, Imam Zaid Shakir and Dr Shadee Elmasry, the one-day conference mainly brought local community movers and shakers in order to address modern day topics.

The local speakers included Dr Mehal Krayem, Nada Roude, Samier Dandan, Imam Afroz Ali, Shaykh Anthony Andrist, Shaykh Hassan Elsetohy, Shaykh Wesam Charkawi, Randa Abdel-Fattah and Shaykh Mohamad Abdalla.

Around 600 people attended the four sessions of the conference, with tweets and updates on social media being broadcasted with the hashtag #smc2015.

The first session was on the issue of ‘Muslims and Local Politics’ which was covered

by Samier Dandan and Nada Roude. Nada went deep into the history and achievement of Muslim’s in Australia while Samier spoke on the importance of Muslim’s engaging in politics.

The second session was on ‘Navigating Sectarian and Cultural Divides’ where Imam Zaid Shakir stated “We should focus on points of unity. To insult a Muslim is moral bankruptcy and to fight him is disbelief”.

Session three was on the ‘Gender Constructs and Western Muslims’ where Dr Krayem covered the issue of ‘Muslim masculinity’ while Dr Elmasry covered the topic of gender inequality focusing mainly on the treatment of Muslim women.

Session four was on the ‘Islamic Response to International Injustice’ Shaykh Hassan provided a framework to respond to international injustice while Shaykh Wesam gave examples of how to respond using prophetic guidance.

Session five was on ‘Understanding and Countering Islamophobia’ with Randa Abdel Fattah and Shaykh Mohamad Abdalla.

Sister Randa discussed her finding’s on Islamophobia in her research while Shaykh Mohamad gave another framework on how to respond to it. “we should not be reactionary, we have to be proactive”, he concluded.

The last session featured Imam Zaid Shakir for the second time to close the conference in discussing the issue on ‘Our God Given Rights and Their Place in the Modern World’.

He spoke on how to gain our rights in the West with the obstacles that will be in our way closing off his speech with his words “in meeting obstacles and addressing them, that is what makes a people great and that time is now”.

Imam Zaid Shakir speaking at the Sydney Muslim Conference.

December 2015

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COMMUNITY

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 11

LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

Events MCCA: one billion dollar milestone Calendar Professor Shahjahan Khan

The Final Rites - The Fiqh of Janazah, Burial & Inheritance Saturday 5 Dec, 2015 8:30AM WSU Bankstown, Corner of Horsley Road & Bullecourt Ave, Milperra NSW

www.fb.com/events/ 628029253967254

Knowing Yourself to Know God Saturday 5 Dec, 2015 10:00AM SeekersHub Sydney, 299 Belmore Rd, Riverwood, NSW

The Muslim Community Cooperative Australia, MCCA, the pioneering Islamic Finance institution in Australia has reached a milestone of management of one billion dollars in its journey to provide Muslims Shariah compliance mortgage funds.

On 30 October MCCA held its 26th AGM in Melbourne with over 100 participating members/shareholders where its Chairman, Professor Akhter Kalam gave a brief history of the company highlighting its land mark achievements.

He also mentioned that the success of MCCA is the success of Muslims in Australia and the trust it has earned through the dedicated service to its members and genu-

ine and unwavering support for a very large number of community events organised by different Mosques, community organisations, and Islamic Schools and Centres over the years.

MCCA Ltd is a corporate entity that was started with limited personal contributions amounting to $22,300 seeding capital from its founding members in 1989 in Melbourne.

On 29 October 1993 MCCA purchased its first business premises in Burwood, Victoria for $210,000, and on the 26 March 1996 it acquired the second business premises in Lakemba, NSW for A$392,000.

Recently, MCCA has moved to the Queensland market with the appointment of a full time staff to ensure physical presence of MCCA in Brisbane to serve its members and potential clients in the sunshine state.

The management of MCCA is headed by a General Manager who works under the direction of a Board of Directors who are directly elected by the members. The current

General Manager, Mr Mohammad Najjar and his team are striving to take MCCA to its next step in the financial services industry in an increasingly competitive market and positioning MCCA to face emerging challenges.

In addition to halal home/commercial property loans, MCCA has been managing a very successful MCCA Income Fund for individual and organisational investors.

Last year MCCA distributed monthly dividend of 4-5%, much higher than the bank rate, to the investors. Within a very short time the Income Fund is expected to exceed $50 million, another milestone for MCCA. More information on MCCA and its products can be accessed via its website at http:// www.mcca.com.au/ Professor Shahjahan Khan, Director of MCCA and Professor of Statistics, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland

www.fb.com/events/ 1633056920295124

Ya Uhkti Event Sunday 13 Dec, 2015 2:00PM - 4:00PM Melbourne Madinah, 47 City Rd, Southbank, VIC www.fb.com/events/ 147695328922516

THE YOUTH - Between Hope and Despair Tuesday 15 Dec, 2015 8:00PM - 10:00PM 230 Macquarie St, Liverpool, NSW www.fb.com/events/ 1205307209483328

Journey with the Qur’an 2015 Friday 18 Dec, 2015 3:00PM Melbourne Madinah, 47 City Rd, Southbank, VIC www.fb.com/events/ 805786559527380

Australian Muslim Achievement Awards Saturday 19 Dec, 2015 5:30PM - 8:00PM The Bryan Brown Theatre, 80 Rickard Rd, Bankstown, NSW www.fb.com/events/ 1517777841878543

Fun Day at House of Sakinah Sunday 10 January, 2016 12 Noon - 5:00PM 337 Rooty Hill Rd Nth, Plumpton, NSW 0435 069 161 wscsydney@gmail.com

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

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MCCA members at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.

Support services for women Momil Rana House of Sakinah is a women’s centre based in Mt Druitt, Western Sydney providing a range of support services for women.

Proposal In 2012 a proposal was put forward to cater for a Muslim Women’s Support and Refuge Centre especially in the Mt Druitt and Rooty Hill Area. The proposal defined the context and the need for such an establishment for the female sector of the Muslim community, especially targeting women of Asian subcontinent backgrounds.

Context and Need As a result of many changing social and financial circumstances and pressures in society there has been an increase in domestic violence, relationship difficulties, divorce and financial hardship. Unfortunately the Muslim community hasn’t escaped this trend either.

Although there have been Muslim women’s organisations and government funded organisations for a number of years, they are still lacking the resources to meet the demands in proportion to the number of cases of domestic violence.

The lack of help and assistance being provided to Muslim women as they go through domestic violence and hardship still remains.

Establishment The House of Sakinah was established in 2013 under the Auspices of Charity Austral-

Women’s classes at the House of Sakinah, Mt Druitt. ia International to cater for Muslim women 5. Youth recreational activities in crisis situations and help develop net- 6. Islamic courses Some women come to the centre in very working among Muslim women.

Since its inception, the House of Sakinah dire circumstances, and at a time when they has been looking into raising awareness of need immediate help including emergency the centre and to provide a safe and secure accommodation. Until recently, the Centre environment for women to get together in did not have the permission to accommodate recreational or educational activities, while them. However, it has now been registered at the same time encouraging them to reach but further requirements need to be taken out if they require advice, referral or coun- into consideration before it can be fully utilised as a refuge. selling.

Since Charity Australia has been running The House of Sakinah provides the folfor more than a decade, and have established lowing services: family circles, House of Sakinah already 1. Counselling for women have access to a clientele that have specific 2. Legal referrals needs.

3. Assistance to refugees and reverts Coordinators and volunteers at the organ4. Senior support and care programs isation are taking steps to constantly consult and harness the expertise of other women organisations which have been running for some years now. Steps have been taken to establish partnerships with police, government organisations and appropriate bodies in the area so that the problem with domesVenue: Strathfield Town Hall, 65 Homebush Road, tic violence and other related issues are dealt Strathfield, NSW with in a holistic way and in cooperation with each other to mitigate and resolve this Contacts: President, Mr. Aale Ali (0422183035) crisis.

Secretary, Mr Khursheed Anwar (0421753240) Phone: 0435 069 161, 0413 341 494 Email: wscsydney@gmail.com 7:30 PM Organised by: Aligarh University Alumni of Australia (AMUAA)

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December 2015

UMMAH 15 - 17

EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL 23

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School kids help build wells in Somalia and Kyrgyzstan Nicholas Keown In Semester One this year, the Year 2 students at Al Siraat College, a school in Melbourne learned all about ‘Wonderful Water’.

Apart from the rich scientific knowledge that they gained from investigating the Water Cycle, students also gained a deep understanding of how water is essential for life, and in appreciation of how blessed we are here in Australia to have such easy access to fresh, clean water.

They learned that not all children around the world were as fortunate to have access to fresh clean water to drink. They were moved to find out that 800 million people lacked access to clean water, resulting in this silently killing one child every single minute.

Hence, as part of the ”Taking Action” component in their Inquiry learning cycle, the Year 2s were keen to raise funds to build a well in Somalia.

Their efforts and enthusiasm were readily adopted by the Year 4s. Together, they came up with a range of creative fundraising ideas, that successfully culminated in the collection of $6419.25.

The money is scheduled to be handed to the representatives of Human Appeal Inter-

national personally by school kids on Friday 4 December to build wells, one each in Somalia and Kyrgyzstan.

One of the most successful fundraising activities that generated a lot of laughter and funds was “Get Splat”, where students, parents, teachers, administration and office staff happily lent their faces for a good “Splat” for the sake of Sadaqa Jariya (continuing charity).

A grand Bake Sale, and donations collected after Jumaa, Friday prayers, also saw the whole school community coming together for the sake of this charitable cause.

As the Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) goes: “The best form of charity is giving water (to drink).”

(Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah) The Hadith, above serves as an inspiration to students and teachers at Al Siraat College to initiate well building projects across needy countries in the world, with Human Appeal as our chosen partners in this cause.

With a well already built in Bangladesh last year by the efforts of the Year 7, 10s, and the SRC, and now with Somalia and Kyrgyzstan already funded for, our eyes are set on building more wells in other parts of the world inshallah.

Nicholas Keown is a teacher based in Melbourne and teaches Year 4 at Al Sirat College.

Bankstown candlelight vigil to unite Australians Rouba Issa The Australian Muslim Youth (AMY) of Sydney responded to the terrorism around the world by holding a vigil on Tuesday 17 November at Paul Keating Park in Bankstown to remember those that have been killed in Paris, Gaza, Beirut and Iraq.

AMY sent a media release on 16 November encouraging the Muslim community to come to this event but also stressing that people from all faiths and no faith to come along and join in. A Facebook page was created to invite people in one day to in order to publicise the event.

People from all faiths decided to unite to counteract the rift that is arising in Australia and around the world between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Father Michael Palmer a guest speaker of the event was highly supportive of the idea of uniting all Australians in the face of adversity. “I want to look forward to the pos-

Students at Al Siraat College, Melbourne, raise funds to build a well in Somalia.

itive things in a day where we might show great friendship with one to another,” he told his audience at the vigil.

Initially around 50 people showed up at the event, the vigil beginning at 7pm with a prayer and recitation of verses from the holy Quran.

Candles were laid out on the floor with the words “Unite, Peace, Love” glowing in the darkness. Audience members were all given a candle each in remembrance of those that have left this world due to terrorism. The event ended at 9pm.

The message of the event was not to let ISIS divide and conquer the Australian community and to reinforce the fact that ISIS is not a representation of the Islamic faith and never will be.

It was also to clearly state that the Muslim community is not responsible in any way whatsoever to any kind of terrorism connected with any organisation that claims to commit atrocities against innocent people belonging to any faith or no faith.

The popular “Get Splat” activity, for the sake of Sadaqa Jariya.

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Terrorism: A reality check Kamania Butler I am not a Muslim but my partner is a Muslim.

Prompted by the Paris killings, this week I have been reflecting on conflict, violence, terrorism, war on terror, and Muslims in general and Muslim Australians in particular.

Every day around the world there are hundreds of murders and massacres taking place, every day there are also hundreds of examples of people helping charity and saving lives where possible.

As I have learnt in the past 2 years that Muslims have been in this country for over 150 years, coming with the early Australians and have been living here peacefully.

I have some facts for the people of Australia to consider before they speak about Islam, Muslims or Asylum seekers.

Select Causes of Death, Australia 2003 – 2012 (Source: 3303 Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Criminology, Compiled by crikey.com) Suicide: 22824 Car accidents: 8525 Homicide: 2617 Domestic violence (estimated): 850 Terrorism (1978-2014, so greater timespan) 113 According to the information above (A snippet of the full reported data) shows that terrorism clearly is not a huge killer within our country.

Between 2013 –2014 in Victoria alone police received 65,393 call outs to domestic violence incidents. It is clear we have many

other issues to address and use our resources to address than overblowing the issue of terrorism.

Yes, terrorism is real, yes, it is killing people. However it is fair to assume that all races and all religions have one form or another of extremists.

Some additional information is given below in relation to Australian population.

Reflecting on a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census Cultural Diversity in Australia, 2012-2013 (Source: 2071.0 Australian Bureau of Statistics) Muslim population of Australia People of no religion in Australia Christian population of Australia

2.2% 22.3% 61.1%

Reclaim Australia and many Anti-Islamic groups are against institutes such as Mosques. With only 290 mosques in Australia I feel that people have developed a fear of Muslims because we do not understand them.

On Saturday 31 October Mosques around Australia held a Mosque Open Day. I challenge those who do not understand Islam or the difference between extremists and real Muslims to visit their local mosque and meet with Muslims, talk to them and participate in their events.

The Challenging Racism Project has revealed that over 60% of Australian Muslims have experienced Racism in the workplace or while seeking employment. Australia is a very multicultural country and needs to learn the facts and get a grip on this issue.

People have asked me “Why don’t the ‘good’ Muslims stand up against ISIS then?”

I have a very simple answer for that. They do not stand up because of the public xenophobia they face every day. If they stand up they fear being called a terrorist themselves

simply for being a Muslim, even while trying to stand up against extremism.

On the issue of asylum seekers, it is estimated that 80-90% who seek refuge are deemed genuine asylum seekers. That is by far the majority of those trying to seek refuge. It is not fair to punish those who are in no way associated with the violence and are in fact running away from violence.

The estimated Muslim population worldwide is 1.6 Billion people, making up around 22% of the world population. In Europe it is reported that less than 2% of the terror attacks committed in Europe have been religiously motivated, that means that even less than 2% the terror attacks have been caused by Islamic Extremists. That is 98% of terror attacks in Europe have been committed by people who are not religious or not Muslims.

The reason I used Europe is because Australia seems to associate with Europe, especially now that Europe has taken in many of the refugees from Syria.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, these are the definitions of some key words in this regard: Asylum seeker: A person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.

Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster.

Migrant: A person who moves from one place to another in order to find work for better living.

I encourage Australians to learn about the countries that Asylum Seekers are currently fleeing from.

As far as Paris, if ‘all Muslims were evil’ we would know. The population of Muslims in France is around 6 Million, if 10% of the Muslim population in France took part in

AUSTRALIA 10 - 11

LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

jihadist behaviour that would be 600,000 jihadists. If only 1% of Frances Muslim population were jihadists that would be 60,000 and if even half a percent (0.5%) that is 30,000 jihadists. I am sure there is nowhere near 30,000 jihadists in France. If there were, then France in itself would be a war zone. There were less than 10 jihadists involved in Paris killings on Friday 13 November.

The events in Paris were acts of terrorism, devastating examples of terrorism. They however, do not represent Islam as a whole, simply as domestic violence perpetrators do not represent men as a whole (Though this number is far higher than the historic threat of terrorism faced in Australia). Xenophobia is a blatant fear of Islam and Muslims just because their belief and practices are different than yours.

As a country made up of mainly Christians, I feel it is a time for Australians to unite and take a stand against terrorism but it is also time to open our homes and support those fleeing from terrorism. Please, get to know your local Muslim community so that as a whole we can unite and stay safe as a country. We need to stand together.

Kamania Butler is an advocate for asylum seekers, mental health sufferers and those who are disadvantaged within the community due to unforeseen circumstances. She was named the Australia Day, Young Australian of the Year for Greater Brisbane 2015 and Outstanding Volunteer 2014 at the Premiers Cultural Diversity Awards in Queensland.

Music for Refugees at Scorcher Fest Philip Feinstein The Music for Refugees organisation has formed a band to appear at the upcoming Scorcher Fest concert on Sunday 13 December. They will be joined by 13 other bands on the day which commences at midday.

“It is quite an honour for us to be invited to play at this prestigious once-a-year festival” said band leader and CEO of Music for Refugees, Philip Feinstein. “It will be an excellent opportunity to have such a huge mixture of international people playing in the same band on the same stage.”

The musicians in the Music for Refugees band are Philip Feinstein - South Africa (Keyboard), Adriaan Mees - Holland (Guitar), Rob Bullen - Australia (Bass guitar), Carlos Garcia - Ecuador (Percussion/ drums), Kazu Milne - Japan (Violin), Freddie Hill - England (Trumpet), Abdul Azimi - Afghanistan (Dumbura), Barrington Davis - England (Lead Vocal), Chelsea Sobel - Australia (Lead Vocal) and Altaf Hussain - Pakistan (Vocal).

“The music we will be performing is diverse and interesting” said Feinstein. Each

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of the 14 bands will perform for just over half-an-hour, making the day as diverse as the various genres on display. “We are scheduled to start playing at 6-30pm, which is a very civilised time” he commented.

The Music for Refugees organisation is renowned for helping asylum seekers and refugees as well as providing them with music instruments. With the imminent arrival of 12,000 Syrian refugees, they are gearing up to make some major instrument purchases. “The money made from the performance of Music for Refugees will go to this cause.

Plus we will be buying Christmas presents for the kids at Villawood Detention Centre as well as the Children’s Hospital as we do every year” stated Feinstein. “We are hoping to see lots of refugee supporters at the festival.”

The Scorcher Fest will be held at The Valve Bar (Agincourt Hotel), corner George and Harris Streets, Ultimo on Sunday 13 December. Although the Music for Refugees performance commences at 6-30pm, people can attend for the full day if they wish. Tickets can be purchased from the Scorcher Fest website www.scorcherfest.com.au (click on Sydney to buy 2 tickets for $30). And where it asks for the ‘Band you want to support’, click on ‘Music for Refugees’.

Alternatively tickets can be purchased directly via philip@musicforrefugees.org at $25 each.

Bearing in mind what is happening throughout the world at the moment, it is a good time to show support for asylum seekers and refugees no matter where they come from or what their backgrounds are. More information on Music for Refugees can be found at www.musicforrefugees.org “Please support us to help refugees” concluded Feinstein.

Philip Feinstein is a Sydney based writer, musician and activist working for MUSIC FOR REFUGEES www.musicforrefugees.org

Australasian Muslim Times

Red Cross Tracing Enquiry The Red Cross International Tracing Service aims to assist in restoring contact between family members who have become separated as a consequence of armed conflict, natural disaster or migration.

We have received a tracing request from the Iranian Red Cross on behalf of a family member who is anxious for news of the following person:

Person Sought: Reza REZAEI If you have any information, please Place of Birth: AFGHANISTAN contact Julijana Spaic on 9229 4233 Date of Birth 1972 or by email jspaic@redcross.org.au Nationality: Afghani Marital Status: Married Use Case Ref: 139587 No information will be released to the person making the enquiry without the written consent of the person being sought.

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December 2015

UMMAH 15 - 17

EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

AUSTRALIA

SOCIAL 23

Taxation of Property Development FINANCE Dr Abul Jalaluddin Background Property development can take many forms. It can range from an individual home owner subdividing their backyard to a large scale development of shopping centres, office premises and new housing estates. All these have potential involvements with taxation, both income tax and GST. Income Tax A mere realisation of a capital asset will not produce assessable income for taxation.

For example, individuals who subdivide and sell their backyard with or without building on it or subdivide and sell a vacant block of land they own elsewhere would be considered as mere realisation of capital assets.

A property development undertaken as carrying on an enterprise will be subject to taxation. Where an owner engages in a business-like activity of dividing the land, constructing road and other required works and then selling the individual lots, the profit emerging from these activities would be ordinary assessable income under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

This equally applies to a single block property development.

An isolated property development could

be considered as an enterprise resulting in tax obligations if it is done with the intention to make a profit or gain and the transaction is entered in the course of carrying on a business operation. A number of factors would indicate the existence of a business operation such as a business structure with a manager, office and letterhead; borrowing funds to finance the acquisition or subdivision of the property; claiming interest as a business expense; acquisition of an adjacent land; a coherent plan to subdivide and develop the land; recording the property in an account as a business asset; construction of a building; marketing and promotional activities.

Calculation of Assessable Income For taxation purposes, the assessable income from a property development business could be calculated on a net profit basis. A net profit is derived after deducting costs of acquisition, costs of development, costs of sale and if the land was not originally acquired for commercial purposes and the market value of the land at the date it is committed to the business activity (this will obviously replace the acquisition costs) from the sale price. The net profit is brought to an account as an assessable income for the deal.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) If GST unregistered mums and dads subdivide and sell land or property without carrying on a business, it would be considered as a mere realisation of a capital asset. They

will not be eligible to claim input tax credits on their development expenditure and will not be required to remit GST on a sale of a land or a property.

When an entity is registered or required to be registered for GST, the sale of a newly developed property will be a taxable supply under section 9-5 of the Goods and Services Act 1999. The entity will be eligible to claim

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input tax credits incurred on the acquisitions to develop the property and required to remit GST on the consideration paid for the newly developed property.

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

Thank you day for TARS re-launched as Seniors Rights Service organ donations Zia Ahmad National day to honour organ and tissue donors and their families was held on Sunday 22 November.

Minister for Rural Health, Fiona Nash has asked Australians to reflect on the gift of organ donation.

DonateLife Thank You Day is a national day to honour organ and tissue donors and their families and thank them for their selfless gift.

“Organ and tissue donors, and the families who honour their wishes to donate, save lives,” Minister Nash said.

“Organ and tissue donation is the ultimate gift, with just one organ and tissue donor able to improve the lives of more than ten people.

“The gift of organ and tissue donation benefits not just transplant recipients, but their families, friends and society in general.

“For those waiting for a transplant, organ and tissue donation can mean the difference between life and death, being healthy and sick, between seeing and being blind, or being active and never walking again. It enables people to resume an active life in their family, their workplace, their school and their community.

“It is important to acknowledge and honour the role that families play in the donation process. They are asked to confirm the donation decision of their loved one and

December 2015

also provide vital health information. Donor families also help the broader community understand the donation process by generously sharing their stories with the public,” Minister Nash said.

Donor Families Australia Chairman Bruce McDowell said DonateLife Thankyou Day was a great initiative.

“It means a lot to the families of donors to know that our loved one’s gifts are valued by recipients and the wider community. This open display of gratitude gives us much pride and we appreciate the Organ and Tissue Authority’s initiative in making this day happen.”

On DonateLife Thank You Day, Australians are invited to participate by: Creating a thank you video message and sharing it via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using the #DonateLifeThankYouDay hashtag Registering as an organ and tissue donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register at donatelife.gov.au/decide Starting a conversation or sharing your decision about organ donation with your family and friends.

A video featuring donor families and transplant recipients can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVEjVhl5dxQ For more information about DonateLife Thank You Day and how you can get involved, visit donatelife.gov.au/thank-youday.

AMUST Media

The Aged-care Rights Service (TARS) was re-launched with its new name Seniors Rights Service at a symposium held on 25 November 2015 at Surry Hills, Sydney.

The event was addressed by the following speakers: • Hon John Ajaka, Minister for Ageing • Rodney Lewis, Elder Law and Human Rights Activist • Nan Bosler, President of Australian Seniors’ Computer Club Association • Craig Gear, President of Senior Rights Service “It is paramount that Seniors Right Service retains its core values but at the same time develops a modern identity. We feel it’s important to let people know what we stand for in a clear and concise way and our new tagline ‘Your Rights, Your Voice’ reinforces that. The landscape and funding environment within ageing and aged-care is changing and we recognised the need for change,” Craig Gear said.

The purpose of the Seniors Rights Service is to foster communities where older members of society are aware of, actively exercising and defending their individual rights, in a society that respects and values older people and promotes and upholds their

rights.

The organisation has 30 years of experience in delivering services to the most vulnerable and marginalized older people across NSW. The organization has expanded over its history and now provides the following key services: • Legal services targeting older people in NSW as part of the Community Legal Centre network.

• Retirement Village advocacy and advice to NSW residents of villages.

• Individual Advocacy for NSW recipients and potential of Commonwealth funded residential and community based agedcare services • Education across NSW ensuring older people and their representatives are aware of the rights of older people The organization has launched its new five-year strategic plan to provide a roadmap of how to further develop or ability to reach vulnerable and disadvantaged older people across NSW, including older people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and other special needs groups.

The Seniors Rights Service will refine a growing suite of peer based and other advice, education services for older people across NSW. This will support older people to understand and stand up for their rights into the future.

Zia Ahmad is the Managing Editor of AMUST and is based in Sydney.

www.amust.com.au

Australasian Muslim Times

11

AMUST

LIFESTYLE

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 11

LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

Sydney Cycling Sisters ride to Gong Rouba Issa The Sydney Cycling Sisters group has raised $7465, part of over two million fundraising effort by participating in the MS Sydney to Gong 2015 ride held on Sunday 1 November this year.

The MS Sydney to Gong ride has been held for the last 33 years in order to raise funds to support Australians suffering from Multiple Screlosis, a baffling and debilating disease.

Sydney Muslim Cyclists with Muslim brothers from Unity Grammar raised over $11,500 together while Ahmad Mourad achieved the third highest ranking by raising $18,536 in an individual category.

The group Sydney Cyclist Sisters was founded by Cindy Rahal an Occupational Therapy student from the University of Western Sydney The focus of Cindy’s thesis was on the effects of Islamaphobia on Muslim women and how it affects them being not able to participate fully in the community.

During her research she discovered that Muslim women do not get out because of the negativity that is portrayed in the media against Islam and Muslims. Most women only felt comfortable staying at home.

This novel idea of creating a sisters cycling group to further her research began to form in Cindy’s mind because she felt this

would be an avenue to allow Muslim women to go out into the community, participate in an activity on a regular basis, feel safe and leave their comfort zone at home.

In early April 2015, the Sydney Cycling Sisters Facebook page was born and members were asked to join this new exciting group which now has 550 plus members.

“It’s important that as Muslim women we are still able to do what we want to do without reference to other people and their perceptions about us and If you want to do something, do it, without compromising your values.” Cindy said.

Five women from the group participated in the MS Sydney to Gong 2015, namely, Cindy Rahal, May Fahmi, Assmaah Helal, Inas Karem and Eaman Badaui.

Hard work, planning and research were the tools that the women used to complete this monumental ride. They trained very hard prior to the event in order to ride steep up-hills and the dangerous down hills a distance of 54.4 km from Engadine.

“It was such an incredible feeling to see the finish line! We are definitely going to do it again next year inshallah we will have a bigger team and raise even more funds for MS.”, Cindy said.

For more information please visit the Facebook page, Sydney Cycling Sisters, htwww.fb.com/sydneymuslimsisterscyclists Rouba Issa is a Sydney based AMUST contributor with a Bachelor of Arts (Media, Text and Writing) and is currently doing a Masters in Education.

From Barn to Mosque You and your heart Sevdet Bektash

A staff team of cycling enthusiasts from Al Siraat College, a growing Australian school in the Islamic Tradition based in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs, set a task to help raise funds for a Masjid on the College site.

In the past, the community had donated generously for the renovation and maintenance of the Musallah, and despite the extensions, the increased attendance and student numbers have prompted action for this rewarding building venture.

The building currently being used as the Musallah dates back 160 years and is a heritage protected barn. Limiting factors prevented the proper expansion and alteration of the barn, resulting in the need to build an actual Masjid.

The project name, ‘From Barn to Mosque’, was collaboratively selected and supported by a generous marketing consultant, Masstrategy, who prepared official marketing material.

The cycling staff team, whom now enjoy regular riding expeditions, had only a few days turnaround to get the first fundraising project up and running before Ramadan.

With staff working around the clock, each family enrolled in the College was given a money tin, as well as other members of the Muslim community who visit the current Musallah.

The ‘From Barn to Mosque’ team initially intended to raise $30,000 to start the planning process, and with Allah’s blessing and a shower of support, the fundraising has been able to achieve over $70,000, Alhumdulillah. Some families managing to squeeze as much as $1,400 into the small cans, MashaAllah!

Al Siraat College will continue to support such projects, and with Allah’s blessing a Masjid can be achieved.

If you would like any further information on this project, please contact the College on (03) 9408 1999. To make a donation, please see our bank account details on the flyer.

Sevdet Bektash, based in Melbourne is the Head of PE department at Al Sirat College.

Al Siraat College cycling team.

12

Australasian Muslim Times

Zia Ahmad India’s top cardiologist, Professor M Khalilullah presented a symposium titled “You and your heart” held Wednesday 25 November at the University of New South Wales attended by medical doctors, surgeons, students and a large number of community members.

Prof Khalilullah together with his wife Dr Anita Khalil, a paediatric cardiologist stopped in Sydney for a couple of days on their return back to India after attending Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Conference held on 19-22 November in Melbourne.

In his unique entertaining presentation during the symposium, Prof Khalilullah described “your heart simply as an incredible pump that in contrast to other organs of the body never takes a rest”.

While reciting some poetry associated with the heart, he admitted that during his five decades of dealing with heart as a cardiologist, he has not found any physical evidence of romanticism that has been attached to this organ by poets for centuries.

Prof Khalilullah, with the help of slides elaborated on his pioneering efforts in the field of electrophysiology in India that was employed in order to treat complex diseases of the heart and avoid surgical interventions.

Prof Khalilullah, an experimental electro-physiologist, cardiologist and academic was attached with the top medical institu-

Dr Fasih Khan with Prof Khalilullah. tion in India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIMS and has taught and worked in North America, UK, Europe and many other parts of the world.

He is the inventor of Indigenous Khalil-Mendez pacemaker that was marketed for merely 1200 rupees affordable by common Indians. He has also authored a textbook of physiology with a price easily affordable by Indian students.

He is the recipients of many awards including the Indian Presidential awards Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan for his pioneering services.

He visited Sydney on request by Dr Parwin Faiz and others who have known him over the years including Professor Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad and Mr Zafar Siddiqui.

The event was supported by a number of community organisations and help provided by a dedicated team of Individuals.

Prof Khalilullah with a group of audience at the symposium, Dr Faiz on right.

www.amust.com.au

December 2015

UMMAH 15 - 17

EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL 23

The 10 rules of Muslim love: Part 1

Zeynab Gamieldien | Love Haqtually

I’ve been writing about Muslim relationships for some time now. In doing so, I’ve never claimed any kind of special expertise. I’m not a ‘relationships guru’, nor am I at all detached from any of the issues I write about.

I talk to a lot of people, and I listen to a lot of people. I’m constantly re-evaluating what I hold to be established truths and am constantly surprised by the outliers of the general human experience. But undoubtedly, over the course of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of conversations I’ve had with people about these issues, several themes do emerge and I don’t feel that I’m being all that presumptuous in sharing them. As always, I stress the diversity and complexity of individual experience, but now that I’ve added that disclaimer, here goes my first five rules for securing love in this lonely, hash-tagging, notification-buzzing world of ours: 1. Strike early This is something I’ve observed again and again: people getting trapped in endless rounds of flirtatious banter and sharing of YouTube clips, without ever defining what the deal is. These very frequently fizzle out and go nowhere. Therefore, your best chance for something to actually happen is early on, before anyone gets too comfortable/bored/sick of trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

2. Keep your distance This sounds somewhat counter-intuitive, but here’s another observation I’ve made time and time again: friends of the opposite sex very rarely get together. This is why you see circles of guys and girls, all eligible and of a similar mindset, but all scratching their heads as to where they are going to meet someone. Again, if it happens it’ll usually happen early on, but if you stay slightly outside of the circle you won’t run the risk of people you may be interested in getting just a bit too comfortable and overlooking you in the marriage stakes.

3. Don’t push your luck (but do try to encourage!)

Most of us have been guilty of this at some point or other: trying to ‘convince’ someone to be interested in us by pushing, whether by continually trying to get their attention or extending conversations way past their expiry dates. Don’t do it. The best thing to do is to respond in a reciprocal and receptive

Marriage Bureau

Seeker & Sought For

An initiative by the Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare (IFEW)

Seekers

F1510: Female, 58, Fijian Australian widow from Indian background, Administrative officer. I like to Travel watch soccer, cook, socialise and help people.

I am looking for a down to earth, loving and caring person. Someone to be my life partner and is willing to accept my son (19 years) who also lives with me.

manner. If they ask questions, ask one too.

If they write a three word response, resist the urge to respond with an essay, but don’t necessarily jump to the conclusion that they hate you and never want to talk to you again.

4. Don’t project!

Another thing many of us are guilty of is projecting our perception of events onto the other person. Consequently, if we like someone, a polite greeting from them becomes laden with hidden meaning. If they don’t reply right away, they’ve ‘lost interest’. An offhand comment will be dissected within an inch of its life, a stray glance given far more significance than it warrants. It’s so easy to fall into this, but at least attempt to stop reading your own script constantly and give theirs a go.

5. Get used to a little romantic overlap

Let’s face it: we, the Western Muslim diaspora, form a great big spider web.

There are all kinds of connections between people who’ve never met and a lot of the same names get bandied about in particular circles. If you want to meet someone, you have to be prepared to get your hands slightly dirty. The person you like may have been seeing someone you know. You may have been seeing someone they know. It’s just one of those icky things you have to get used to.

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.

Walid Yusra

weds

Mrs Samia and the Late Mohamed El-Sabbagh announce the marriage of their son, Walid Elsabbagh (27) to Yusra Metwally (25), daughter of Mr Wahied and Faten Metwally. Walid is a Marine engineer by trade and Yusra is a Solicitor (Domestic Violence Advocate) Their wedding was on Friday 30 October 2015 at the Emporium Reception Centre, Bankstown.

December 2015

AMUST

www.amust.com.au

F159: Female, 27 medical doctor, Indian residing in Saudi Arabia.

I apply Islam in my day-to-day life. I have performed Hajj twice and Umrah numerous times. I am soft spoken, humble and well cultured. I respect elders and very adjusting by nature. I am seeking for a life partner who is an educated and practicing Muslim.

F158: 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.

F157: 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.

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.

See More at amust.com.au/ listing_types/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

Australasian Muslim Times

13

AMUST

LIFESTYLE

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 11

LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

Journey to the fear of the unknown MOBYDAYZE Mobinah Ahmad Earlier this year, I booked a trip to China.

It was a country I had never been to before, and therefore I had no idea what to expect.

As the date of the trip came closer, and I was talking to other Muslims about my plans, I got some very similar responses over and over again.

These included: “China! Is it safe for Muslims to go there?”, “No one speaks English! There is a massive language barrier.”, “Oh my God, there’s nothing for Muslims to eat there. All they eat is Pork! And they eat Dogs and stuff!”, It was for this reason I decided to go on a tour, and be guided around the south east for the first 3 weeks and do

the final week without the tour.

I was bemused to hear people give me so many warnings about a country. There was a sense of fear for the unknown, especially by many Muslims.

With only some knowledge myself (researching on the internet) - it did worry me a little. Even with my extensive research and planning, I was not sure what the experience would be like.

After spending over 24 days and visiting over 14 cities in this beautiful country so far, I’ve learnt there are many misconceptions Muslims have about China.

China is unique. There is no Asian country like it. Nothing will prepare your first time visit.

No matter how many youtube videos you watch, or how many blogs you read or how many stories you hear from others - it makes a lasting first impression.

It has this way of surprising you with its

Spicy beef kebab chunks cooking over a coal fire, Famous Moslem Street, Xi’an.

sights, smells and flavours.

Firstly, yes, it is very safe for Muslims to go to China. Its strange, I feel more comfortable in China as a Muslim than I do in Australia.

Secondly, When I first realised that hardly anyone spoke English, my mind automatically assumed that the Chinese did not appreciate westerners in their country. Oh, how wrong I was.

Everyone is so kind and helpful. Many people just wanted to take photos with me, it was so much fun - I felt like a D grade celebrity.

At one point, as I was climbing to the top of the highest point in Guilin, a couple women had stopped me and asked for a photo.

Before I knew it, I was ambushed by 8 women surrounding me, and asking me to do the peace sign.

It was a little jarring at times, but it was nice to mix with the locals. People would

smile and help me as much as they could. It made the whole trip really enjoyable.

Thirdly, there is plenty of halal food, an abundant amount in every city. There are about 23 million Muslims in China (that’s like the population of Australia!), so there is no shortage of halal options.

I didn’t even do that much research, and stumbled across quite a few halal restaurants. And of course, I had the most delicious eating experience at Famous Moslem Street in Xi’an.

Even if there isn’t halal meat, most restaurants have vegetarian or fish dishes that are really tasty.

So as I reach the end of my trip, I’ve had the chance to reflect on the journey I’ve been on and all the things I have learnt. We should not be afraid to go to places that challenge us. That is one of the best parts about travelling. “Seek knowledge even as far as China”.

Mobinah looks out to the foggy abyss at Yellow Mountain in Huangshan.

What I’ve learnt (so far) about Motherhood THE MODEST BRIDE

Saltanat Bora

1. Giving birth is utterly heart breaking: Yes birth is all kinds of crazy/incredible yet simultaneously it can be totally heart breaking.

When I came home from the hospital, I’d sometimes find myself in tears for (seemingly) no reason. I simply couldn’t cope with the enormity of what my body had just been through and the fact that she was now out in the world, and therefore vulnerable and exposed to it was pretty damn heartbreaking.

2. You need your space: Having a good support system is crucial to recovery. But what is also crucial is having some time away from everyone who just wants to ‘help’. While their intentions are sincere, as a first time mother what you need is some space to nurture your connection with your baby. It doesn’t help to have people hovering around constantly and (more than likely), judging.

First time mothers need an atmosphere that is reassuring and supportive, with the right balance of advice/care but also knowing when to step back and letting the new mother do her thing.

3. Trust your instincts: In a world of Dr. Google and online forums, it’s really hard not to jump on the net for everything and diagnose your child with a life-threatening disease. Raising a baby has a lot to do with trusting your instincts.

You need to understand that EVERY baby is different and what may work for one mother and baby, may not work for you.

4. Life goes on: It’s very easy to get caught up in baby and soon everything you do is overtaken by this

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tiny being. All your energy, time and brain power suddenly get directed into keeping this baby alive… All the things that you wanted to do before baby somehow take a back seat.

To ensure baby is healthy and happy, you need to be healthy and happy. And for that to happen, you need time out to focus on your physical and spiritual health.

Rely on the people around you. You need to find time to focus on yourself, to engage in activities outside of caring for the baby.

You, and your children, will thank you for it later.

5. Knowing Allah: From pregnancy, to the birth, and witnessing my daughter grow, I felt like I was privy to Allah’s sheer mercy, compassion and beauty.

I caught a glimpse of what patience means. At the same time, I understood that there was an ocean of things about this life, and therefore about Allah (swt) that I didn’t know.

My daughter never ceases to surprise me, and stir emotions I didn’t know existed, and to show me how to appreciate the beauty and simple things in this world that she is captivated by.

In a time of such disturbance to the human soul and spirit, being given the opportunity to bring life into this world gave me the chance to reconnect, reflect and ultimately, to be in awe of the Creator of all things.

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

Australasian Muslim Times

www.amust.com.au

December 2015

UMMAH 15 - 17

EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

BUSINESS 22

UMMAH

SOCIAL 23

AMUST

Australian Government Two more executions in bias against Palestine Bangladesh The Liberal government has again shown its blatant bias towards Israel by not voting for Palestinian rights resolutions on 24 November at the UN General Assembly that adopted 5 non-binding resolutions on Palestine.

Australia voted against 3 resolutions while abstained from 2.

Australia is conforming to the pro Israel lobby and US demands by voting for Israel’s interests rather than upholding Palestinian political and human rights under international law.

Australia’s vote promotes Israel’s impunity to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This is inspite of the fact that the majority of Australians support Palestinian self-determination, the end of the occupation and illegal settlements and the Palestinian Right of Return.

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/70/L.10) Extract: “Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the achievement without delay of an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre1967 borders…”

Vote: 102 in favour 8 against (Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) 57 abstentions Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (A/70/L.11) Extract: “Considers that, by providing substantive support to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a most useful and constructive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine…”

Vote: 99 in favour 8 against (Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) 59 abstentions

December 2015

Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (A/70/L.12) Extract: “Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine…”

Vote: 155 in favour 7 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) 7 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan, Tonga) Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (A/70/L.13) Extract: “Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the Territory …”

Vote: 155 in favour 7 against (Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States) 7 abstentions (Cameroon, Honduras, Nauru, Paraguay, South Sudan, Togo, Tonga) Jerusalem (A/70/L.14) Extract: “Reiterates its determination that any actions taken

by Israel, the Occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures.”

Vote: 153 in favour 7 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States) 8 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan, Toga, Tonga)

Two Bangladeshi opposition figures were executed last week by the Bangladeshi regime that has been internationally deplored as an act of judicial killing which is part of the ongoing persecution of political opponents.

The two prominent politicians were Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, adviser to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a member of the standing committee for the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Both were members of parliament for several years.

The so called “International Crime Tribunals” and their proceedings have been declared against the international legal standards by almost all global institutions including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch etc.

Several prominent personalities, including a member of UK House of Lords and five members of US Congress, also stated that the tribunal’s process was “deeply flawed” and that they were concerned by reports that “democratic space is shrinking” in Bangladesh.

Stephen J. Rapp, a former American

Media Scan Ainullah

Dr Ahmad Sakr passed away

Dr Ahmad Sakr, a veteran Muslim leader passed away on 23 November in Southern California.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr Sakr got his PhD from the University of Illinois.

He was a founding member back in 1960 and president of the Muslim Students’ Association of US & Canada as well as a founding member of the World Council of Mosques, Makkah. He was the first director and representative of the Muslim World League to the UN. Dr Sakr continually served Muslim communities in the United States and Canada for more than five decades. His contributions include establishing communities, helping Mosques, schools, and various Muslim charities. In addition, Dr Sakr authored more than fifty books on variety of subjects that continue to benefit people across the country.

Dr Sakr, professionally a biochemist and nutritionist academic and researcher was the foremost Muslim American authority on food and nutrition and a board member of the Islamic food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). He was very active

www.amust.com.au

ambassador who led the State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice, called Mr. Chowdhury’s prosecution “particularly disturbing” because he was not allowed to call alibi witnesses, including a former U.S. ambassador, who could testify that he left Bangladesh in March 1971, and was therefore not in the country at the time of the crimes he was accused of committing.

Nearly 10,000 people have been arrested on false charges, hundreds of political activists killed in custody and on the streets, political parties effectively banned, and media restricted during the six year old persecution against opposition parties by the government.

The actions of the present government is presenting Bangladesh as a pariah state in the eyes of world opinion. The international community needs to end its silence and take some solid actions to stop this miscarriage of justice in Bangladesh.

(Courtesy ICNA News Alert)

in interfaith work and made numerous radio and television appearances.

Funeral prayers were held on 24 November at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley, Rowland Heights followed by burial at the La Verne Cemetery.

(Courtesy ICNA News Alert)

Australasian Muslim Times

15

AMUST

UMMAH

NEWS 1-2

BOOMERANG 3-5

COMMUNITY 6-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 11

LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

India: A struggle against intolerance Zahid Jamil Reading through Indian newspapers and watching Indian TV over past few months would scare Muslims of Indian origin living overseas.

Reading blogs in newspapers such as Times of India, it seems that many Hindus have no reluctance in expressing extreme hatred towards Muslims by insulting their prophet and historical figures, their religion, their customs and even questioning the patriotism of patriotic Indian Muslims such as film stars and other respected public figures.

Activists of Hindu fundamentalist groups seem to have overtaken the public arena.

Every second day, they would bring up a controversial issue and the entire nation would start debating it.

Never before in independent India, such an atmosphere prevailed, despite the nation going through countless communal riots and extremely disturbing events such as the demolition of Babri Masjid and massacre of thousands of Muslims in Gujarat.

This phenomenon has not happened out of blue but is the result of increasing effort at organisational level which has received encouragement and support from the highest office in the country. The PM office is now housed by extremists within the ruling right wing party, BJP. Successful campaigns have seen people joining extremist RSS shakhas in large numbers resulting in more than 60% increase in weekly shakhas across the country over past few years.

The extremist ideology of ultra-nationalist RSS is directly influenced by ideologies

such as Hitler’s Nazi doctrine brainwashing tens of millions of Hindus. They are trying to change the history books by presenting biased view on Muslim rulers, highlighting the incidents which may relate to oppression of Hindus or demolition of temples.

They ignore the fact that Hindus enjoyed key positions in the palaces, armies and governing bodies of Muslim rulers of India.

They also ignore the fact that much of the conversion to Islam in India was carried out by sufi saints through their love for all.

Despite rapid rise of extremist Hindu groups, it is pleasing to see that there is no shortage of fair minded Hindus who have been raising their voice against extremism and intolerance in the country A large number of intellectuals and high achievers have been at the forefront in the

country who have spoken against extremism and intolerance and have returned their awards and medals given by the government in protest.

Major non-BJP political parties have also stood up against the extremist elements in the country. State elecrions held last month in Bihar have once again demonstrated that Hindu extremists enjoy limited support amongst Hindus generally.

BJP’s vote share was only 24.8 percent in Bihar and even when Modi had enjoyed landslide victory in 2014, BJP vote share was only 31 percent nationwide.

The encouraging trend in Bihar, after the BJP was wiped out during Delhi elections earlier this year demonstrates the intelligence and political consciousness of the Indian electrorate not to be swayed by ex-

tremist propaganda to divide Indian Society.

Democracy works in India and all Indians will stay united with its great secular traditions where people of all faith, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians wish to live together in peace and harmony.

Zahid Jamil is an engineering post graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and runs a financial planning practice based in Sydney.

He heads South Asian Muslim Association of Australia, SAMAA: http://samaa.org.au ), a benevolent institution offering wide range of services to the community elders. He also moderates an Islamic website “Islamic Forum for Education and Research” http:// isfer.info/

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Luqman Hakim Landy, an Australian Muslim revert has been serving the people of Indonesia through his JIMS Foundation in the field of daawah and education for more than 15 years.

Luqman was born in Syndey and was introduced to Islam at a university in Canberra. He converted to Islam in 1975 after a six year search for TRUTH in Australia and a supernatural experience in Jakarta. He performed Hajj in 1979, worked with AFIC in 1979 - 1982 and was Mudir of a government Islamic Orphanage in Sabah, Malaysia 1983-85. He has 10 years teaching experience in Darwin & 12 in Jakarta He did HIJRA to Indonesia 1988 and fell into DA'WAH activities, in remote village where people did not know Islam.

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A panoramic shot of attendees at the Parliament of the World’s Religions convention at Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.

Record number of Muslims attend the world’s largest convention of faiths Taha Ghayyur

It was a breath-taking event where for five days, religious leaders, activists, and people from all walks of life, convened at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA to inspire and to be inspired at the 6th Parliament of the World’s Religions held from 15 -19 October 2015.

The sights, sounds, and warmth of over 10,000 people representing 80 countries and about 50 religious traditions hosted at the Salt Palace Convention Center were riveting and transformational.

“Dear sisters and brothers, with the permission of the indigenous community, the original people of this land, with love in our hearts, compassion in our minds and smiles on our faces, to reclaim the heart of our humanity, I declare this 6th Parliament of the World’s Religions open,” Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid said as he inaugurated the Parliament.

These remarks set the tone for the rest of the five days packed with inspirational conversations and enlightening encounters with thousands of brothers and sisters in humanity, who gathered for one purpose: To understand each other and build bridges of love, trust, and harmony in an increasingly chaotic and violent world.

Founded in 1893, the Parliament of the

World’s Religions is the oldest, largest, and as of 2015, the most inclusive gathering of people of all faiths and traditions from around the world.

The 2015 Parliament featured a master class of today’s most influential leaders including Nobel Peace Prize laureates, religious leaders, global thinkers, scientists, and interfaith and environmental Activists from around the world.

These luminaries included His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dr Karen Armstrong, Dr Tariq Ramadan, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Marianne Williamson, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, H H Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Dr Jane Goodall, Mairead Maguire, Dr Eboo Patel, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Rev Jim Wallis, Karenna Gore, Sheikh Saleh Abdullah bin Humaid, Dr Kathryn Hayhoe, Chief Arvol Lookinghorse, and Vancouver’s young Ta’Kaiya Blaney from the Sliammon Nation.

The most critical topics addressed by delegates in both speeches and plenaries were Climate Change and Care for Creation, Women’s Dignity and Human Rights, Income Inequity and Wasteful Consumption, War, Violence and Hate Speech, and Indigenous Communities.

Muslim Presence at the Parliament What makes the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions extraordinary is the Muslim presence and participation.

Thanks to the efforts of Imam Abdul

Malik Mujahid, who is also the President of Sound Vision, as well as Prof Ahmadullah Siddiqi, Imam Musa Azam, and Janaan Hashim from Sound Vision, the Parliament pulled a record number of Muslim attendees, speakers, and plenaries. More Muslims attended the Parliament than Catholics or Mormons.

Some of the prominent Muslim scholars and presenters included the Imam of Kaba, Shaikh Dr Saleh Abdullah bin Humaid, Dr Tariq Ramadan, Shk Omar Suleiman, Dawud Wharnsby, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, Dr Eboo Patel, Janaan Hashim, Sheikha Tamara Gray, Rami Nashashibi, Prof Ahmadullah Siddiqi, and Dr Hamid Slimi.

The engagement of these Muslim intellectuals and presenters at the largest conference of interfaith and peace spoke volumes.

It spoke louder than words.

Parliament 2015 also featured a number of Muslim-themed plenary sessions, considering that Muslims are at the receiving end of the rising Islamophobia and the brunt of war, terrorism, and poverty globally.

Moreover, Sound Vision and Burma Task Force booths in the Parliament’s bustling bazaar served as a welcoming hub to everyone on behalf of the Muslim community.

Taha Ghayyur is a Toronto based Muslim leader and Manager of Development at Sound Vision having produced “Adam’s World”.

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Muslim depictions of Muhammad AMUST

Firas Alkhateeb With Prophet Muhammad (s) being so central a figure in Islam, it would be natural for generations of Muslims to have had a desire to depict him artistically.

However, all four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence have strict prohibitions on visualizations of the Prophet. As a result, Muslim artists had to find alternate methods of depicting Muhammad (s) through calligraphy.

In the Ottoman Empire, an art form known as the hilye developed. It combined hadiths that described the appearance and character of the Prophet (known as al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyya) collected by Imam al-Tirmidhi (824-892 CE) with thuluth style calligraphy, the most prominent form of calligraphy in the Ottoman Empire.

The most common form of the hilye was produced by the great Ottoman calligrapher Hafiz Osman Efendi (1664-1698 CE). The description of the Prophet (translated below) adorns the center of the canvas, usually in a circular or crescent shape.

It is bounded by the names of the Prophet’s (s) closest companions and the first four caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. At the bottom of the panel would be verses from the Quran and the artist’s name and date. This style of hilye became the standard, emulated by generations of Ottoman calligraphers.

The standard description of the Prophet (s) used in hilye’s came from his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib and was recorded by Imam al-Tirmidhi. Below is an English translation of it: “Transmitted from Ali, may God be pleased with him, who, when asked to describe the Prophet, peace be upon him, would say, “ He was not too tall nor too short. He was medium sized. His hair was not short and curly, nor was it lank but in between. His face was not narrow, nor was it fully round, but there was a roundness to it. His skin was white. His eyes were black. He had long

A hilye by Mehmed Tahir Efendi (d. 1848). eyelashes. He was big-boned and had wide shoulders. He had no body hair except in the middle of his chest. He had thick hands and feet. When he walked, he walked inclined, as if descending a slope. When he looked at someone, he looked at them in full face.

“Between his shoulders was the seal of prophecy, the sign that he was the last of the

An 18th century hilye.

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A 19th century hilye by Niyazi Efendi.

prophets. He was the most generous-hearted of men, the most truthful of them in speech, the most mild-tempered of them, and the noblest of them in lineage. Whoever saw him unexpectedly was in awe of him. And whoever associated with him familiarly loved him. Anyone who would describe him would say, ‘I never saw, before him or after him,

the like of him.’ Peace be upon him.”

Firas Alkhateeb is an Islamic History teacher at Universal School in Bridgeview, Illinois.

(Courtesy Lost Islamic History: lostislamichistory.com/muslim-depictions-of-muhammad-the-hilye/ )

A hilye by Hafiz Osman Efendi (1642–1698).

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The 99 Divine attributes of Allah Part 16 - Attributes 64 – 67 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 Introduction Prayer is very important to create a relationship between the individual believer and Allah.

The ideas and actions of every beloved prophet is performed by the believers depending mostly on the directive and actions revealed by Allah to ponder in such a way that might help the respective prophet in performing his main mission.

Prayer is a very important action to be performed by the believers for the sake of Allah as well as for the sake of the Prophet (s) without any negligence.

These three attributes can be understood through proper direction and performance of prayer.

64. Al-Wājid - The All Perceiving This name, Al-Wajid, can be translated in two different ways: • Allah is the finder/ perceiver and • Allah is the rich who is never poor.

The Arabic verb “wajada” means: to find.

Allah is the finder and all things are at His call. He has no wants and lacks nothing.

“Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge? And He found you lost and guided [you],” (Ad-Duha 93:6-7) The second way to translate the name is that Allah is the Rich who is never poor. Our wealth is temporary, no matter how rich you are. However when it comes to Allah, His richness is everlasting and vast. Allah is the one who will always be rich in knowledge, power, and sustenance. “ Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error. And [to] others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.1 That is the bounty of Allah , which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on, is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah . And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. Say, “O you who are Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah , excluding the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.” But they will not wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers. Say, “Indeed, the death from which you flee – indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do. O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah2 [Friday] and the prayer is finished, and then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade.

That is better for you, if you only knew.

And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah , and remember Allah often that you may succeed. But [on one occasion] when they saw a transaction or a diversion [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say “What is Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and

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Allah is the best of providers.”3 (Al-Jumu’ah 62:1-11) 1. This passage stresses three important issues ; a) to settle and prepare for the for the Friday prayer, b) to declare the announcement for Friday prayer as a different kind of special prayer offered only once a week on Friday, c) to concentrate more for prayer’s requirements than shopping.

The purpose of revealing this chapter was to enable better understanding of prayers and related practices, and to have more concentrated and deep relation between the individual and his Allah.

2. Jumu’ah is an Islamic term. It has been termed as the day of Friday, an allotted day of every week in every locality. Before the practice of Islamic shariah, every religion had a special day once a week for a special kind of prayer. Sabbat (Saturday) for the Jews and Sunday for the Christians whilst for Islam, according to the shariah, it became Friday (Jumu’ah).

3. Every Friday Muslims are encouraged to practice zikrullah – the Islamic term referring to all the activities and practices associated with the remembrance of Allah. The phrase “leave trade” means not to completely abandon commercial endeavours but first concentrate on the Friday sermon especially prepared for the purpose, thence, after completing Friday with Khutbah and Fard prayer, the believer is permitted to indulge in trade-related activities.

Conclusion Being the last Prophet of the series of prophets, There was no clear injunctions and directions of Allah given to the prophet to fulfil the task of establishing the overall dominant civilization that may carry on the future relations under the new system of the last version of Islam. To develop the relationship in such a way that Allah takes a major role in facilitating the future believers toward developing more contingent and easy task of tuning the human beings towards a more easy going activities and practices for the change of habits and practice towards discarding the temptations from the devil.

Hence it will be found out that the decision between mundane and profound practice for human population had become easy without much disturbance from shaitan.

The chapter Jum’ah 62, is distinct from the monotheistic point of view as a religion.

Normally, attributes of Allah is very profound, very high. With these attributes, we can create humanness through these attributes. And the prayer is linked here, to not only correct the spiritual self, but create a better environment for everyone in this world.

65. Al-Mājid (The Glorious) The root of this word, m-j-d has the following connotations: • to be glorious, dignified, majestic, noble, honorable • to be lauded, exalted, sublime • to be liberal, bountiful, exceedingly generous • The two derived words from this root are: • Al-Majīd: indicating the One whose essential nature is glorious, dignified, noble and honorable, and whose essential nature is to give liberally and bountifully.

• Al-Mājid: indicating the One who is praised for the existence of the specific deeds and attributes of great glory, dignity, nobility, honor, and exceeding generosity.

Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī says that the name Al-Majīd expresses the combined meanings of al-Jalīl (the majestic), al-Wahhāb (the be-

stower) and al-Karīm (the generous).

This name is used in the Qur’ān. For example, see 11:73.

66. Al-Wāhid (The Unique One) , 67. Al Ahad ( The Only One) “Say, ‘He is Allah , [who is] One, Allah , the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.’ “ (Al-ikhlas 112: 1-4) The historic narratives about the religious deities at the time of the Prophet Muhammad leave the impression that, for the polytheists, Gods were made of wood, stalls, gold, silver and other metals containing base bodies. Christians used to believe in one God but attributed the son and the holy ghost. Hence, most of the people used to believe in body and other human requirements. They were Magi and Sabi made of fire and rocks.

The word “Allah” was not a strange word for Arabs. The Arabs used to believe the word Allah for the creator of the universe.

Arabs mostly changed after the attack of Abraha on Makkah - despite having 1,360 gods the Arabs pagans prayed to only Allah for saving them from the disaster of Abraha. Qur’an mentions in the Holy book that Allah is the creator of universe and the controller of moon and sun. Allah provides food and water and manages all the world affairs.

The verses of the short chapter was in response to their request about their God. The people used to reply “Howallah”, He is Allah. This means that when all the other non-Arabs believed their creator, controller and food provider had left them, still the Arabs considered Allah as their Lord. Hence, Prophet Muhammad’s response to their request was to never imagine any being as the creator, the controller, the provider, the manager, beneficial, merciful, wise and powerful other than Allah.

Following is the general essence of the meaning of the words mentioned in the Qur’an.

According to the classic Arabic lan-

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guage, Howa Allaho Ahada can be analyzed as Howa Mubtada, Allah is Khabar and Ahadan. It means that “He (about whom who you are asking questions) is Allah, the Unique One or it can also mean that this Allah is One and Only One. The monotheists provide the reply of the policies through the following arguments.

1. He is the only controller, not having any partnership and therefore there is no deity except Him. 2. He is the single manager and controller and provider.

3. He is one God from the beginning to the end having no one like him.

4. He is not only Wahid but Ahad as well.

Hence, the word wahid had been used as Allah, the One. Other than the word, Ahad and Wahid is the word samad. It has the following thirteen meanings.

1. The one most High and Effective.

2. All are hopeless compared to Him. 3. He is underlined.

4. He is without defect.

5. He does not undergo any defects.

6. He is perfect in His attributes and actions.

7. No one else has the same qualities.

8. He neither eats nor drinks.

9. He is Highest in his knowledge, wisdom, help, patience and nobility.

10. Nothing exists from him neither emerges from Him. 11. Whatever He decides is not to be revised.

12. People approach him whenever is needed.

13. He does not need any chief and does not require any help from anyone.

We need to take out the idea that shaitan is the enemy. He is also a creation of Allah, and he has permission from Allah. We can take advantage of the shaitan to make us better.

Continued in AMUST issue #122 January

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LIFESTYLE 12 - 14

Website opens a window on freedom from forced marriage AMUST

AMUST Media My Blue Sky, Australia’s first website dedicated to forced marriage prevention, information and legal advice was launched on Wednesday 25 November 2015 marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

An initiative of Anti-Slavery Australia, the only specialist legal research and policy centre of its kind in Australia, based in the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney, the site has been funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department.

My Blue Sky aims to educate, raise awareness about and offer advice to people in or at risk of forced marriage. The website includes a free national legal service provided through e-mail and text to assist people at risk of or in a forced marriage.

It provides information about forced marriage, including the law in Australia, the difference between forced and arranged marriage, safety planning, referral organisations and available support services.

The site is accessible to a wide range of people following extensive national community consultation and includes dedicated pages for young children and teenagers; teachers and health professionals; as well as a page for those who are worried about a friend who may be forced to marry.

There is also important contact informa-

tion for people who may be travelling overseas and are concerned they will be forced to marry once outside of Australia, as well as those who may have already been taken overseas.

Translations are available for parts of the website into six languages with links to the Forced Marriage Community Pack produced by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department.

“People facing forced marriage may only have one opportunity to reach out for help,” said project manager and lawyer Joanne Wilton. “We chose the name My Blue Sky to symbolise freedom… a rising above circumstances, a bright future and the fact that help is within reach.”

The Minister for Justice, the Hon Michael Keenan MP stated “Forced marriage is an insidious and hidden crime. It is a slavery-like practice, an abuse of fundamental human rights and there is no place for it in Australia.”

Anti-Slavery Australia Director, Associate Professor Jennifer Burn, said the website will provide a much needed portal for those seeking help.

“Forced marriage in Australia is under-reported and misunderstood,” Associate Professor Burn said.

“Whilst there are no reliable statistics on the number of forced marriages in Australia, over 50 suspected cases of forced marriage have been referred to the Australian Federal Police since forced marriage became a crime in Australia in 2013. Research sug-

gests that the numbers are much greater than these reports.”

Signs that someone is in or at risk of forced marriage If a person you know is in, or at risk of a forced marriage, they may find it hard to talk about their situation. If you notice some of the following things about a person, then it could mean they are in a forced marriage, or at risk of being made to enter into a forced marriage: • a sudden announcement that they are engaged and they don’t seem happy about it • they suddenly leave school, university or work • they spend a long time away from school, university or work with no reason • they have run away from home • there is evidence of family violence or abuse • their older brothers or sisters were married under the age of 18 • they are never allowed out or usually have to have somebody else from the family with them

• they show signs of depression, self-harming, drug or alcohol abuse • they seem scared or nervous about an upcoming family holiday overseas

For 24/7 information about forced marriage go to www.mybluesky.org.au For confidential advice or help during operating hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) you can: E-mail help@mybluesky.org.au SMS 0481 070 844 Phone (02) 9514 8115 Connect with us on social media at Twitter.com/Myblueskyfuture Facebook.com/MyBlueSkyFuture Instagram.com/myblueskyfuture In an emergency, call the police on Triple Zero (000) If you are concerned about being taken outside of Australia to be married, or you are in or at risk of forced marriage, you can contact the Australian Federal Police by calling 131 AFP (131 237). Contact can be made anonymously.

Marree Mosque Mosques from around the world Somehow, you tend not to connect Islam and barbecued lobster on the beach. It may come as a surprise then (or maybe not), to hear that the first Mosque in Australia was built in Marree, South Australia, around 1882 (some sources say possibly as early as 1861) by members of the Australian “Afghan” community.

These “Afghans” (generally Muslims from then-British India) worked as cameldrivers and breeders in the region. At one time, the town was divided in half, with white Europeans on one side, and the poorer Aboriginals and Afghans on the other.

The Mosque was constructed by camel breeder Abdul Kadir (Australia), owner of Wangamanna Station. Another camelleer, Mullah Assim Khan, became Imam of the Marree Mosque in the early 20th century.

The town eventually had two Mosques, the northern of which was abandoned around 1910. As of 2003, the descendants of the Afghans in Marree have rebuilt the Mosque.

It has the title of being Australia’s first, and is still utilised by a tiny Afghan community that still lives in the area to this day.

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Mosques from around the world is a facebook page that shares information, pictures, and experiences of mosques from around the world. www.fb.com/mosquesfromaroundtheworld

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Prison is not easy overseas Fatima Al-Sibai | Stories from Syria ‘No one does something for nothing’. Fortunate people speak about acts of altruism being associated with a gain. This is why acts of altruism are rarely found, and when found, questioned and framed with suspicion.

In an impoverished and devastated area, acts of altruism are widespread and the level of kindness has no limits. Similar to the retired police officer who spends every day seeking and distributing community donations to the Syrian refugees from his makeshift shop; being intrinsically aware that the people he helps will never be able to repay him. Or even the community that digs deep to meet the rental repayments of a home consisting of a woman and her children because she can’t find employment. Or even the comfort provided by an adult to a seven month old traumatised baby. All expecting nothing back. Believing in God. The depth of their belief, profound.

I had a chance during my stay to interview some women who had been through the most horrendous of circumstances. Things our wild imagination could never fathom.

One of these women, had been jailed for

being too kind. Her crime - single-handedly forming a network of underground community donors and organising silent distributions to the people. This ranged from financial contributions to medical aid to material support. She kept her identity anonymous and people only knew her as Sun. And boy, did she shine!

She was found out by the authorities who corrected her with imprisonment. She was released long after with community backing disproving all conveniently fabricated political claims pertaining to illegal activities.

Upon her release, she picked up where she left off and continued her work with a resolved determination and passion, knowing she faced possible incarceration.

Prison is not easy overseas.

She had continued for several months before she was caught again. This time her imprisonment was exceedingly rough and punishing. Not saying the right word or using silence incorrectly could mean a barrage of assaults. Many times she had let out the warning cry an animal utilises to reveal their location thus saving the lives of others. She did this without benefit to herself trying to protect the younger females who appeared to be much weaker than her in her resistance.

She gradually reached a point of hopelessness which she recounted vividly years later as though it was happening to her in that moment. Still living with Post Traumat-

ic Stress Disorder, she explained how her strong vibrant spirit and mental health was broken down painstakingly slowly. Her last memory involved fading in and out of consciousness as she screamed repeatedly for her death. She was released shortly thereafter, verified as “crazy” and left for dead.

The community whom she so lovingly looked after for many years returned her kindness, not that she had expected this or was consciously aware of her circumstances

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at the time. She was nursed back to health with love and support, eventually strong enough to cross the border.

And people say altruism doesn’t exist.

This is Part 3 of a series. Fatima Al-Sibai travelled to Turkey for one month to be a Syrian refugee aid volunteer living on the border of Turkey and Syria. She brings with her stories of her vivid experiences.

Istanbul: Border of east and west WAYFERER’S COMPASS Sana Gillani Being on route to Iran, we had the joy of ‘transiting’ in Istanbul for 6 days. Both my husband and I had visited Istanbul previously, but we used this as an opportunity to re-visit some of our favourite landmarks in the city and also to explore new places.

Our first day in Istanbul was spent doing a spot of shopping on the famous Istiklal street of Taksim, one of the more trendy and modern areas of Istanbul. This was mostly out of necessity as the small suitcase containing my husband’s clothing was currently missing from a flight and yet to be recovered!

On our next day, we embarked on a mosque-athon, travelling mostly by foot and

December 2015

occasionally tram, to see some of Istanbul’s most fine mosques. We visited the following in order: • Şehzade Camii • İskenderpaşa Camii • Fatih Camii • İsmailağa Camii • Yavuz Selim Camii On the other days we continued, by visiting: • Süleymaniye Camii • Rüstem Paşa Camii • Yeni Camii • Sultan Ahmet Camii Each mosque has its own unique history and design worth reading up on when you visit Istanbul. The older mosques built during the Ottoman Empire were especially grand and distinct in their design, attracting most tourists.

From the hip streets of Taksim, the next day we found ourselves in Çarşamba, a more religious and conservative neighbourhood in Fatih. It was fascinating to walk through their Wednesday ‘Pazaar’ and witness another side of the diverse metropolis of Istanbul.

On a separate day, we got to visit the Asian side of Istanbul and see the new “Şakirin Camii”, designed by female Turkish architect, Zeynep Fadillioglu. Whilst on the Asian side, my husband ensured we visited the Asatane bookshop, which has a valuable collection of texts in Arabic. More importantly, the bookshop is on the street leading to the Maqam of Aziz Mahmud Hudayi, the Sheikh of Sultan Ahmet who was the first to lead Jummah at Sultan Ahmet Camii.

In the last few days of our trip, we had booked to stay at an Airbnb residence, with our host, “Basma” whom you may find on the website. She was a friendly and hospitable host of an Egyptian background. On

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our first evening with her, she cooked us and some French tourists also staying there, a traditional Egyptian dinner. This was a great social and culinary addition to our trip.

Our last day was spent in the Eyup Sultan district where we visited the maqam of one of the sahaba, Abu Ayoub Al-Ansari. The Eyup Sultan Camii is beautiful, and attached to the complex with his maqam. We took a cable car up to Pierre Loti, where you can take in the best views of Istanbul along with a good meal at the restaurant.

If I had more time in Istanbul, I would go on a day trip of the Prince’s Islands, and also visit a traditional Turkish hamam. There is always plenty to see and do in Istanbul, so a generous allocation of time when traveling there, is advisable!

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

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Making your Will, a must for all AMUST

Lydia Shelly Many Australian Muslims are surprised to learn that according to a narration by Abdullah bin Umar, Prophet Muhammad (s) stated that “It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to will to stay for two nights without having his last Will and testament written and kept ready with him.”

Every Australian Muslim should have a Will prepared that strictly adheres to both the Australian laws regarding Wills and Estates Law and the Shari’ah.

If you follow sound Estate planning principles, every person should have at least three documents. A Will, which sets out what happens to your assets after you die, a Power of Attorney which appoints a trusted person to make decisions while you are alive, but whilst you are unable to make financial decisions for yourself (eg. If you suffer from Dementia or the after effects of a stroke), and an Appointment of Enduring Guardian.

An Appointment of Enduring Guardian appoints a trusted person to make medical decisions upon your behalf when you are unable to make decisions for yourself; for example, consenting or withholding treatment.

These documents are not only for older Australians, but are equally important for younger people, especially those with families.

Unfortunately, Australia has one of the lowest rates in the developed world for getting their financial and medical affairs in order. For example, only one in two Austral-

ians have a valid Will!

If you have a family and have worked hard to establish a home and accumulate some assets, then you should take steps to organise your affairs.

Life is a forward moving experience and if you do not make your own plans, it will fall to others to organise your financial and medical affairs when you are no longer able, or around to make them. This can be a costly and traumatic experience for your loved ones to attend to.

If your affairs are not in order, is not fair to avoid the issue and to leave your relatives with the task of sorting out your financial and medical affairs. If you do not make decisions and put in place proper arrangements, you and your family will be the only ones to suffer because of your inaction.

As regards the “Do-It-Yourself Will Kits” that are available online; the Law Society of New South Wales has issued warnings about their legal validity. In fact, many kits have a disclaimer in the fine print stating that you should have the DIY Will reviewed by a professional!

If you have already prepared these documents, it is a good idea to review them regularly in case circumstances have changed.

For example, if you have divorced or remarried, if your children have turned 18 or if one of your beneficiaries or executors has passed away or is in ill health.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding preparing your Will, Power of Attorney or Appointment of Enduring Guardian; contact Shelly Legal on 02 9615 9605.

With over eight years experience in Wills and Estates Law, we will happily assist you in preparing a comprehensive estate plan. .

Lydia Shelley is a Sydney based lawyer and community advocate.

AMUST Classifieds Charity Organisations

Services

Buy/Sell/Trade

Halal Food

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

ADVERTISE WITH AMUST

22

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

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING

ONLINE ADVERTISING

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+

Australasian Muslim Times

Find out more at www.amust.com.au/advertising or call (02) 8003 2063

www.amust.com.au

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

December 2015

UMMAH 15 - 17

EDUCATION 18 - 20

TRAVEL 21

TOP 5 Muslim Memes

BUSINESS 22

#SOCIAL TOP 4

SOCIAL 23

TOP 5

VIDEOS

To Watch

Instagram Accounts

AMUST

Facebook Pages to Like

@muslimteaching

Anti-Muslim protest ends in a hug

@Islamic_Teaching

@Sydney_Islamic_Reminders

@IslamicTeaching

NICE TRY SHAYTAN

In this video a learned gentleman approaches a Anti Muslim protester and starts a conversation which demonstrates what change education, tolerance and a little patience can bring about.

Annie, the lone protester who turned up to Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio who waiting for others to join her in this protest was engaged by a Muslim from the Centre, Michah David Nazrin, a historian and scholar in order to understand her motivation for the protest.

Annie, initially was very reluctant to listen or talk to him and first refers to Michah as satan and describes Islam a satanic cult and asking him to ‘walk on’.

However he seems more upset that she doesn’t like the Johnny Cash song ‘walk on’. She goes on to say Muslims listen “to their Generals in the mosque” assuming she meant the Imams.

Michah then politely corrects Annie on her Islamic terminology and gradually breaks down the barrier finally both of them agreeing that they both want all the killings in the world to stop.

Towards the end of the 48 minute video she gets a hug from Cynthia De Boutinkhar who stated on her facebook page that “...

She was actually AFRAID!”.

Later Annie was persuaded to enter the mosque and welcomed by a large number of Muslims inside by a loud applaud.

Michah and Cynthia and the rest of the Muslims demonstrated a successful methodology of Daawah by employing understanding, kindness, patience and love to an anti-Islamic protestor in order to remove misunderstanding and defuse hatred.

AwkwardMuslim brings you the wonderful message of Islam, using cheeky humour and some fresh, subtle designs.

Quran and Science

This page aims to gather all available and well-revised information about scientific miracles in the holy Quran.

Video: https://youtu.be/drlZS989mEQ

Al Fitra

Waleed Aly - Something We need to talk about

@IslamicTeachings_SL

“ISIL is weak and they don’t want us to know about it” is how Waleed Aly from The Project starts his report.

He says that ISIL takes credit for anything that looks like it could be a terrorist group, even though it might have just been a “DIY terrorists who have recruited themselves”.

Waleed Aly goes on to say that ISIL does this to create an illusion of how ‘strong’ they are so they can start a panic and separate the world into two sections - us and them.

Waleed Aly finishes off his segment by saying we need to come together and by preaching hate towards each other “ÿou’re helping ISIL... and none of us want to help these bastards.”

Video: https://youtu.be/ nxNJLkIkYQM

December 2015

AwkwardMuslim

www.amust.com.au

Al Fitra is a non profit organisation that was created to fill a gap in the special needs Islamic environment in Australia.

Advocacy and Education.

SeekersHub Sydney

SeekersHub Sydney (previously Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development) is a Learning Centre for Sacred Islamic Knowledge.

Australasian Muslim Times

23

FINANCE

Own a home with a deposit as low as

5

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1800 183 133

efsol.com.au

fb.com/efsol

Sydney Office Level 7 91 Phillip St Parramatta, NSW 2150

Melobourne Office Level 19 180 Lonsdale St Melbourne VIC 3000

Adelaide Office Level 5 121 King William St. Adelaide SA 5000

Brisbane Office: Northbank Plaza Level 22, 69 Ann Street Brisbane QLD 4000

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Singapore Office Level 17, 12 Marina Blvd Marina Bay FC Tower 3 Singapore 018982

Equitable Financial Solutions Pty Ltd ABN 86 151 172 039, Authorised Credit Representative No. 417248, Auth Rep AFSL 1236161

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Australasian Muslim Times

www.amust.com.au

December 2015