Issue 139 June 2017

MUSLIM

AUSTRALASIAN

Multimedia News & Views

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Murdoch Media’s Misleading Stance

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Susan Carland on Hislam

Issue # 139

June 2017; Ramadan 1438

Al Noori Wins AFL Bachar Houli Cup

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AUSTRALIA PAGE 17

Americans hailed as heroes

Zia Ahmad

The three Americans, white males who intervened to stop an Islamophobic attack on two teenagers by a white supremacist terrorist in Portland, USA have been widely hailed as heroes.

On Ramadan eve last Friday 26 May, African-American, Destinee Mangnum, 16 and her Hijabi Muslim friend, while travelling on MAX light rail, Portland, Oregon were targeted by Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35 who shouted Islamophobic slurs at them like “get out of my country”, “go kill yourselves”, “go back to Saudi Arabia”, “Muslims should die”.

Frightened the girls moved to the back of the train and waited to get out at the next stop.

A stranger intervened telling Christian that he “can’t disrespect young ladies like that” and an argument ensued with two more people joining to calm down Christian.

Then the terrorist pulled out a knife and stabbed to death two men Ricky John Best, 53 and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23 and injured Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21

who was taken to hospital in a serious condition but is expected to survive.

Mr Best of Happy Valley and a father of four died at the scene. The military veteran worked as a technician for the city of Portland.

Mr Namkai-Meche of Portland died at the hospital. He had graduated from Portland’s Reed College with a degree in economics last year and had just begun his career working at an environmental consulting agency.

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Mr Namkai-Meche’s mother wrote on her Facebook, “He was a hero and will remain a hero on the other side of the veil. Shining bright star I love you forever.”

The surviving hero, Mr Fletcher had won a 2013 poetry competition with a poem condemning Islamophobia.

The killer, Jeremy Joseph Christian is alleged to be a Trump supporter and a known local white supremacist.

Continued on page 4

Ricky Best & Taliesin Namkai-Meche died while countering Islamophobia.

Fake Sheikh Tawhidi exposed, banned by Facebook

Abu Anees The self-styled “Imam” Mohammad Tawhidi has been exposed on ABC Media Watch Episode 15 aired on Monday 22 May 2017. However, he continues to enjoy the status of being the darling of the conservative media who widely air his Islamophobic rants.

Media Watch concluded, “Now we’re not saying Tawhidi has no right to his opinions.

But the media really should not be giving him a megaphone. Nor should they be presenting him as a voice of reason and the Imam of Peace, when it’s clear that some of his views are divisive, offensive, abusive and just plain crazy.”

Ironically at the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan, his Facebook account has now been closed and in frustration he recently vented his anger at Facebook on Twitter: “Imam Tawhidi @Imamofpeace May 27: My Facebook page http://www.fb.com/ imamtawhidi has been taken down without any notice. I am being silenced for criticising radical extremists.”

“Imam Tawhidi @Imamofpeace May 27: I am being silenced by @facebook. They’ve issued a Fatwa against my posts and waged Jihad against my account. I shall not be silenced.

Mohammad Tawhidi of Iraqi origin was born in Iran and raised in Western Australia.

He currently resides in South Australia. He

has made outlandish claims of his genealogy, his association with Islamic scholars and studies at various seminaries.

During the last few years he has styled himself as a Muslim religious scholar and leader calling himself Imam for Peace while increasingly attacking Muslims and Islam fomenting religious and sectarian divisions in Australia.

He has built a significant following from Islamophobes, white supremacists, Zionists as well as developed a high media profile due to his absurd but headline catching stances on issues affecting Islam and Muslims, both in Australia and overseas.

Tawhidi’s radical claims include that Muslims are secretly working to establish an Australian caliphate; Australian

mosques are run by radical Imams producing terrorists; government should listen to Pauline Hanson and ban Muslim immigration; Muslim schools and mosques should be closed; Islamic religious books should be banned and that halal Easter eggs are an “insult” to Christianity.

Continued on page 25

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Americans hailed as The Nakba: Sydney heroes rally for Palestine Continued from page 1 The killer, Christian was filmed in April, at a march by far-right groups, draped in American Revolutionary War flag and can be seen performing a Nazi salute and heard shouting “Die Muslims. Die fake Christians.

Die Jews”, as police watched on.

Many on social media hailed the two victims as heroes as they promoted crowdfunding pages to support their grieving families.

More than a million dollars have been collected within a few days of the incident.

Tributes to the dead men have already been paid by other politicians, including Portland’s mayor, Oregon governor Kate Brown and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who described their deaths as “heartbreaking.”

In a post on Facebook, Mr Awad of Council on American-Islamic Relations called on US President Donald Trump to denounce the rising tide of violence toward Muslim Americans, laying part of the blame at US President’s feet. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley agreed with Mr Awad’s assessment.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said, “There is too much hatred in the world right now and far too much violence. Our current political climate allows far too much room for those who spread bigotry. Violent words can lead to violent acts.”

In an open letter urging Mr Trump to speak out, veteran journalist Dan Rather suggested to Mr Trump that the murders did not “fit neatly into a narrative you pushed on the campaign trail” because the victims “were not killed by an undocumented economic migrant or a ‘radical Islamic terrorist’”.

“I wish we could hear you say these names, or even just tweet them. They were brave Americans who died at the hands of

The surviving hero, Mr Fletcher had won a 2013 poetry competition with a poem condemning Islamophobia. someone who, when all the facts are collected, we may have every right to call a terrorist,” Mr Rather wrote.

US President Trump had been facing mounting criticism for his silence over the deaths of the Portland heroes since last Friday while tweeting on his personal account on other matters.

Finally, on Monday the Presidential Twitter account said: “The violent attacks in Portland on Friday are unacceptable. The victims were standing up to hate and intolerance. Our prayers are w/ them.”

Photo by Yusra Hadi.

Linda Abdelqader More than a thousand protesters gathered on the steps of Sydney Town Hall on Monday 15 May at 6.30 pm to commemorate 69 years since the Nakba, the “day of catastrophe” that marks the illegal establishment of the state of Israel in Palestine when over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and 500 villages and towns were destroyed.

Organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, the event was held for activists to voice their resentment against the ongoing ethnic cleansing being carried out by Israel today and to remember the thousands of people who have died while fighting for justice.

After giving a brief introductory speech into the current condition of Palestinians, the hosts participated in a salt water challenge in solidarity with thousands of Palestinians who are on hunger strikes in Israeli prisons.

Dr George Hatoum, a Palestinian community advocate, and Marcelo Svirsky, a Jewish academic at the University of Wollongong spoke about the importance of the BDS movement; a Palestinian-initiated campaign for boycott, divestments and sanctions against the state of Israel.

Svirsky urged the crowd to stand behind the BDS movement reinforcing that “we should not stop at what is politically convenient to us, but we must act upon the demands of the oppressed”.

Among the attendees was NSW Greens MP, David Shoebridge, one of the few pro-Palestinian politicians from Australia to ever visit Palestine. He shared his expe-

rience during his trip to Palestine where he was deeply affected by the unfair treatment and obstruction of basic human rights by the Israeli’s.

“I acknowledge the rights for Palestinians to exist.” said NSW Greens MP, David Shoebridge.

Before leading the crowd to march, Dalia Qasem, a student at Macquarie University shared the story of her great uncle who was a martyred in Palestine. She raised the importance of attending this event and what it means for the younger generation to support and advocate for Palestine.

Shortly after, the boisterous crowd marched their way through the city circle waving their Palestinian flags up high and chanting loudly “in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians!”

Amongst the crowd chanting was Palestinian-born, Aseel El-Kurdi, who travelled just over an hour from the Western Suburbs to attend the rally.

“The Nakba signifies a really important time for me and my family because that was the moment when everything was taken away from us. The repercussions of this day have not only impacted those who have experienced it first hand, but also the many generations that come after,” said El-Kurdi from Bankstown.

The night was successfully managed by authorities and concluded with a positive reaction from the public.

Palestinians continue to face the consequences of a decades-long occupation and process of colonisation and are still waiting for their internationally recognised right of return to their homeland.

Photo by Yusra Hadi.

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A protester at the rally holding her copy of The Australasian Muslim Times.

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Violent words lead to violent acts The Mayor of Portland, Oregon, USA narrative to recruit impressionable minds, while commenting on the Portland kill- criminals, mental cases and zealots to viings last Friday by a white supremacist olently attack indiscriminately their own said: neighbours, children, co-religionists and “There is too much hatred in the world other innocent people. right now and far too much violence. Our The attack in Manchester by a British current political climate allows far too born 22-year-old terrorists killing and much room for those who spread maiming a large number of chilbigotry. Violent words can dren is sad. So is the attack on lead to violent acts.”

Coptic Christians resulting As global citizens in the death of innocent wishing to live in peace men, women and children. on this planet, we need However, in addition to to seriously ponder on these high media profile Zia Ahmad this statement. cases, terrorist attacks The contemporary in many Middle EastAssalamu political climate is that ern countries occur on a Alaikum of injustice, hatreds, regular basis where overracism, bigotry and inwhelmingly a large numGreetings citement to violence and ber of innocent Muslims are finally violent conflicts and the victims. of Peace wars.

In addition, we cannot ignore Right at the beginning of the the victims of war in the Middle 21st century with 9/11 attacks followed East, conflict between various factions as by invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, there well as aerial attacks by world powers and has been a multifold increase in use of vio- their proxies that is taking a heavy toll on lent words leading to violent acts. innocent lives with death and misery.

The strategy of war on terror has in fact Muslim minorities in a number of counbeen a total failure where we now face a tries are facing oppression and discriminaworldwide scourge of terrorism where tion thus caught in a vicious cycle of vioeveryone on the globe is living in fear. lence and counter-violence.

Violence and wars in the Middle East are In Burma, the Rohingyas have been unhaving global reverberations with terrorists dergoing ethnic cleansing by extremist Budfinding an open ground with no borders dhist violence and suffering under governready to kill any one, innocent or other- ment oppression. wise, aimlessly.

Lately the large Muslim minority in India ISIS uses violent words with a distorted is increasingly living in fear from extremist

EDITORIAL

Readers comments

Re: Yassmin demonised, yet ly,which is what young people do!!, and so the next thing that happens is the ultra- right again

BOOMERANG

AMUST

AMUST Issue # 139 Friday 2 June 2017; 7 Ramadan 1438 News

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- Americans Hailed as Heroes - Sydney Rally for Palestine

Boomerang

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- The Effects of Fasting - Murdoch Media’s Misleading Stance

Community agenda of Islamophobes under the pretext of cow protection and attacks against their customs and traditions.

The politics of hate now has a new dimension where Muslim minorities in the West are coming under attacks largely due to a climate of fear created by terrorist attacks.

Using the excuse of freedom of expression, bigots and racists are using violent words to create hate and division in the community that is increasingly leading into violence.

The Quebec City mosque attack and now the Portland killing are glaring examples.

Another attack close to us is the unprovoked Islamophobic attack on four young Muslim students in Hijab on Wednesday 10 May in front of the UTS Ultimo building in Sydney by Maria Claudia Gimenez Wilson, 39, alleged to be a Muslim hater.

In addition, while authorities deal with security, as global citizens, it is in our great interest to eliminate violent words that lead to violent actions, thereby creating a climate of peace and harmony in our neighbourhood as well as in our global village. up on Island Prisons driving them to suicide mental anguish breaking their minds including children is something that needs to be spoken out more strongly than ever about because of it’s brutality caused by the Federal Government you voted for. Yasmin because of her stand on Human Rights spoke on behalf of all Australians, past and present. Other than Malcolm Fraser, The Green Party,Refugee Activist’s and Yasmin who else??? Remember Rick it is not just the ‘Day’ it’s what our Family Members fought and died for that would count to them and should to us more than ever !!

Susan S

When there is a lynching mob baying wing Jihadists want her hung, or publically for your blood you would want the likes of stoned, and far worse by some of the comClementine Ford to speak for you. Soul like ments by them,they should be ashamed of her makes Australia a come to place and you themselves, and yet, they are always the would think the feigned fury of most belong ones screaming like banshees for “”freedom to some distant land where whipped up fren- of speech” !!, they are off their nuts.

Greg J zy is par for the course. Why are the footy die-hards and their catch-cry – play the ball She is such a breath of fresh air. Very clevand not the man (and woman I hope) – so er. Mashallah. reticent in this diatribe.

Halime A Re: A good deed in a weary Kemal Ataturk’s line—Those heroes that world shed their blood and lost their lives … You Thank you Trent from Royal Vending!

She was insensitive. She’s a public figure. are now lying in the soil of a friendly counMariam V Rick M try. Therefore rest in peace. MESSAGE There is no dif-FROM THE HON. RAY WILLIAMS MP ference between the Johnnies and the MeLet’s share good stories like this instead My Grandfather, and Father fought to prohmets —— and our lynching mob’s froth Minister Multiculturalism tect ourfor Country to preserve the Freedom’s of the hateful, divisive ones. could not be starker!

Anne R mal we are yet again fighting for today. Freedom of Speech. Our Democracy says everyone 2017 Thank you Trent your such a great gentlethe right to speak their truth. What we So, a 26 year old girl gets a little out- has RAMADAN spoken and says something very untime- have done to innocent People locking them man and thank you Mariam for sharing your MESSAGE FROM THE HON. RAY WILLIAMS MP story great people you both are thank you ,we need more love and care in our lives.

MESSAGE FROM THE HON. RAY WILLIAMS MP Nawal E I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone in New South Wales preparing

8 - 15

- Shanasheel: Iraqi Festival - AFIC Elections - Love Food, Hate Waste

Australia

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- Al Noori Wins Bachar Houli Cip - Federal Budget 2017-18 - Changing the Conversation

Lifestyle

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- Secret to Staying in Love - Desert Trek for Youth Housing - Ramadan Fasting for Diabetics

Ummah

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- Fake Sheikh Tawhidi - ANIC: Ramadan & Zakat

Education

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- Da’wah for Environment - Be the Friend You Wish to Have

Travel

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- Journey to the Emirate of Kano

Social

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- Muslims in the Mainstream - Top Ramadan Memes

AMUST Team

Managing Editor: Zia Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Chief Adviser: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Mobinah Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Yusra Hadi Multimedia Journalist: Zaynab Gul Sub-Editor: Mohammed Sinan Siyech Columnist: Dr Abul Jalaluddin (Finance) Columnist: Bilal Cleland (Victoria) Columnist: Manarul Islam (ACT) Columnist: Dr Daud Batchelor (Brisbane) Promotion: Dr Wali Bokhari Web Developer: Shadow Approved Multimedia: iMoby Productions Printers: Spotpress 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, Sakinah Ahmad, Anjum Rafiqi, Hasan Fazeel, Dr Quasim, Ismail Hossain, Hanif Bismi, Zohair Ahmad, Luqman Landy.

for Multiculturalism MESSAGEMinister FROM THE HON. RAY WILLIAMS MP for the blessed month of Ramadan.

We need more Trents in the world and Minister for Multiculturalism fewer Trumps.

RAMADAN 2017 for Multiculturalism Penny M PO Box 111, Bonnyrigg (Sydney), This holiest monthMinister of the Islamic calendar is a time for spiritual reflection, devotion, RAMADAN 2017 NSW 2177 Australia. acts charitytoand I am of delighted sendfasting. my best wishes to everyone in New South Wales I had a similar incident when I ran out of Email: info@amust.com.au RAMADAN 2017 preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan. petrol once whilst taking my kids to school I am delighted to been send privileged my best wishes to many everyone in New South Wales preparing in the I have to meet Muslim communities as Minister formorning a nice Aussie gentleman Ph:(02) 8006 2063; Mob: 0490 813 359 This to holiest month of thewishes Islamic to calendar is a time for spiritual reflechelped me to get my car to the side of the for blessed month of Ramadan.

I amthe delighted send my best everyone in New South Wales preparing Disclaimer Multiculturalism, wishand to fasting. thank them for their commitment to social harmony and tion, devotion, acts and of charity road and a Lebanese Christian man stopped The views and opinions expressed for blessed month of I amthe delighted to send myRamadan. best to Muslim everyone in New as South Wales respectful dialogue.

I have been privileged to wishes meet many communities Minister for preparing his van and offered to get me petrol but in articles, and Letters to the Editor, This holiest month of the Islamic is afor time spiritual reflection, devotion, for the blessed month of Ramadan. when I thanked him and told him that my Multiculturalism, and wish calendar to thank them theirfor commitment to social Website Comments are those of acts charity and fasting.

This of holiest month of the Islamic calendar is a time for spiritual reflection, devotion, sister was on her way he didn’t leave until and respectful dialogue. the authors and do not necessarily I harmony wish everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak. she arrived and I thought that was so great reflect the official policy or position acts charity and fasting.

This of holiest month of the Islamic calendar is a time for spiritual reflection, devotion, and thoughtful of him.. of The Australasian Muslim Times.

I wish everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak.

Iacts have privileged to meet many Muslim communities as Minister for of been charity and fasting.

Feda Q Multiculturalism, and wish to thank them for their commitment to socialfor harmony and I have been privileged to meet many Muslim communities as Minister respectful dialogue.

Multiculturalism, and wish to thank them for their commitment to social harmony andHave your say I have been privileged to meet many Muslim communities as Minister for respectful dialogue.

Multiculturalism, and wish to thank them for their commitment to social harmonySend andus your thoughts about news or current events to be published in the next Irespectful wish everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak. dialogue. issue of AMUST I wish everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak.

Email us at info@amust.com.au I wish everyone a happy and peaceful Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak.

MESSAGE FROM THE HON. RAY WILLIAMS MP June 2017 Australasian Muslim Times www.amust.com.au 5 Ray Williams MP

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The effect of fasting upon social consciousness Bilal Cleland Without doubt the prescription of fasting has a profound purpose.

“O you who believe!

Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may acquire Taqwa.”

(Quran 2:183) “The term taqwa refers to the state of the heart which reflects the Divine attributes, and as such is ‘protected’ from evil (= the negation of the Divine attributes). ..Taqwa is in fact “a relationship based on awareness of Allah that leads to the sense of awe and awareness of His presence.” [https://amuslimdownunder.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/] Such awareness of the presence of Allah is part of awareness of the significance if His Creation, and our role as khalifullah in its protection and nurturing. Such awareness should place the Ummah of Muhammad (s) in the forefront of efforts to establish a society in which justice with mercy prevail, where no person is denied their God-given rights to food, clothing and shelter.

What this leads to in everyday life was related by Abu Hurayrah (r). He narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) will say on the Day of

Resurrection: O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord o f the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not k n o w that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink

and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me.” (Hadith Qudsi 18, relate d

by Muslim.)

Of interest to Muslims is the fact that a similar position is taken in the Gospel according to Matthew, which makes a startling contrast to the statements and policies of the publicly Christian politicians who dominate our government. In chapter 25 verses 40-46 it states: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave

Murdoch Media’s misleading Islamophobic stance continues

June 2017

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

Standing still at the fall of the night Fazlul Huq Standing still and focused on the far distant,

Dr Daud Batchelor Rupert Murdoch’s father, Sir Keith Murdoch, endeared Australian hearts by exposing British incompetent leadership in the WW1 Gallipoli landings, which resulted in appalling loss of life of the ANZACS. Is this why successive governments facilitated excessive control of newsfeed by the Murdoch media?

Australia has the most concentrated mass media ownership in western countries, with News Corp controlling two-thirds of major newspapers and Foxtel (50%) too.

“Australians have less different voices to use upon which to make their decisions than almost any other place in the free world”.

News Corp’s flagship paper, The Australian, often misleads Australians with its unbridled Islamophobic stance.

Australian Press Tribunal is an industry self-regulatory body. Isn’t this like putting a fox to protect chickens? I have taken The Australian to the Tribunal a few times for false or biased reporting. In 2008 Jama’at Tabligh, the world’s largest non-political Muslim organisation was portrayed as a terrorist organisation topping a list with Lascar at-Tayyiba and Jaish Muhammad. My complaint was upheld and The Australian had to “make amends by printing with appropriate prominence such correction as will neutralize the damage done”. The Australian’s correction however, was hidden in the inside back page of a Media supplement that few would read.

Another case was Richard Kerbaj’s articles insinuating that Griffith University quietly sought Saudi funding for its Islamic studies. This was expanded in associated articles with the headings “Saudi Government bankrolled hardline Islam” and “Uni an agent of extreme Islam”. Hon. Graham Perrett in Federal Parliament and Hon. Judy Spence in Queensland stood and defended the integrity of Islamic Research Unit’s respected director, Dr Mohammad Abdalla. I understand The Australian settled the matter quietly rather than letting the case appear in court.

me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

The attitude so clearly expressed in these verses, so closely compatible with the message of Islam in the Holy Quran, suggest they may well have been the actual words of Jesus (a) which were preserved.

Thus, if indeed fasting is designed to increase us in God-awareness, in piety, in righteousness, to help us exercise self control and to protect us from evil, then it is indeed a great force for good. Social justice is one of the areas in which this taqwa is expressed for the benefit of all creation.

If all we obtain from fasting is hunger and thirst we have failed dismally. If we attain a heightened awareness of the Divine, we have succeeded.

It was the moment just after the sun had said goodbye, Where the mountain range, Would tangle with the western horizon and the near sky, To create the glow of redness not just on the lips but all over the body and face.

Was it from the joy and thrill or was it an expression of sadness in the heart and mind, But why was that so?

You might have asked!

But then why would you lose time in wonder, As the moments at hand were in transience, With the change being the constant, And so much more was expressed in the words of silence, Murdoch media has expanded Islamophobic attacks to a crescendo, hammering Australian Muslims almost daily. Apparently it has an ideological stance related to the founder and certain backers of News Corporation. As example, a recent article criticised Muslim women in Sydney for screened women’s-only swim classes as “giving into ancient rules written by men in patriarchal societies”. This is misleading since Muslims believe public modesty rules derive from God’s revelations.

News Corporation is a leading supporter of Israel. This is unsurprising since Murdoch’s maternal ancestors are reportedly Jewish. Michael Collins Piper believes Murdoch is well-known as “front-man” for the powerful Rothschild, Bronfman and Oppenheimer banking families. Through control of influential US newspapers and Fox News, Murdoch backed neocon forces and promoted the call of George Bush and Tony Blair for the illegal Iraqi invasion. Consequently, 1 million Iraqis were killed.

The Australian displays an inherent Zionist perspective that becomes especially outspoken at critical times. It often projects an objective stance on political parties, but

heavily criticises the Labor Party just before national elections. It is amazing the Party takes no action, to its own detriment. “Media power is seen in the last elections where the LNP government was elected by a bare 0.75% margin of the popular vote. The ALP would probably have won Government if not for heavy criticism by the Murdoch media before polling day, which itself provided an estimated 2% swing against Labor.”

A Senate Committee chaired by Sam Dastyari is currently examining “Future of Public Interest Journalism”, including the impact of disinformation. Now is the time for Parliament to address fundamental bias in what and how news is presented to promote objectively informed public opinion.

With Fairfax Media’s slow demise, isn’t fragmenting the Murdoch oligopoly and diversifying news sources for Australians a fitting subject for inquiry?

Dr Daud Batchelor, holds an MA in Islamic and Other Civilisations and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from the International Islamic University Malaysia, PhD from University of Malaya, MSc from the University of London.

www.amust.com.au

As the nature and all components, Were paying homage to the Lord of the Glorious Throne: “Here we are, here we are, Submitting to You, In our mind, body and the soul, As we witness that the Dominions of the heavens and the earth all belong to You, And You are the One and the Only One, Without the End and the Beginning.

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.

He is also an accomplished poet with over 8300 compositions in Bengali and English and has also been involved in various community projects.

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Shanasheel: Iraqi cultural festival Yusra Hadi The opening of the annual Iraqi cultural festival attracted hundreds of people on the grounds of Fairfield City Museum & Gallery on 13 May 2017 for the launch of ‘Shansheel’-- the first Iraqi art exhibition in Sydney.

The exhibition launch and the festival program celebrated the best of the Levantine country, with traditional Iraqi music, dance, and entertainment.

The grounds of the Museum & Gallery transformed into an Iraqi Bazaar of multiple stalls, offering traditional handcrafted art, jewellery, giftware, food and more!

The event was hosted by Fairfield City Museum & Gallery in partnership with the Iraqi Australian University Graduates Forum.

The title ‘Shanasheel’ comes from an architectural element in traditional Iraqi homes which link their private homes with the public space.

The exhibition explored the concepts of identity and invited people to look through the homes, the stories and the deep-rooted culture from ten Iraqi-Australian artists living in Western Sydney.

“I’m here today to see the artworks that other people have come up with and hear their stories” – said one of the artists, Bilal Hafda, a spoken word poet.

The event kicked off at 12 pm with public speeches from the Mayor of Fairfield City,

Event coordinator, Firas Naji with Assyrian Star Dancing Group Photo: Yusra Hadi

Mr Chris Hayes MP at the Iraqi cultural festival.

Frank Carbone, and key members of the Iraqi community in Australia.

“Today’s festival is about everyone coming together to celebrate our origins, to celebrate our success in the community and also as individuals. Festivals like these break down barriers between communities”.

The festival aims to bring different communities of Iraqi backgrounds together.

“There is tension and of course, violence in Iraq which causes tension within the community here. Our objective is to bring those communities together; to restore the harmo-

theme to be adopted in the present day atmosphere of distrust.

The event concluded with heart-warming Iraqi music and while friends and family toured the exhibition hall other satisfied their taste buds by feasting on food and drinks, both Iraqi and others.

Following the positive reception of the Shanasheel exhibition, the Iraqi Cultural Festival will host six more free community events as part of its 2017 schedule.

These include accessible art workshops, Iraqi-Australian Youth Speak-up Forums, and Iraqi film and music festivals.

For full details, visit: www.iraqiculturalfestival.com.au

ny and cohesion between those communities,” said the event coordinator, Firas Naji.

He further went on to observe: “Art and cultural production is the best way to bring people together, away from politics and away from fiction. People can be divided by so many things but these two factors bring them together; that’s why the event is very successful” The festival featured Iraq’s best traditional and contemporary music and dance with performances all day by Iraqi Australian artists including the ‘Mesopotamian Trio’ and Assyrian Star Dancing Group, two wellknown local groups.

Furthermore, the festival goers were also graced with insightful Arabic poetry which was performed alongside Bilal Hafda’s spoken word poem about identity, a necessary

Yusra Hadi is a Sydney-based multimedia journalist.

MEFF Poster Competition for children

$500 worth of prizes (Cash, Digital Goods, Books & Toys)

Visit www.meff.com.au/poster for more information June 2017

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Zakat made simple.

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June 2017

UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL 30 - 31

AMUST

AFIC Elections: New team or same old guard?

NEW AFIC TEAM Dr Rateb Jneid

Perth, WA Elected as President.

Mr Jamal El Kholed

Queensland, Elected as Vice President.

Mr Harun Abdullah

Tasmania, Re-elected as the Secretary.

Dr Abul Khair Jalaluddin Sydney, NSW, Continues as the Treasurer.

Mr Kazim Ates

Melbourne, Victoria Elected as Assistant Secretary.

Mr Bilal Refai

Elected as Assistant Treasurer.

Mr Sabrija Poskovic

Elected as an executive committee member.

The new Executive Committee of AFIC and the office-bearers will hold office for the next three years

Zia Ahmad The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils held it 53rd Annual Congress in Sydney from Saturday 6 May to Sun 7 May and has elected a new executive committee led by Dr Rateb Jneid, its Perth based President.

AFIC also known as Muslim Australia supposedly represents Australian Muslims with a three-tier structure on local, state and federal level and its annual congress gathered delegates from all states of Australia including ACT, Northern Territory and Christmas Island from member societies as well as state councils.

The organisation has been plagued by infighting, court cases and accusations of mismanagement of its schools in various states of Australia for the last few years.

The elections, however, did not bring a completely new team and still consists of members of the old guard who have been involved in AFIC in some capacity for past few years.

The immediate past president Mr Keysar Trad who contested to be the President again and Mr Hafez Kassem who recently served as President for a number of years are both out of the AFIC’s new team. So is Mr Amjad Mehboob, another mover and shaker at AFIC for decades who did not attend the congress proceedings this year.

As per AFIC tradition, the Annual Con-

Love Food, Hate Waste Yusra Hadi The Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth (FAMSY) invited guest speaker, Mariam Ardati from Muslim Aid Australia (MAA) to present an interactive workshop on Wednesday 10 May in Sydney, educating people on how to reduce food waste and providing them with practical tips and creative ideas to implement in their daily lives.

As part of the FAMSY’S weekly study circle, a group of 25 females gathered together at Punchbowl Community Centre for the ‘LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE’ pre-Ramadan workshop.

The free workshop was an awareness program funded by The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) which aims to educate people on how to value their food and reduce household food wastage.

As Ramadan is around the corner, the seminar aspired to keep people mindful of how much they’re cooking and how much they’re throwing away.

Host speaker, Ramia Sultan welcomed participants and introduced national project manager of Muslim Aid Australia, Mariam Ardati to run the program.

Having a background in health science, Mariam understands the value which food and nutrition have in our daily lives and the detrimental impact of consuming in excess has on our health and environment.

Participants conducted a short quiz before the seminar regarding their experience with food and wastage at home.

These results were later discussed and compared in order to provide participants with suggestions on how to improve their wastage habits before the fasting month of Ramadan.

Mariam discussed the importance of re-evaluating the relationship with food before heading into Ramadan.

June 2017

A member in the audience commented, “Ramadan has become more about feasting, not fasting”.

Statistical evidence shows that people are three times more wasteful in Ramadan and almost a third of leftovers in the fridge are thrown away.

Mariam Ardati said, “Ramadan is the perfect time to reset, to recalibrate, and have a look at where you’re doing things wrong and where you can do better.”

Muslims are repeatedly told in the holy Quran not to indulge in excess, and that is not limited to food. The theme of reducing waste is permeated through the holy Quran.

“Eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste by extravagance” (Quran, AlA’raf, 7:31).

“Islam has taught us from a long time to love food and hate waste” Mariam said.

Mariam Ardati raised important factors about the ecological effects of food wastage.

According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, One- third of food produced is lost or wasted and developed countries are 2-3 times more wasteful than other countries.

“We’re not conscious of how much we were throwing out every day,” she said.

During the workshop, participants discussed various methods of preserving food at home.

An approximate 20-30% of food is thrown away due to its unappealing appearance.

Mariam Ardati gave an example of ripe bananas that are constantly thrown away due to brown spots and suggested using ripe fruits to make smoothies and freezing fruits for later use.

Contributors with creative suggestions received notebooks and recipe books as gifts.

The importance of food storage and the safety guidelines of food consumption at home was also thoroughly discussed during the workshop.

gress Dinner was held to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Muslims Australia on Sunday 7 May at the Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport hotel.

The inter-state delegates and Muslim leaders were joined by many other members of the Muslim community of Sydney as well as representatives of multicultural and interfaith groups, political leaders, Imams, academics, diplomats and business leaders.

The event was MC’d by Mr Keysar Trad who graciously accepted his defeat at the elections and conveyed his best wishes to Dr Jneid. He entertained the guests with his jokes regarding his romantic poetry and his continuing but failed attempts to obtain a second wife. On a serious note, he vehemently condemned domestic violence and expressed his great love and respect for women.

Dr Jneid while addressing the guests at the Congress Dinner assured that AFIC under his leadership will be transparent and will work hand in hand with the AFIC State Councils and member Societies to uplift the image of AFIC. He thanked the outgoing Executive Committee and its President Mr Keysar Trad for their performance during the difficult times.

Imam Jasmin during his keynote address as the guest speaker drew attention to AFIC’s legacy for the last five decades and the positive contributions of this umbrella body of Muslims during the last 53 years in spite of some recent setbacks.

He called on various societies and some state councils to re-join AFIC and strengthen its structure and work from within to reform it.

The Greens leader Senator Dr Richard Di Natale stated his strong support for refugees and minorities and acknowledged the great contributions to Australia by Muslims.

He criticised the excessive emphasis that the Liberal government was placing on new

Dr Rateb Jneid, AFIC President. migrants regarding the learning of English which at times was difficult for people of non-English speaking background.

“My grandmother for 50 years never spoke English but she made a great contribution to Australia,” Dr Natale admitted.

The event started with a moving recitation of Quran by Sheikh Khalid and dua in his melodious voice by Maulana Nazeerul Hasan Thanvi. Other speakers at the congress included Sheikh Yahya Safi and Father Mansour.

A colourful Annual Report covering the period of 2016-2017 was circulated during the Congress Dinner highlighting the activities and achievements of AFIC including its pledge to follow best practice models in financial management, undergo constitutional review and in developing a strategic vision and future directions of AFIC. Zia Ahmad is the Managing Editor of the Australasian Muslim Times & is based in Sydney.

Congratulations on the coming of Ramadan.

We are proud to see Muslim communities continue to enrich Australia with your wonderful heritage and culture.

On behalf of the Greens, I wish you a happy Ramadan.

RICHARD DI NATALE Leader of the Australian Greens

Ramadan Mubarak!

Authorised by R Di Natale, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

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Australasian Muslim Times

11

Assalamou Alaykum, On behalf of Human Appeal Australia we are delighted to express to you our gladdest of tidings on the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan. Our mission is fast, pray and give together this Ramadan. As the world is experiencing turbulent times, it is our duty to support those whom are suffering from constant hardships and disasters. In this blessed month, we ask of you to lend a helping hand to aid the poor and needy.

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Please donate generously this Ramadan.

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Australasian Muslim Times

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June 2017

UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL 30 - 31

Imam of Makkah Mosque addresses Canberrans

AMUST

Kamruzzaman Morol The Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle (IPDC) Canberra launched an Islamic Lecture Series on the Saturday 6 May 2017 at Boiler House Lecture Theater, Building 14, University of Canberra.

Over 350 community people were present at the event including Imams of Mosques and presidents of Islamic organisations in ACT and community leaders. The Chief Guest was Sheikh Khalid Al-Ghamdi, Imam of the Masjid Al Haram, The grand mosque in Makkah.

Special guests included Mr Meshal AlRogi, Acting Ambassador from the Embassy of the Saudi Arabia in Canberra as well as representatives from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, diplomatic missions in Canberra.

The program was opened by the IPDC ACT President, Dr Majharul Talukder and the guests were welcomed by IPDC Acting Central President Dr Ismail Hossain.

Dr Hossain provided an overview of IPDC’s activities and programmes and emphasised its welfare and community service programmes for the wider Australian community.

Sheikh Khalid Al-Ghamdi gave a long speech about the contemporary world and responsibilities of Muslims at the family and community level. There was a Q&A session where Sheikh Al-Ghamdi addressed queries from the audience.

Sheikh Adam Konda, Imam of Canberra Islamic Center (CIC) provided the translation of the speech by Sheikh Al-Ghamdi.

Community leaders at the event included Mr Abdul Hakim, President, Islamic Society of ACT (ISAC), Mr Mainul Haque, Mr Osman Adam, President, Canberra Muslim

Sheikh Al-Ghamdi with Imam Konda and IPDC officials.

Youth (CMY), Dr Kamran Shafi, Mr Waseem Razvi, President of IREA amongst others.

At the conclusion of the program, Sheikh Al-Ghamdi presented gifts to IPDC Central and State president together with light refreshment and salatul Maghrib led by the Sheikh Al- Ghamdi.

IPDC is actively engaged in various social activities in Australia since the year 2000. It has branches/chapters in NSW, ACT, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Kamruzzaman Morol CPA is an Australian Federal Government Public Servant and the Secretary of IPDC Canberra.

Sahra Abdi: Volunteer of the Year in WA

Zaynab Gul

Sahra Abdi, 24 has recently been awarded the 2017 Western Australian Youth Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedication to assisting Syrian refugee families settle in as new Australians.

Abdi has also secured her place as a 2017 finalist for the Western Australian Volunteer for Multicultural Communities Award, recognising her ongoing support in facilitating and promoting diversity in Australia.

“I feel very humbled and grateful to be recognised for the work I do with helping newly arrived migrants resettle into Australia,” she said.

The young Australian volunteers her time to engage with local migrant communities, particularly those arriving as refugees, and provides them with essential materials and assistance in settling in to their new home.

“I try to bridge the gap between what settlement services provide and families need.

I mainly provide social support so that the families can integrate into Australian society.”

The Perth resident has been recognised by members of the community as an

June 2017

From left: Her Excellency The Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, Sahra Abdi, Young Volunteer of the Year WA and Ashul Shah, Managing Director of Eduka.

“outstanding young woman who works tirelessly to help others”.

Abdi spends most of her free time with refugees, creating friendships and community connections that will help the migrants feel comfortable as n e w We s t -

ern Australian residents.

“The trauma and the things that these families have gone can be triggering and emotional at times. I am driven by their strength and always remind myself that I a m human and that could have easily been me.”

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Abdi’s work for the community extends beyond helping those in her immediate surroundings to encouraging youth from culturally diverse backgrounds to achieving their full potential.

“Volunteering and giving back to my community is super important to me. It’s great for others to also see a young Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) person do it. I hope my journey and my achievements inspire other youth, particularly CALD youth, to give back and make a difference.”

As a Muslim, Abdi holds strong connections to her faith, with her religious values driving her passion for helping others through charity and aid.

“Social justice and aid is very much a big part of Islam so, absolutely, it motivates me and acts as a reminder as to why I do it.”

Her involvement in the community is one that Abdi intends to continue through advocating for the rights of migrants and refugees and providing the necessary help they require to adjust their new lives in Australia.

“I will continue to be helping these families and any other families that come to Perth. Furthermore, I hope to continue to do many of the other volunteering initiatives I am involved in, all of which I am very passionate about.”

Zaynab Gul is a university student studying Law and Media at UNSW.

Australasian Muslim Times

13

COMMUNITY Islamic School of Canberra scrambles for survival NEWS 1-4

AMUST

BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8 - 15

Manarul Islam The Islamic School of Canberra (ISC) in Weston, ACT is scrambling for survival after the Federal Government decided to cease funding after 30 June 2017.

ISC is an independent K-7 co-educational school with a student population of 215 and employs over 20 staff, educating its students using the Australian National Curriculum within the Islamic tradition.

According to the Principal, Mr David Johns, if the government ceases funds as they did last year, it will require outside funding of $600,000 to remain viable till the end of this calendar year otherwise it will close within the next 6 weeks.

The school has started a fundraising campaign on social media that will allow small and large donations to the school. Donations can be made through the following website www.chuffed.org/project/sos-isc.

Donors can also send money directly to the Parents & Friends Fundraising Account: Account Name: PFA-ISC Fundraising, BSB: 062-912, Account: 10295655, Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia The school has progressed over the last year with new administrative and academic leadership to be an example for other schools teaching within the Islamic tradition.

It has developed a strong curriculum and extra curricula programme that provides students with the knowledge and practice of their Muslim faith together with its application within Australian society.

The school has also regularly engaged in outreach activities that provide opportunity for students to give back to the wider community with fundraising as well as allow non-Muslim community members a deeper understanding of the Islamic faith and its value within Australian society.

The school supports a rapidly growing Muslim population in Canberra on a valuable tract of land that was provided at a low cost by the ACT Government. ISC also supports the many Muslim diplomats and their families in Canberra.

The Islamic School of Canberra was formed and managed by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC). However, the Commonwealth Government has deemed that for the funding to continue the school should be independent of any financial control or management influence by any outside entity.

The Commonwealth Government stopped its funding to the school last year for this reason and only recommenced it after appointment of an independent Board, made up of educators, public servants and aca-

RAMADAN KAREEM & EID-UL-FITR MUBARAK FROM GREENS NSW I hope you all enjoy a month of celebration, peaceful reflection and blessings with friends and family, and a lovely Eid-ul-Fitr surrounded by loved ones.

Dr Mehreen Faruqi Greens NSW MP

Authorised by Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, Parliament of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Utilising Parliamentary Entitlements

14

Australasian Muslim Times

demics, which committed to strengthen the school’s governance and further distance itself from AFIC over time.

According to Mr Johns, the Commonwealth Government has now given notice to cease its funding at the end of June for three key reasons: • Governance (documentation, record keeping, decision-making) • Existing links to AFIC (including financial loans) • Financial viability (a monthly shortfall to meet operational expenses and debt repayments) “We are confident we will address the governance issue immediately and remaining points in the medium to long-term,” he said.

“However, the worst-case scenario in the

AUSTRALIA 16 - 19

LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

short-term is that if we cannot convince the government in time to continue the funding beyond June this year we will have no choice other than to close. In that case, the students will go to other schools – most likely the public schools with no Islamic education.”

“Understandably teachers are also worried about their livelihood and it is quite reasonable for them to commence looking for other employment very soon if they have not already done so. Once gone it will be hard to regain teaching professionals of their calibre and understanding of an Islamic education.”

According to the President of the Parents & Friends Association (PFA-ISC), Mr Kalam Azad, the school needs $600,000 to fund the school for the remaining months of the school calendar till December to counter the possible cessation of Commonwealth Funding.

“With this commitment, we can assure the teachers that their salaries are fully funded till the end of the year and so there is no need to seek other employment,” he said.

“This will also assure parents so that they do not take their students out prematurely.”

The school has a long-term strategy, according to the Chair of the school board, Mrs Azra Khan.

“With the immediate needs fulfilled and a strategy for viability met, we will continue to seek to meet the government’s conditions and regain the monthly funding,” she said.

“We feel that the school has potential for significantly higher student numbers once these issues are resolved and the community has confidence in the long-term viability of the school. This will increase the school’s financial position.

“We also have the long-term potential to establish an Islamic College and University along with existing Islamic school and need continued support from the community to continue the investment in our children.”

Canberrans raise over $160K for Queanbeyan Masjid Manarul Islam The Queanbeyan Masjid project was boosted by over $160,000 in a dinner to raise funds on Saturday 6 May. Canberrans showed they are not weary of local fundraising events by packing the Dickson hall to hear inspirational talks, eat fine food and donate for the building of the masjid.

Imam Adama Konda from Canberra Islamic Centre and Islamic School of Canberra stressed the importance of the house of Allah being there to support the local communities.

Ex-President of IFAM-ACT and a senior member, Dr Saleem Alam stressed this point.

“There are over 1000 Muslims living in Queanbeyan. Many of them are working there,”he informed.

The site of the masjid, at 183-185 Gilmore Road, Queanbeyan, was purchased several years ago through local and interstate fundraising efforts. The mosque development application was approved in 2016.

See related story: Queanbeyan Mosque obtains historic DA Approval The temporary building on the site was refurbished through voluntary hard work by community members to get it into a state where IFAM-ACT could hold meetings and pray.

“One of them was a software engineer, another mechanical engineer, a civil engineer, another an accountant. But on those days they became construction workers for the sake of Allah,” Dr Alam said.

Dr Alam paid special tribute to Zeeshan Akbar who was slain in an attack at the service station in Queanbeyan where he was

www.amust.com.au

Imam Konda with Sheikh Razvi. Photo by Mustafa Siddiqui. working in April.

His last message to the masjid project was “Please note and accept my pledge of $150 per month on behalf of my parents.”

His pledge was to be until the masjid was built.

Guest speaker Sheikh Waseem Razvi highlighted this request to inspire the audience.

“What an amazing intention! We should all follow his act. Pledge to give until the masjid is built,” he implored.

He stressed that the most effective sacrifice is when you give what is most valuable to you.

Members of audience, particularly the women, then started donating jewellery and gold which were then auctioned off.

Under his “threat” of no dinner until the target of $150,000 was met, the women and men ramped up the contributions and the figure rose dramatically.

More information can be obtained from the website www.queanbeyanmasjid.org.au/ and email address: qbn.masjid@gmail.com.

Manarul Islam is an IT professional, community worker and AMUST correspondent based in Canberra.

June 2017

UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

COMMUNITY

SOCIAL 30 - 31

AMUST

Susan Carland on feminism and Hislam Mobinah Ahmad

Academic and Author, Dr Susan Carland was the star at a packed Sydney book reading event on Wednesday 10 May at Gleebooks in Glebe. It was an opportunity for readers meet and greet the author and listen to excerpts from her book “Fighting Hislam”.

The Muslim community as portrayed in the West is considered a misogynist’s playground where feminism is often regarded with sneering hostility.

This has been demonstrated by the number of articles produced by mainstream media about her book attacking and making claims that feminism and Islam are mutually exclusive.

What would our mainstream media be without tearing down one of the most intelligent and forward thinking Australian Muslim women in our community shedding light on an important issue within and out-

Celebrating Mothers Linking Hearts Morning Tea

side of the Muslim community.

Yet between those two views there is a group of Muslim women many do not believe exist: a diverse bunch who fight sexism from within, as committed to the fight as they are to their faith.

Hemmed in by Islamophobia and sexism, they fight against sexism with their minds, words and bodies. Often, their biggest weapon is their religion.

“There are a lot of people that won’t like this book, people in the Muslim community, and people in the non-Muslim community.

Lots of people won’t like it. I know that for a fact,” Dr Susan Carland admitted.

Susan talks with Muslim women about how they are making a stand for their sex, while holding fast to their faith.

In her book, Susan interviewed all types of different Muslim theologians, writers, activists and bloggers for the book.

Many of the women she spoke to share the frustrations, not only with the way the non-Muslim community understands their faith but the way other Muslims do.

At a time when the media trumpets scandalous revelations about life for women from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Muslim women are always spoken about and over, never with. In Fighting Hislam, that ends.

“People don’t realise the influence culture has on faith. The Muslim community in Australia is incredibly diverse. We are all Muslims. There’s something that unites us but there is also really important diversity that exists within … It’s so multicultural and yet we’re all clumped together [but] if you look at the countries of origin, they often practice Islam in very different ways. Somali Islam is practised in a very different way and understood [in a different way] to Indonesia, Afghani Islam, Saudi Islam” she said.

“The impression is it [Islam] is a monolith.

It’s not,” Susan said.

Susan is an inspiration for many and her

Susan Carland reads an excerpt from her book Fighting Hislam at Gleebooks in Glebe, Sydney. book, Fighting Hislam is a compelling read shedding light and sharing stories otherwise untold.

Dr Susan Carland is a lecturer and researcher at Monash University’s National Centre for Australian Studies.

She has been listed as one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, and as a ‘Muslim Leader of Tomorrow’ by the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

She was a co-creator and presenter of the ground-breaking television show, Salam Cafe and is an ambassador for Possible Dreams International.

Mobinah Ahmad is a professional social media analyst and AMUST Multimedia Journalist based in Sydney.

Feda Abdo Mother is the foundation of the family, and therefore Muslim Women’s Associations’ Linking Hearts Support Service decided to celebrate mother in all her forms with the Celebrating Mothers Linking Hearts Morning Tea on the morning of Friday 12 May 2017.

Linking Hearts, officially known as Canterbury Bankstown Multicultural Homelessness and Domestic Violence Support Service, is the primary provider of CALD specific services for families, including men, women and children in relation to homelessness and DV support in the Sydney region.

Understandably, Linking Hearts sees many people come through the service, and a distinguishing factor of all families, is the role that the mother provides in guiding herself and her family towards support, strength and empowerment.

The Linking Hearts held an event that would truly celebrated them, their efforts, their struggles, as well as their achievements.

The Morning Tea was enjoyed by over 40 women and children, all of whom are at different stages of life.

There were women who had only been with Linking Hearts for a few days, having escaped violent relationships, and seeking safety and support with Linking Hearts.

And there were women who had been with Linking Hearts for over two years, who are now confident in who they are and the direction that their life is headed.

It was these women, who can now acknowledge the pain they have gone through and the strength that they have, who were able to provide inspiration and encouragement to the women who are just starting to come out of the depths of pain, confusion, and struggle.

The morning was made up of a few presentations aimed at acknowledging the strength and resilience of all the women present.

The women were also honoured to meet and interact with Sophie Cotsis, Member for

June 2017

Canterbury, who spoke words of strength and appreciation.

The women were gifted with a number of carefully chosen items as a gesture of appreciation and acknowledgement.

These included special care packages that had been put together by MWA’s SAYIT Girls Youth Group, where girls aged between 6 and 16 years old spent a whole term, designing bags, making special items, collating useful products, and designing and writing their own cards, to be presented to women and children who were facing or had faced adversity due to domestic violence and/or homelessness.

The cards brought smiles as well as tears to the faces of the women, with messages like “life needs you”, “just have faith in yourself”, and “you are special” being lifted off the pages as the women read them through tears in their eyes and smiles shining on their faces.

The women were also gifted with an individual red rose enveloped in black paper.

The women reflected on how the roses signified the darkness of the life that they were in but how now they were headed towards a beautiful bright future.

The roses were kindly donated by Michael Lavilles, CEO of Beyond Travel in Surry Hills, who wanted to extend a gesture of appreciation to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

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AUSTRALIA

NEWS 1-4

BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8 - 15

Woman of Style: Amna KarraHassan’s awards keep advancing Congratulations are in order for Amna Karra-Hassan, one of the fastest growing pillars of our community. The incredibly inspiring 28-year-old was announced as the Sports Winner celebrating InStyle and Audi’s #WomenOfStyle on Wednesday 17 May 2017 at The Star in Sydney.

“Celebrating the contribution of women @ instylemag #womenofstyleawards.. the recognition in itself was incredible but to be awarded by @laynebeachley – a woman I admire and respect – wow. My life is filled with beautiful moments.” said Amna Karra-Hassan.

The awards honour some of Australia’s most inspiring and accomplished women across a range of categories. Karra-Hassan was amongst nominees including Olympic

Australian Journal of Islamic Studies: Papers published

Fathi fundraiser for sustainable community

AMUST Media

AMUST Media

Five papers were published in the Australian Journal of Islamic Studies (2017), Volume 2, Issue 1.

1. Religiosity, Attitudes on Diversity and Belonging Among Ordinary Australian Muslims by Rosalie Atie, Kevin Dunn, Mehmet Ozalp.

2. Muslims in the Military: A Cause or a Solution for Issues of National Security by Luke Wessell.

3. Fully Known Yet Wholly Unknowable: Orientalising the Balkans by Mirela Kadrić.

4. Is Islam an Obstacle to Progress in the Modern World? The Responses and Analysis of Said Nursi by Salih Yucel.

5. Book Review on Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age by Khaled Abou El Fadl by Ramia A Sultan.

If you would like to submit a paper in the Australian Journal of Islamic Studies, contact ISRA: info@ isra.org.au

A special Fundraising Iftar is being held on Sunday 4 June at 4pm at the Renaissance Westella in Lidcombe for the ‘Fathi The Opening’ charity initiative in memory of Fathi Karra-Hassan.

‘Fathi The Opening’ is a charity initiative begun in memory of Fathi Karra-Hassan who passed away earlier this year in Sydney.

Fathi’s family wanted to ensure that everything done in his memory was going to have a life changing impact. They approached Muslim Aid Australia and have decided to build a sustainable community in a remote village called Tanna in Vanuatu.

Tickets are $100 available from: http://bit.ly/MAA-Fathi-Iftar

Mobinah Ahmad

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LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

gold medal-winning rower Kim Brennan, Summer and Winter Paralympian Dr Jessica Gallagher.

“Trailblazers, role models and mentors, these inspiring women truly deserve to be recognised for what they do,” says InStyle Editor Emily Taylor. “I’m thrilled to announce such an impressive group as our 2017 InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards nominees.”

Amna Karra-Hassan awarded by World Champion professional surfer Layne Beachley.

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Image by AFL NSW/ACT.

Al Noori Islamic School were the winners of the Bachar Houli Cup.

Al Noori Wins the AFL Bachar Houli Cup Zaynab Gul

Over 150 Students from eight Islamic schools around Sydney gathered at Auburn’s Progress Park on 24 May 2017 to participate in the annual Bachar Houli Cup hosted by the GIANTS and AFLNSW. AlNoori Islamic School took home the cup after winning their Grand Final game against Granville Boys High School on the sunny Wednesday afternoon.

The event, named after the Richmond Muslim player and AFL Multicultural Ambassador Bachar Houli, is an opportunity to connect young Muslim boys to the AFL. The program en-

June 2017

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courages Year 9 and 10 students of Muslim backgrounds to participate in an AFL 9’s competition.

This sporting event is more than just about playing AFL, it gives students the opportunity to connect with others from multicultural backgrounds all over Western Sydney in order to foster a strong sense of community and unity.

“They get to experience playing our game, learning the rules, and practicing the skills they have acquired at the various school programs we run,” said AFL Multicultural Programs Manager Nickie Flambouras.

Emad Elkheir, the GIANTS Community Engagement Coordinator said that sporting events like the Bachar Houli cup are significant in increasing social cohesion and promoting intercultural diversity.

“This is a great opportunity for young Muslim boys to positively express themselves through sport and engage in a safe and friendly environment” Elkheir said.

Al Noori student Ibrahim Zaha from Al Noori Muslim School was named ‘Best and Fairest’ player.

“This trophy is not just for me, but for all of the other boys,” Zaha said.

“I’m just glad I enjoyed myself and had a fun day.”

Students that participated in the competition have the opportunity to be selected as part of the Bachar Houli Academy, a weeklong football talent program in September for aspiring Muslim AFL Players aged between 15-18 years.

The initiative that first started in 2012 now attracts over 5000 players across New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.

The schools that have participated are: Granville Boys High School, Granville, Sir Joseph Banks High School, Revesby, Malek Fahd Islamic School, Greenacre and Beaumont Hills campuses, Al Noori Islamic School, Greenacre, Al Faisal College, Campbelltown campus, Australian International Academy, Strathfield campus, Australia Islamic College, Rooty Hill.

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June 2017

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Federal Budget 2017-18: How it affects you FINANCE Dr Abul Jalaluddin The federal budget for 2017-18 was characterised by hitting banks with a new tax, a rise in Medicare levy and helping first home buyers.

It forecasts an unemployment rate of 5.75%, economic growth rate of 2.75% and a deficit of $29.4 billion in 2017-18. It will raise $21 billion of new taxes over 4 years of budget cycle. The budget is projected to return to surplus of $7.4 billion in 2020-21.

Bank Levy and Banking Executives From 1 July 2017, the largest 5 banks (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, National Australia Bank, ANZ and Macquarie Group Limited) will pay a levy of 0.06% on their client deposits, raising $6.2 billion over the next 4 years.

They will face up to $200 million in fines if they cover up misconduct by their executives. In addition, senior bank executives could be stripped of bonuses, deregistered or disqualified if they breach new accountability rules.

Medicare Levy and Health From 1 July 2019, the Medicare levy will rise by 0.5% to 2.5% of taxable income of

Australians, raising $3.55 billion a year to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

An extra $2.8 billion is allocated for hospitals and $115 million for mental health, mainly for war veterans.

An allocation of $1.4 billion was made over 4 years for medical research.

A gradual lifting up of Medicare rebate will cost the budget for $2.2 billion over 4 years.

Uni Fees and Education

Refugees: Changing the conversation

Philip Feinstein

The plight of refugees and asylum-seekers was the focus of a forum organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

The event was attended by around 100 members of the Jewish community.

It was highlighted with speeches by two former refugees, Dor from South Sudan and Najib from Afghanistan (surnames withheld).

Dor came to Australia in 2003 via Ethiopia after suffering persecution in his home country. While fleeing ongoing torment he even had to face wild animals and illness including malaria and other fevers. The last leg of his journey was by plane. “I am now safe and happy in my new country and work as a co-ordinator of youth programs.”

Najib arrived in Australia by boat in 2013.

He related the torment under the Taliban where finger nails were cut off and beheadings were commonplace. “We were even forced to wear Taliban outfits” he said.

After escaping via Iran, he explained how he ended up on Christmas Island and then at the former Tasmanian detention centre.

He reported that since being accepted into Australia he has not received anything from

Centrelink and has had to pay for his own studies Fortunately he concluded that it is wonderful to be in Australia.

After some table dialogue the keynote speaker, Steven Glass, a partner in the law firm Gilbert and Tobin and a board member of the Asylum Seekers Centre addressed those present.

He likened refugees seeking asylum in Australia to a ship carrying Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe in 1939; the vessel was forced to return to Europe, where most of the passengers were eventually murdered in the Holocaust.

He reminded the audience of the United Nations charter: “If refugees have a genuine feeling of fear, they cannot be returned or discriminated against.” How does this fit in Australia? While Canada takes in over 46,000 refugees per annum, it was sad to learn from Steven that Australia only takes in 13,000 per year. “I recommend that we take 50,000 per annum,” Steven said.

The audience then spent time networking and writing post-it notes with their observations and recommendations.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff offered closing remarks, and the forum ended on a cautious note of optimism.

University course fees will be increased by 8% from 1 July 2017.

Graduates will be forced to repay HECSHELP loans when they start earning $42,000 a year, decreased from the current threshold of $55,874.

Australian universities will be hit with funding cuts of $2.8 billion over 4 years through an efficiency dividend of 2.5% per year.

Schools will receive an extra $2.2 billion over 4 years via the re-introduction of the Gonski needs- based funding model.

First Home Buyers and Housing From 1 July 2017, first home buyers will be eligible to salary sacrifice from their pretaxed income and contribute to a superannuation fund ($15,000 a year and a maximum of $30,000) as confessional contribution to save for a deposit towards buying a house.

When withdrawals are made for a deposit, these contributions and earnings will be taxed at marginal rates of first home buyers,

less 30% as a rebate.

Retirees downsizing to smaller dwellings will be eligible to make a non-concessional contribution of $300,000 to superannuation funds.

A “ghost tax” of up to $5,000 per annum will be imposed on foreign buyers who leave homes without occupation.

Community housing associations will be able to borrow funds at a lower interest rate to build low cost housing. Investors in low cost housing will be eligible for 60% capital gains tax concessions.

Infrastructure Investments In the next 10 years, the budget allocated $75 billion for infrastructure development across States and Territories.

These include $8.4 billion for Melbourne-Brisbane inland rail link, $5.3 billion for Sydney’s second airport at Badgery’s Creek and significant investments for Bruce Highway upgrade in Queensland and Western Australian infrastructure.

Other Budget Allocations In access of $300 million was allocated to Australian Federal Police for specialised officers targeting terrorism, organised crime and child exploitation.

A one year extension of the instant asset write off scheme for small businesses in relation to capital expenses up to $20,000.

Annual temporary work visa levy of up to $18,000 per worker and one-off permanent skilled visa levy of up to $5,000.

One-off energy payment for pensioners, $75 for singles and $125 for couples.

Drug testing trial will have 5,000 welfare recipients put on voucher system if found positive in the test.

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

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

From left: Steven Glass (Asylum Seekers Centre), Dor Acheik (former refugee), Lynda Ben-Menashe (Jewish Board of Deputies) and Shoshana Faire (Conflict Resolution Network)

June 2017

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COMMUNITY 8 - 15

Understanding Halal Cosmetics

The word ‘Halal’ comes from an Arabic word which means ‘permitted’ or ‘acceptable’ according to Islamic terminology.

Contrary to popular belief, ‘Halal’ is a holistic approach to life for Muslims, (rather) than just a list of ingredients that are allowed or not allowed for the followers of Islamic faith.

Products that are labelled halal must not contain any forbidden animals such as pork, animals that were dead prior to slaughtering, blood, alcohol or carnivorous animals. Additionally, they should ideally be cruelty free.

Meanwhile, demand for vegan / cruelty-free cosmetics is now skyrocketing and more women consumers are concerned about the ingredients in their makeup products.

Halal cosmetics are not a new phenomenon and smaller companies have started to identify their products as adhering to Islamic regulations.

Although these products aren’t consumed, many Muslims believe that

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SAMAA organises Sangeet Mehfil Zahid Jamil

Azrin Isa

AUSTRALIA 16 - 19

SAMAA arranged a musical night featuring renowned Sydney singer Mr Saleem Zaman on Saturday 13 May at Hurstville Civic Theatre.

The large audience, a majority of them seniors, packed the hall and enjoyed some of the most popular songs of 70 s and 80s.

From ballads with ornate Urdu couplets to soulful lyrics and light film songs with exceptional melodies, thrilled the crowd who forced the programme to continue beyond the scheduled finish time.

Saleem Zaman was accompanied by a very fine female singer Sirisha Telugu who won the hearts of the audience. Their performance was par excellence which captivated & enthralled the Audience.

Dr Ahad Khan introduced the singers and thanked SAMAA member and volunteers for their endeavours in arranging the event.

In his SAMAA report, Mr Zahid Jamil told audience that such cultural programmes and picnics are arranged to alleviate social isolation of seniors.

SAMAA, not only provides its own vol-

unteering services but facilitates professional services through its partnerships with major service providers.

Currently, SAMAA enjoys a partnership with major service provider Uniting and may also bring on board IWAQ (Islamic Women Association of Queensland) in its capacity as a service provider.

IWAQ specialises in Social support programme and Home Care services and is expanding its operations to NSW. Dr G K Harinath, Chairperson of Multicultural NSW presented bouquets to the singers and applauded SAMAA for its exceptional role in providing volunteering services to the community elders.

“Multicultural NSW was committed to supporting communities from various ethnic backgrounds and promoting multiculturalism in New South Wales,” Dr Harinath said.

Watch Video: https://www.facebook.com/ SZMusic/videos/10156190033769148/ Zahid Jamil is an engineering post graduate 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.

products applied topically on the skin should adhere to halal standards.

The rationale behind this (according to some) is that skin is the largest organ in the body which absorbs and thus indirectly ‘consumes’ all ingredients applied to it (for example, lipstick can be easily consumed while eating or drinking).

Subsequently, halal cosmetics are (increasingly) used by people who want to wear makeup safely and decrease harm to their skin.

It is important for a product to go through the appropriate certification channels to ensure there is no animal substances such as pig, alcohol, or contamination during manufacturing.

Aisa Cosmetics are a Halal alternative and their products have pharmaceutical-based formulas that are cruelty free and not harmful to the skin.

Their collection consists of two colors: Devotion and Bodacious which reflect their concept of empowerment.

The products are made of high quality natural ingredients (not from animals) such as shea butter, argan oil, vitamin E and black cumin seed oil.

Australasian Muslim Times

From left: Dr Ahad Khan, Dr G K Harinath Chairperson of Multicultural NSW and Zahid Jamil (Founder of SAMAA).

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The secret to staying in love Marriage Bureau

HEALTHY MARRIAGE HACKS

Seeker & Sought For

Bilal Dannoun One of the biggest secrets to having a loving, satisfying and fulfilling marriage is awareness about how the spouses feel about themselves when they are in the company of each other.

A spouse falls in love and stays in love due to the way their partner makes them feel about themselves when they are with them.

When a husband feels respected, needed, acknowledged, loved and special around his wife, he will do almost anything for his wife and he will feel a deep sense of love for her.

Likewise, when a wife feels needed, attractive, loved, cherished, and special, she will find herself deeply in love with her man and ready to do almost anything for him.

The questions a spouse needs to be asking themselves are: 1. How does my spouse feel when they are around me?

2. How do I make my spouse feel when they are with me?

3. Do they feel wanted, special, needed, cherished, loved and acknowledged?

4. Am I an approachable spouse or do I make my spouse feel as though they are walking on eggshells around me?

5. Do I make them feel they are a priority in my life and that I am their biggest fan?

Think about it in terms of your best friends or the people you love to be around, opposed to the ones that you don’t like to be

Zaynab Gul

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

Seekers

F1515: Female, 58, Bangladeshi Muslimah, Divorced. I have 3 son’s. One of them living in Australia. I take Islam seriously and try to practice my best.

Currently I am living with my son.

I am looking for a practising Muslim who is an Australian citizen, open-minded with good manners.

around or that you try and avoid.

What it comes down to is the way others make you feel when you are around them, is what determines how much you want to associate with them and spend time with them.

Don’t wait for your partner to start, instead, you be the one to start making your spouse feel good about himself/herself. This is because irrespective of who starts, you will discover that it is a chain reaction, and Allah willing, you will find your spouse re-

ciprocating.

Bilal Dannoun is a renowned Islamic and Civil marriage celebrant based in Sydney.

He is an experienced marriage counselor, offering marital advice with a blend of Islamic texts and modern day research. For more information about his relationship services, courses and events visit: bilaldannoun.com

What’s in a Date?

After a long day of fasting in Ramadan, we thank Allah then pop a date in our mouth, but have you ever thought about why we break our fast with this dry palm fruit?

Dates have an important significance in Islam, especially during the holy month of

Ramadan since the Prophet Mohammad (s) said “Break your fast by eating dates as it is purifying” (Hadith, narrated by Ahmad).

Beyond its religious value, it has been scientifically proven that breaking the fast with dates is considered healthy as it contains high levels of sugar, giving a quick boost of energy in order to refuel the body.

Because dates are high in vitamins, having a date each night of Ramadan serves as

a means to restore some of the important nutrients that the body missed throughout the day, keeping the body healthy, strong and fit for fasting.

A date a night not only relives the teachings of the Prophet (s), but also helps you to stay nutritious throughout the blessed month. Ramadan Kareem!

Dates from Sweet Lily Cakes, Photography by ZforZahrah

Early detection saves lives AMUST Media “Early detection saves lives!” – Breast cancer survivor Gladis Saifain urges Arabic-speaking women to have regular screening mammograms.

Gladis Saifain joined BreastScreen NSW to launch a new engagement program aiming to end the misconceptions and apprehensions about screening mammograms among Arabic-speaking women on Tuesday 2 May in BreastScreen Liverpool.

Over 9,000 Arabic-speaking women in NSW who are eligible for the BreastScreen program have not had their recommended mammogram in the past two years.

In fact, less than half of Arabic-speaking women across the state screen for breast cancer every two years, significantly fewer than in the wider community.

The BreastScreen NSW 2017 Community Engagement Program aims to raise awareness of the importance of screening and address the barriers to screening among Ara-

June 2017

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.

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.

M1516: Male, 25 Australian citizen, from Middle Eastern background.

Electrical Apprentice.

I am interested in keeping fit and following healthy choices. I make an effort to keep on the right path by observing Islam. I spend quality time with my friends.

I am looking for a Muslimah who likes to keep reasonably fit and enjoys playing some sport. A life mate to share the journey of life together.

M1514: Male, 21, Bangladeshi, Hafiz of Quran. Currently doing Bachelor in Accounting. I have received 6 points in IELTS. I come from a very educated and well practising Muslim family.

My sister is an Australian citizen and is a doctor. Looking for a Muslim girl who lives in Australia.

M1513: Male, 30, Pakistani, Currently doing PhD research at Tohoku University, Japan. I enjoy travelling.

I am seeking a practising Muslimah.

M1512: Male, 57, divorced, Australian citizen from Arabic background.

I have been in Australia for 35 years and work as a painter. I like playing and watching sports. I like travelling as well. I am seeking for a Muslimah from any nationality.

See More at amust.com.au/ listing_types/seekers/ bic-speaking women.

Join Gladis, BreastScreen NSW radiographer, Vicki Green, and BreastScreen NSW spokesperson Samantha Raheb as they officially launch the program and address the important issue of raising breast screening rates among Arabic-speaking women and detecting breast cancer early.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. A lot of women think they can only

get breast cancer if someone in their family has had it. That’s simply not true. No one in my family had breast cancer. Nine out of ten women who develop breast cancer have no family history. Even if you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, get screened. Don’t leave it to chance. Having a mammogram could save your life” - Gladis Saifain (Breast cancer survivor and BreastScreen NSW champion)

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Placing/Responding to 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

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Desert trek for youth housing AMUST

Zaynab Gul Shafeen Mustaq is one of the few young Australians who is ready to give up the comfort of their warm winter beds to trek through the Simpson Desert and raise funds for youth housing.

The 23-year old Canberra resident and her husband had been preparing for the 250 km journey spanning eight days as part of Youngcare’s campaign. This campaign aims to provide much needed facilities for over 5000 young Australians who are currently living in aged care.

“The opportunity to fundraise for young Australians with high care needs who are in desperate need of help, coupled with the opportunity to go on an adventure together is what propelled us,” she said.

The idea of being surrounded by the “great outdoors” with her husband for a charitable cause created a “spiritual aura” that drew Mustaq’s attention.

“I romanticised the notion of a desert trek with comparisons to the Prophet’s travels through the desert and his nights in the cave thinking about life; to walk as a small fragile being in an infinite space and contemplate the universe in an attempt to get closer to God.” The underlying cause of Mustaq’s trip is to create better lives for disadvantaged young Australians and give them “unconditional love and support”. So far she has raised almost $3,000 through her online fundraising website.

“When we visited the Youngcare facility in Woollowin and spoke to its residents, the sheer look of joy not only on the faces of the residents, but also on the faces of their families was exceedingly rewarding. Their gratitude to those helping their loved ones was touching.”

Unfortunately, despite months of training, Mustaq has to step down from participating in this trek because of a weak knee. She has however, resolved to continue fundraising for the cause.

“I am still strong enough to fundraise! We have been reaching out to friends and family, local businesses and even large corporations for donations. We are also planning to hold some events to fundraise locally in Canberra.”

This isn’t Mustaq’s first involvement in a

campaign to help the less fortunate. She is well known for her active participation in many charity organisations such as Probasy to raise funds for the poor and disadvantaged in Bangladesh.

“I created, developed and executed Project Incubate 2012 which fundraised over $5,000 within 8 months through small events leading to the purchase of two incubators and two phototherapy units which I personally delivered to BMMSU hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh.”

Mustaq’s fervent passion for youth and human rights stemming from her religion is strongly supported by her family. She believes that serving others is a way of improving her own standing with God. “I do all that I do so that I can go before Allah SWT and say that I have made the most of all the blessings He granted me.

Every opportunity I get to help others is merely an opportunity to help myself.”

Dabliz gets booted of Facebook for no reason

Linda Abdelqader

Social media comedian and activist, Steve Dabliz, was denied access to his Facebook account for over two weeks with no warnings or justification.

Although his account has been reinstated recently, there is still no clear indication why Facebook deactivated it.

Since first opening his account on Facebook ten years ago, Dabliz gained a quarter of a million followers and became a very well-known figure in the Muslim community.

What initially started as a page filled with humorous skits and videos later expanded into an influential and educational page for youth around the world.

Dabliz also uses his Facebook platform to help fund mosques and youth centres around Sydney.

After discovering that his Facebook page was disabled on May the 4th, Dabliz posted a video to his Instagram expressing his agony.

“I’m devastated, I’m heartbroken, I’m upset, I’m frustrated. Words can’t describe the way I’m feeling at the moment. I’ve been booted off Facebook. Everything we have done is pretty much gone”, he said.

Dabliz contacted both the Facebook office in Sydney and the United States but still had no answers and no access to his page.

According to the community standards on Facebook, a page can be blocked when there is “a genuine risk of physical harm or direct threats to public safety”.

Throughout all his years on Facebook, Dabliz has not posted anything negative or

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Steve Dabliz harmful that could threaten anyone.

A fan from Qatar started a petition on Facebook that gained thousands of signatures and comments to bring back Dabliz’s account which eventually became successful.

Although Dabliz has now regained full access to his page, Facebook has failed to justify their actions.

Dabliz will not take any legal action against Facebook but wants people to become aware that this can happen to anyone.

“I’m still going to do what I do – which is what makes the kids happy. I made a promise to myself that whenever I have the time, I’m going to give back to the youth free of charge”, he said.

Dabliz extends his appreciations to his fans and supporters who have backed him throughout these difficult weeks. “I am forever grateful and I thank everyone who supported me”, he says.

Linda Abdelqader is a Sydney-based journalist studying a media degree at Western Sydney University.

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Ramadan fasting for diabetics Dr Nisa Sheriff Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory for all healthy adult Muslims. There is often an intense desire to fast even in those who are eligible for exemption.

Many individuals with diabetes will be eligible for this exemption, however safe fasting with diabetes is possible.

Often patients with diabetes avoid consulting health professionals during Ramadan, usually due to the perceived threat of advice against fasting.

However it is important for patients to consult their doctors prior to Ramadan to ascertain their risk and formulate an individualised management plan.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex condition in which the body cannot maintain healthy glucose levels in the blood. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is important in helping the body to utilise glucose for energy.

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is an autoimmune condition that affects approximately 10% of people diagnosed with diabetes. It occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce any insulin.

All patients with T1DM require insulin treatment and omission during fasting is dangerous.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) usually develops when insulin cannot work properly or the body becomes ‘resistant’ to the insulin that is produced.

Often patients with T2DM will be on tablets to control their blood glucose level but may also require insulin treatment.

Diabetes that is not well controlled can be associated with a range of long-term complications including heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and amputations.

The global prevalence of diabetes continues to rise with in excess of 400 million people living with diabetes worldwide. India, Indonesia, Egypt and Bangladesh are in the top ten countries with the highest number of adults living with diabetes.

In addition, there is a disproportionately high prevalence of diabetes in Muslim-majority nations. Studies have shown that approximately 40% of patients with T1DM and 75% of patients with T2DM fast for at least 15 days during Ramadan.

Fasting with diabetes There are many physiologic changes that occur during Ramadan related both to the

fasting itself and the altered sleep-wake cycle.

Overall total body weight typically decreases or remains stable during the holy month.

During fasting blood glucose levels fall and insulin production is reduced.

In healthy individuals, the liver can release glucose from stores for approximately 12 hours before fat stores are utilised for energy.

Patients with diabetes have reduced capacity to cope with both prolonged fasting as well as excessive feasting at iftar.

The risks or severe hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose), severe hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), dehydration and metabolic complications (eg diabetic ketoacidosis) are particularly heightened.

Can people with diabetes fast?

It depends. The decision to fast is a personal one and certainly many people with diabetes are exempt.

The decision will also be influenced by geographical location and the expected duration of fasting.

If fasting is expected to be greater than 15 hours per day then fasting all days will likely be difficult.

There are particular characteristics, which place patients at high risk: • Patients at risk of hypoglycaemia • Patients treated with insulin are at highest risk • Patients taking medications in the sulfonylurea class (eg gliclazide, glipizide, glibenclamide, glimepiride).

These medications act by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas.

Other types of diabetes medications do not cause hypoglycaemia but can increase the risk if taken in combination with insulin or a sulfonylurea.

• Patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes • Patients on dialysis or severe kidney disease • Elderly patients with ill health • Pregnant patients Older people are particularly vulnerable to diabetes related complications during Ramadan, however many have enjoyed fasting for many years without issues.

Their risk should be assessed by the presence comorbid illnesses, functional capacity and cognitive function. Old age alone is not considered dangerous.

What can be done?

It is vital that patients with diabetes work with their treating clinicians (Endocrinologist and/or GP) to create an individualised diabetes management plan that is safe for the month of Ramadan.

It may not be possible for all people with diabetes to fast. Detailed guidelines have been formulated by the International Diabetes Federation in collaboration with the Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance to facilitate management of patients during fasting.

Practical tips and recommendations: • See your doctor (Endocrinologist or GP) to create a diabetes plan for the month of Ramadan BEFORE commencing fasting • Maintain contact with your doctor to trouble-shoot any problems that arise Diabetes monitoring • It is most important for patients to check their blood glucose levels regularly during fasting. This may be numerous times per day depending on individual circumstances and risk of hyper and hypoglycaemia.

Diabetes treatment Often the treatment regimen will need to be changed for fasting days. For example pre-mixed insulin (a combination of long and short acting insulin) may need to be changed to separate long and short acting components. Insulin doses may need to be reduced.

• Certain medications may need to be dose-reduced or ceased temporarily.

Avoid risk • Always carry glucose treatment when travelling and be willing to break the fast if necessary.

• When to break the fast: • Blood glucose less than 4.0 mmol/L • Blood glucose greater than 16.6 mmol/L

AMUST

• Symptoms of hypoglycaemia (eg trembling, sweating, palpitations, confusion), hyperglycaemia (eg extreme thirst, hunger, frequent urination, nausea/vomiting), dehydration or other illness • Contact your doctor to prevent further complications before resuming fasting Diet • Avoid eating very large meals at iftar which can cause hyperglycaemia • Avoid eating significant amounts of processed carbohydrates, sugar, desserts or fried foods at suhoor or iftar • Avoid sugary drinks and caffeinated beverages • Begin iftar with plenty of water and 1-2 dates to raise the blood glucose level • Eat balanced meals consisting of low GI carbohydrates 45-50%; protein 20-30% (eg legumes, fish, meat); and fat <35% (mono and polyunsaturated preferred) • Eat plenty of vegetables • A diet plan for Ramadan can be created with your GP, Endocrinologist or dietician The majority of patients with diabetes can be safely managed during Ramadan if adequate education is provided before, during and after Ramadan.

It is important for patients, old and young, to involve their treating clinicians in their diabetes management to avoid unnecessary risks of fasting.

Dr Nisa Sheriff, MBBS, BMedSc (Hons), FRACP is a Sydney based Endocrinologist having graduated from Melbourne University and is pursuing her PhD at Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of NSW. (Courtesy SAMAA Quarterly Newsletter April-June 2017)

Cultural influences on Future Fertility Iram Khan The existence of incredibly vast and diverse communities and people are what defines Australian culture.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics identifies up to 30% of the Australian population as people of foreign origins. Most of these citizens are concentrated in Sydney making it melting pot of cultural diversity.

Culture influences the unique way in which an individual interprets and adapts to their specific environment.

The role of culture and ethnic identity in healthcare, especially in long term illnesses like cancer, is proven to be extremely significant; impacting understanding of disease, the interpretation and expectations surrounding health care interactions and an individual’s attitudes toward the illness.

In the same vein, culture has also influenced cancer prevention and treatment; with ethnic minority status linked to higher communication barriers between clinicians and patients. Treatment for cancer has affected reproductive capacity leading to heightened psychological distress associated with the

June 2017

loss of reproductive potential. Certainly, then, conversations about fertility issues before commencing treatment for cancer are incredibly important to have, These issues are especially relevant for adolescent young adults (15-24 years) undergoing cancer treatment, who have a proven record of increased reproductive concerns reducing their chances of starting a family, despite being of reproductive age.

The Future Fertility research team recognizes the need to understand the experience of patients who identify as Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD), with fertility care. Our aim is to understand how these experiences, as influenced by cultural identity, co-relates to reproductive health concerns and fertility related distress.

This research will assist in the provision of better patient-centred treatment and allow clinicians to work more effectively with young cancer patients who identify as being culturally diverse within an Australian setting.

For more information on the study, contact the Future Fertility research team at: futurefertility.culture@gmail.com

FERTILITY CARE SURVEY The Future Fertility research team is conducting a survey on how cultural identity influences your experiences with fertility care. If you are between the age of 15-44 years, have a recent diagnosis of cancer and are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background/ (or) identify as Australian, we would love to hear about your experiences regarding fertility and reproduction.

For more details, contact us on futurefertility.culture@gmail.com facebook.com/futurefertility

www.amust.com.au

twitter.com/ANZoncofert

www.futurefertility.com.au Australasian Muslim Times

23

LIFESTYLE Toowoomba Mosque celebrates community harmony NEWS 1-4

AMUST

Professor Shahjahan Khan Muslims in Toowoomba came together in large numbers at the Garden City Mosque on Sunday 14 May 2017 with families to meet and greet the members of the wider community marking the 4th Toowoomba Annual International Food Festival together with the Mosque Open Day. In spite of the forecast for rain, the weather was exceptionally good and there were lots of non-Muslims who came to enjoy the day with members of the mosque and know about Is-

lam and its followers in an open and friendly environment.

There were lots of multicultural food items – diverse in look, colour, and taste and obviously they were more diverse than the race, colour and faith of the participants.

Ever since the Garden City Mosque was established in 2014, the Islamic Society of Toowoomba has been regularly organising Mosque Open Days alongside Toowoomba International Food Festivals.

There were special activities for the women and lots of fun for the children. The Queensland Police entertained the kids with their vehicle and amusing horn.

The speakers on the day included Toowoomba Mayor Cr Paul Antonio, USQ Vice Chancellor Professor Janet Verbyla, Multi-

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COMMUNITY 8 - 15

cultural Affairs Queensland Director Ms Julie McDougall, Queensland Jewish Community Services President Mr Ariel Heber, Dr Mark Copland of Social Justice Commission of Toowoomba, Imam Abdul Kader of Toowoomba Mosque and Professor Shahjahan Khan of Islamic Society of Toowoomba.

The speakers emphasised the importance of building bridges (not wall) to spread the message of respect and strength of diversity.

Everyone agreed that Toowoomba is a city of peace and leaders of the city have shown unity at difficult times.

Messages sent by the Federal Member of Groom, Dr John McVeigh MP and State Member for Toowoomba South, Mr David Janetzki MP were read in the meeting. Due to other prior commitments, they were unable to attend the event.

The mosque building was severely burned in 2014 by an arson attack at night. The perpetrator is yet to be identified. Since then Muslims a praying in a temporary timber building while working for the rebuilding of the mosque.

The speakers highlighted the resilience of Muslims in Toowoomba and noted their high level of commitment to rebuilding the burned Mosque. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the completion of the reconstruction of the Mosque building as approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council.

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LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

Many Muslims from Brisbane and Gold Coast participated in the event and visited the Garden City Mosque.

Very attractive and delicious foods were prepared and sold by many members of the local community including those from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Eretria, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Syria.

The Secretary of the Islamic Society of Toowoomba, Dr Mainul Islam welcomed the participant and visitors, and thanked all the communities, families and individuals who spent so much time and efforts to make the Open Day of the Garden City Mosque and the Food Festival.

Special thanks to all the volunteering brothers and sisters who cleaned the toilets, mount and dismantle the gazebos, set up the chairs and tables, managed the stalls, and cleaned the premises after the event including placing all rubbish on the trailer.

The event was partially funded by a small grant from the Multicultural Affairs Queensland.

Professor Shahjahan Khan is the former Vice President of the Islamic Council of Queensland, the Director of MCCA and Professor of Statistics, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland.

Understanding the First Australians

Manarul Islam From left: Mayor Paul Antonio, Professor Shahjahan Khan, Vice Chancellor Professor Janet Verbyla, Dr Mark Copland and Ms Julie McDougall.

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Help Rebuild a

Burned Mosque Fundraising Target AUD$890K

Approved Mosque Design

Please donate generously for the house of Allah Need 100 donors of $8900 each 250 donors of $3560 each 500 donors of $1780 each

Bank Account:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Toowoomba Plaza Branch A/C Name: Toowoomba Islamic Charitable Organisation BSB: 064459 A/C Number: 1034 1586 Swift Code: CTBAAU25XXX

PayPal Account:

isot.gc2015@gmail.com (select GIFT option) PayPal related contact: Br Firoz Islam on isot.gc2015@gmail.com

The Dickson Taj Agra restaurant in Canberra was packed last Monday 15 May as those interested came to hear directly the hopes, aspirations and challenges of our first Australians.

Titled First Australians – Raising our Understanding, the discussion, organised by Forum Australia (www.aussieforum.org) brought together a diverse set of views from the community over a typically sumptuous three course meal at the restaurant.

Forum Australia President, Mohammed Ali, commenced the proceedings laying clear the importance of the topic and why its was important for all in the community to fully comprehend and empathise with the situation that the indigenous community are in.

The MC for the evening was the local medial professional, Jo Laverty, who is no stranger to Forum Australia events.

Richard Allan performed a Welcome to Country on behalf of Violet Sheridan who was unable to attend on the day.

The first speaker was Julie Tongs, CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, who gave some eye-opening ac-

counts of recent cases of what people under her care have gone through.

This was followed by Joshua Gilbert, Senior Consultant, PwC Indigenous Consulting.

Josh gave us a glimpse of his background – not knowing initially that he had Aboriginal heritage and then went on to explain about his family’s pre-historical connection with the land they farm.

Jack Waterford, former Editor-at-large at Canberra Times, explained his connections with the Aboriginal community and their struggles that he saw first hand in the earlier years of his journalism career.

The amazing story of Jessa Rogers, Assistant Professor in Education at University of Canberra from being a teenage mother to earning a PhD at ANU was the background to her inspiration to do something about plight of indigenous education from the inside.

Finally Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs explained the steps the territory government is undertaking to provide the indigenous communities that aims to right the historic wrongs over the many years.

Videos of the speeches can be found at: https://goo.gl/KVjFVF

Approved by Toowoomba Regional Council  Only Mosque in the city/region of 2000 Muslims  Prayer hall with mezzanine level for women and children area  Carpet, separate toilets and ablution facilities  Two driveways and 42 sealed car parking bays  Earth moving, retaining walls, landscaping, rain water tank, solar panel, acoustic barriers and fencing  Sound, security/surveillance & alarm systems  Fees for Council, architect, engineer, town planner, surveyor, amalgamation etc.

Donors may choose to pay for the cost of one or more of Toilet area - Carpet - Air condition - Sound system Security camera, alarm, surveillance system – Mehrab/Minber area – Electrical ware and fittings - doors and windows – Landscaping – Rainwater tank – Solar panel and converter – Architectural designing – Structural design.

Donation certificate will be issued to the contributors.

Garden City Mosque, Toowoomba 217 West Street, QLD 4350, Australia Website: www.isot.net.au www.facebook.com/ToowoombaMosque/ Contacts:

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Professor Shahjahan Khan +61 421 081 048

Imam Abdul Kader +61 470 623 403

Australasian Muslim Times

Dr Mainul Islam +61 432 533 550

Br Shahbaz Rafiq +61 402 398 608

Speakers and organisers at the Forum.

www.amust.com.au

June 2017

UMMAH Fake Sheikh Tawhidi exposed, banned by Facebook UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

Continued from page 1 His absurd views have been enthusiastically aired by Today Tonight, Sky News’ Bolt Report, 2GB’s Ben Fordham, the Daily Mail and Seven News. As recently as Thursday 25 May after the Manchester attack, Sunrise program on TV Channel 7 in their attempts at fearmongering paraded him as a Muslim leader with inside knowledge of the Muslim community.

Earlier this year Tawhidi was exposed as a Fake Sheikh by One Path Network who stated, “Little is known about Mr Tawhidi, who claims to be a “Muslim leader” in South Australia. His centre named the “Islamic Association of South Australia” was only set up last year and there is little to no information available about the centre and its attendees.”

The Australian National Imams Council, ANIC, have categorically said that Tawhidi is “not recognised as an Imam, Sheikh or Muslim leader.”

Tawhidi also claims that he is being threatened by Muslims in Australia for his opinions and has been in hiding from time to time. But the Australian Police have clearly denied any claims of threat to him and that he is in hiding.

Tawhidi had constantly been parroting the views of the white supremacists, racists and Islamophobes and thereby has built up a significant support base via Facebook and Twitter.

He has also tried to foment sectarian divisions within the Muslim community between Sunni’s and Shias with his statements full of hatred of Sunni’s as well as his outlandish “Shia views” that have been rejected

by Shia scholars from overseas as well as

by Muslim leaders in both Sunni and Shia communities in Australia.

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One comment after the Media Watch program is worth noting: Hassan Moussa: 22 MAY 2017 9:47:05PM “you infer in your report that this sheikh is Shiite & hence his contempt for the Sunni sect & the Holy book. I am of the Shiite sect & never heard of this sheikh.

He does not belong anywhere & he can’t be right about the Quran as both Shiite & Sunni follow the same book. Not a word is different. So please don’t present him as sheikh, let alone a Shiite religious leader.”

Alex McKinnon, a freelance writer heavily criticised mainstream media regarding the Tawhidi phenomenon in an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday 24 May: “One would think the media would be wary of airing the shocking views of someone whose credentials are tough to verify.

But for conservative media – and their audiences – the prospect of a self-proclaimed Muslim leader saying headline-friendly anti-Muslim things was too good to resist.

It’s the latest example of a weird, perverse phenomenon that’s come to occupy an outsized place in our national conversation. We have a bad habit of suspending our critical faculties when we’re presented with someone whose age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, political orientation or other cultural marker is seemingly at odds with their opinions, especially when those opinions are as loud and provocative as possible.”

Dr Chloe Patton, a Melbourne-based researcher and writer has documented

Intermittent fasting leads to new flexi diet CSIRO has launched a new diet that includes intermittent fasting three days a week.

The weight loss program is based on research carried out by CSIRO scientists which found that fasting can be an effective way to lose weight and stay healthy.

Participants in the 16 week trial lost an average of 11kg and saw improvements in cholesterol, insulin, glucose and blood pressure.

Intermittent fasting (and the similar style – alternate day fasting) has recently gained scientific and consumer interest.

The research combined intermittent fast-

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June 2017

Tawhidi’s rise to fame and criticised mainstream media’s oxygenation of Tawhidi in an opinion piece on ABC’s Religion and Ethics column headlined “Welcome to the Weird World of Australia’s ‘Fake Sheikh’, Mohammad Tawhidi”: “If the unusualness of a Muslim cleric aligning himself with Bolt and Hirsi Ali should provoke a close inspection of Tawhidi’s credentials as a religious leader, either none is being undertaken or the spectacle of man dressed up as a cleric delivering epithets

Media Scan Ainullah

ing with meal replacement shakes and a ‘Flexi’ day where participants had one day a week to enjoy the food or drinks they love.

The CSIRO study took a novel look at using meal replacements as part of an intermittent fasting regimen to measure the effects of intermittent fasting for weight loss on nutritional status.

As dieters progress through the program towards their goals, meal plans can be modified to incorporate more whole foods for a long term approach to weight maintenance.

The Flexi program is available now in pharmacies.

ANIC on Ramadan and Zakat al-Fitr

The Mufti of Australia in consultation with ANIC declared Saturday 27 May as the first day of Ramadan for fasting in an unprecedented move two days in advance.

In a statement ANIC declared: Following extensive consultations with nation-wide Islamic leaders in Australia and their representatives, the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed and the Australian National Imams Council wish to make the following statements regarding the Muslim community: The beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan for this year, 1438H - 2017, will begin on Saturday 27th of May 2017.

The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohammed and the respected Imams of the Australian National Imams Council, acknowledge the different opinions amongst the scholars on this topic and call upon all Muslims to respect this disagreement by avoiding debates that lead to disagreements and misunderstanding amongst the Muslims and to focus on the potential unity amongst the community .

Dr Jamal Rifi (left) and Fake Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi (right) on Channel 7’s Sunrise, 25 May 2017.

A common question asked every year is what is the threshold (Nisab) of Zakat AlMaal, the amount for Zakat Al-Fitr and how is it translated into a monetary amount?

The Australian National Imams Council has determined the threshold (Nisab) of Zakat Al-Maal is 85 (Eighty-Five) GRAMS of 24 Karat Gold obtained from the listed price on the stock market.

Gold Price as from the 27th of May 2017, 24 Karate, Per 1 Gram is $54.70 AUD. (85 Grams X $54.70 = $4,649.5 AUD) Therefore the threshold (Nisab) of Zakat Al-Maal will be $4,649.5 AUD. As for Zakat Al-Fitr it will be set at $12 per person for this year 1438H -2017.

The Australian National Imams Council also recommends all Muslims to give their charities to registered and reputable organisations.

more at home at a white nationalist rally is proving simply too good to resist.

The only fact-checking that appears to have been carried out to date concerns Tawhidi’s most recent claim that he has been “escorted into hiding by the police.” A police spokesperson told the Australian that “there have been no incidents relating to the removal of a person from a mosque or similar place.” This did not take any of the wind out of the story’s sails, however, and other media outlets quickly went on to state it as fact.”

It does not look like Fake Sheikh Tawhidi is going to disappear any time soon given the opportunity he drives from terrorist attacks and his romance with the conservative media and Islamophobes in Australia.

Yemenis starving during Ramadan

While Muslims worldwide celebrate Ramadan with special meals and tasty treats, millions of Yemenis are suffering from an acute lack of food as the country’s two-year war rages on.

According to aid agencies, 17 million people do not have enough to eat, in what the UN calls the “largest humanitarian crisis in the world”.

Typically, people shop throughout Ramadan, but Yemeni storekeepers have nothing to celebrate.

“Sales are the lowest from years past.

Every year is worse than before,” Yahya Hubar, a shopkeeper in Hodeidah, a coastal city in western Yemen, told Al Jazeera.

More than two million children are acutely malnourished in Yemen, where a child under five dies every 10 minutes of preventable diseases, according a report by UNICEF published in December.

Yemen was already one of the poorest

countries in the region.

The ongoing conflict between Houthi fighters and an Arab coalition has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people and pushed the country to a brink of famine, according to the UN. In addition, the country is facing a cholera outbreak, which so far has infected more than 29,000 people.

The Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), an umbrella coalition of progressive organizations across the United States, held a briefing in May on “Minority Rights Violations in India,” to mark the 3 year anniversary of BJP-led Hindu nationalist government in India.

A key aspect of the briefing was the release of a comprehensive report on violation of human rights and religious freedom of minorities in India over the course of the last 3 years.

“The same forces that have perpetuated caste discrimination are also spearheading India’s seemingly relentless drift away from secularism and religious pluralism, especially over the course of the last three years.

In 2016, a global index of human rights and social and religious freedoms by Pew Research Center placed India among the

worst 10 of the world’s 198 countries when judged for ‘social hostilities,’” says the report.

“Laws curbing religious conversion, the ban on sale and possession of beef in many states and the curbs placed on NGOs represent the state’s response to forced conversions, the brutal violence of “cow protection” groups and the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders respectively. In all cases, the state has become an enabler of repression, often going to great lengths to defend and normalize the abuse,” the report further adds.

“The release of this report is a plea to the international community for help in influencing the government of India to safeguard the rights of “lower” castes and religious minorities,” said Mr. Ajit Sahi, IAMC’s new Advocacy Director.

Indictment of minority rights violations in India

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Australasian Muslim Times

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NEWS 1-4

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LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

Da’wah for Environment: Let our actions talk

Dr Salih Yucel

In Sydney, some suburbs with a high population of Muslims such as Lakemba and Auburn do not reflect a beautiful environment as the Qur’an and Sunnah require.

There is rubbish around major shopping centres, schools, streets and yes, even places of worship like mosques.

Regrettably, there are countless people who are careless about the world they live in.

One of the important ethical principles of Islam is to care about the environment. The Holy Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet (s) set forth a highly idealistic environment to emulate.

Nature in its entirety is an exhibition of wonderful and awe-inspiring creation. All creation is the art of the Glorious Maker.

According to the tenth-century eminent theologian Imam al-Maturidi, everything in the universe can lead to knowing of the Creator. Therefore, every creation is precious.

In the Qur’an, everything in the universe is seen as a sign of God who created everything within a very intricate system (30:22).

The Prophet (s) forbade for everyone until the Last Day, the killing of animals, scaring animals of prey, cutting of trees, plant and even the thorns of a plant located in the vicinity of Makkah and Madinah.

He himself did not disturb a cat which slept on his garment and instead removed his garment. His companion Adi ibn Ḥatim, for example, used to crumble bread for ants and offer justification for this deed.

Historically, Muslims were champions of clean and beautiful environment and animal rights. The great Ottoman Turkish traveler Awliya Chalabi (1611–1682) and author

of an important travelogue ‘The Traveler’s Chronicle’ mentions the beauty of Muslim cities and towns in relation to the environment.

This continued till colonisation of the Muslim world. There are various fatwas in the jurisprudential works regarding how to fine or even punish those who are careless about environment and mistreat animals.

Richard Foltz writes, “Taking the long view of history; an average non-human animal might have preferred to live among Muslims than among Christians” For example, there are nests of birds on the walls of historic mosques in Istanbul.

Today, it can be argued that animals will prefer to live in the Western countries rather than Muslim countries due to lack of animal rights.

The Qur’an states that humans are ‘certainly created man in the best of stature’ (Qur’an, 95:4), which means humans are the most beautiful of creation.

Humans also have the duty to make the world not only a better place, but an amazing place. As mentioned in the Qur’an, hu-

man beings crave for their original home in Heaven and try to imitate the scenario of paradise-like environment on Earth.

This is evident from centuries old great monuments in the Muslim countries such as in Andalus (Spain), Turkey, Iran and India.

The Taj Mahal and Mughal gardens in India are fine examples of this effort to create paradise-like environment on Earth.

“Give glad tidings to those who believe and do good, righteous deeds: for them are Gardens through which rivers flow. Every time they are provided with fruits (of different colour, shape, taste, and fragrance, and that are constantly renewed) from that place, they say, ‘This is what we were provided with before’ (2:25).

If we pollute Earth, how could we compare the fruits of Paradise to what we received in this world?

The Qur’an sets a very high standard for humans in regard to their environment. A beautiful environment is like a sample or shadow of Paradise. Moreover, it is a human responsibility to make this world like heaven as khalifa or vicegerent of God on Earth.

Almost all fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) books begin with a section about cleanliness before going into the rules of prayer.

The Prophet (s) mentions “cleanliness as half of the faith” (Hadith-Muslim).

Being careless about the environment is devaluing the art of the Glorious Maker.

Without a clean environment, we will not represent and present our faith properly.

Let us not to be a tosser and make our environment resemble our true home in Paradise.

Foltz, Richard. “Is Vegetarianism Un-Islamic?” in Steven Sapontzis,(ed) Food for Thought: The Debate on Vegetarianism,, Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2004. p.

5 1

Dr Salih Yucel is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University. He worked as an Imam at Redfern Mosque in Sydney between 1987-1992 and then as a Muslim chaplain at Harvard Medical Schools’ hospitals for seven years.

In the name of Allah the most beneficent and the most merciful.

185 Gilmore Rd, Queanbeyan, NSW 2620

• Mosque in Queanbeyan, NSW, just next to Canberra has been in progress since 2013.

• Cost of 1500 sqm land has already been paid.

• DA for the “Construction of Mosque” was approved in the month of Ramadhan of 2016.

• Need your generous support to help build a Mosque for your community.

Required target

$900,000 to start Construction.

(approximate estimate)

Prayers are being offered at the Mosque land in a make shift arrangement with limited facilities for four years

www.QueanbeyanMasjid.org.au Email: qbn.masjid@gmail.com Phone: 0434260704 / 0431435541

BSB # 062 334 Ac # 1103 3525 Saarban Islamic Trust Common Wealth Bank

An initiative of

IFAM (Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims) - ACT

26

Australasian Muslim Times

www.amust.com.au

June 2017

UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

EDUCATION

SOCIAL 30 - 31

AMUST

The 99 Divine attributes of Allah Part 34 - Attribute 96

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 96. Al-Baqi - The Everlasting Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish,1 And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honour.

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?2 Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is in [i.e., bringing about] a matter.3 So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?4 We will attend to you, O prominent beings.5 So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?6 O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from God].7 So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (ar-Rahman, 55:26-34) 1. This whole piece is to convey two key realities to the Jinn and humans. Firstly, that neither are you immortal nor are your communities non-decaying. Immortality and non-decaying only pertains to Almighty Allah on whose greatness this whole universe is giving evidence because of whom you two have got the blessings and advantages. If any one become intoxicated with pride then it is their own meanness.

The second reality is that no one else you consider to be your diety will be your mushkilku sha, difficulty remover or fulfiller of your requirement. These ordinary people do themselves require the ful-

filment of their necessities and acquirements. Their hands are already spread for begging and then how can they fulfil your difficulties without fulfilling their own difficulties?

2. The use of the Arabic word ‘Ala’ has been used in conjunction with mortal creatures and he or she boasts and belies if not by language then at least by action the Greatness and Exaltedness of the Nourisher and Sustainer of the worlds.

3. In this Universe there is a continuous system of workability and Almighty Allah is creating numerous communities and things with different shapes and attributes. The whole world does not remain in one condition; the conditions continuously change and the Creator of the universe arranges them in new forms and figures which are different at different times.

4. Here the comprehension of the words of Allah is most suitable for the attributes.

Anyone who attaches any kind of blasphemy to any person it pertains to belie the attributes of Almighty Allah. For example if it is said that so and so person has removed my sickness it means that they think Allah is not the efficacious but that person is the cause of the remedy.

Similarly, the blasphemy contradicts the Attributes of Allah.

5. In Arabic, the main word used is thaqalan. Thaqal is attached to a burden which is laid upon any ride. Then the word translation of thaqalain is the two heavy burdens used for two species Jinn and human. As they live on this earth and those who do not accept the surrender and servitude of the sustainer then are addressed as the burdens on the earth.

The creator is pointing both to the underserved groups of people ‘Oh people who have become the burden on earth I am going to be free from your burden’ It does not mean that Allah is so busy that He does not have time to examine His disobedient servants. Actually, it means that Allah has fixed a particular

time sheet on the basis of which He is going to consider the enquiry of humans and Jinns. But now the time is so near that in another way He will become free to take the account of these two types. This deprivation of time is because Almighty Allah has made a scheme of dealing with different type of people and therefore He tells clearly that He is not free to carry out the work at this time.

6. Here the term Ala has been used to mean nature to keep the continuity. Both meanings are correct. First meaning is that today you are thankless to the Graces and Blessings of Allah and being totally involved in blasphemy and partnership and atheism and disobedience. Thus, totally indulging in ingratitude and attributing the result to accidents or the fruit of your capability or the favour of some small god or saint and so you consider

the resurrection as an impossible event.

Then when you shall be brought towards the enquiry those things you refute are proven to you, you shall find out how you contradicted the nature of Allah.

7. The words earth and heavens has been considered as the universe or in other words the divinity of Allah. Hence this verse means that it is not in your control to save yourself from the clutches of Allah. The information that has been given to you for the enquiry shall be at such a time and place that if you are caught red handed then it will be very difficult for you to escape from the divinity of Allah and therefore it is not in your purview.

So, no matter how much you try you will not be able to save yourself from the punishment of Allah.

es.

In addition to empathy, mutual trust and affection in friendship, mental and behavioural improvement is one of the essential factors of efficient camaraderie-ship.

Thus, friends should improve the moral and intellectual features of each other. Eventually, if you want to attract real friends, then you need to be a real friend.

Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change

you wish to see in the world.”

In the same way, be the friend you wish to have.

Continued in AMUST issue #140 July.

Be the friend you wish to have Mohammad Hassan Bakhtiari Friendship refers to the mutual relationship of sympathy, trust, cooperation, and support between two or more individuals.

True friends place great value on honesty, respect, loyalty and a sincere desire to do what’s best for the other.

They are the ones that provide both spiritual and intellectual revival. They are also the ones who give hope in life’s most difficult situations, help ease life and provide directions to our aims and ambitions.

Findings from the World Happiness Database study show that people with close friendships are happier and more confident.

Moreover, a number of solid studies have found that firm camaraderie improves people’s prospects for good health and longevity.

Conversely, reports have shown that loneliness and lack of companionship are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infections, and cancer as well as higher mortality rates.

As Imam Ali (r) said: “The weakest person is the one who cannot make anyone his friend and brother.” (Bihar al-Anwar, V. 74, P. 154) People with the same values and beliefs, make the best companions. Differences of viewpoints, different culture and inter-

June 2017

ests may make friendships interesting and sometimes challenging but if the core value system is not the same, the friendship itself most probably has no solid base.

The following traditions have stressed the importance of companionship: Prophet Muhammad (s) asserted: “Man is influenced by the faith of his friends. Therefore, be careful of whom you associate with.” (Bihar al-Anwar, V. 74, P. 192) Also in another tradition, Prophet Muhammad (s) said: “Mix with the noble people, you become one of them, and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their evils.” (Hadith).

The above traditions point to a similarity in attitude, character, mannerisms and traits that friends learn from each other.

A psychological school of thought describes this learning from peers as mirroring; the behavioural phenomenon in which one person unconsciously emulates the gesture, speech pattern, or attitude of another.

Mirroring often occurs in social situations, particularly in the company of close friends.

Psychotherapist Amy Morin declared: “The reality is that you’re likely to start acting more like the people you surround yourself with.”

Prophet Muhammad (s) has mentioned: “The believer is like a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness).” (Hadith).

Accordingly, your friends give you an honest and accurate image like a mirror.

They forgive your mistakes but do not hide or exaggerate your strengths and weakness-

Mohammad Hassan Bakhtiari, based in Tehran has a Masters degree in international relations and is an expert in International Relations and Knowledge Management.

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TRAVEL

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AUSTRALIA 16 - 19

LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

Journey to the Emirate of Kano AMUST

Asiya Rodrigo On April 26, 2017, I left my life in Sydney behind to embark on an expedition to the Kano Emirate of Northern Nigeria. The ancient city of Kano was once breathtaking, with mud walls surrounding a vibrant city of trade and scholarship – an oasis of palm trees, one and two storey mud buildings, mosques and donkeys pulling carts in narrow streets, the official languages being Arabic and Hausa.

Its Hausa kings and chiefs prospered in their independent state until they were absorbed by the Sokoto Caliphate led by the acclaimed Shaykh Usman Dan Fodio.

In 1805, the Kingdom of Kano became the Emirate of Kano, led by an ‘Emir’ of the Fu-

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lani tribe.

The descendants of the first emirs are all considered part of the royal family and, once an emir passes on or is deposed, “kingmakers” select another capable member of royal stock.

Emirs once took responsibility for everyone in their realm, and it is still common to see ordinary people come to the Emir’s court to appeal for assistance – from matters of abandoned babies to critical matters of territorial integrity.

Prisons, libraries, courts and Friday central mosques all typically were within the vicinity of the Emir’s palace.

While British colonialism to some extent respected the authority of such traditional rulers, after independence their powers were limited to cultural and religious leadership over the people.

The administration of the state would be done by elected politicians who also had the power to confirm or remove an emir.

Australasian Muslim Times

In recent times, the selfishness and corruption of Nigerian political rulers has come head to head with the Emir of Kano’s vocal attempts to reform cultural oppression against women and revive Kano’s heritage of ijtihad.

I sought to join the Emir’s movement.

From the moment I touched down in Kano, I felt embraced by the warmth and hospitality of the Emirate’s people.

In a matter of days, I was able to meet not just the Emir himself but one of his Queens and a number of other members of the royal family.

They welcomed me without hesitation or suspicion. Not once did I feel constrained as a Muslim woman in what was said to be a very conservative area.

I ran alongside the procession of the Emir’s regally-dressed entourage, I joined rural villagers (male and female) in their music and dance performances, I entered canoes powered by men with long sticks to get closer to cows crossing a river while children and

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men bathed carefree in the sunshine, I hiked up the hills alongside children whose agility reminded me of mountain goats, and I prayed in mosques with no partitions as well as out in the open in the rawness of nature.

There is absolute poverty in Kano, but there is something about her heritage and culture that still gives life, strength and dignity to her people.

There, every stereotype of a Dar al-Islam is shattered. There is so much colour, joy, warmth and freedom in Kano’s expression of traditional Islam that I felt my own spirit come alive.

Now that the seeds of hijrah have been planted, I am counting the days to my return.

Asiya Rodrigo is a freelance project manager who has spent over 15 years in the fields of community development and education. Her wanderlust has taken her to over 46 countries. She currently volunteers for a number of AusRelief projects in West Africa.

June 2017

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AMUST

#SOCIAL

NEWS 1-4

BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8 - 15

AUSTRALIA 16 - 19

LIFESTYLE 20 - 24

Dr Waleed Aly: Pedestrian TV

Sahra Abdi: WA Awards

Sara Mansour: Lawyers Weekly

Ali Kadri: The Drum

Waleedy Aly received his PhD on global terrorism, and included a doctoral thesis titled “Towards a Structuration Theory of Global Terrorism.” Aside from hosting Channel Ten’s The Project, Aly is a lecturer in politics at Monash University working with the Global Terrorism Research Centre.

Sahra Abdi has recently been awarded the 2017 Western Australian Youth Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedication to assisting Syrian refugee families settle in as new Australians. The award was for working in the space of Multicultural Communities, recognising her ongoing support in facilitating and promoting diversity in Australia.

In an online podcast episode of The Lawyers Weekly, Sara Mansour, a graduate lawyer at Allens and director of the Bankstown Poetry Slam discusses her experience in the grad program and the legal profession as a Muslim woman from Western Sydney. She also recited an original spoken word poem on the theme of diversity.

Spokesman for the Islamic Council of Queensland, Ali Kadri appeared on ABC’s The Drum on 11 May 17 and spoke about extremism going from words to action and hate crimes referencing the Muslim women attacked at UTS.

Due to overwhelming demand, Nazeem performed twice at the Sydney Comedy Festival, with his show called Public Frenemy, the latest show to come from one of the most in demand TV and radio personalities in Australia.

Lawyer, diversity and inclusion practitioner, advocate, social commentator Mariam Veiszadeh, will join an impressive line-up of speakers and performers at TEDxSydney 2017 on Friday 16 June at ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour.

Criminal Lawyer, Melati Lum’s debut novel: Ayesha Dean: The Instanbul Intrigue was created to portray a young Muslim female detective solving crimes and by including people of different backgrounds without the stereotypes. It allows children to reconcile their Australian Muslim identities.

Amna Karra- Nazeem Hussain: Mariam Veiszadeh Hassan: Instyle Comedy Festival TedXSydney

Winner of Sports category celebrating InStyle and Audi’s #WomenOfStyle, Amna received the honour of being one of Australia’s most inspiring and accomplished women. The award was presented by World Champion professional surfer Layne Beachley.

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Australasian Muslim Times

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Melati Lum: In Daily

June 2017

UMMAH 25

EDUCATION 26 - 27

TRAVEL 28

SOCIAL 30 - 31

TOP 10 Ramadan Muslim Memes

TOP 7 Tweets

#StandTogether

#SOCIAL VIDEO

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To Watch

Ramadan Stories on Snapchat

Video messaging app Snapchat’s featured Ramadan stories from around the world. The snapchat story features snaps from all over the world including Saudi Arabia (Mecca), India, Kuwait, Belgium, The United Arab Emirates, Turkey, The Netherlands, England, Lebanon and America.

The snaps included the everyday experiences from Muslims all over the world, from posting advice to hilarious situations Muslims find themselves in.

Some users talked about what to eat, how to behave in Ramadan, reflecting on the benefits of fasting and their plans for this special month.

Some users shared jokes and everyday awkward experiences during Ramadan (for example, going to the fridge, seeing all the food and just stopping short to realise you’re fasting!).

Other users posted about how they feel when it’s just before the breaking of the fast, there’s a countdown to the specific time.

It was so beautiful to see all the different ways in which Ramadan is celebrated in different cultures, particularly the traditional food eaten at this time.

The snaps from Mecca were especially incredible as they show millions of Muslims who are in Mecca during Ramadan, the beautiful adhan (call to prayer) and worshippers making tawaff (going around) the Kabah.

In 2015, Snapchat live-streamed Ramadan prayers in Mecca which became an instant sensation with over a million people tweeting about the #Mecca_live event as coverage went viral.

Snapchat marked the observance for the holy month of Ramadan with a 300-second “live” story documenting prayers in the sacred city.

It was the first time the platform had covered the event, and many Muslims are thrilled with the response.

Having the Ramadan story feature on the main page of snapchat meant that it was an excellent opportunity to all snapchat users to learn about Ramadan, Muslim practices and Islam.

Having such incredible support from Snapchat brings about positive attention to the annual act of worship Muslims around the world participate in and changing the negative global narrative surrounding Islam.

Video: youtu.be/CbbNPiXTaUk

June 2017

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