Issue 147 February 2018

AMUST

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

www.amust.com.au ISSUE # 147

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Multicultural News & Views

FEBRUARY 2018; JAMAADIYUL OULAA 1439

Why Australia Day on 26 January?

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Symposium on NZ Muslims’ Plan

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Book Review: Balcony Over Jerusalem EDUCATION PAGE 18

Community healing on Australia Day Mehar Ahmad The Premier’s Western Sydney Australia Day Community Reception was held on Friday 26 January 2018 at Bowman Hall, Blacktown.

The event was attended by a number of ministers, members of parliament, community leaders, aboriginal elders and performers as well as a number of Australia Day awardees.

The event started with welcome in English as well as in an Aboriginal language followed by a sad song “Generational Scars”

by Jacinta Tobin relating to Aboriginal stolen generations, scarring, broken hearts and quest for healing, love and peace.

A comprehensive performance was given

by Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Troupe that included dancing with the politicians and painting of their bodies symbolising community healing.

The Premier pointed out that NSW candidates had taken out top honours in the 2018 Australian of the Year Awards, with world-renowned physicist Michelle Simmons named Australian of the Year and mathematics teacher Eddie Woo as 2018 Australia’s Local Hero.

Special guests at the event also included 2018 Senior Australian Citizen of the Year, Dr Graham Farquhar and Samantha Kerr, 2018 Young Australian of the Year.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the national awards were well-deserved recognition for two of the State’s most passionate advocates for science and mathematics.

“Professor Simmons has long been high-

Nominated by the NSW Premier, Minister Ray Williams gets completely involved in the Aboriginal performance and impresses the cheering crowd on Friday 26 January 2018 at Australia Day Reception. ly regarded in the scientific community and leadership in education and dynamic pres- young people to consider careers in these now her pioneering achievements will be ence in the classroom, which has seen his fields,” Ms Berejiklian said. celebrated by all Australians,” Ms Berejik- “Wootube” internet videos attract more than lian said.

10 million views worldwide.

More photos of the Australia Day ReCherrybrook Technology High School “These wins are going to raise the profile ception: Page 2. head mathematics teacher and Youtube star of the importance of science and teaching Eddie Woo had received awards for his in communities across Australia and inspire

Divisive Invasion Day protests across the nation awkwardly waving little plastic Australian flags.

In Sydney, protesters joined two events: Over 60,000 people marched in Mel- the Long March for Justice Through Treaty, bourne in the biggest gathering of a series a recreation of the 1988 march from Redfern of protests across the country on Friday to Hyde Park, and an Invasion Day march 26 January 2018, dubbed as Invasion from the Block in Redfern to Victoria Park.

Day. A smaller crowd of several hundred The massive crowd surpassed expecta- turned out for the Justice Through Treaty tions and exceeded numbers at the official march, which featured a series of powerful Australia Day parade on the same day. speeches from the Shadow Human Services In other major cities, marches were also Minister, Linda Burney, and the Australian held celebrating Indigenous resistance, call- Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally ing for action on the Uluru statement and McManus. urging an end to “racist” and harmful govMcManus called for an end to the commuernment policies. nity development program in remote comTogether they presented a voice that or- munities. She labelled it deeply racist and ganisers said could not be ignored. said it ought to be abolished.

The tens of thousands in Melbourne “It’s a racist program because it is only in marched under the banner of “abolish Aus- rural and remote areas, 80% of the people in tralia Day”. the program are Indigenous and they have Gary Foley, leading Indigenous activist to work 25 hours a week, compulsory work, said “I haven’t seen a crowd like this since no sick leave, no annual leave, no workers’ the 1970’s.” compensation, no minimum wage,” said “If we keep mobilising these sort of num- Sally Mcmanus, prompting cries of “shame” bers, governments cannot ignore us.” he fur- from the crowd. ther added.

It’s just a matter of time, as more AustralOutnumbering the Australia Day parade, ians are getting behind the protest to move the Invasion Day crowd chanted “no pride Australia Day to another day. in genocide” as they walked past with the More on Australia Day/Invasion Day parade spectators watching the protest and controversy on pages 7, 10.

Dispose of this paper thoughtfully - PLEASE RECYCLE Zia Ahmad

Invasion Day protest in Melbourne, Australia on Friday 26 January 2018.

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NEWS Community healing on Australia Day England win NEWS 1-4

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BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 12

ODI series 4:1 KNOCK OUT Syed Ali

A young Aboriginal boy performs a traditional dance with the group.

Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian with Jacinta Tobin.

England has won the ODI series against Australia 4-1 authoritatively after winning the last ODI in Perth on January 28 narrowly.

In a shocker, during the final ODI, England was reeling when five of their top order batsmen returned to the hut with the scoreboard showing 5 for 8 which could be a world record of sorts.

In the recent Magellan Ashes Test series, Australia whipped the formidable England side 4-0 with a drawn tie in Melbourne to regain the Urn which England had last won on home soil.

The ODI performance by Australia does not augur well for Australia, the current world champions of ICC World Cup, in view of next year’s 12th edition of the ODI World Cup to be hosted by England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July next year.

England had earlier hosted the prestigious ICC tournament in 1975 which was a

Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Simmons (NSW), Senior Citizen of the Year, 70-year-old Dr Graham Farquhar, Australia’s Local Hero, Eddie Woo (NSW) and Young Australian of the Year, Samantha Kerr (WA).

Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian with Koomurri Dancer and Mayor of Blacktown, Stephen Bali.

Koomurri Dancer with two attendees at the Premier’s community reception.

Generational Scars Jacinta Tobin Reports have come and gone But still too many children don’t live at home Generational scars Broken families and too many bars But the times are changing and many stories are told We’re claiming back sites for true healings to unfold No more broken hearts turned to stone No more children feeling alone No more history needing to hide Only love and peace is family pride Because we got new beginnings.

Jacinta Tobin, a senior Darug woman shared a vision for a place that not only witnesses past injustice but also uses this as a tool for change. She performed ‘Generational Scars’ at the Premier’s Community Reception on Friday 26 January 2018 at Blacktown which powerfully conveyed her message

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Minister for Multiculturalism Ray Williams with Community Leaders.

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

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big success. To assert her superiority in the shorter version of the game, Australia must win the Trans-Tasman 20 Tri-series which will also feature England and New Zealand.

Australia will play England in the second match of the series at Hobart (7 February ) and at MCG (10 February) which will be played under floodlights.

The present Australian ODI outfit does not look invincible and is likely to struggle in next year’s ODI World Cup as teams like South Africa, India and England have planned it systematically and pragmatically to field potent sides, unlike Australia which is struggling to have a winning combination of batsmen and bowlers.

England, on the other hand, is currently having a perfect combination to match any team in the world in the shorter format of the game as evident from her recent performance Down Under.

Pakistan wins the twenty-20 series After losing the first twenty-20 against New Zealand, Pakistan bounced back to level the series 1-1 at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday 26 January to remain in contention.

The victory was a morale booster for the Pakistan outfit as they were battered and bruised, having lost the ODI series 5-0.

In the decider played on Sunday 28 January, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 18 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, to win the Twenty-20 series 2-1.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 182 for 6 in 20 overs. The star performer for Pakistan was Fakhar Zaman who scored a quickfire 46 to put Pakistan in a commanding situation.

New Zealand, in reply, scored 163 for 6, falling short by 18 runs. With this stellar performance, Sarfraz and his dark horses return to Pakistan with their heads held high.

Syed Ali has been writing on cricket for the last forty years. He was the feature writer for Cricketer International, London, for a decade. He played first class cricket and interacted with the world’s leading cricket and hockey players.

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ISSUE 147 / FEBRUARY 2018

LIFESTYLE 13 - 16

UMMAH 17 - 18

EDUCATION 19 - 20

BUSINESS 21

BOOMERANG

SOCIAL 22 - 23

STOP: Violence begets violence Last weekend the deadly attack using lence and that Muslims are inherently prone an explosive-laden ambulance resulted to violence. in more than 100 people killed and The fact is that it is the context of the many more wounded in Kabul, social-political situation amongst Afghanistan.

Muslims that leads to this apThis kind of mind-bogparent spiral of violence. gling violence continues Reaction to injustice, opunabated not only in Afpression, subjugation and ghanistan but in a numabsence of avenues to ber of Muslim countries protest against these in a Zia Ahmad in particular and other peaceful way. parts of the world in Last year Gallup conAssalamu general. ducted 50,000 interviews Violence begets viowith residents of 35 naAlaikum lence. State-sponsored tions that are predomiviolence and oppression nantly Muslim or have sigGreetings generates reactive violence nificant Muslim populations. of Peace leading to a tsunami of viThis study by Gallup has olence that consumes not only been documented by two wellcombatants but innocent bystanders. known authors, John L Esposito, and Afghanistan and Iraq are still suffering Dalia Mogahed in a book titled Who Speaks from mindless violent attacks in places of for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really worship and other public areas.

Think.

Saudi coalition continues to bomb YemGallup posed questions that are on the en with recent flare-up among three group minds of millions: of Yemenis with foreign backers inflaming the situation with their own vested interests in particular UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Syrian Baathist regime backed by Russia continues to kill civilians in various conflict zones within Syria including the capital Damascus with indiscriminate bombings. Syrians are living in extremely miserable conditions.

The latest flare-up is the conflict between Kurds and Turkish armed forces on the borders between Syria and Turkey with Russian and US meddling.

Islamophobes propagate these conflicts as evidence that Islam itself promotes vio-

EDITORIAL

• Is Islam to blame for terrorism?

• Why is there so much anti-Americanism in the Muslim world?

• Who are the extremists?

• Where are the moderates?

• What do Muslim women really want?

The study brings data-driven evidence, the voices of more than a billion Muslims, not those of individual “experts” or “extremists”, to one of the most heated and consequential debates of our time.

In summary, the results showed that 93% of Muslims reject terrorist violence and the 7% who supported it, did so on political, not religious grounds.

Of that 7% of the extremists, only 13% thought that attacks on civilians were justified.

Just like all human beings, Muslims want to live in peace given the opportunity to live and let live in peace with dignity and justice.

Violence does not ultimately serve anyone’s interest.

Really it is a wonderful article which highlights the contribution of Ibn Khaldun.

This article is not less than a boon for English readers. Those who know classical Arabic language they can easily understand the invention and innovation of Khaldun in History writing. my special thank to Professor Shahid and AMUST. Athina

Re: Enjoyment and information at seniors’ picnic

MashaAllah, Great efforts. May Allah ST reward you all in the Akhirah, Ameen. khalil

Re: IFAM’s Family Camp largest and best ever

Good activity, wish Allah give barakah to help each other.

Riana Dewi

Re: War criminal portrait at Club Punchbowl

Club Punchbowl is not the only problematic venue. I have attended Muslim functions at a Serbian owned hall at Hoxton Park where the walls are festooned with paintings depicting historic events where Serbs have murdered Muslims. Do we really need to support such hatred by contributing to these venues?

Gary Dargan

Re: Mobinah appointed Ambassador for Peace

Wow MashAllah! Congratulations Moby this is lovely news.

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Congratulations Moby Nah! Such a fantastic feat and inspiration! :) Soph M Alak

Congratulations. UPF looks a bit more Re: Mohammad bin Salman: substantial than that shonky Korean cult that brilliant or reckless?

You will know them by their fruits. Deliberate policy of brutality in Yemen and unnecessary confrontation with your neighbours are not indicative of a good fruit !

made Tawhidi the “Imam of Peace”. Hope the award was better than the plastic trinket he was photgraphed buying in Korea.

Gary Dargan

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Late Sadia Jamal Siddiqui: AMUST

Tragedy, support and prayers Zia Ahmad The first morning of the new year started with the tragic news of the demise of my sister Sadia Siddiqui and serious injuries to her son Azzam Siddiqui involved in a road accident in Victoria on Monday 1 January 2018 around 5.30 am.

Azzam sustained multiple vertebra fractures and is currently in a stable condition recovering at Epworth Geelong hospital near Melbourne. His wife Atikah and brother Areeb who were also in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

The facts regarding the accident Sadia’s family together with her husband Zafar, son Azzam, daughter-in-law Atikah and son Areeb went on a short holiday during the new year long-weekend to visit Grampian National Park staying at Stawell around 240 km north west of Melbourne.

On Monday 1 January after offering their Fajr prayers, four members of the family left for a scenic drive towards Halls Gap. Zafar stayed at the motel.

While they were driving the four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Pajero on Grampians Road, a kangaroo jumped out in front of the car from nowhere. With the human instinct to save a life, the car swerved in order to miss the animal when the car rolled and ended upside down.

Both Atikah and Areeb managed to get out quickly and called 000. Azzam was pulled out by emergency services and airlifted to Royal Melbourne hospital. Sadia passed away at the scene.

Azzam suffered fractures in his three vertebrae and sternum and initially could not feel his legs. However, the feeling eventually returned.

Atikah and Areeb were taken to Stawell Hospital Emergency, checked, treated for minor injuries where Zafar joined them later. The head nurse consoled the family at this traumatic time and her husband Mr Mark Farrer volunteered to drive the family in his car all the way to Royal Melbourne Hospital to meet up with Az-

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zam.

Meanwhile, the news of the first road fatality of 2018 in Victoria spread like wildfire and was picked up by several news outlets.

First Constable Mitch Cohen from Ararat Police Station gave the details of the accident and also advised drivers to take precaution in not avoiding wildlife by swerving the vehicle but using the brakes to slow down and get ready for the impact.

Since wildlife are on the move at dawn and dusk and kangaroos being notorious for occupying the roads at these times, the drivers need to be extra careful while driving at these hours.

The same morning Victoria Police Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer immediately responded to the tragedy.

“The information I have at this stage is that it appears the car may have swerved to miss a kangaroo,” he declared.

Referring to yet another accident the same morning as well, Mr Fryer said, “My deepest condolences to each of the families who I can only guess continue to contemplate why, why have they been thrust into the sadness and loss that is the unexpectedness of road trauma.”

“I continue to hope that no one else will lose their lives on the roads, however, to wake this morning and be notified that the first person for 2018 has died on the roads is disheartening,” he concluded.

Rapid response by the extended family The extended family got the news of the accident and Sadia’s demise within a couple of hours in Sydney and elsewhere. Close family members flew from Canberra and Sydney the same morning arriving at Royal Melbourne Hospital to see Azzam where his elder sister Nabeeha was with him.

One week before the incident, my mum Mrs Jamal Ara Ahmad, 85, was admitted at the Fairfield hospital and in fact Sadia was the one coordinating her care and rehabilitation.

The news of Sadia’s demise was very traumatic for Ammi. We got her discharged from the hospital the morning of the incident before myself, Abbu, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, 87 together with other family members departed for Melbourne.

We were picked up by Professor Akhtar Kalam and Mrs Kalam who kindly hosted us and lend all the support together with a number of family friends and acquaintances from Melbourne’s Muslim community helping us to cope with this tragedy.

Considering the long-term recovery and rehabilitation of Azzam where he needed to stay in Melbourne, it was decided to have Sadia’s janaza (funeral) and burial in Melbourne rather than Sydney.

With representation made by Mr Ramzi Elsayed, currently Treasurer of Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), The Coroner released the body on Wednesday 3 January for Janaza and burial the same afternoon.

Most of our more than 70 strong extended family members and some friends flew or drove from Sydney and Canberra while my brother Najm arrived from Saudi Arabia and Zafar’s brother Zaid together with his family arrived from the USA

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

just in time for the janaza.

Dr Charlotte Clutterbuck who tutored Sadia in English soon after our arrival in Australia where later our two families developed strong friendship spanning three generations flew to Melbourne from the South Coast. So did Sadia’s longtime friend Ms Azra Khan from Canberra.

The janaza prayer, coordinated by Maulana Nazeerul Hassan Thanvi was held on Wednesday 3 January at Melbourne’s Aisa Mosque in Meadows Heights and burial took place at Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial.

The janaza prayer was joined by the large contingent of the extended family, decades-long friends of the family including Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi, Dr Tariq, Mr Ibrahim Dellal, Dr Masood Hussaini, Mr Mohammad Hassan, Dr Saleh Yusel, Mr Baqar and many other members of the Victorian Muslim Community acquainted with our family through our Islamic activities including publication of AMUST. My personal reflections on Sadia Sadia is the fourth child of Dr Ashfaq Ahmad and Jamal Ara Ahmad; sister of Zia, Najm, Fauzia, Najia, Manar; wife of Zafar Siddiqui; mother of Nabeeha, late Najeeb, Azzam, Areeb and mother-in-law of Atikah Siddiqui.

Born at her maternal ancestral home in Anwayan, District Ballia, UP, India, she had her primary education at Presentation Convent in Srinagar, Kashmir and later studied at Our Lady of Fatima Convent, Aligarh for a couple of years before migrating with the family to Australia in December 1971.

She went to Moorfield Girls’ High School in Kogarah completing her HSC and obtained her bachelors degree in Information Technology from the University of Lae, PNG where her father was a professor of Mechanical Engineering.

She got married to Zafar Siddiqui in 1982 in India and after spending a couple of years there, the couple migrated to Australia.

She worked as a computer graphics designer with family business TIPS later joining a printing and publishing firm in the same capacity. She also worked for a number of years during the 1990’s with the multilingual Australasian Muslim Times AMUST as the principal graphic designer and layout artist.

She inspired her other siblings as well as members of the third generation to become budding graphic designers. Her graphic designer skills were also used in a number of community projects including IFEW, MEFF, Insight magazine, AMU Alumni of Australia, Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu etc. She also designed the CD cover of Dooriyan, an innovative music CD produced by Mr Abbas Alvi’s team synthesising Indian songs

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with indigenous music.

Sadia was elected as Ameerah of Australasian Integrated Family (AIF), our extended family organisation and President of IFEW for a couple of years and played a major role in the organisation of Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair, MEFF taking charge of award presentations for a couple of decades.

Amongst her siblings, Sadia was a quiet worker, peaceful, easygoing, efficient and hard working. She was very social, maintaining good communication with family, friends and various sections of the community over the phone or frequent visits.

Together with her husband Zafar, the couple were always first to call on anyone sick at home or in hospital sharing the sorrows as well as rejoicing with family members and others in the community.

Like my siblings and in-laws, Sadia learnt driving from me and I found her the most patient learner where unlike others, she never protested against my criticism during instructions while learning to drive.

The result was that she passed her oral and practical driving test on the first go and became the best car driver I have ever known.

Many times while still young she used to fetch our foreign guests from the airport, many of whom expressed their admiration of her confidence in driving as a lady driver of Indian origin.

Sadia was well known for making the best gulab jamun in the South Asian community and personally, for me, she made the best lassi in summer and occasionally Goshtaba, the king of Kashmiri cuisine.

Sadia and her family went through some traumatic times, one being the tragic death of her eldest son Najeeb at the young age of 18 while visiting India. Her second son Azzam underwent intensive surgery and hospitalisation for a number of years suffering from traumatic pain during long periods of recovery.

Later in life, Zafar himself suffered from a number of ailments where Sadia provided support for the family like a rock persevering through difficulties in financial well being, health, family issues etc.

During the last six month, having spent increasingly more time with Ammi, as she got old and frail, Sadia became very close to her and she is greatly being missed by Ammi.

Inna lillahe wa inna alaihe rajeoon, we are from Allah and to Him we return. May Allah grant paradise to Sadia and give sabr (patience and perseverance) to all her loved ones.

We pray for a speedy recovery for Azzam and stability in Sadia’s family.

Zia Ahmad is the Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST. ISSUE 147 / FEBRUARY 2018

LIFESTYLE 13 - 16

UMMAH 17 - 18

EDUCATION 19 - 20

BUSINESS 21

BOOMERANG

SOCIAL 22 - 23

AMUST

Why Australia Day on 26 January?

Bilal Cleland Every year as the heat of January mounts, we are urged to “celebrate Australia Day” as though it signifies something of which all the nation should be proud.

Various dates were designated ‘Australia Day’, July being most favoured, until 1935 when all the Australian states and territories decided to use 26 January. It is certainly not a long established tradition as it was not until 1994 that it became a national public holiday.

I am sure that my great great great granny, Ellen Wainwright, 17 years old, sent forever to a place at the other side of her world, might have celebrated the date as she sweated in the stinking hold of the wooden “Prince of Wales,” for it meant she would be allowed time on land.

The First Fleet had brought her to Sydney after a voyage of eight months. She was one of a handful of convict women sent to establish a settlement on Norfolk Island on 15 February 1788.

26 January 1788 was also the day on which the decimation of the indigenous people began.

The Europeans introduced smallpox to which the local people had no immunity.

When the explorers in later decades estimated their numbers, they thought that there were about 300,000 indigenous Australians in 1788 but it is now understood that smallpox and other diseases may have caused their population to decline to only 20% of what it had been when European settlement began. That is why most indigenous organisations call 26 January “Invasion Day” not Australia Day.

One of the reasons for the British settlement in Port Jackson was that France, the great power rival of Britain at that time, was also exploring the east coast of Australia. A British settlement established the claim of Britain to the land of New Holland. The indigenous inhabitants were not considered to have any claim over the land they had lived upon for the past 50,000 years.

One of the myths about the settlement at Port Jackson was that it was solely to take Britain’s overflow of convicts. The plantations of America were no longer demanding convict slaves from Britain after the War of Independence in 1776. African slaves were better workers, stronger and did not become free after serving judicial sentences.

Port Jackson was conveniently located for British trade in the Pacific. It permitted ships to avoid the pirate ridden Straits of Malacca and Sunda Strait, if they stayed in the westerly winds from the Cape of Good Hope.

Port Jackson could provide cheap convict labour to establish a restaurant port, where the wooden ships could be repaired, get new ropes from New Zealand and Norfolk Island hemp and , it was hoped, new masts from Norfolk Island pines. The ships could then sail north towards China and the tea trade, north east towards Vancouver and the seal trade or into the whaling areas, for whale oil was a valuable resource of the time. The convicts were temporary slaves for the purposes of British trade.

Muslims were few and far between in those days, but my great-great-great granny on Norfolk Island must have met John Hassan, Saib Sultan and Mahomet Cassem (or Cassan), sailors on the “Endeavour”, a ship bound for India which had started leaking and was run aground in Dusky Bay, New Zealand in 1795.

Probably Indians from British occupied India, they were dumped, free men, on Norfolk Island as there was no room for them on

the remaining ships. Abandoning free Muslims on Pacific islands is not a new policy for Australia.

That day in January should be commemorated perhaps as First Fleet Day, but not as the day on which our nation was established.

Tony Abbott thought it was the most significant date in our history, but he is certainly

All Aussies should determine Australia’s future Dr Daud Batchelor Whether Australia Day truly represents all Australians has been depicted as a debate between ‘Anglo’ and ‘indigenous’ Australians. Other Australians become marginalised. However, by acknowledging that on 26 January 1788 a thriving 500-year old Aboriginal-Asian engagement existed in northern Australia, characterised by respectful relations, strengthens a role also for Asian, including Muslim citizens.

“One of the greatest achievements of modern Australia is that all citizens, whether they achieved citizenship yesterday or were born here … are absolutely equal in their civic status and before the law.”

Muslim Australians have every right to critique prevailing western culture. Our future should not just be controlled by certain elite or racial groups.

All citizens can contribute to Australia’s development with positive aspects of their cultures and beliefs.

Australia should not continue as just an outpost of western culture but become a melting pot of Aboriginal, European and Asian influences.

‘Western culture’ is moving in an entirely new direction. So-called ‘progressive morality’ is not embraced by all.

While righting the wrongs of yesteryear, they want radical change without the deep thought about consequences.

Although accepting the outcome of the plebiscite on same-sex marriage, sizeable Muslim and Asian populations in western Sydney voted against it. This is understandable as time will tell whether it is beneficial.

Negative impacts, especially on Australian youth, as witnessed by reported increases FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

in child abuse, severe psychological distress while youth suicide is at a 10-year high, represent a ‘wake-up’ call to challenge this western movement against traditional values.

Australia’s development owes much to efforts of colonial administrators and settlers.

We also record, however, serious mistakes. The treatment of Aborigines – oldest continuing culture on Earth – reflects poorly on western civilisation.

That colonial society in seeking to disintegrate Aboriginal communities was partially successful is witnessed today by the difficulty of Aboriginal societies to re-establish stable communities following removal of many of their laws, customs and tribal governance.

Concurrently, they are confronted by ills of western society – drugs, alcohol, gambling and pornography – that were not pervasive in their societies. Australians should minimise these questionable practices through a convergence of cultures to construct a truly Australian culture.

Logically we can draw closer to Asian neighbours rather than insisting on our ‘Otherness’ as a colonial descendent European culture.

Australians could adopt positive Asian and Muslim values such as the importance of the family and respects for elders.

We can promote a more intellectual and caring society that puts community benefit over individual desires.

Greg Sheridan wrote that “nobody alive today is either guilty of, or can expect re-

dress for, an event that occurred 230 years ago. … If my father and grandfather were axe murderers, I am not an axe murderer, nor am I responsible for their crimes.”

This principle aligns with Qur’anic (7:164) teachings “No soul earns any (sin) except against itself.”

If however, you inherited land from an ancestor who killed the traditional owners, you have no right to it and it should be returned. If Aborigines defended their rights a n d were killed, their descendants b e come the true legatees.

Probably, in parts of Australia descendants of such colonials still hold these properties. Minimally, a treaty with Aboriginal peoples may resolve matters.

“Australia day celebrates our nation, of which, with all its imperfections, we have, all of us, every right to be proud.”

It can only be trul y celebrated once effective remedial measures have been taken to provide full dignity and amends for past destruction toiled on Aboriginal people.

Our civili- sation requires continuous improvement and refinement. This is every citizen’s responsibility.

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.

Email: daud.batchelor@gmail.com

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not our teacher. 31 July was good enough in 1915.

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

Desert Bloom Fazlul Huq Glorify the Lord when you witness the desert bloom, Praise the Creator when you hear the nature’s tune, Prime in goodness as the goodness elevates, Pray in eagerness as the prayer permeates.

Sovereignty belongs to the Creator, The God in Heavens and the God on Earth, The Living, the Eternal, The Forgiving, the Merciful, The Immense and the Exalted, The Ever-Existent and the Timeless, The Self-Sufficient and the Needless!

The One and the Only One! I submit to the Will of the Creator, I sing His Glory and Praise, I witness that God is the Lord, Of all things large and small!

He is the Originator, the Modeller, The Source and the Inspirer, The End and the Beginning, And none unto like Him! Inspire me Lord to give thanks for the favours You bestowed on me and on my parents, And to truly say: “My prayers and my devotions, My life and my death are all for my God, The Lord of the Universes who has no peer” 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 12,000 compositions in Bengali and English and has also been involved in various community projects.

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Late Shakila Begum: A tribute to my mother Javed Jamil My mother, Shakila Begum, breathed her last on 7 January 2018 after more than two months of hospitalization.

My father, Late Jamil Ahmad had left us on 10 January last year and it was perhaps her devotion to him that did not let one complete year pass before her joining him in the heavenly abode. May Allah shower His choicest blessings and maghfirah on them!

When we give a thought to what Islam is about, it is not difficult to understand that Islam is primarily about relationships: relationship between God and His Creation, between God and human beings, between prophets and followers, between human beings and their surroundings and between human beings themselves, as parents and children, spouses, kins, neighbours and members of humanity.

Out of these, after relationships of faith, the most beautiful relationship is of course between parents and children. And within the family, no relationship is more sacrosanct than that between mother and children. When father expires, children feel a loss of security cover and when a mother leaves, they feel themselves to be orphans.

We, seven brothers and three sisters, were blessed to have our parents with us for a long time. Our father expired at the age of 93 and mother at 86. But the vacuum they left for us seems too unbearably huge.

Our mother was a truly pious lady. We never saw her miss a single prayer or fast. I don’t remember how long she had been offering Tahajjud prayer, well since her youth.

She stood by her husband in all his happy and sad movements and in all his good and

difficult days without ever questioning him.

She was an ideal mother and an ideal wife.

How many times she might have completed Quran reciting is beyond counting. And the greatest quality which I noticed in her was her charitable disposition. She would never let anyone seeking help unattended. The beggars would throng to our house every day knowing that they would get something.

If Alhamdulillah all their children achieved successes in their educational careers, the credit goes to her no less if not more than our father. Being a highly busy advocate and social activist, our father would be out of home throughout the day.

In his absence, she would not let even a single of her 10 children without due attention.

She would always inculcate Islamic spirit in her children through stories of Prophets and Sahaba. She would always insist on us to offer regular prayers and recite Quran daily. She would not let us roam freely outside the home and would ask us to do the school work without failing.

She had never anything else in mind except following the Shariah in totality. When the question of bequeathing property to daughters arose in the family, while our father was initially reluctant citing local traditions, she would always insist on distributing it in exact accordance with the demands of Islamic Law. Thankfully, our father realized this before it would be too late and got a will rewritten granting daughters Islamic rights in his property.

Like most mothers, she was an extremely loving lady for her children and despite having Diabetes and Hypertension for more than two decades; she would never feel tired while taking care of her husband and children. She was not that lucky herself. She lost her mother when she was only 4 years old. Fortunately though for her, she was taken care of by her father’s sister and husband who had no child of their own and gave her

Shakila Begum. all the love and affection.

People come and go. What they leave behind are their memories. She is no more with us. But we will always feel her close to us.

All my brothers, Rashid Jamil, Zahid Jamil (based in Sydney), Shariq Jamil, Majid Jamil, Fazil Jamil and Fahad Jamil and my sisters, Kishwar Jamashed, Munawwar Javed and Fozia Naved Mumtaz share these thoughts with me.

We pray Allah not only for granting her a high status in Jannah but guide us all her children to follow the Path of God in accordance with her wishes and our father’s

wishes!

Dr Javed Jamil is India based thinker and writer with over a dozen books including his latest, “Quranic Paradigms of Sciences & Society” (First Vol: Health), “Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough” and “Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Road-map”. Other works include “The Devil of Economic Fundamentalism”, “The Essence of the Divine Verses”, “The Killer Sex”, “Islam means Peace” and “Rediscovering the Universe”. He can be contacted at doctorforu123@yahoo.com

Symposium on The Agency of Muslim Women in the Australian ContextSymposium on The Agen

Women in the Australian C Symposium on Th Women in the Aus

Image credit: Mike Prince

When 21 & 22 FEBRUARY 2018

About the symposium

Image credit: Mike Prince This Symposium aims to tak depth and exclusive look at and agency of Muslim Wom About the Australian context.

21 & 22 FEBRUARY 2018 This Sy Where It will bring together leading 21 February: – 5.20pm depth a Dockside, Balcony Level, Cockle 9amacademics and activists to ex and ag 22 February: 9amthe – 5pm Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, various areas that both a the Au Sydney Muslim women and in which M Where It willlea b • Challenges and Islamophobia women are active agents, Dockside, Balcony Level, Cockle academ participants.

In bringing toge Registration (inc.

GST) • Emerging spaces Bay of Wharf, agency for Harbour, Darling the var scholars from disciplines inclu (registration is for 2-day conference Muslim Muslim women Sydney sociology, Islamic studies, phi attendance) women and theology, the Symposium Full fee: $300 • Female Islamic scholarship and particip Registration (inc. GST) exhibit the experiences and Alumni: $240 scholar Spirituality (registration is for 2-day conference challenges of Muslim women, Student: $140 sociolog attendance) identifying gaps for improve • Media and Representation and the REGISTER or visit Full fee: $300 exhibit Alumni: $240 Some of the key themes inc • Identity sydney.edu.au/law/events challen Student: $140 • Muslim women leadership identify • Facilitating Agency.

T +61 2 9351 0429 Australia REGISTER or visit E law.events@sydney.edu.au • Family law and Family Vi Some o sydney.edu.au/law/events CRICOS 00026A Keynote Speakers: • Mus T +61 2 9351 0429 Aust • Professor Julie McFarlane, Faculty E law.events@sydney.edu.au • Fam

21 February: 9am – 5.20pm 22 February: 9am – When 5pm

Image credit: Mike Prince

When 21 & 22 FEBRUARY 2018 21 February: 9am – 5.20pm 22 February: 9am – 5pm

Where Dockside, Balcony Level, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Registration (inc. GST) (registration is for 2-day conference attendance) Full fee: $300 Alumni: $240 Student: $140

REGISTER or visit sydney.edu.au/law/events T +61 2 9351 0429 E law.events@sydney.edu.au

About the symposium This Symposium aims to take an indepth and exclusive look at the role and agency of Muslim Women in the Australian context.

It will bring together leading academics and activists to examine the various areas that both affect Muslim women and in which Muslim women are active agents, leaders and participants. In bringing together scholars from disciplines including law, sociology, Islamic studies, philosophy and theology, the Symposium will exhibit the experiences and challenges of Muslim women, identifying gaps for improvement.

Some of the key themes include: • Muslim women leadership in Australia • Family law and Family Violence

of Law, University of Windsor, Canada • Dr Susan Carland, Monash University, Melbourne CRICOS 00026A

DRAFT PROGRAM The symposium is supported by The University of Sydney Law School and The University of Melbourne Law School.

CRICOS 00026A

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Symposium on NZ Muslims’ strategic plan Dr Anisur Rahman In a ‘first of its kind’ effort, the leaders of New Zealand Muslims gathered in the thriving metropolis of Hamilton on 20 January 2018 to develop a strategic plan for the next 20 years for the Muslim community.

The idea was the brainchild of the Waikato Muslim Association (WMA) whose Executive Committee embarked on developing a Strategic Plan 2018 – 2038 in mid-2017.

A small group led by a young professional, Tariq Ashraf, came up with a draft plan for the region which became a catalyst for a National Symposium.

So with the help and support of its national body, Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ (FIANZ), a one day Muslim community leaders Symposium was organised by WMA in Hamilton which brought together various Muslim community leaders from across the country.

In their opening addresses the President of FIANZ, Mr Hazim Arafeh, and the President of WMA, Dr Asad Mohsin, outlined the purpose of the Symposium.

It was “to examine the current position of the Muslim community in NZ, with a view to developing actions that will enable the community to participate in and help improve itself and all other NZ residents”.

In addition to Muslim leaders, the organisers invited relevant key partners from Government and the wider community to take part in this future-focussed Symposium. These included a Cabinet Minister, three local MPs and invitees from Office of Ethnic Communities, Ministry of Social Development, Police and Interfaith Council.

In her address the Minister for Ethnic Communities, Hon Jenny Salesa, the first Tongan born New Zealander to hold a cabinet post, said that “As a migrant and a Pacific woman, I would advise you to dream big

Dame Susan Devoy, Race Relations Commissioner, New Zealand addressing the Symposium audience. as NZ is a land of opportunities. ally inclusive and diverse society, she invitShe cited the example of Dr Ashraf ed members of Muslim community to make Choudhary as the first Muslim MP and Son- serious effort to join state sector Boards and ny Bill Williams, the All Black who has just public sector positions. been to Makkah to perform Umrah.

Dame Susan Devoy, Race Relations Com“The success of any community in NZ is missioner, talked about the effort being made measured by whether they are represented towards elimination of racial discrimination in the All Blacks team – and you are there!” in crown entities which currently have no She noted “there are well over 1000 Mus- ethnic CEO. She also called for more hate lims within the local Maori community as crime data to be collected and hate speech Tangata Whenua and Muslims have lots in legislation to be strengthened. common including compassion, care and A representative from the Ministry of Sounity”. cial Development, Ms Ann Dysart, said that “New Zealand has a reputation as a diverse communities, families and whanau are best but socially harmonious society, although to identify issues and find solutions to make we still have some way to go in achieving the difference. social cohesiveness,” she admitted.

She praised the effort Muslim community The Director of the Office of Ethnic Com- is grooming the young members of the communities, Ms Wen Powles, reiterated that munity and advised the elder members to NZ Muslim community is incredibly diverse keep listening to them – an advice she also and brings a feeling to her quite different to gives constantly to the Maori community. what she got in a Muslim majority country, Peri Paea, a Senior Constable representlike her native Malaysia. To make NZ a re- ing the Police Commissioner, advised Mus-

lim leaders to ‘grow’ healthy roots on which healthy plants can grow in form of the new generation. New Zealand Police need more ethnic community members in the force, he said.

The Symposium included three keynote speakers, each followed by three Panel Discussions led by a Panel Moderator.

The first Keynote address was by Mr Muhammad Cajee, a South African born professional who gave an excellent presentation about the critical success factors in Leadership and Strategic Planning in Muslim Organisations.

The second Keynote address was an excellent succinct presentation of the draft Strategic Plan for an Inclusive Society by Mr Tariq Ashraf, a locally born and educated young Muslim who is a Senior Strategic Advisor in the local Government.

The third Keynote address was by a highly qualified researcher and writer, Dr Thamina Anwar about Waqaf and Social Enterprise as a Tool for Socio-economic development.

The Panel Discussions teased out many points and suggestions for a future plan which would value ethnic minority, emphasize social harmony and inclusiveness as well as appreciate diversity.

These also provided a future focus to identify national level opportunities and challenges facing the Muslim New Zealanders and how these may be addressed. Participation throughout the day was excellent and delegates were quite excited about the outcomes.

A brilliant summary of the whole day was prepared and ably presented by the WMA President, Dr Asad Mohsin who also made a pledge to take the suggestions and the Strategic Plan further.

Dr Anisur Rahman has been working as a research scientist at AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand since 1972 and has pioneered the establishment of Islamic institutions and organisations in NZ since then.

Late Dr Ahmad Hammoud: community leader & pioneer Dr Mohammed Taha Alsalami AM Dr Ahmad Hammoud, a well-known community leader based in Sydney passed away on Saturday 13 January 2017 during his short holiday visit to Lebanon.

His engagement with the communities involved establishment of community organisations, institutions, mosques and Islamic Centres in greater Sydney. He was the first Secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) when Ali Ibn Abi Taleb mosque was established in Lakemba. Later he worked closely with the then Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Tajuddin Alhilali.

He played a significant role in the establishment of Islamic Council of NSW in 1975 and worked closely with Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, foundation President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) in 1976-1977 as an executive member of the national body of Muslims based in Sydney.

With the influx of South Lebanese migration to Australia during mid 70’s and a large number of Shia Lebanese Muslims settling in the Arncliffe and St George area, Dr Hammoud encouraged by Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad played a central role in the establishment of Masjid Al Zahra in the Arncliffe area. The details of those events have been written by Dr Hammoud himself and published in the Shia Islamic Directory of Australia.

The late Dr Ahmad Abdul Magid Hammoud was born in 1947 in South Lebanon and completed his Secondary and Tertiary FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

Education at Beirut University in the field of Arabic Literature. He arrived in Australia in 1969 and after establishing himself in the new country, continued his education at the University of Sydney earning a Masters degree followed by a PhD under the supervision of Professor Ahmad Shboul.

Dr Ahmad Hammoud was among the first delegation in 1979 to visit the Late Imam Khomeini in Iran. He also visited Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait to meet Muslim leaders while representing Muslims of Australia.

Dr Ahmad Hammoud published a book The Status of Women in Islam that has been translated into several different languages.

He was also one of the pioneers in communicating with the Justice Minister Darrell William regarding the conflict of Islamic Divorce and Civil Divorce.

Dr Hammoud was constantly engaged in the education of Australian Muslim Youth and taught Islam and Arabic language in public and private schools in the St George area as a scripture teacher.

He was actively engaged with mass media participating in Talkback shows on radio and TV as well as writing articles in publications, both Arabic and English.

He was a member of the World Ahlulbayt Assembly travelling widely in the Muslim world.

In 2006, he took part in the Islamic leader’s summit in Canberra and joined as a member of the Muslim Community Reference Group formed by the then Prime Minister, John Howard.

Dr Alsalami, professionally a Senior Pathology Scientist is the President of the Iraqi Islamic Council of Australia. In 2003 Dr

Dr Ahmad Hammoud (right).

Alsalami was a recipient of the Centenary Medal while in 2010, he was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the community, particularly through roles assisting refugees and migrants. He has

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continued to work intensively as a human rights activist, liaising with the Australian government and the wider community for the past three decades.

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At Speakers Corner we all have a voice Philip Feinstein Everyone needs a platform to express their thoughts. Every Sunday, from 2pm to 5pm, there’s a perfect place: Sydney’s Domain, opposite the Art Gallery. It’s a unique space called Speakers Corner.

Up until the 1970s, Speakers’ Corner was popular. Communists, socialists, capitalists, anarchists, anti-Semites and representatives from many religions spoke there. They spoke about sex, philosophy, social issues . . . Politicians and people of importance spoke there, including Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

The place was called, ‘The University for the People’.

However, with the introduction of TV current affair programs, Sunday shopping and Sunday football, crowds dwindled. In the 1980s only two speakers were left. But today Speakers’ Corner is alive and growing again, though there are just four speakers at any one time.

They are enlightening and entertaining: Steve Maxwell, who helped keep Speakers’ Corner going through the 1980s’, will give you insights about history and politics that you won’t get elsewhere.

Helmut explains why Newtonian physics is wrong, and he foams at the mouth when he’s heckled by Tony (it’s a delight to see!).

‘Mr Bashful’ explains why the happiness “experts” are wrong, and he has a variety of other topics, like burning the Mona Lisa.

Challenge him with an unanswerable question.

Mirko has discovered free energy, and developed a new alphabet that lets everyone talk to one another! So be careful when you talk to him and don’t let your brain fry.

A very attentive crowd at Speakers Corner opposite the Art Gallery.

Ray is a mild-mannered evangelical viewpoint is important.

Christian intent on saving souls.

Yes, insults sometimes fly, but there is no Occasionally other speakers appear on nastiness. Speakers’ Corner allows alternaThe Ladder of Knowledge. Some are ex- tive points of view to be expressed. When citing, like Gabriel, a Muslim Imam, who people can speak their mind without being came for a few weeks and drew big crowds. howled down, then sometimes hearts open.

He was an excellent speaker.

If we are ever to live with one another One young fellow spoke about his depres- peacefully, we need to be able to listen and sion. disagree with an open heart. That’s the gold A young woman spoke about sexual vio- at Speakers’ Corner. lence. Others have talked about grief, refugees, Aboriginal affairs, free trade and more.

As you might know, the author of this article runs the Music for Refugees program – he has stood on the Ladder and been outspoken many times. There have been poem recitations and even an impromptu theatre games. Anything can happen at Speakers’ Corner and it probably will.

An exciting element is when members of Dr Anne Fairbairn AM the audience quiz the speakers. That’s when discussions are vehemently generated. It be- Aboriginal people had comes a group discussion, in which every been living for more than 70,000 years on the continent we now know as P: 02 8575 8100 Australia. Thousands of E: info@rookwoodcemetery.com.au generations of these peoA: Hawthorne Ave, Rookwood NSW 2141 ple had lived and died W: www.rookwoodcemetery.com.au here.

Europeans from the thirteenth century became interested in details from Asia about this land in the South. From the sixteenth century, European cartographers and navigators gave the continent In addition to being the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, Rookwood various names, including Terra Australis General Cemeteries Trust is the oldest, largest and most culturally diverse (Southern Land) and New Holland.

Captain James Cook from Britain raised working cemetery in Australia. the Union Jack on what is now called Possession Island on 22 August to claim the An opportunity has become available at Rookwood in the Muslim section eastern half of the continent as New South for a Grave Digger to join our team who wants to be a proactive learner Wales for Great Britain. to all aspects of the role.

In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the British First Fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain, and the first Governor of New South Wales arrived at Sydney The successful candidates will have: Reporting to the Burials Manager, the role Cove on 26 January and raised the Union requires you to be involved with: • A current valid Manual NSW driver’s Jack to signal the beginning of the colony. license • Assisting and liaising with Stakeholders Now 26 January is designated as Australia • The ability to work autonomously and • Operating backhoe, excavator, skid steer, Day. However, for the indigenous people of in a team front end loader or other like powered the country, it is Invasion Day. machinery It would be best to Change the date of Aus• Is reliable and punctual tralia Day to another date such as the date of • Preparing sites for upcoming burials • Experience an advantage but not Federation of Australia. My grandfather Sir including grave excavation. necessary George Houstoun Reid (1845 – 1918) who • Backfilling of the grave and the final • Varied machinery operating certifications was Premier of New South Wales and also clean-up of the site (skid steer loader, excavator, backhoe ) Prime Minister of Australia is known as the but not necessary • Maintenance of grave sites and basic Father of Federation. routine maintenance of burial equipment I also believe that the union jack on the What we will offer: top left corner of the current Australian flag • Preparing and closing crypts and vaults • Attractive hourly rate plus overtime should be replaced by the Aboriginal flag.

• Performing exhumations on a voluntary • Roster Day off per month plus annual My book – ‘Shadows of our Dreaming’ basis leave loading was written to pay tribute to all Indigenous • Basic Grounds Maintenance Australians who had lived in Australia for • Full Training provided • Role includes frequent heavy lifting about 70,000 years in harmony with nature.

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

Aboriginal sensitivities must be recognised

GRAVE DIGGER

• Must follow strict WHS procedures • Willing to be part of the weekend roster

Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Desirable requirement: • Knowledge of the religious and burial rites and requirements of the NSW Muslim Community.

Please email your resume to hr@rookwoodcemetery.com.au

10

Steve Maxwell.

Speakers Corner is an open forum for everyone, young and old. There is no cost and no bookings, and there will be a chair for you. A fascinating afternoon is virtually guaranteed.

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

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

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Djuringa Dr Anne Fairbairn AM A Star falls across the sky, A man of the desert sighs “it is my heart”.

Over the darkened spinifex, to Baiamai he chants his joy For his spirit place among the stars.

As star spirit leap and dance on the surface of Blackwater Creek, So in the Brilliance above him, tonight his spirit is dancing.

This man is Djuringa touched, he will walk on his Dreaming, As the eatern fringe of the sky grows pale and the stars fade.

Djuringa: This is an Aranda word meaning “all that is Sacred”. The word encompasses all sacred, symbolic objects including outcrops of stone, hills, trees, and so on, which are part of the landscape.

These objects are believed to be transformed heroes of the Dream Time. Myths and rites are also referred to as Djuringa, as they are the Dream Time heroes themselves.

The secret power of Djuringa lies in the veneration felt for it because it is the means by which life and power are transmitted to the individual from the Dream time heroes.

To lend Djuringa is to strengthen friendship. To touch a sick man with Djuringa is to make him well.

When a newly initiated man is touched

by Djuringa, or sees and feels it, he is made aware of the eternal Dream Time. He becomes a part of the sacred life of his people and aware of the innermost mysteries which bind him to nature and eternity.

A man’s cult-totem is his personal “Dreaming”, his share or link with the eternal Dream Time.

Baiamai: Great God, Creator. This word comes from the language of the Wiradjuri tribe in New South Wales, whose dialect was one of the first Aboriginal languages of which Europeans obtained detailed information.

Before European settlement in Australia, the Aborigines spoke approximately 260 distinct languages, with many more associated dialects.

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Australia’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper: What about MENA? CHANGING TIMES Simon Harrison As the sun set on 2017, the Australian Government issued its ‘2017 Foreign Policy White Paper’ setting out its current philosophy on global engagement and enunciating its forward postures.

The 124-page document was the first such reflection in 14 years during which time Australia has had six very different prime Ministers (PM Rudd version 2 included).

Yet notwithstanding the frequent change of resident at The Lodge the general positioning of Australia’s foreign policy, engagements and priorities has been remarkably consistent over that decade and a half.

The continued and overwhelming focus being on the ‘ Asia Pacific’ but with a commitment to “strengthening and diversifying partnerships across the globe “ ( ‘Asia Pacific “ now being rebadged as the “indo pacific “ to widen the backyard to include Indonesia and India) In terms of the Islamic world, the Indonesia Australia comprehensive economic partnership is referenced as being able to “unlock future growth opportunities for Australia and Indonesia but this apart the

document singularly fails to pay other than lip service to the Muslim world.

I have to say that working very closely with DFAT, Austrade and Trade and Investment Queensland I, and others, see firsthand how hard our peers work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) but an opportunity has been lost in this document to enunciate the opportunities and reliance’s we share with the Arab world.

Reflecting on the White Paper it could have easily enunciated Australia’s focus on its own backyard but have paid equal attention to MENA , Latin America and elsewhere : it wasn’t as if it where some university submission limited to 10,000 words it was instead the first of its kind in a decade and a half with the full resources of a federal government: even the Agricultural competitive White Paper was a more extensive document.

References to the Middle East, of course, appear in the document:“ we are building stronger economic partnerships with ….

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) “ but it misses a genuine opportunity to promote this most critical of relationships.

At a time when we in this field work night and day to raise the profile of MEA it is regrettable that the only real references to the region are to gender equality and the fight against terrorism – both absolutely and laudably correct to mention – but this should have been counterbalanced by identifying the specific benefits of our MENA relationships – this document is a lost op-

InfoReset Seminars to showcase iconic speakers Nash Singh & Nisha Devkurran InfoReset Seminars is an exploration of finding solutions to some of humanity’s most profound challenges.

In an attempt to deliver these solutions, an extraordinary lineup of courageous individuals has been assembled, who have personally experienced and acknowledged these issues in their own lives.

InfoReset Seminars is proud to present Sean Ali Stone, Conchita Sarnoff & John Perkins in Australia / NZ! * Son of Hollywood film director Oliver Stone, Sean converted to Islam in Iran and once stated, “I am of a Jewish bloodline, a baptized Christian who accepts Christ’s teachings, the Jewish Old Testament and the Holy Koran.

I believe there is one God, whether called Allah or Jehovah. He creates all peoples and religions.

I consider myself a Jewish Christian Muslim. What I am trying to do is open up a dialogue about religion.

There is such Islamophobia in the West.

Islam is not a religion of violence any more than Judaism or Christianity is.”

Sean Ali Stone’s book New World Order: A Strategy of Imperialism is a well referenced study of the beginnings of the NWO agenda.

Stone exposes the powerful and influential architects who operate under the cover of statesmanship and education, whilst insidiously promoting an agenda that is beneficial to the few but detrimental to many.

As host of Buzzsaw and co-host of RT’s Watching the Hawks, he investigates the real world’s ‘X-Files’, taking an unflinching look at the hidden agendas behind world politics, popular culture and news events. * Conchita Sarnoff is an investigative journalist, who despite bribes to stay silent, risked her life to expose the brutal reality of human trafficking and the Jeffrey E. Epstein FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

portunity in that regard and I fear won’t help the genuine hard work being undertaken by our Ambassadors, and those in DFAT, Austrade and elsewhere.

An example of this lost opportunity can be found in the many sections dealing with climate change, food and water security. These issues are nowhere a greater risk to life, and the quality of life, than in the MENA region.

In my experience, the region leads the world in climate abatement research and application. Economic recalibrations underway in the region to develop new climate-friendly industries and the priority is given to them in a range of 2030 visions is unrivalled globally and as I have mentioned in previous articles is embedded in Islam itself.

The opportunity to recognise MENA’s world-leading expertise in climate change is an example of one of the more obvious lacunae in this document which, nevertheless, finds time to applaud India and Chinas climate change abatement profiles.

This is perhaps a symptom of the report

itself – yes we live and operate in the Indio Pacific and yes China has a dominance in our economic and security thinking but this White Paper is far from the “comprehensive framework “it promotes itself as.

MENA has repeatedly told us that they have an open door when it comes to Australia/MENA Trade. It is time for Australia’s politicians and business leaders to use every forum possible to advance this most crucial of trade relationships.

Having sent the last paragraphs critiquing the omissions I have to say that one omission I can live with however is that the ‘T’ word doesn’t appear once and this time The Donald can’t blame ‘fake media’.

Simon Harrison is an international lawyer and Chairperson of the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) Queensland, Regional Director of Pamada and a National Director OF AACCI. He is also an Honorary Consul for Tunisia in Australia

case.

Epstein, at the centre of the saga, is a paedophile billionaire and Wall Street hedge fund manager and registered level-3 sex offender. Sarnoff’s book explores the darkest recesses of the corridors of power, from Harvard to the White House.

Since 2006, Sarnoff’s work has centred on issues impacting human rights, public policy and social justice with a goal to end human trafficking and modern-day slavery. * John Perkins was secretly recruited by the US National Security Agency to further American imperial interests in countries such as Ecuador, Panama, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

He attempted to write Confessions of an Economic Hit Man numerous times but was only successful on his fourth attempt due to threats and bribes.

However, after the 9/11 incident, he felt compelled to introspect his own role and decided to reveal the truth to the world.

John presents a plan to provide practical strategies for each of us to transform the failing global death economy into a regenerative life economy where individual skills and passions can be utilized to prosper and create a world we will be proud to pass on to future generations.

ICC Sydney: 24 February 2018 Crown Perth: 04 March 2018 MCEC Melbourne: 10 March 2018 Chandler Theatre, Brisbane: 17 March 2018 SKYCITY Auckland, NZ: 25 March 2018 SAVE on the EARLY BIRD PRICES if you BOOK ONLINE NOW: www.inforeset.com Nash Singh & Nisha Devkurran are passionate about the sharing of powerful information to inspire dialogue and positive change in the world. Having hosted an impressive list of international celebrity authors, leaders and thinkers in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, their mission gathers pace with the creation of InfoReset Seminars as they live their vision: Finding solutions for a better world, one seminar at a time!

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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

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AMUST

AUSTRALIA

NEWS 1-4

BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8-9

AUSTRALIA 10 - 12

Halal Expo Australia 2018 to focus on the rapid growth of the Halal Industry Syed Atiq ul Hassan Over 10 foreign speakers, over 50 top delegates and over 40 companies are ready to participate in the 4th International Halal Expo Australia (HEA) 2018 which will be held on Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 February 2018 at Rosehill Gardens, Sydney.

The 2-Day International Halal Conference (IHC) 2018 will also be a part of HEA 2018 where 15 top Australian and foreign scholars and academics will speak on various facets of the Halal and Halal way of life.

The theme of IHC 2018 is ‘Halal Indus-

try: Growth, Issues and Solution’.

Halal Expo Australia (HEA) is an exciting and exclusive event that showcases and creates awareness Halal food, products, and services in Australia.

As the one and only International Halal event in Australia, HEA 2018 is a largest Halal trade show that delivers a fantastic opportunity for international and national Halal industry players to promote their products and services in the Australian and International Markets.

Halal Expo Australia is a one-stop event that reaches over thousands of people who are interested in Halal products and services.

Halal Trade Show covers variety of Halal Products & Services from Food & Beverage; Finance, Investment & Banking; Arts & Culture; Fashion, Cosmetics & Accesso-

ries; Beauty & Health Products; Lifestyle & Wellness; Pharmaceutical & Herbal Products to Building Private & Commercial Projects; Travel, Tourism & Hospitality; Innovation & Technology; Education, Research & Development.

The events includes Halal Industry-focused activities including high-level B2B networking, sideline meetings, signing MoUs, special break-out sessions, meeting with top Australian officials, entrepreneurs and B2C promotion and sell of the halal products and services.

ROSEHILL GARDENS, SYDNEY 2-DAY INT. CONFERENCE | KEY HALAL TOPICS | TOP SCHOLARS | INTL. DELEGATES Similarly, the parallel 2-Day International Halal Conference (IHC) will provide a 2-DAY INT. CONFERENCE | KEY HALAL TOPICS | TOP SCHOLARS | INTL. DELEGATES unique opportunity to the local and overseas Halal industry players, Halal certification THEME: Halal Industry: Growth, Issues and Solution

ROSEHILL GARDENS, SYDNEY

THEME: Halal Industry: Growth, Issues and Solution

bodies, Islamic leaders, interfaith dialogue leaders, and the representatives of the Government departments to meet, speak and seek consensual resolutions on critical issues related to Halal industry in ethical, professional and harmonious relations.

The Halal businesses entrepreneurs, technocrats, scholars, academics, diplomats of different countries of interest, international & local delegates, Islamic and welfare organisations, professional service providers, local & international exhibitors participate in these events. Local and International media attend and produce stories on the 2-day events.

Over 15,000 visitors are expected to attend this 2-day event.

Halal Expo Australia not only creates awareness and promotion of the halal products & services among members of the Islamic Community, it is playing a key role in providing understanding about Halal and Halal Lifestyle among non-Muslims.

The 2-Day International Halal Conference helps to create and raise awareness about Halal food, products and services among Muslim and non-Muslim communities by providing detailed knowledge, resources and education on Halal products, helping to create a more understanding, diverse and harmonious s society.

Halal Expo Australia is a great addition to the Australian calendar events that represents one of the core community of multicultural Australia – Australian Muslims.

It is a family event open to everyone. The exhibition, food court and conference all indoor with air-conditioned exhibition and conference halls.

The entry ticket of the event is $5, children under 5 are free and once you come to the event, entry to the conference is free only a free registration will be required.

To avoid long ques tickets can be purchased online; https://www.eventbrite. com.au/e/halal-expo-australia-2018-tickets-41686727123 otherwise from the entry gate on the day.

Syed Atiq ul Hassan based in Sydney is an international journalist, writer and editor-in-chief, Tribune International Australia. He is the founding director of Halal Expo Australia and International Halal Conference Australia.

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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

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ISSUE 147 / FEBRUARY 2018

LIFESTYLE 13 - 16

UMMAH 17 - 18

EDUCATION 19 - 20

BUSINESS 21

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL 22 - 23

Imran & Reyhan AMUST Media

WEDDING FEATURE

Imran Ahmed and Reyhan Unal celebrated their nikkah and wedding reception at Panorama House in Bulli on Sunday 24 December.

The wedding had over 300 guests overlooking breathtaking views of the ocean and beach.

Son of Mr Shamsuddin and Mrs Aliza Ahmed, Imran, 33, is currently doing a PhD in Asian Studies: A Judicial Review of Comparative Democratization in India and Pakistan at the University of New England.

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AMUST

Daughter of Mr Sucettin and Mrs Perihan Unal, Reyhan, 26, is the Events Representative Coordinator at the office of the Minister for Multicultural Affairs VIC. Their Melbourne wedding reception was also celebrated on Friday 19 January at Lakeside Banquet and Convention Centre in Taylor Lakes, Melbourne.

The couple now live in Melbourne.

Photography by Benny Baharuddin, Moment of Stance.

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Afghans – a multicultural success story Sayed Rahmatullah Hussainizada It is not often that you hear a positive story about an Afghan. You constantly hear about us in the mainstream media through a lens of security or extremism.

There is no mention of the good or the success.

This is not only an ‘Afghan’ issue. It is also Muslim issue. It is a people of colour issue.

It is a minority’s issue. Changing the popular narrative within the mainstream media is not easy but it certainly is not impossible.

All it may take is one story at a time to tell a different story of positivity and citizenship. This is why it is so important to first find consensus within the Afghan communities and subsequently be able to collectively bring about those positive changes and share those success stories.

As a professional within the Afghan community, I am constantly faced with the heavy responsibility of representing a diverse community on many social and political issues. Whether it is providing legal assistance or guidance, or advocating to the government on policy changes, I am forever

Thank God, we live in Australia Zafar Khan

Welcome to the new year 2018.

The year 2017 has come and gone and for most this means that whatever goals they have set, have been achieved.

However for others, their goals, be it work, health, social or any other platform have not been reached.

The reasons for not reaching goals you have set can range from the lack of motivation, improper planning down to other pressing commitments such as family and health.

Life can present ups and downs and whilst it may be easy to float through when the times are good, for a lot of people, when times are tough it can be hard to stay focused.

A lot of challenges we face in life are for you to challenge yourself, adapt and respond.

However, for others, challenges such as legal issues can seem overwhelming.

Alhamdulillah, we live in a nation where there are laws and there are rights as an individual and as a community.

For most, navigating around this presents a challenge but we must never forget as a community and in a nation like Australia, there is access to a range of services.

These can range from translation services, Police Liaison services, Legal Community Centres right through to our family and friends.

In Australia we are lucky to live in a system where cases are assessed on their merits and coupled with some of the support services, we must not fear to stand up for ourselves.

The Late Muhammad Ali once said: “It’s the lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”

Until next time, whatever challenges you face, may you find the courage to approach those who are in a position to assist you.

Zafar Khan is a Legal Practitioner at Littles Lawyers and is based in Brisbane, Australia.

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grateful for such enormous duties.

Living within the bounds of those societal expectations for a young professional is an artistic balancing act. You are faced with questions from the media on the whole Afghan community which on their own are inherently diverse. You are faced with pressures of choosing what your communities want and at the same time, maintain the status quo with the expectation of cooperation.

Further, what is glaringly obvious in many governmental and corporates’ approach to the Afghan communities, is the lack of cultural awareness and knowledge of the cultural sensitivities.

But in order to change the popular narrative of the Afghans in the media, on 8 December 2017, the Afghan Fajar Association Incorporated (‘AFAIC’) aimed at showcasing stories of success from within the Afghan communities, by celebrating the inaugural Afghan Refugees Youth Achievement Awards (‘ARYA Awards’).

As the coordinator for the ARYA Awards, my duty was to work with many hard-working volunteers, to bring together hundreds of people from multicultural backgrounds to see what the Afghan community in Sydney is really capable of and recognise the potential within.

Whilst many of the popular media showcases an Afghan story tainted with negativity, ARYA Awards was a celebration of the achievements of our Youth in the categories of Education/Vocational Training, Arts & Culture, Sports, Business Enterprise, Community Services – Volunteering and Citizenship.

AFAIC brought together more than 200 people showcasing a different side – a positive and a success story that is forgotten in Australia’s multiculturalism narrative. AFAIC partnered with other NGOs, corporates with the aim of social impact in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (‘CALD’)

communities and sports organisation connecting CALD youth with sports.

As a member of the Afghan community, it is important to dispel myths from our societies. ARYA Awards served as a counter-narrative to those myths. We are a community with a lot to work on but our basics are strong. Commitment, hard work, passion and self-sacrifice is at the heart of every Afghan particularly those in Australia. We commit to the things we love. We work hard for our families for communities and our nation.

We self-sacrifice for our community through volunteering and showing community citizenship. We value education and we certainly value giving back to the community.

This awards night brought together individuals with a passion to create change in the community but also at the same time combining their efforts in bridging the gap between mainstream and the CALD communities.

I was proud of the representations of many Afghan communities at ARYA Awards. It is unprecedented that so many Afghans come together with such unified approach and big smiles spread across their faces.

Contrary to popular discourse, and agendas of those who would like to bring divide between communities and wedge differences, the ARYA Awards night brought together many Afghan communities with the goal of celebrating and recognising the potential.

The Afghan communities showed that they are not tainted by the backward and

outdated cultural and ethnic sensitivities back in their home country and dispelled the myth that Afghans are not united.

AYRA Awards served as a symbol of unity and a bridge between communities.

ARYA Awards is an extension of a hand in friendship and collaboration.

On funding levels, ethno-specific cultural organisations are yet to be recognised as capable of representing themselves and are often spoken on their behalf. We are people with self-determination and we are people with values of our own.

We can make our own decision and it is time for entities were funding the other entities and organisations to recognise our potential.

A RYA A was an extension of courage.

And this courage means a unified approach towards community issues and social issues affecting all Afghans in Australia.

I had the pleasure of hosting this award nights, with the very talented, sister Mariam Latifi, the Afghan Community Support Association Education Officer & Women’s Welfare.

We hope ARYA Awards become a grand celebration of unity and success.

Sayed Rahmatullah Hussainizada is a solicitor, journalist and an entrepreneur based in Sydney. Sayed is the public and policy officer for Afghan Fajar Association Incorporated and the Founder of CultureShare.

Is science overshadowing religion?

Nadeem Alam Before plunging into the topic, I would like to put forth a question for the readers to ponder over - ‘What is religion?’ A tough question? Tough indeed! Well ‘Religion means absolute faith in the creator and possession of scientific knowledge of his creation’.

It is commonly said that scientific inventions and discoveries pose a great threat to religion and with the progress of science, religion will cease to exist. But is it really so?

No!!! It’s just a misconception. There can never be a conflict between ‘True science’ and True religion.’

What scientists are discovering today was known to us centuries before through our religious texts.

In this hi-tech world, we all try to remain fit and fine. Science says that exercise is the best way to attain mental and physical well-being. Why do we forget that our religious belief also advocates the same thing?

Today, it is scientifically affirmed that were it ‘Islamic Prayer’ or ‘Vedic Yogasans’ these postures are the finest ways of mental and physical exercise. The various postures allow some muscles to contract isometrically and other isotopically allowing a gentle exercise. They even enhance our concentration power.

Switching over to some other aspects of science, for instance, say ‘Astronomy’. It’s an age long misconception that Astronomical inventions pose threat to religious beliefs.

After the phenomenon of meraj, the ascension of Prophet Muhammad (s), his companions asked “Oh Rasulullah! How did the earth look from the space above?”

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

“A dinar in the sea of the sand” was his reply.

Who did know that earth was a globe floating in this galaxy? How the astronomers see the earth from space now, Prophet Muhammad (s) saw 15 centuries ago.

A quotation from Holy Quran reads “The sun and moon follow courses exactly computed.” Chapter 55 verse 5.

Now we know that the sun and moon follow their own orbits.

What do all these evidence prove? They clearly show that there is some logic behind each and every religious belief and science

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merely gives evidence to each logic. Science simply affirms the fact that what religion says is correct.

I would like to put a cap on the pen with words of Dan Brown- “Religion and science are never at odds, science is merely too young to understand the former.”

Nadeem Alam is a year 8 student of Little Flower School, Gorakhpur, India. He is the son of Nafees and the late Naila Alam. A budding photographer, artist and a writer, his Instagram page is: www.instagram.com/dashing__nadeem/ ISSUE 147 / FEBRUARY 2018

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UMMAH 17 - 18

EDUCATION 19 - 20

BUSINESS 21

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL 22 - 23

AMUST

‘Padmaavat’: an attempt to demonise Muslims?

Zahid Jamil The controversial Bollywood movie ‘Padmaavat’ was finally released on Thursday 25 January showing all across the globe after several months of protests and court actions in India.

Cinemas in Australia also began showing the movie the same day with several sessions each day. It has already grossed record earning in India and several cities in the West including Australia during the last weekend grossing A$ 1,728,642.

Reviewers said the film, Padmaavat, depicting a warrior Hindu Rajput queen Padmaavati fighting advances of a Muslim sultan, was “visually spectacular” and a “fabulous tale”.

Padmaavat attempts to be a historical depiction based on a fictional poem by 15th-century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, as claimed by the filmmaker and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

It shows attempts, through military invasions, by Indian Sultan (King) of the time Alauddin Khilji in pursuit of the queen Padmaavati of Chittor as he got obsessed by sto-

ries of her extreme beauty.

Padmaavat stars Deepika in the lead role of Rani Padmini. Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh portrays Alauddin Khilji, the 13th century ruler of the Khilji Dynasty.

The 13th-century Muslim king Alauddin Khilji is depicted as a barbarian character, extremely vulgar who has kohl-rimmed eyes, scarred face, rips meat off the bone with his teeth and treats his own queen and maids in a brutal manner. He is a drunkard, murderer and cruel person which houses deceit and debauchery.

Leading Indian historians claim that Sultan Alauddin Khilji was anything but savage and the film makes a mockery of his character through false depictions.

He was the second and most powerful ruler of the Khilji dynasty that ruled the Indian Subcontinent from Delhi from 1296 to 1316. He wished to become the second Alexander (Sikander Sani), and this title of his was mentioned on coins and during public prayers.

Khilji was an astute administrator whose tax and revenue collection system was followed by the Mughals and the British till the 19th century.

He personally looked at prices of essential goods on a daily basis and built food grain

warehouses to fight inflation. But his most important contribution to India was as a military general.

Historians say Khilji saved India from marauding Mongolian armies by defeating them six times during his 20-year rule.

It was under his rule the Delhi Sultanate was heavily influenced by Persia, one of the oldest and most sophisticated civilisations of all times.

The great Sufi poet Amir Khusro of his time did not project his king as a barbarian ruler either. However, in the film, even Amir Khusro, the much celebrated Sufi poet for centuries and founder of devotional music of Qawwali, is depicted as a petty poet with little intelligence.

On the other hand, the Hindu king of Chittor is shown as noble glorious Rajput ruler and a warrior king who fought to his dying breath to defend his kingdom and his wife’s honour.

His wife Padmavati is depicted as a legendary Mewar queen who was known as much for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her courage. She is shown committing self-immolation to save her honour rather than being captured by a brutal king.

Most historians say Jayasi’s Padmaavati

was a fictional character, about whom he had written 200 years after Khilji’s death in 1540.

It can be questioned if this movie is another attempt to distort Muslim history in India as part of a wider movement by Hindu fundamentalists.

Muslim kings and sultans who, for more than a thousand years, ruled over a vast region — today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of Afghanistan left a lasting impression on the sub-continent’s landscape, culture and institutions.

Cinema is a powerful medium and those behind the camera must act responsibly.

Padmaavat is demonisation of an entire community that is increasingly coming under attack from various quarters.

Zahid Jamil is an engineering post graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and runs a financial planning practice based in Sydney. He heads South Asian Muslim Association of Australia, SAMAA: http://samaa.org.au ), a benevolent institution offering wide range of services to the community elders. He also moderates an Islamic website “Islamic Forum for Education and Research” http://isfer.info/

Swinging Safari: A personal view Irfan Yusuf I’m a child of the 70’s.

Born in 1969 in Karachi, my parents dragged me kicking and screaming to Sydney.

My parents bought me a bike when I was 7 years old, and I was only allowed to ride it up and down my short street. I rode past the guys and gals standing next to their Sandman panel van with the surfboard on top. “Howya goin”, one of the girls would say. I was too shy to respond. Plus mum told me how bad “gori larkiyan” (white girls) were.

In fact, within our small South Asian community (consisting of Indians, Pakistanis and Fiji-Indians of all religions), the consensus among the parents was that white kids just didn’t know how to behave. Why was this the case? Apparently, their parents were always getting divorced or sleeping with each other. At that age, I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. So what if people sleep in the same bed?

The Anglo world was a complete mystery.

My Fiji-Indo-Pak uncles and aunties didn’t feel discriminated against. If anything, they saw the gora folk as inferior, a people with no culture, no sense of family, always drinking and never disciplining their children.

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I wish those uncles and aunties were with me the other day when I was sitting in the cinema watching the latest Australian comedy film Swinging Safari.

Set in a beachside town, the film depicts the lives of three allegedly typical white Aussie families. Its stellar cast includes superstar Kylie Minogue and a host of oth-

er big names of the small and big screens.

Minogue plays an alcoholic mum and wife who cannot keep her hands off the tablets.

She and her husband are one of three couples who fit exactly the stereotype of ‘70’s loud hippy disco white Aussies, the kind of people my mum would describe as being “too modern”.

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But forget about the prejudices of my parents’ generation (which, believe it or not, were shared by mum’s many hard-core Catholic Maltese and Italian friends). What will strike many viewers are the excessive sideburns and brill cream the fathers sported. And those God-awful tight-fitting outfits the mums wore.

The kids were also wild, largely because their parents were busy pretending to be young. But not all of them. The main character, a young lad given a hand-held camera by his father, was too busy making amateur films. At times he also recorded the goings-on of the elders and wondered what on earth they were doing and why.

If this film proved anything in my mind, it’s that my Indian, Pakistani, Fiji-Indian, Maltese, Italian, Greek, Muslim, Catholic, Anglican, Hindu, Sikh etc elders were right about the gora folk. I could finally get a look into what I was forbidden to see as a kid.

And I found it hilarious.

If you consider yourself too devout to watch the kind of stuff teenagers watch these days on TV or smaller screens, I’d probably not see Swinging Safari.

Irfan Yusuf is a lawyer and an award-winning writer and reviewer. He is a PhD Candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship & Globalisation, Deakin University.

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COMMUNITY 8-9

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Our intention creates our reality

Aisha Mohsin

The Muslim Mum

The Muslim Mum is a facebook page for women to post their experiences anonymously seeking advice and help can ask complete strangers for assistance without the sense of feeling judged or criticised.

“My husband and I have been married for past 8 years.

We have had our ups and downs but there has been an a recurrent issue about money.

He gives me an allowance every month of $200 which I can I spend on myself. I always get hurtful comments about how I spend too much from his mother and himself.

He’s thinks it’s a joke to bring up “ oh I will Deduct this from your monthly allowance” and we had a huge argument as he thinks all I care about is money like my dad, he’s not a millionaire.

He has a decent job, But am I asking for too much? Isn’t his duty to look after me.

Mind you the reason I don’t work currently is that I look after our disabled 2 year old son full time and in the beginning of the marriage I caught him transferring money into his ex account ( birthdays, shopping).

I forgave him for this but he makes me feel really guilty and its ruining our relationship. Please advise”

The words of Carl Sagan make more sense than ever, “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we have”. - Pale Blue Dot. Considering the temporary nature of this world, our chief concern should be the long term rewards, both in this world and the after.

Keeping in mind our brief time on this planet, it is only wise to turn our focus away from ‘self’ and to fellow humans by doing simple acts of kindness.

Replacing the urge of greed with giving so to speak. Being generous with our time for someone who needs it. Being generous with our possessions for someone who struggles and doing it all for the sake of Allah and not as mere worldly pursuits with little or no outcome in the Hereafter.

Sounds easy but not quite.

Short-term pleasures have castrated our brains so we fail to perceive how one action, one single step can impact our whole life and that of others.

So, the big idea is to start questioning the reason for doing stuff. After you’ve identified the reason, plot it on the grand scheme of things. Detach yourself and take a view from the top.

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (r) relates that he heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say, “Verily actions are by intentions,

and for every person is what he intended.”

Truth is, our “intention” behind an action sets up an important dichotomy.

The Arabic word for intention is ‘Niyyah, which means a seed or kernel from which grows a fruit. Niyyah is what directs our speech, our actions and dictates the sensory perceptions hence making an act cursed or blessed.

It is then extremely important to internalise that a seemingly insignificant choice that we make today, can shape the ramifications of our future in some form and maybe forever.

Imagine for a second what happens when you throw a small pebble into a still pond?

You will hear a splash and see waves or ripples forming bigger circles as they move further away from the centre of initial splash.

Like wise, the niyyah- intention with which what we say or do is purposed, has a far reach-

ing impact irrespective of how practically invisible and materialistically insignificant it appears in the infinite scheme of things. It is bound to create a tidal wave in the ocean called life.

It it an eye-opening reality that deeds and actions (guided by ikhla’as - sincere determination) in this temporary abode are going to determine whether we are deserving of Allah’s wrath or His mercy in the eternal life.

Allah swt even acknowledges not acting out our intention when our hearts are inclined to do the evil.

Indeed this is the most unheralded virtue of niyyah.

Aisha Mohsin is a Melbourne-based academic editor and blogger. She has a knack for writing. You can find her at www.aishamohsinblog.wordpress.com

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LIFESTYLE 13 - 16

UMMAH 17 - 18

EDUCATION 19 - 20

BUSINESS 21

SOCIAL 22 - 23

Trafficking of young girls rife at Rohingya camps Rights groups say that young teenage girls are being lured out of the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh by trafficking gangs promising them domestic help work, but the girls are then never seen again.

“We sit by the road and the men come to us,” said one trafficker.

“They ask if we can get the helpless type

UMMAH

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Corrupt Malaysians using Australian firm to launder money

of people here. Families are ready to provide girls because they don’t have enough food.”

“Men often specifically want girls of a certain age and pay the families about $60 for each,” he said.

(Courtesy Al Jazeera)

Facebook, Twitter face fines over hate speech Facebook, Twitter and other social media companies will be fined as much as €50 million ($53 million) in Germany if they fail to remove hate speech and fake news posts quickly.

“The providers of social networks are responsible when their platforms are misused to propagate hate crimes and fake news,” justice minister Heiko Maas said.

The companies will have 24 hours to remove hate speech and fake news posts that breach German law after they are flagged by

users.

Other illegal content needs to be deleted within 7 days of reporting.

Social networks are already required to remove illegal content from their websites as soon as they are aware of it, according to German law. The new fines, Maas said, are there to make sure they comply with the law.

India estimates 21 million of its girls are ‘unwanted’ The desire among parents in India to have sons instead of daughters has created 21 million “unwanted” girls, a government report estimates.

The finance ministry report found many couples kept on having children until they had a boy.

The authors also found that 63 million women were “missing” from India’s population because the preference for sons led to to sex-selective abortions and more care was given to boys.

Tests to determine a foetus’s sex are illegal in India, but they still take place and can lead to sex-selective abortions.

Some cultural reasons for son preference were listed, including: • Property passing on to sons, not daughters • Families of girls having to pay dowries to see their daughters married • Women moving to their husband’s house after getting married In Punjab and Haryana states there were 1,200 boys under the age of seven for every

FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

Australian real estate giant Raine and Horne’s offshore arm has been embroiled in a global corruption scandal involving the sale of prime Melbourne property, corrupt Malaysian officials and the Panama Papers leak.

The scandal centres around the vastly inflated valuation of a 280-room city apartment building, UniLodge, which mostly houses over-

Media Scan Ainullah

seas students on Swanston Street, near Melbourne University.

In June 2012, a Malaysian government fund created to help the country’s rural poor asked Raine and Horne International to issue a valuation for the Melbourne building. Raine and Horne International’s Kuala Lumpur office valued the property at $43 million, despite the fact that the building’s seller, Australian businessman Lionel Harber, had simultaneously valued it at $23.5 million.

(Courtesy SMH)

Avoid sugary drinks to cut obesity Soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks: they’re packed full of sugar, heavily promoted to kids, easy to buy and often cheaper than water and milk.

We’re seeing a disturbing trend where obesity rates have doubled in very young children (2-5 year olds) over the last 20 years.

This World Health Organisation recommends consuming no more than six teaspoons of added sugar in an entire day. A 375ml can of Coke has 10 teaspoons, and a Sprite has 13.

Most sugary drinks have absolutely zero nutritional value. They don’t fill you up, and

1,000 girls of the same age, the authors of the Economic Survey found.

(Courtesy BBC)

India Republic celebrations: A ‘black day’ in Kashmir India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations on Friday 26 January 2018 were marked by a security clampdown in Kashmir, as authorities suspended internet services, blocked phone services and thousands of soldiers patrolled the streets.

The main celebratory event was held amid tight security at a sports stadium in the region’s main city, Srinagar, and was attended by politicians and top officers of the security apparatus.

Residents, however, boycotted the ceremony.

Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said: “India has no right to celebrate Republic Day as it has occupied Jammu Kashmir with its military might.”

Geelani leads the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an amalgam of separatist leaderships in Kashmir. Separatists fight for independence or merging the region with Pakistan.

APHC said the day should be observed as a “black day” and called for a boycott of all celebrations.

“India claims to be world’s largest democ-

Unilodge, Melbourne, which was bought, then sold at a vastly inflated price.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani. racy but virtually stands exposed in Jammu Kashmir as it is trampling all basic and fundamental rights of people since past seven decades,” an APHC statement said.

they’re extremely high in kilojoules: a recipe for weight gain and obesity. And obesity is a risk for type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney disease, stroke and 13 types of cancer.

Coke is plugged as sexy and fun, a Slurpee costs just a dollar (cheaper than most bottled water), and sports drinks are positioned as the ideal workout fuel.

It’s not fair to blame Australia’s obesity epidemic on people failing to make the right choices, when Big Beverage uses its massive marketing budgets to entice and manipulate consumer choice.

(Courtesy SMH)

Indonesian youth: Saudi Arabia has ‘politicised’ Hajj Saudi Arabia has “politicised” access to the Hajj, according to organisers of a Muslim youth conference in Indonesia.

Ziyad Abdul Malik, chairman of the Muslim Students Association’s (HMI) branch in South Jakarta, lambasted the kingdom for using the pilgrimage to Mecca, considered Islam’s holiest city, to impose its policies on other Gulf nations and Muslim-majority countries.

HMI, the largest student group in Indonesia, organised the event – dubbed “Islamic Holy Places for All of the Ummah”- at the Indonesia University in Depok.

Malik went on to accuse Saudi Arabia of interference in the conference itself. The event was originally slated to take place at the State Islamic University in Jakarta, located in the Indonesian capital, but it was cancelled at the request of the Saudi embassy.

“We are students, and students usually discuss many things,” he said. “Why is this a problem for [Saudi Arabia]?”

Other organisers echoed Malik’s criticisms, arguing that Saudi Arabia had let political rows with several countries – Qatar, Syria, Iran and Yemen, among others – influence its Hajj regulations.

Representatives of Garda Suci Merah Putih (GSMP), another organisation that participated in the conference, argued that Saudi Arabia had violated the conditions of

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its role as custodian of the Islamic faith’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

Hasheem alluded to the example of Syrian pilgrims, who must go through a committee that is controlled by Saudi-backed opposition groups to obtain visas for the religious journey.

In Yemen, Hasheem noted, Saudi had taken similar measures, politicising Hajj access based on the country’s alliances.

Hasheem added that restrictions on citizens of Qatar – which has been blockaded

by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others since the summer of 2017 – was further evidence of the kingdom’s wrongdoing.

The pilgrimage is a religious requirement for all able-bodied Muslims who have the financial means to carry out the journey, according to religious guidelines.

Officials should urge Saudi Arabia to abandon restrictions on the right to worship, Hasheem said.

The organisers added that they intend to host another international conference in the future to discuss the establishment of an international body to manage Hajj.

“We will invite international scholars and ulemas and we will even invite Saudi Arabia to join,” the GSMP’s Hasheem added.

(Courtesy Al Jazeera)

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Book Review: Balcony over Jerusalem Imran Andrew Price John Lyons and his wife, Sylvie Le Clezio have written a wonderful book about their six years experience while working in Jerusalem when John was based there as Foreign Correspondent for the Australian newspaper.

The title refers to the wonderful apartment and balcony where they lived which had a picturesque view of the old city of Jerusalem and its surroundings.

If there is one book that every Australian, particularly Muslims should read for a better understanding of the Israel/Palestine issue, this is it.

During this time, they had the opportunity to see behind the façade of Israel’s huge public relations campaign to the reality of what life is like for the Palestinian’s including those who went to school with their son, Jack.

When they arrived in January 1999, John was largely sympathetic and supportive of Israel but when he left in 2015, he had become deeply concerned about the threat that the settlements issue and the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu pose to the sur-

vival of Israel.

It is the chapters that deal with the everyday life of the Palestinians that are the most revealing.

In one titled Frankenstein’s Monster, he describes “the reality of the occupation is infinitely worse than the public realise” involving land grabs, house demolitions, burgeoning illegal settlements, separation of families, the indignity of the permit system, the racial divide of living standards and water supply, the checkpoints, the wall, the nastiness of the Israel Defence Force, the late night house arrests and imprisonment of children, the infiltration of Palestinian society and the never-ending cycle of violence.

He says, “I’d arrived in Israel in the belief that, whatever the country’s problems, it adhered to the rule of law. But the more I researched the reality of the West Bank the more I came to the gradual realisation that the manipulation of the rule of law was used in the quest for the Greater Israel”.

John is particularly critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his policies to effectively make it impossible for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

He was part of the 35 member press delegation that accompanied the Prime Minister to New York in September 2011 for the United Nations discussions about Palestine’s push for membership. He describes the impressive PR effort that Israeli waged

to temporarily defeat that ambition and the appalling effort that the Palestinians gave to support their campaign.

John concludes his assessment of Netanyahu by stating “more than any other leader, he has been responsible for consigning Israel to a long-term war…. Netanyahu has killed off the two-state solution”.

In the final chapter, John finally concludes.

“Almost 3 million people in the West Bank cannot be denied all civil rights for more than 50 years without dire consequences and almost 2 million people in Gaza cannot be locked forever in the world’s largest open-air prison. One day many of those 5 million will rise up…. If the whole world could see the occupation up close, it would demand that it end tomorrow.”

But as American president Trump has emboldened Netanyahu to increase new settlements and has announced that they recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the end of the pretence of America as an “honest broker” for peace in the Middle East are obvious to all and so are the chances of a peaceful resolution of the two-state solution. Instead, the Palestinians will most likely need to start negotiating as a majority of the population in a single state that will lose its Jewish identity.

Imran is Training & Placement Officer at Epic Assist. He has an MBA from the AGSM

(UNSW) and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from IIUM. He is President of the Brisbane Muslim Fellowship Inc., a convert support group set up at the Kuraby mosque in Brisbane.

Solving the Badakhshan Maternity Crisis Emily Mays Badakhshan is a beautiful province situated in the Hindu-Kush Mountains, surrounded by picturesque rivers and snow-caped mountain ranges. The meagre level of healthcare in Badakhshan Province, however, is not as dazzling.

Australia’s distinguished level of healthcare is often considered one of the best in the world, with most people holding an ample level of trust in the services and quality of treatment provided to patients.

In 2002, the modern world was left speechless after a maternal mortality survey, conducted by UNICEF, revealed that an Afghan woman was over 300 times more likely to die during childbirth than her Australian counterpart (as per 2000 Census, ABS).

Astonishingly, this statistic was not the most startling from the survey’s findings.

Badakhshan Province, being one of Afghanistan’s poorest regions, was awarded the highest MMR the modern world has ever seen with 6,500 deaths per 100,000 live births (UNICEF, 2002).

An Afghan woman living in Badakhshan Province was 1,250 times more likely to die during childbirth than the average Australian woman.

Badakhshan is a mountainous region, with over 20% of its population living in villages that have no road access. During the summer months, the nearest hospital is an 18-day hike away, while extreme snowfall and dangerously low temperatures during winter months make these remote districts

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completely cut-off from the rest of Afghanistan 7 months of the year.

In extreme winter, pregnant women are unable to reach the necessary care they need and likewise, midwives are unable to make the impossible journey to provide this support.

Another element contributing to the high MMR’s in Badakhshan is the extreme shortage of female doctors, and the cultural sensitivity that comes along with treatment.

In Afghanistan, women prefer to be treated by female doctors, especially where gynaecological issues are concerned. However, the cycle is unyielding, with women in Afghanistan struggling to attain a university level education, not to mention a career in medicine.

And so, how can we possibly begin to solve the issue of high maternal mortality without first addressing the underlying cause of all these problems? This being, the lack of education available to people living in ultra-poverty.

When living below the poverty line, people are forced out of cities and into remote areas where access to education and healthcare is nonsensical, where long-distance travel is unnaffordable, and where escaping the poverty cycle is unimaginable.

Mahboba’s Promise has identified the issue of maternal mortality and made it their duty to educate and train young women in midwifery, and provide remote regions with essential healthcare facilities.

Mahboba’s Promise has spent the past two decades supporting and educating disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan through projects like this one.

The organisation is holding a Gala Dinner on 24 February to celebrate 20 years of positive change-making in Afghanistan.

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All proceeds from the night will go toward continuing the life-changing work of Mahboba’s Promise, including the running of the Badakhshan Maternity Clinic.

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Visit mahbobaspromise.org or call (02) 9887 1665 for more information about our projects and Gala Dinner.

Mahboba’s Promise runs a Midwifery training course for disadvantaged women in Badakhshan Province.

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Sir Syed’s mission towards modernisation

This is an English rendering from Urdu of Professor Iftikhar Alam Khan’s article “Sir Syed ka rawayat se inharaf” published in AMU Alumni of Australia Magazine November 2017, 25th Anniversary Edition while celebrating Sir Syed’s 200th birthday anniversary Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad The thoughts and actions of Sayyid Ahmad Khan (Sir Syed), who pioneered the educational movement in India during the second half of the nineteenth century, indicate that he was a highly enlightened person advocating modernisation.

He propagated the idea of integration of knowledge and an educational system in accordance with the demands and requirements of the contemporary period, against the ongoing outdated traditional style prevalent during his time in India.

During the nineteenth century, under British colonial rule, India was undergoing the process of “westernisation” where mimicking Western cultural practices were becoming the norm. This for Indians, eating, dressing, talking and behaving like their British Masters was considered enlightened and “modern.”

Sir Syed, on one hand, discouraged sticking necessarily with traditional practices that were out of date while on the other hand, he did not necessarily advocate following Western cultural practices blindly.

Sir Syed encouraged modernisation where he advocated rationalism and scientific way of thought embedded into a most modern system of education for all Indians in general and Muslims in particular.

For him, the traditional way of thinking and living without taking into account the changes taking in the modern world was the greatest hurdle to progress.

His mission was to modernise the thinking of people through an up-to-date system of education that had developed through en-

lightenment in Europe.

Sir Syed used the “spiritual” and “worldly” terminology for differentiating the difference between belief and culture so that both were expressed as two separate entities.

He writes: “There are two branches of affairs, one is the spiritual and the otherworldly whilst living in this world. A true religion is not much involved in the worldly affairs except in the main activities which influence morality, these being dealt by religion. Undoubtedly Islam is a true religion adopting this principle.”1 “The perpetual change and development of culture of any society is essential as breathing, bringing in fresh air.”2 Sayyid Ahmad appreciated and praised enlightened persons in India who rebelled against traditional thinking.

“One who made efforts to change and develop the ongoing traditions and culture opposing the trends prevalent in this country, but over time the people comprehended with satisfaction the wisdom and sincerity of these efforts for changing the society, in the end must be appreciated. Just look to the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his success in changing the orthodox rituals in his territory, to live more fairly and virtuously.”3 Sayyid Ahmad highly appreciated and praised persons who became successful in changing the traditions of their communities including Kaishab Chander, Aleesha Chander, Vidia Sagar, Seelash Batachariya, Ram Tanola, Satendar Nath Tagore and Swami Diyanand Sarsawati.”4 Sir Syed not only insisted upon societal elevation but also propagated harmonising Muslim beliefs and Muslim societal position with the demands and requirements of the contemporary era. He made efforts to replace outdated norms and blind acceptance with rationality and objectivity.

“Contemporary times have definite influence upon traditions and culture of a society, as well as religion and beliefs. In past times there was a certainty to all the ideas presented to the audience, even if they were strange or vague and non-comprehensive.

But the present time is not one of surety: it is the time of doubt and uncertainty. This is the factor that nowadays religion, or specific beliefs, are being jeopardised.”5 Sir Syed has printed a table of concepts or actions of both past and present periods pertaining to the field of religious doctrines out of which the important ones have been mentioned in the table.

Sir Syed used to explain the difference between the old principles based on traditional thinking and the new principles devised by the Ijtehad (innovation) within the Islamic system.

“The previous religious scholars from older times had made a principle that any work decided to be performed should have a reference of religious authority. Hence,

A – Old Principles to be modified Humans should annihilate their rejoicing and 1 desires.

Religion should not be necessarily required for 2 humans.

Humans should search for God in dark nights 3 with closed eyes.

B – New Principles to be adopted Humans should enliven themselves for their proper selffulfilment.

Religion is essential for humans development and best behaviour.

Humans should search God in clear sight by paying attention to their existence in the universe and discovery of their realities and advantages as guided by God. Humans should think only of virtuous actions.

Natural desire should be fulfilled followed by virtuous actions.

4 Humans should fulfil all desires and ambitions Religion is related with spiritual and religious affairs as well as 5 in this world without any special bondage to getting in touch with the worldly affairs. religion.

Table – Old and New Principles 6.

whenever any idea came in the mind, they immediately tried to stretch any religious decree to be associated to this idea. Even when any general principle was adopted by the public, they used to support it with some religious authority. Thus, the present books of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) were collected in all these ideas and thoughts of these scholars.

As a result, the whole Fiqh was considered as part of Islam. Hence, any defect or criticism in this Jurisprudence was considered as an attack on Islam whilst the fact is that this defect may not be part of Islam”7 In summary, the concept and message of Sir Syed is to keep these two spiritual and worldly affairs as combined within generally accepted rules and regulations in the contemporary period pertaining to the specific entity.

Thus Muslims will become successful both in the spiritual as well as the worldly affairs.

References 1 Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Uncivilised Territory and Uncivilised Governance, The Maqalat: Part 9; compiled by Mohammad Ismail Panipaty, Majlis Taraqqi Adab, Lahore, Pakistan.

2 Ibid., The Philosophy of Ceremony and Ceremony and Culture and the need for their Reforms, Part 12.

3 Ibid., page 103.

4 Ibid., page 103.

5 Ibid., Influence of Times on Religion (Old and Past), Tahzab-ul-Ikhlaq, M. Azad Library, MU Aligarh, page 14.

6 Ibid., Religious Thought, The Maqalat: Part 2, Page 23.

Ibid., page 11.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad is a retired professor of engineering and a prolific reader and writer on various subjects. He is based in Sydney, Australia.

2nd Annual Australian Islamic Education Forum in Sydney Dylan Chown The 2nd Annual Australian Islamic Education Forum will be held in Sydney on Saturday 24 February 2018 hosted by Arkana College.

Educators in Islamic education and schooling contexts are invited to register for this premier professional development event for Islamic education in the country.

The registered delegates will be able to join the ongoing conversation and take away practical tips and understandings on evidenced-based practice at the cutting edge of the field.

The 2018 Forum theme ‘Islamic Schooling Renewal – A Focus on Curriculum’ offers delegates a highly relevant focus that is timely.

Sessions are practical and interactive delivered by experienced educational practitioners. Split sessions allow delegates to FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

tailor their own program based on their interests and needs.

Presentations will address the following themes: • Negotiating contested spaces – curriculum and Islamic schooling • Strategies for engaging with Australian Curriculum • Islamic schooling & the Early Years Learning Framework (Belonging, Being and Becoming) • Leadership and curriculum • Case studies and stories of hope - curriculum integration, curriculum renewal, curriculum projects • Case studies and stories of hope - curriculum enactment in &/or across KLAs in Islamic schooling (English, HaSS, STEM, HPE/PDHPE, Arts, Music, Islamic & Arabic studies) • Enacting curriculum for teaching faith perspectives across the curriculum • Quality curriculum, assessment and pedagogy in Islamic schooling contexts The Annual Forum aims to provide a platform for educators in Islamic schooling

(Islamic schools, Madrassah or home educators/homeschoolers) to network, build collaborative partnerships, share stories of hope and showcase projects and best practices in Islamic education.

This event is proudly presented by the University of South Australia’s Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE) and supported by Islamic Schools Association (ISAA) of Australia.

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For more information or to register: w w w. u n i s a . e d u . a u / 2 n d - A n n u a l Australian-Islamic-Education-Forum Dylan Chown is a Research Fellow and the Program Director for Islamic Education in the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE) in the School of Education, University of South Australia.

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Al-Zahrawi: Pioneering surgeon and inventor Professor Irfan Shahid Al-Zahrawi was a great pioneer of the tenth century in Islamic Spain who gave a new direction to medical sciences inventing many surgical instruments and establishing innovative surgical procedures.

Before Al-Zahrawi medicine was considered as a branch of religion and pseudo-chemistry but he separated medical education from Alchemy and theology and emphasised the scientific nature of medicine.

He advocated the study of medicine by bright minds.

His encyclopaedic medical work, a l - Ta s r i f , was a major textbook that was included in syllabi of the universities in Europe for several centuries.

Abul Qasim Khalaf ibn Abbas al-Zahrawi was born in 324 AH/936 CE at al-Zahra, near Qurtaba (Cordova), in Islamic Spain.

Al-Zahra was a satellite town built by Sultan Abd

al-Rahman al-Nasir near Capital Qurtaba and named after his wife Queen Zahra.

Al-Zahrawi spent most of his life in Cordova and al-Zahra which were a major centre of education and culture in Europe during his time.

He hailed from a family of Ansars who came from Arabia to Spain when it was conquered by Muslims. He had a good early education and later he studied medicine and specialised in surgery.

After the completion of his studies, he joined one of the several government hospitals at Cordova where he practised medicine and surgery for the rest of his life.

After 40 years of professional experience, he wrote his famous book Al-Tasrif.

He died at al-Zahra in 404 AH/1013 CE at the age of 80. He is known as Abulcasis in Europe.

Al-Zahrawi has been greatly admired for the surgical section of his encyclopaedic work, al-Tasrif liman ajiz an al-talif.

The book is a medical encyclopaedia which discusses various aspects of medical science, such as materia medica, pharmaceutical, dietetics, medical chemistry, therapeutics, psychotherapy, midwifery, diseases, surgical operations and surgical instruments.

Al-Zahrawi provided over two hundred drawings of instruments in his book.

Al-Tasrif was first translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona in twelfth century CE followed by several other translation and printings in Europe subsequently.

A large number of inventions and innovative procedures are attributed to him.

An important aspect of al-Zahrawi’s surgical study is the large number of surgical instruments that he used during surgical operation described graphically in his encyclopaedia.

He wrote about the manufacturing of instruments and provided over two hundred drawings of instruments in his book. He mentioned Cathers, knives, scissors, probes, saws, needles, syringes, forceps, scalpels, hooks, lancets and many other surgical instruments.

He mentioned several types of threads and catguts for suturing (stitching).

Al-Zahrawi performed various types of operations, including eye operations.

He was the one first to recommend surgical removal of a broken patella (knee-cap), first to perform lithotomy (removal of stone from the bladder). He described Haemophilia and tracheotomy.

He introduced the ‘walcher position’ for women in childbirth and the removal of the dead foetus from the womb.

Professor Irfan Shahid, based in India is a prolific writer on Islam and Muslims. He is an Islamic Economist and a Sharia Scholar and can be contacted via shahid_irfan2002@yahoo.com. For more detail please visit his personal website: www.irfanshahid.net

Education scheme for poor in India AMUST Media Indian Minority Education Society of Australia Inc (IMESA) and Faith Social Education Welfare Society (FSEWS) of India held events towards the end of December 2017 in order to launch Taaleemi Jamaat, a movement to educate Muslim children from poor backgrounds in India.

The events were held during the visit of Mr Zahid Jamil of IMESA, a recently formed body to support the much-needed task of promoting education among Indian Muslims.

Muslims in India suffer from socioeconomic backwardness and lag behind in comparison with other religious groups in education.

In particular a large percentage of Muslims in North India live in utter poverty.

They do menial jobs such as pulling rikshaws and working as labourers. Children of these very poor parents are forced to work as child labourers in cottage industries as well as in local tea shops, roadside restaurants and in people’s homes.

Taleemi Jamaat aims to send to school each and every child, ensure they study till class ten as a minimum and children, with

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Mr Zahid Jamil speaking at the Jamia event. high potential, complete university edu- fields. The movement advocates that povercation to become professionals in various ty should not become hindrance in educating children of disadvantaged backgrounds.

The first event was held in north Indian town of Saharanpur on 24 December 2017 where FSEWS has been undertaking the project for nearly seven years. It was well attended by reputable citizens of the town including senior teachers, lawyers, doctors, business people and volunteers, who promised to offer support to the programme by giving time to various activities.

Mr Zahid Jamil gave a detailed presentation and explained the whole concept, vari-

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ous programmes of the scheme and implementation schedule.

Teachers promised to offer free tutoring, volunteers offered their time to run school admission and school retention campaigns, others promised support through sponsoring children and families.

Mr Sanjay Garg, local MP, applauded the programme and promised his support to a great initiative, a much-needed work to uplift Muslim community. He was very pleased that Taleemi Jamaat is being founded in Saharanpur where the spiritual Tableeghi Jamaat movement also has its roots.

The second event was held at Engineering auditorium of Jamia Millia University in New Delhi on 30 Dec 2017. The aim is to expand the Taleemi Jamaat programme to other cities and towns of North India eventually making it a national programme.

Mr Kamal Farooqui, former Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission and a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board was the chief guest with several senior professors of the university in attendance, including retired and highly respected Professor Moinuddin.

Professor Majid Jamil, former head of Electrical Engineering and founder of FSEWS introduced the programme. Mr Zahid Jamil’s presentation, aimed at inspiring the audience, was well received.

Mr Kamal Farooqui drew the attention of the audience to the challenges faced in undertaking such projects. Mr Ikram ul Haq, convener of another educational scheme called Mission Taleem told the audience about his programme of arranging school admission for thousands of children under a special government scheme.

IMESA aims to hold activities in Australia in order to support the scheme in India.

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Real conversations with local entrepreneurs Mobinah Ahmad The launch of Startup Ummah attracted over a hundred attendees on Tuesday 16 January at Bankstown Library to discuss Muslim entrepreneurship.

Started by Houssam Bizri, Startup Ummah’s mission is to bring together local talent in the Muslim community to discuss, share, and network.

“We launched a new platform called StartupUmmah.com, we’ve had an enormous amount of people attending, it was very inspiring and engaging speeches and talks from experts and local entrepreneurs who shared their stories with us.” said Houssam Bizri.

This event focused on storytelling, where

Sayed Rahmatullah Hussainizada.

attendees could listen and have real conversations with local entrepreneurs where they will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly side of startups.

“The Questions they asked, the interactions they had with us was important because it kind of starts the question about Muslim entrepreneurship, how to start, where to go to for help and also what’s involved: the downside and the plus side of Muslim entrepreneurship.” said Mohammad Quadan, local entrepreneur who spoke about the Downside of Startups.

Guest speaker, Peter Gould presented on the design and creative for Islamic Economy Startups and reflected on the launch.

“Really exciting to see this kind of energy, enthusiasm and this platform, it’s really going to help local entrepreneurs kind of flourish with their faith inspiration, with their design, with their entrepreneurship, with their innovative kind of approach. Startup Ummah is a great platform for that, I really

Ayah Wehbe.

commend Houssam for building this” Peter Gould said.

Other speakers included Shaz Khan who spoke about Muslim Economic Megatrends, Ayah Wehbe presenting on Disability-focused startups, David Abouloukme on the Appside of Startups and Sana Atarangi Karanouh, speaking on social entrepreneurship for community development.

Come along and listen to real experiences and stories filled with challenges, vulnera-

bilities and solutions that are usually hidden, with an opportunity for Q&A with the presenters and the panel. This is an opportunity to network and meet other like-minded people.

Houssam Bizri discusses his future plans where he hopes to take this project.

“Stories will continue, and we are looking for more events coming your way, with more initiatives to basically help the initiatives of our own community and our own Ummah through building their ideas, what they love and what their passionate about and give them the training, the coaching and the support, the financial aid that they need to be successful inshallah.”

Like and follow on Facebook.com/StartUpUmmah/.

Subscribe to their website: startupummah. com.

You can even book a free session by having a virtual meeting with a StartUp Ummah consultant. https://secure.scheduleonce. com/startupummah Mobinah Ahmad is the NSW Executive Officer of The Australia Arab Chambers of Commerce & Industry (AACCI).

David Abouloukme.

Syed Atiq ul Hassan: multicultural ambassador to senior citizen AMUST Media Mr Syed Atiq ul Hassan has received the ‘Senior Citizen of the Year Award 2018’ by the Parramatta Council on the Australia Day, 26 January 2018.

Mr Hassan arrived in Australia in 1989 with his wife and two children.

He started his professional career in Australia as an IT specialist for well-known government agencies including NSW Police Services and other national & multinational companies.

Mr Hassan is an educationist, media analyst, an established journalist and an extraordinary active community leader who has done amazing work in bringing people of different background together.

Academically, Mr Hassan holds a degree in Physics, Computer Technology, Economics, Law, Journalism and advance academic credentials in Management, Marketing and Life Coaching.

From the very beginning, in Australia, Mr Hassan has taken interest in multicultural affairs and worked in the community as social worker promoting community harmony and interfaith relations through his media and events organisational activities.

Syed Atiq ul Hassan is among those few campaigners of multiculturalism in Austral-

ia who have delivered extraordinary services within the Muslim community and to the broad multicultural communities in the state of New South Wales.

He was awarded New South Wales Premier’s Harmony Award (the first Stepan Kerkyasharian award) in 2014.

Mr Hassan is an editor-in-chief of Tribune International (Australia) – a multicultural Australian Newspaper in English under the banner ‘Voice of Multicultural Australia’.

Mr Hassan is the author of ‘Australia for Pakistanis’ - that stunningly investigates the genealogy of Pakistani and Muslims migrants to Australia, published in 2003.

He is the founder of ‘Chand Raat Eid Festival (CREF)’ (www.chandraat. com) which is after 20 years is the largest multicultural event of its kind in the world being held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and where over 40 thousand people of different background participate.

Through CREF events, Mr Hassan has brought the people of Islamic and multicultural background together.

Mr Hassan’s another extraordinary project is the international event of Halal Expo Australia. This is an international event where academics, scholars, entrepreneurs, exhibitors, organizational heads from different countries and from all over Australia

participate.

Halal Expo Australia is playing a vital role in the Australia trade and economy, and an international halal conference which is playing a significant role in creating awareness, delivering knowledge and resolving issues

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and finding solutions between the Islamic and non-Islamic intellectuals, academics, scholars and leaders.

Mr Hassan is an ambassador of multicultural Australia within the country as well as overseas.

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Sherene Hassan: Order of Australia Medal

The Education Director of the Islamic Museum of Australia, Sherene Hassan, has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the community through the promotion of cross-cultural understanding.

Whether Sherene is playing intercultural games and dress-ups with her favourite primary school visitors, discussing prevalent issues with secondary students, guiding delegates around, or giving interviews - one element never wavers; her dignity, respect and

love for all of humankind that radiates profusely from within and reflects upon every individual she encounters.

Highly regarded for her commitment to ethics, building bridges between communities, her warmth, kindness and endless generosity, Sherene Hassan’s honour is much-deserved. Sherene is truly a special individual tirelessly serving her community and today we recognise the light she brings to all our lives.

Yusra Metwally: GradLife

Yusra Metwally is a Western Sydney graduate demonstrating that all women are entitled to the delights of sun, surf, and sand, regardless of how they dress. Yusra was featured in Grad Life, the Official Publication for Alumni of Western Sydney University.

Yusra Metwally is a Muslim woman who wears a hijab. She’s also a Western Sydney University Law graduate, a Policy Officer with the NSW Ministry of Health, an ocean swim competitor and budding triathlete. In life and in the water, Yusra refuses to be boxed in by preconceptions, and this has caused a ripple-effect through her women’s

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swimming group, Swim Sisters. Formerly known as the Burkini Babes, the group encourages women to challenge fears and stereotypes through challenging themselves in the water.

In life and in the water, Yusra refuses to be boxed in by preconceptions, and this has caused a ripple-effect through her women’s swimming group, Swim Sisters. Formerly known as the Burkini Babes, the group encourages women to challenge fears and stereotypes through challenging themselves in the water.

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To Watch

Muslims Like Us on SBS: A social experiment at the expense of Muslims?

“What does it mean to be a Muslim in Australia today? 10 Muslim Australians live together for eight days in a social experiment.” SBS Australia has produced a show, airing on 21 February.

“There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and as you can see from this group.

We’re extremely diverse. For one week, ten Australian Muslims live in a house, sharing their lives and views.”

A similar series was aired in the UK and received a backlash saying that this social experiment was at the expense of Muslims fighting rather than showing Islam’s diversity.

The trailer starts with a montage of different types of Muslims of different cultural backgrounds, genders and differing levels of how they practice their faith.

A woman wearing a niqab is seen saying “We cannot play with ideology dudes”.

Then a man sitting with friends in a bar says “I sit there and I hear these people, it’s like a competition of who’s more Muslim than you.”

The next scene is an anglo Muslim talking to two women on the beach, one in niqab, asking “Do you really want to be behind that and not express yourself?”. The women respond with “yes.”

Here are the next quotes from the series in the trailer: “The hijab is the biggest cliché of Islam.”

“I don’t know if any of you have picked up on this yet, but I’m gay.”

Another male responded with “It is something discouraged and not welcome” “Islam requires you to critically analyse the teachings and the book.”

“Suicide Bombing is never allowed in Islam” said a woman in niqab.

“I could not leave my house without getting abused” said a woman in hijab.

“So are you going to make a prayer for me to go to heaven?” one woman says to the other as she does her makeup.

“I remember the exact morning of 9/11” “I am an Aussie mate. I was born here.”

“I’m Aboriginal and Muslim. Are you going to kick me out of my own country?”

“This is the face of Australian Muslim youth” one girl says, crying.

“I haven’t given you the right to decide what I am.”

“But I can call out your bullsh*t very easily” “I don’t know cooking.” “That’s ok, we’ve got women here.”

“You’re just treating me like im covered from top to toe.”

“I have the right to say” “Yeah you do have the right to say but you don’t have the right to disrespect and thats what I’m sensing.” “No. Shut Up. Shut Up!” Muslims Like Us on SBS: A social experiment at the Expense of Muslims?

We’ll see...

Video: https://goo.gl/Swx4dj FEBRUARY 2018 / ISSUE 147

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