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NSW Parliamentary Iftar Islamic Bank in celebrates our diversity Australia: Soon a reality
Zia Ahmad
Ahmed Polat presenting Shukur’s jersey to Craig Foster. Burak Alpay Affinity organised its major Ramadan Iftar Dinner at the NSW Parliament on 23 May 2019 attended by more than 300 prominent guests from diverse backgrounds and professions. The event co-hosted by parliamentarians, The Hon John Sidoti MP and Ms Sophie Costis MP marked the Affinity Intercultural Foundation’s 11th annual Friendship and Dialogue Ramadan Iftar Dinner at the historic parliament building.
Hakeem Al-Araibi addressing guests at iftar.
Former Socceroo and broadcaster and a staunch advocate for refugees and human rights, Craig Foster during his keynote address described how he spearheaded a campaign, creating a global movement and leading a coalition of organisations across sport and human rights to free the young soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi from Bangkok prison. With thunderous applause Hakeem al-Araibi came to the stage in order to thank Craig and all his Australian supporters for a successful campaign that resulted in his safe return back to his new homeland.
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Affinity’s annual ’Peace and Solidarity Award’ for 2019 was presented by Bill Dobbie, New Zealand Consul-General to Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, investigative reporter at the ABC and Lucy Carter, researcher at Four Corners, ABC for their work on the Four Corners episode titled, ‘Under the Radar’ following the Christchurch terror attacks on two mosques which claimed the lives of 51 innocent people with more than 50 injured. Continued on Page 10
A fully functional Islamic Bank, the first in Australia, providing the full banking facilities with 100% watertight guarantee on Shari’ah compliance, will soon commence its operation as Islamic Bank Australia under the IBA Group Pty Ltd. After more than seven years of continuous engagement with Australian banking regulatory authorities, together with almost 10 million dollars of expenses, on Monday 8 April 2019, the IBA group received the above confirmation. It means, when offered to the public, the Australian Prudential Relation Authority (APRA), will regulate the IBA products as banking products, leading to a banking license being issued to the IBA Group. Upon this, the IBA will operate as Islamic Bank Australia. The ‘Islamic Bank Australia’ is likely to commence its operations within the next 6 to 12 months... Continued on Page 3
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NSW Premier hosts community Iftar
Zia Ahmad The recently re-elected NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hosted the Premier’s Iftar Dinner on Wednesday 22 May at the NSW Parliament House inviting prominent leaders from the Muslim community as well as the representatives of other faith groups. The invited guests were welcomed by Ms
Widyan Fares, the Master of Ceremonies for the event followed by Recitation from the Quran by Sheikh Mohamed Harby. After the Adhan was called, those who were fasting broke their fast with dates and water and then offered Maghreb prayer in the congregation within the parliament house in allocated rooms set aside as prayer rooms for males and females. While dinner was being served The Hon John Sidoti MP, the newly appointed Minis-
ter for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans addressed the audience reflecting on Ramadan and said that he was always available to attend events and functions organised by members of the NSW multicultural community. Premier Gladys Berejiklian talked about the significance of Ramadan and fasting. “It is an honour to host an Iftar dinner – the breaking of the fast – with members of the NSW community who are observing
Ramadan,” said Mrs Berejiklian. She further added, “Ramadan holds special significance in the life of Muslim Australians. It is a time of spiritual reflection and asks members of the Islamic faith to fast between sunrise and sunset. She reiterated that Mr Sidoti in his portfolio as Minister for Multiculturalism would be most approachable and open to discussions and issues facing the NSW diverse community.
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Islamic Bank in Australia: Soon a reality
Continued from page 1 ...with the initial Restricted Banking License (RADI), following the pathway to a full banking license, in the very near future. In its communication to the IBA Group last month, Australian Prudential Relation Authority advised that: • APRA is satisfied that the financial products proposed to be offered by IBA Group would constitute banking business under Australian law; and • APRA expects that IBA group will be able to develop contracts and marketing material that will not give ASIC cause for concern, primarily because, in the material so far presented, the primacy of Australian law is asserted and the Shari’ah compliant terminology is explained so that customers would be able to understand the nature of the feature of the products. In an exclusive interview with AMUST, Dr Rashid Raashed, the IBA Group’s Director/Secretary explained the unique and salient feature of the Islamic Bank Australia Project and the products and services it will be providing. He assured that without a compromise, all IBA Group activities relating to banking and financial services will be conducted in true compliance with the financial principles and practices of Islamic Shari’ah. According to Dr Raashed, the Islamic financial principles and practices guarantee a true and complete model of ‘ethical banking equation, where money element does not overwhelm or prevail over the element of human effort and sweat’. Again, according to Dr Raashed, ‘this water tight guarantee of dynamic Shari’ah compliance, is what the greater Muslim community in Australia and the world, demands’. Using the slogan embedded in IBA Group’s logo ‘You, Ethics & Justice, Dr Raashed said that the products and services provided by the Islamic Bank of Australia will be highly attractive to members of the Muslim community as well as to all Australians who wish to deal with ethical financial practices based on social justice. IBA group survey estimates that there are more than 2 million Australians who will be interested in dealing with the Islamic Bank Australia because of its ethical nature of operations. The usual practice at various Islamic banks and financial institutions throughout the world is to engage Shari’ah compliance authorities in an advisory capacity rather than with an executive role and power. In
I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone celebrating the end of Ramadan and the eve of the Eid al-Fitr. As you gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and break bread, I know there will be great happiness after this long period of fasting and self-sacrifice. This time is also a reminder of the rich tapestry that is multicultural Australia, and of the shared values that bind us together. The privilege and responsibility enjoyed by all of us – to accept and respect one another regardless of faith or cultural background – is the promise of Australia. It is why all the peoples of the JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
AMUST
Launch of national consultations with Muslim Australians Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan.
Dr Rashid Raashed. this mechanism, the Shari’ah compliance becomes voluntary and hence fails on the definition of a true Islamic bank. Dr Rashid Raashed pointed out to an innovative way of ensuring full Shariah compliance at the proposed Islamic Bank Australia: “In order to ensure Shari’ah compliance, the IBA Group Governance Structure includes a technical skill committee of Shariah Audit Executives (SAE). It is permanently embedded within the IBA Board Committees. Armed with the Shari’ah expertise, the SAE chairman will also be a permanent member of the IBA board. The SAE will be delegated with executive power on issues of Shari’ah compliance.” He further explained, “In order to ensure Shari’ah compliance in the execution phase of the Bank’s products and service delivery, the Chairman of SAE is positioned in the parallel ranking with the Bank’s CEO.” Dr Rashid Raashed is a Shari’ah scholar on Islamic banking and finance, with a PhD from the Macquarie University Law School. He is also a well-known member of the Australian Muslim community having served in various capacities as Imam, educationist, activist and writer and author of a number of books. He has formal qualifications in traditional Islamic knowledge obtained in South Asia and the Middle East with a Masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Sydney. He is fluent in English, Arabic, Urdu and Bengali languages. He’s a thinker, researcher and writer on a diversity of subjects including the contextual Quranic understanding, contemporary forms of Da’wah, Hadith, Fiqh, Islamic finance and political governance.
Eid Message from the Prime Minister AMUST Media
NEWS
world have come here to call Australia home, and have made us one of the most peaceful and harmonious multicultural nations on earth. This is a hard-won promise, entrusted to us by generations that went before and must be carried forth and passed to the generations that follow. Eid al-Fitr, with its focus on harmony, mutual respect and understanding, is a fitting occasion to affirm this commitment, and to celebrate the values that make us who we are. I wish all Muslim Australians a blessed and happy Eid al-Fitr, and all the peace and fulfilment it may bring. Eid Mubarak. The Hon Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister of Australia
AMUST Media On Harmony Day, 21 March 2019, the Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan announced the launch of national consultations with Muslim Australians that will discuss how the community has been affected by the Christchurch attack and other recent events. “As a successful multicultural society, we should be clear on this: there is no place for racial prejudice, discrimination, intimidation, hatred and violence in our society”. “I am confident these conversations will lead to the identification of ideas on how to support and empower Muslim-Australian communities.” Commissioner Tan says. Consultations will be held in each Australian capital city during June and July. The Race Discrimination Commissioner and
Australian Human Rights Commission staff will meet with community representatives to ensure that the voices of Muslim-Australian communities are centred in national discussions about Islamophobia, racism and related intolerances in Australia. Muslim-Australian community members will also be invited to participate in a national survey and share their experiences of hate, violence and negative public commentary and identify how the Muslim-Australian community can be better supported. More information on the national consultation will be available on the Australian Human Rights Commission website: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/ race-discrimination and interested community members can contact the Commission for more information about the survey at antiracismsecretariat@humanrights.gov.au.
نتمنى لكم ولعائلتكم عي ًدا سعي ًدا ومبار ًكا
عيد مبارك
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As we seek the benefits of these last few days of Ramadan, our excitement grows in anticipation of Eid ul-Fitr. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our students, parents, teachers and wider community for supporting Minaret College for over 25 years. As our Minaret Family continues to grow, our dedication to student excellence is similarly inspired to new heights. We nurture the next generation of Muslim Australians – strong in faith and of service to humanity Insha Allah. The Minaret College Family wishes everyone a safe and joyful celebration in the coming days.
Eid Mubarak! - Mohammed Taksim, Executive Principal
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AMUST ISSUE # 163 FRIDAY 31 MAY 2019 25 RAMADAN 1440 News
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- Parliamentary Iftar - Islamic Bank of Australia
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- Map + Stall Directory - Cultural Stage Program - Next MEFF
This year the fasting month of Rama- festivals are celebrated in the community dan has been especially significant fol- with people of other faiths joining the feslowing the tragedies in Christchurch tivities, Ramadan Iftars are usually taken and Sri Lanka still fresh in our minds. with families or with Muslim friends. While Muslims have been performing However, as the world becomes a global the rituals of fasting by avoiding food and village with diversity in all societies, there drink during the daylight hours, I am sure is a trend to be inclusive in order to promote they have also been reflecting on life, community harmony and this has led and death, violence and conflicts Muslims and now non-Muslims to in the world and how to go organise community Iftars. about it individually and This year the bookings for collectively. Iftars started almost two Ramadan, this year, I months in advance and our believe has brought out calendars started filling up, Zia Ahmad the best in us. The comnot only on weekends but munity at large, Muslims on weekdays as well. Assalamu as well as people of other I am part of an extendAlaikum faiths have utilised this ed family who meets on a blessed month on a social weekly basis on Sundays, so Greetings level to bring the community all my Sundays were booked of Peace together. out during Ramadan for family What best way to bring the Iftars in accordance with our yearly community together than to meet one planner calendar. another, initiates dialogue over a meal by With my wide circle of AMUST contacts breaking bread together at Iftar dinners where I need to move in our diverse comwith fellow Muslim as well as with people munity, I encountered a number of clashes of other faiths and no faith. for Iftar invitations. Our AMUST team on In Muslim countries, although the Eid occasions had to split in order to attend
EDITORIAL
Readers comments Muslim protection
We need the Muslim leadership to move and do their duties to protect their people and not leave it to one man or not at all. Br Hajj Samir Ekermawi
Re: Evergreen
Wooooow your poetry amazed me! Wariaha Mufti
Re: Israel-Palestine dialogue in Sydney
Great that, despite current hostilities between Israel and Palestine, there was actually a discussion in Sydney between representatives of both sides. As for the content of the discussion, I was struck by the statement of Abdulhadi, the head of the Palestinian Delegation, that, despite the Oslo agreement on the land rights, 22% to Palestine and 78% to Israel, the Palestinians now are left with only 9 per cent. This is in breach of the Oslo agreement, and no amount of urging Palestinians to fit in with Israel’s proposals can alter that. It is up to Israel to stop impeding Palestinians from exercising their rights to land. Johanna Blows People of the world want a independent Palestine state. A Baker
prayed and fasted for this election….yes there is evil everywhere..but I find the liberal party will do more or is at least influenced by people than the Labor party…I have never supported same sex marriage and I was really worried if the Labor party got in because of Bill Shortens and people like Penny Wong who support Safe Schools curriculum…I was part of the No Campaign to Same sex marriage. I feel if is a great blessing from God that people who support same sex marriage are not governing our nation at the moment. Debra Bruce See what happened to Israel Polau when he quoted a verse from the Bible regarding Homosexuals, liars, atheists, etc that they will go to hell. Turnbull Government supported same sex marriage, see what happened to him. Muslims have to really unite, if thy want to be recognised. Kahan It is no blessing that the propaganda mills of the Murdoch media combined with the voter fooling bigots of One Nation and the Coal Lobby of Palmer’s UAP delivered the front bench once more to the ideological heirs of Robert Menzies. Funding for the ABC, a properly staffed public service and the public health system are now under threat. Bilal Cleland
Re: Federal Election: Miracle win, devastating loss and fu- Re: Fasting when the sun doesn’t set! (Video) ture implications Dear Mr Khan I want to first of all recognise the sacrifice that our Muslim brothers and sisters are making before our beloved God before I say anything….Many people JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Masha Allah jazakarallah khayran for educating us about your part of the world.
I often wondered how our brothers and
some of the Iftars and occasionally I had to split with my wife where she will be attending an Iftar in a different place to me. We accepted this family sacrifice in the interest of commitment to our greater community. There were a number of Iftars I attended throughout the month of Ramadan this year while there were many where I had to send my representatives in order not to offend the hosts. Community Iftars this year were hosted by parliamentarians, political parties, universities, trade unions, city councils, mosques, church groups, organisations, schools, professional bodies and businesses as well as families in their homes. This indeed generated a great atmosphere of understanding, the opportunity for dialogue, sharing of grief and happiness and celebration of our diversity. This AMUST issue#163 Ramadan/ June has been devoted to showcasing these Ramadan Iftar gatherings in celebration of Australian multiculturalism and community harmony. ENJOY!
sisters dealt with fasting and praying way up north and the very long daylight hours. J Mura
Re: Senator Rice hosts Women’s Iftar in Melbourne
Beautiful! Sadly I couldn’t attend that night but what a lovely gesture and outstretched hand to our community. T Yeti
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- Catholics interfaith iftar - Federal election - Israel-Palestine dialogue
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- “Freedom” to change narrative - Working with Muslim inmates - Bachar Houli charity partner
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The views and opinions expressed in articles, and Letters to the Editor, Website Comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Australasian Muslim Times.
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Editor-in-Chief: Zia Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Chief Adviser: Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Mehar Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Mobinah Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Theresa Dyckman Sub-Editor: Aisha Mohsin Columnist: Dr Abul Jalaluddin (Finance) Columnist: Dr Ameer Ali (WA) Columnist: Bilal Cleland (Victoria) Columnist: Manarul Islam (ACT) Columnist: Dr Daud Batchelor (QLD) Columnist: Simon Harrison (QLD) Columnist: Zahid Jamil (NSW) Columnist: Shahjahan Khan (QLD) Columnist: Imam Malik Mujahid (USA) Promotion: Dr Wali Bokhari Web Developer: Shadow Approved Multimedia: iMoby Productions Printers: Spotpress Pty Ltd Distributers: Abul Fateh Siddiqui, Shujaat Siddiqui, Usaid Khalil, Aamir Ahmad, Ibrahim Khalil, Usman Siddiqui, Zahid Alam, Shahab Siddiqui, Mahmoud Jaame, Mateen Abbas, Rashid Idris, Sakinah Ahmad, Anjum Rafiqi, Hasan Fazeel, Dr Quasim, Ismail Hossain, Hanif Bismi, Zohair Ahmad, Luqman Landy.
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The Spoiler: White supremacy harnesses the fear factor Bilal Cleland
The plethora of racist, white supremacist and Islamophobic parties and candidates rolling up for the May 2019 Federal Election, all directing their preferences to the Liberal-National Coalition, suggest a yearning amongst very vocal fringe elements for the past certainties of Australian society. Australia today has First Nations people in parliament, mainly in the ALP and Greens, Muslims, even Muslim women, lots of foreign born individuals, and many who speak English as a second language. The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is an LBGT Australian Chinese woman who refuses to tolerate racism or sexism from its exponents in the government. The Senate front bench for the government is led by an ultra-right Australian Belgian who speaks English with a heavy accent. This multicultural face of Australia, still reflected very poorly in the membership of parliament, is seen as threatening the very basic values of the reactionaries who view Australia of the 1920s and 1930s as the highpoint of civilisation. There is very deep division within the ruling Liberal Party, leading to leadership instability for some years, with Abbott succeeded by Turnbull, succeeded by Morrison. Racist fear has a long history in this country. Until after World War II, the Labour Party and the United Australia Party, which
became the until 1972. Liberal Party DLP preferunder the leadences went to the ership of MenLiberals. zies, believed Eventually, the that mainteCold War ended nance of the and with it the White Australeffectiveness of ia Policy was the fear factor, essential to the domino theprotect civiliory of downward sation. thrusting comTHE USE munism. OF THE THE NEW FEAR FACFEAR FACTOR TOR The fear Now a similar of non-white tactic is being immigration used to harvest from Asia, in the preference the years of votes of the varithe Cold War, ous extreme right transformed wing parties, usto fear of the ing fear and ha‘Red and Yeltred of refugees low Peril,’ with and Muslims as each election political weapmarked by diaons. grams showing “Islamism” has the commu- Cold War Fear Factor Propaganda. replaced Comnists arrows munism as the coming down the map from China towards fear factor. Australia. The preference deals of the various white One of the most striking features of the supremacists or pro-fascist parties in the reign of Menzies, the founder of the Liberal May 2019 election show how strongly they Party, from 1949 to 1966, was his use of the oppose the socially inclusive political parfear of communism to keep the ALP from ties such as the Greens and the ALP. power. These splinter parties, all of them supHelped by the creation of the Democrat- porters of the Liberal-National Coalition, ic Labor Party which split from the ALP in exercised undue influence in the elections, 1955, the Liberal Party remained in office especially in Queensland.
We all need to reduce meat consumption Dr Daud Batchelor “Throw more steak on the barbie” is a regular call-in line with Australia’s top pastime of BBQ-ing with family and friends. Unsurprisingly, in 2013, Australia was the world’s biggest meat consumer, although our consumption is now declining. God Almighty instructs that cattle have been created for human benefit - food (meat), beverage (milk), clothing (leather) and religious sacrifice: “It is God Who made cattle for you, that you use some for riding and some for food. There are (other) advantages in them for you.” (Qur’an 40:79-80). Prophet Muhammad (s) however, infrequently ate meat - generally gifted lamb. Some call him a ‘semi-vegetarian.’ Meat was considered ‘luxury food’ too expensive for the poor, although they partook from Eidul Adha sacrifices. Umar al-Khattab (r), as recorded in Imam Malik’s Muwatta, rebuked a Muslim from a social equity standpoint for buying meat, while warning others that eating meat has “an addictiveness like that of wine.” These statements 1400 years ago are uncanny since we know today that feeding livestock grain diverts food from the poor, while modern medicine informs that consuming red meat, beyond UN-recommended 80-90 grams daily, causes an increased risk of death, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Researchers found that switching to the JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
recommended intake could save annual healthcare costs and avoided climate change damages of US$1.5 trillion. Raising livestock for meat consumption has severe environmental consequences. Cattle through frequent belching emit the potent greenhouse gas (GHG), methane, responsible for 44% of global GHG emissions in the agricultural industry. Livestock is responsible for 15% of all human-generated GHG emissions, greater than those produced by all road vehicles, trains, ships and planes combined. Forests are carbon sinks containing 80% of the land’s biodiversity, which is declining dramatically. Nine million hectares of natural forest are cleared annually, largely for agriculture, which severely impacts on indigenous peoples – one-fifth of humanity - dependent on forests for livelihoods. The UN found that average emissions (kg CO2-equivalent per kg protein produced) due to beef cattle (295) are much greater than those from sheep and goats for meat (201), cattle for milk (87), and chickens for meat (35). To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans requires 18 times less land and ten times less water compared to producing 1 kg of protein from beef. Research published in Nature shows that without action, environmental impacts of the food system could increase 50 to 90% by 2050 resulting from population growth and rise in meat diets, as expanding middle-classes aspire to ‘affluence’. Environmental effects would be “beyond planetary boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity.”
Western individuals should drastically reduce red meat consumption by 90% and rely more on chicken, beans and vegetables. The topic is assessed from two Islamic perspectives – Maqasid al-Shari‘ah or Islamic law higher objectives and Legal Maxims. Higher objectives stress the protection of life, religion, intellect, progeny and wealth. Although meat provides benefits, it also creates great harm, especially when consumed frequently, and impacts on earth’s climate and biodiversity, which compromise the higher objectives of protecting life, wealth and the environment. Actions causing harm without justification are morally wrong. Legal maxims include that “harm must be eliminated” or “repelled as far as possible.” These perspectives agree that excessively eating meat is unacceptable Islamically. It is non-essential for human well-being since alternative protein and nutrient sources exist so meat consumption could either be eliminated (vegetarianism) or drastically reduced. It is one of the easiest things Muslims can do to live more ethically and restore the environment. Let’s do it this Ramadan and then through the year post Ramadan. 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.
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They are taking on the role of the DLP in maintaining conservative rule. The opening of the detention centre on Christmas Island, which looks as though it was intended as the player in a major “Fear the Refugees” political campaign, was aborted by the Christchurch Mosque Massacre carried out by an Australian white supremacist. However, this did not remove the fear factor from the political campaigns. The real danger of the white supremacist fanatics to the Muslim community, stimulated by this exploitation of fear, has not yet been recognised by the authorities. “There were five white extremist attacks in Australia from 2011 through 2017, all of which were attacks on mosques and Islamic centers.” “Experts say the same broad motives are at play whether the target is a mosque in Perth or an asylum seekers’ shelter in Dresden or a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Attackers who identify as white, Christian and culturally European see an attack on their privileged position in the West by immigrants, Muslims and other religious and racial minorities.” The NY Times report comments “The challenge for law enforcement will be to buck a sometimes myopic focus on Islamic extremism as the only driver of international terrorism.” [NY Times 3 April 2019] Bilal Cleland is a keen reader, a prolific writer and a regular columnist of AMUST based in Melbourne.
The pair of kangaroos dressed in the lightest blue Fazlul Huq The two kangaroos dressed in the lightest blue would be seen to stand on the foreground face to face, When they would gently shake the hands as they keep on looking at each other’s eyes in eagerness. Some say that the pair has made the truce after the long fight, But some others think that the handshake as a sign of friendship has always been their way to begin the day, So the wise ones say: “The humans have a lot to learn from the Mother Earth and it’s children.” 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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Dear Prime Minister: Congratulations Irfan Yusuf Congratulations on what surely is a miraculous victory. You defied the pundits and the polls. It wasn’t the Australian Financial Review or the Daily Telegraph that delivered you votes. Your victory proves that ultimately it isn’t inner-city journalists or the lobbies or the talking heads on TV sets that win elections. It is real voters with real concerns. Voters like the readers of this newspaper. Your party stands for maximising the opportunity for individuals. Please treat me as an individual. Don’t treat me as just a member of “the Muslim community” separate from broader Australia. Don’t see Muslims as some single monolithically religious congregation who “should” know what is going on inside houses of worship we have never been to. Don’t impose an identity on us or play identity politics with us. We are families, young and old. We run small businesses. We are professionals, students, academics, farmers, merchant bankers and teachers. We work in mining companies, in hospitals and in government departments. We serve in the military and in parliaments. Quite a few of us march on ANZAC Day. We’ve been on this continent a long time. You can find our old mosques in Perth, Adelaide and Broken Hill. You can see cameleer grave sites in Broome and Menindee as well as military graves with Arabic inscriptions in Brisbane. And we don’t often see each other as a singular “we”. We have numerous layers
of identity – ethnicity, language and sect. Many of us, myself included, aren’t terribly devout. I was appalled when some in the media mocked your worship and beliefs. Welcome to my world, and to the worlds of people too often deemed to be Muslim – Sikhs, Arab Christians, Orthodox Jews etc. When some snarled at your Pentecostal worship, the result must have been an enormous wave of solidarity from believers of all stripes. As a believer, you must be familiar with the story of the toddler Christ and his mother fleeing from the tyrant Herod. Many among the first generation of Muslims were granted refuge by a devout Christian king in Abys-
sinia. Please show the same compassion to those seeking refuge here. Refugees make excellent citizens. My faith teaches that God has even forbidden Himself from oppression and injustice. All of us are parties to the continued oppression and dispossession of indigenous peoples of this continent. It’s wrong to assume that only those on the Labor side support indigenous empowerment. Your government includes Ken Wyatt, the first indigenous person to be elected to the House of Representatives. Your party preselected Neville Bonner, the first indigenous person to be elected to the Federal Parliament.
Perhaps one way to further indigenous empowerment is the Commonwealth entering into some kind of treaty, similar to the Waitangi Treaty in New Zealand. Or perhaps setting up an advisory board to enable First Nations to advise the Commonwealth on legislation affecting indigenous rights. Once again, congratulations to you and your government. And may God bless Australia! 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.
Australian International Islamic College Excellence in Education Character and Service
MAIN CAMPUS Address: 724 Blunder Road DURACK QLD 4077 Ph: (07) 3372 1400 Email: admin@aiic.qld.edu.au GOLD COAST CAMPUS Address: 19 Chisholm Road CARRARA QLD 4211 Ph: (07) 5596 6565 Email: gc.admin@aiic.qld.edu.au CITY CAMPUS Address: 6 Agnes Street, BURANDA QLD 4102 Ph: (07) 3391 7867 Email: cc.admin@aiic.qld.edu.au
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‘Building Harmony Iftar’ at WSU Zia Ahmad Affinity in partnership with the Uniting Church organised the annual Building Harmony Iftar Dinner on Friday 24 May at the Western Sydney University multistory campus in the Parramatta CBD. Mr Jim Mein, from the Uniting Church in Australia Synod, in his capacity as the MC for the evening, welcomed the guests for the Iftar dinner followed by Welcome to Country by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Greg Simms. Uncle Simms gave a passionate speech introducing Aboriginal culture and languages and articulated great respect and sympathy for Muslims, who he said came into contact with Aboriginal people in the north of Australia centuries before Captain Cook ‘discovered’ Australia. After the recitation of Adhan, call to prayer, the guests broke their fast followed by Maghreb prayer and then the dinner was served. Mr Ahmet Polat, Executive Director of Affinity Intercultural Foundation addressed the audience on behalf of the hosts and
thanked the Uniting Church and Western Sydney University for their partnership. Mr Bilal Kilic, Teacher at Amity College presented a beautiful recitation from the Quran with a projection of its meaning on the screen.
From left: Mehar Ahmad, Zia Ahmad, Chin Tan, Sammy Abdel-Rahim.
Amity college students together with Parramatta Mission volunteers combined for an interfaith musical performance. The Sri Lankan Consul General Mr Lal Raj Wickrematunga related his personal heart-wrenching story of his struggles in Sri Lanka before he took up the diplomatic career while producing a highly reputable, independent, popular newspaper that became a thorn in the eyes of the corrupted government leadership. The Keynote address at the Iftar Dinner was given by Mr Chin Tan, the Race Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission. Mr Tan, in his usual relaxed but passionate manner and talking from his heart, shed light on his background, Ramadan and his experiences together with his current en-
gagements in order to tackle race discrimination. “The Australian Human Rights Commission remains committed to ensuring that human rights of all members of Australian society are respected and protected,” Mr Tan said. He further added, “We will continue to support Muslim-Australian communities to feel safe in expressing your cultural and religious beliefs.” “I look forward to collaborating with Muslim-Australian community members on how we can create a more inclusive and respectful Australia as part of my national conversation with you. Ramadan Kareem,” Mr Tan concluded. Even after his address, Mr Tan remained at the venue for a long time engaged in small group and one to one discussions with a number of the audience whose minds he had stimulated during his passionate speech. The respondents for the keynote address included Dr Derya Iner, Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University and Dr Deidre Palmer, President, Uniting Church in Australia Assembly. Dr Iner, reflecting on the recent mosque, church and synagogue attacks talked on the need for religions to spread the spiritual, social and humanitarian message. Dr Palmer was delighted to host the Iftar dinner and said, “Tonight’s program reflects our shared commitment as Muslims and Christians to build bridges of friendship and understanding across Australia’s rich cultural and religious diversity. All the audience joined together to sing along the Selam Salam Shalom Shlomo - a “Peace Song” to conclude the evening. Zia Ahmad is the Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST.
Eid Mubarak! Dear Brothers and Sisters, As Ramadan comes to an end, I would like to wish you and your families a blessed and happy Eid
Uncle Greg Simms.
Chin Tan
Race Discrimination Commissioner Phone: 02 9284 9600
racediscriminationcommissioner@humanrights.gov.au
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Parliamentary Iftar celebrates AMUST
Continued from Page 1 The invited guests at the Iftar included business people, members of the Parliament, members of the media (including ABC, SBS, Sydney Morning Herald, Walkley Foundation, Desi Australia, AMUST and Zaman), members from the Royal Australian Navy, NSW Police Force, United Nations Association of Australia, youth and education leaders, community and religious leaders, school principals, captains and students, government officials, former diplomats, academics as well as well as consul generals representing a number of countries. The formal program commenced with an introduction and a welcome by Kumi Taguchi, presenter and broadcaster on the ABC, who actd as MC for the evening. Welcome to Country was given by Walangari Karnatawarra, an Australian Aboriginal artist and Aboriginal elder from Alice Springs and now lives and works in Sydney. Pauline Wright, President of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties and an Affinity Advisory Board Member welcomed the guests. Bilal Kilic from Amity College, in his melodious voice gave Adhan, the Arabic call to prayer for guests to break their fast. In mosques all around the world, the call to the evening prayer signals the end of the fast and the beginning of the Iftar dinner. Mr Abdul Raheem, Consul at the Sri Lanka Consulate in Sydney reflected upon the recent acts of terror in Sri Lanka which claimed more than 200 innocent lives. Dr Kathy Egea, Senior Lecturer at UTS, was invited to the stage to present a gift to Mr Abdul Raheem. Soon after dinner, Walangari Karntawarra and Amity College Choir came together on the stage for a combined performance. Walangari performed a solo piece, followed by a performance from the Amity College Choir who sang, ‘Garrry Ninaname’, a traditional Aboriginal song & Touch the Sky, from Brave. The choir conductor for the evening was Emma Bolton, a music teacher at Amity College. The Hon John Sidoti and Ms Sophie Cotsis presented gifts to the Amity College Choir students and their teacher Emma Bolton. The Hon John Sidoti, Member for Drummoyne is the Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans, and a Member of the Liberal Party while Ms Sophie Cotsis, Member for Canterbury is Shadow Minister for Women, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism , Shadow Minister for Ageing, Shadow Minister for Disability Services, and a Member of the Autralian Labor Party. Both co-hosts of the Iftar addressed the guests and were presented with gifts by The Hon John Hatzistergos, Judge, District Court of NSW. The most popular and mover and shaker behind such successful events, Ahmet Polat, the Executive Director of Affinity Intercultural Foundation in his unique and hilarious style addressed all the guests present as his cousins appreciating all and thanking guests, sponsors, supporters and volunteers. Joe Gelonesi, Manager, Religion & Ethics ABC, presented a gift to Pauline Wright and Walangari. The audience were mesmerised by Qur’an recitation by Ibrahim Karaisli from Amity College. The keynote speaker, Craig Foster finally took to the stage and in addition to talking about his efforts to free Hakeem al-Araibi, gave a moving address of hiis passion for advocacy towards vulnerable people, gender equality in sport as a driver of change, indigenous rights and social justice and always being a prominent advocate for the beautiful game and its social impact on Australia. A special gift, Jersey signed by international soccer legend Hakan Sukur (Shukur) was presented to Craig Foster by Ahmet Polat. Sukur (Shukur) spent most of his club career at Galatasaray, but also played for Torino, Inter Milan, Parma and the Blackburn
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Rovers. He represented Turkey a total of 112 times, scoring 51 goals, making him the nation’s top goalscorer and 19th in the world
at the time of his retirement. One of the most prolific strikers of the modern era, he netted 383 goals throughout his club career as well
as the fastest ever in a World Cup, in 2002. A special musical performance was staged by Ashiya Khan and Yasmin Hasan who
Amity College Choir, Auburn.
Craig Foster.
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Chin Tan, Race Discrimination Commissioner.
From left: Ms Sophie Cotsis, Ahmet Polat, Kumi Taguchi and The Hon John Sidoti. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
Sophie Cotsis MP, State Labor Member for Canterbury..
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our Australian diversity
participated in the International Festival of Language and Culture (IFLC), one of the largest and most prominent events for pro-
moting world languages and cultures. It was dedicated to cultivate and educate the youth and create a platform to share their
cultural heritage with their peers around the world. Ashiya Khan sang “You’re the Voice” by Joseph La Posta, CEO, Multicultural NSW with The Hon John Sidoti.
Ahmet Polat with Hakeem.
M.M. Abdul Raheem, Consul General Sri Lanka.
Bilal Kilic. JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Dr Geoff Lee (right) with Ashiya Khan, Yasmin Hasan and Nuran Okan.
Louisa Graham, Chief Executive of The Walkley Foundation.
The Hon John Sidoti.
Principal Chaplain Collin Acton, Director General Chaplaincy from the Royal Australian Navy.
Pauline Wright, President, NSW Council for Civil Liberties.
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the one of Australia’s most beloved solo artists, John Farnham while Yasmin Hasan sang “Get Along” by Guy Sebastian, first winner of the first Australian Idol in 2003. The Hon Dr Geoff Lee, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education was invited to the stage to present gifts from Affinity to Ashiya, Yasmin and their music teacher Nuran Okan. Geoff stayed back on the stage to address the audience. The Consul General of New Zealand in Sydney, Mr Bill Dobbie, honoured the guests with a moving address reflecting upon the recent tragedy in Christchurch and the coming together of the community afterwards. Prof Mary Sponberg, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Southern Cross University presented a gift to Mr Dobbie. The Hon John Sidoti and Ms Sophie Cotsis handed sponsorship certificates to all of the sponsors, Suttons Homebush Honda, Multicultural NSW, University of Sydney, Settlement Services International (SSI), NAB and Notre Dame University. Hakeem Al- Araibi, Community & Human Rights Advocate at Football Victoria accepted the award on behalf of Football Victoria. Afterwards, Principal Chaplain Collin Acton, Director General Chaplaincy from the Royal Australian Navy and Louisa Graham, Chief Executive of the Walkley Foundation gave reflections from the floor. The Vote of Thanks was given by Mr Chin Tan, Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commision who was presented with a gift by Patricia Jenkings, President of the United Nations Association of Australia. Pauline Wright, President of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, and Kumi Taguchi closed the formal proceedings with concluding remarks. Ramadan is a month dedicated to self-discipline, spiritual renewal and togetherness. It is a time when Muslims recommit themselves to their faith, following days of discipline with nights of gratitude for the gifts that God bestows. Ramadan presents an opportunity for Muslims to bring their most positive values to the fore. It’s a time of spiritual renewal and a reminder of one’s duty to our fellow human beings: to serve one another and lift up those less fortunate. The Quran teaches that we should tread gently upon the earth and, when confronted by ignorance, reply “peace”. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. By foregoing things that we take for granted, by taking care to be kind, respectful and just, we are more likely to live out our values. Ahmet Burak Alpay completed his Bachelor of Science (Majoring in Statistics) at La Trobe University and went on to study a Diploma of Education (Secondary) at Queensland University of Education. Burak worked as a Projects Officer at the Australian Intercultural Society, which is based in Melbourne, for one year after taking up a similar role at Affinity Intercultural Foundation in Sydney. Burak has mentored high school students for years, which involves organising and participating in tutoring, student well-being and study camps.
John Sidoti and Hakeem. AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
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Annual Interfaith Ramadhan Dinner at Al Siraat College AMUST
Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas The Annual Interfaith Ramadan Dinner was hosted by Al Siraat College in collaboration with the City of Whittlesea on Thursday 9 May 2019. Interfaith events and platforms for Interfaith engagement play an important role in ensuring greater social cohesion in our communities, instilling a sense of belonging, and replacing fear and division with compassion and curiosity. The event MC was College Vice Captain Chakour Sai and the Iftar Dinner was attended by representatives from various local faith communities and local schools. Special guests included members of Victoria Police, MP Bronwyn Halfpenny, Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox, Cr Tom Joseph, Cr Mary Lalios and Senior Sergeant Adrian Brilliant as well as members of our own school community. As has become our tradition at Al Siraat, the Welcome to Country was done by none other than local Indigenous Muslim elder of the Wurunjeri, Br Hassan Andrew Gardiner. Speeches were made by College founder and Principal, Mr Fazeel Arain, Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox and MP Bronwyn Halfpenny. Mufti Aasim Rashid gave a wonderful speech on the month of spirituality before the breaking of the fast (Iftar) and congregational prayers in the Musallah. The event included a video of the humble beginnings of the College and a presentation
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From left: Mayor Lawrie Cox, Ms Noori Ahmed, Ms Rahat Arain, SRC Hafsa Sarwar, SRC Chakour Sai, MP Bronwyn Halfpenny, CR Tom Joseph, Mr Andrew Houghton. by the amazing work of our Student Representative Council (SRC) members and interfaith students as well as reflections from the audience. Special reflections were shared by former ASC Principal Mr Andrew Houghton. Whenever there is a community Iftar there are countless people working in the background putting it all together. The people who cook the food, set up the venue, man-
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age traffic, manage the program and contribute in many other ways. May Allah generously and hastily reward all those who contribute towards these community iftar dinners. Happy Eid to all. Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas is on the advisory board for ECCV Gambling Harm project. She’s an active member of Whittlesea In-
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terfaith Network and currently works as the Community Engagement Facilitator for Al Siraat College. Gulhan has a robust history of advocacy for Interfaith dialogue & building resilient, compassionate communities. She is passionate about empowering and developing Muslim youth as spokespeople for their communities.
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IPDC Hosts annual iftar at Canberra Hyatt
Siddiq Buckley, Principal of Islamic School of Canberra.
Monir Hossain, President, IPDC.
Manarul Islam Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle (IPDC) hosted their annual iftar for diplomats and political leaders on Friday 10 May at the historic Hyatt Hotel in Yarralumla, Canberra. The iftar was themed Building Harmonious Multicultural Society to emphasise the need for unity and hope in these often dark times. The event commenced with the recitation
of the Holy Qur’an by Harisur Rahman before Sheikh Adama Konda from the Canberra Islamic Centre delivered his speech on the Philosophy of Ramadan.
Bluestar Iftar with NZ High Commissioner and Hana Assafiri Hana Assafiri OAM.
Manarul Islam Bluestar Intercultural Centre conducted their annual iftar event on Tuesday 14 May at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) in Barton, ACT. The evening commenced with the call to prayer followed by a talk by Shan Gunawardena, a prominent member of the Muslim community. Professor Stephen Pickard, Executive Director of the ACCC, welcomed the guests and, after dinner, introduced Dame Annette King, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia, who gave a passionate speech JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Dr Majharul Talukder, IPDC’s Secretary of Multicultural Affairs welcomed the guests followed by an immaculate and delicious iftar and dinner before proceedings continued with Imran Hossain, who facilitated the program throughout the evening, introducing the President of IPDC, Monir Hossain. Other speakers and guests at the iftar included Mr Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs, HE Mr Mesaad Ibrahim Al-Sulaim, Ambassador, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Mr Alistair Coe, ACT Opposition Leader, and Mr Michael Chew,
Acting Chief Police Officer, Australian Federal Police. Siddiq Buckley, the newly appointed Principal of the Islamic School of Canberra and a veteran of Islamic schooling in Australia, gave an emotional recounting of the engagement Al Noori Primary School had in the early nineties with their neighbours whilst he was the principal there. The event concluded with remarks from Mohammed Moniruzzaman on behalf of IPDC. More photos of the event can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/IPDCiftar2019
Dame Annette King.
about hope out of despair. Musical interludes were provided by Christopher Latham, Donald Nordblom and Edward Neeman. Najiya Hamack then introduced the audience to the keynote speaker, Hana Assafiri OAM, founder and owner of the famous Moroccan Soup Bar in Melbourne and a vocal speaker on issues relating to feminism and Islam. Muhammed Aksu, Director of Bluestar Intercultural Centre, delivered his Vote of Thanks before the evening wrapped up with dessert, tea and coffee. More photos of the event can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/bluestariftar Manarul Islam is an IT professional, community worker and AMUST correspondent based in Canberra. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
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Unity in diversity at Community Leaders Iftar
Dr Mehmet Aslan
The University of Wollongong in conjunction with Amity College held the 7th annual Community Leaders Ramadan Iftar Dinner on Tuesday 21 May at the UOW Innovation Campus. The night was a great success with over 110 attendees (faith, education and community leaders) from the Illawarra region and Sydney, including the Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbury and Local
MP Mr Paul Scully. The most engaging MC for the evening was Nick Rheinberger from ABC Radio. The aim of the dinner was to offer reflections on creating and sustaining meaningful relationships across diverse cultural communities. Dr Mehmet Aslan, principal of Amity College Illawarra during his address said, “It is wonderful to be here to celebrate a sacred time on the Islamic calendar but also to come together and share our national diversity in faiths, culture and ideas. In Australia, and indeed across the globe, there is an awakening that our diversity can bring unity and this has been demonstrated time and time again.”
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While reflecting on Christchurch tragedy, he said, “More recently in the aftermath of the Christchurch massacre or the Sri Lankan attacks. Our humanity prevails. Diversity is our strength. We were all united in grief. We all need to continue witnessing this greatness of compassion and unity because this is Australia and this is who we are.” Local Lawyer Hayley Kelloway gave a speech on the topic of Ramadan and Social Harmony stating, “As a Muslim, it is really warming to know that people of different faiths, cultures and nationalities - acknowledge and respect, our adherence and participation in this blessed month…. I personally believe that perseverance in relation to social harmony is important. Education and understanding are fundamental steps of acknowledging and accepting others….. “. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Health and Communities), Professor Alison Jones was the keynote speaker and gave an enlightening speech on the topic of social harmony amongst cultures reflecting on her own Welsh background and taught the audience about ‘croeso’, the Welsh word for welcome and shared a personal story of the unity and compassion. Dr Melissa Thompson, Senior Manager of Advancement Services and Community Engagement said that UOW is proud to host an annual Iftar dinner as part of the Univer-
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sity’s commitment to building community and extending hospitality. Attendees were also treated to a lovely choir performance by Amity College Illawarra students, as well as being mesmerised by the live artworks of Ebru master, Fatih Sultan Kose. Ebru is a traditional Turkish painting art (also known as marbling), in which colourful patterns are created by sprinkling and brushing color pigments on a pan of oily water and then transforming this pattern to paper. Amity College is an independent, non-denominational, multi campus school operating in NSW since 1996. The school aims to develop a well-rounded person by having students exercise their social responsibility through engagement in community work, intercultural and interfaith activities with other students. The University of Wollongong Community Engagement team aims to play an active role in maintaining close connections with the community. The university provides key social and economic initiatives that support the shared values of the university, the wider community and enrich our society. Dr Mehmet Aslan is the Principal of Amity College, Illawarra.
As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, I wish the Islamic community a very happy Eid Mubarak! ANNE STANLEY MP MEMBER FOR WERRIWA
Anne Stanley MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR WERRIWA Shop 7, 441 Hoxton Park Rd, Hinchinbrook 2168 (02) 8783 0977 anne.stanley.mp@aph.gov.au www.annestanley.com.au anne.stanley.werriwa Authorised by Anne Stanley MP, ALP (NSW), 7/441 Hoxton Park Rd, Hinchinbrook NSW 2168
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ISRA Melbourne Senator Rice hosts Women’s hosts Students’ Iftar Iftar in Melbourne
The keynote speaker Omer Atilla Ergi spoke about the significance of searching for knowledge. Anam Javed.
Seyma Ordu
Sarah Khattaba. AMUST Media Senator Janet Rice, Greens Senator for Victoria, hosted a women’s Iftar for over 100 women and children from Melbourne’s Muslim community on Thursday 9 May at Merlynston Progress Hall in Coburg North. “It was a huge privilege to host an Iftar for Melbourne’s Muslim women and to join our diverse Muslim community in observing the holy month of Ramadan,” said Senator Janet Rice. “To all of Australia’s Muslims, I wish you Ramadan Mubarak.” “There was a powerful sense of togetherness and friendship in the room, and knowledge that by working together we support each other and can optimistic and hopeful about achieving a truly
just and equal society.” “By gathering together and sharing food, we celebrate our friendship, our diverse communities and Muslim women.” “At a time when right-wing extremist groups have found a mouthpiece in Federal Parliament through the likes of Fraser Anning and Pauline Hanson, it’s more important than ever to counter hate speech, division and fear with community and friendship.” “My Australia is one where we do not just tolerate diversity; we celebrate it. We understand that it makes us richer, stronger and better as a community and as a nation.” The event included prayers and speeches from Religious leader Hala Amera, local community advocate Anam Javed, young Muslim activist Sarah Khattaba, and poet Faseeha Hashmi.
ISRA Melbourne hosted Students’ Iftar dinner on Sunday 19 May 2019 attended by more than 70 ISRA (Islamic Sciences and Research Academy) students and their families. The students competed on a Kahoot game where the challenge was “How well do you know your lecturers?”. The students had to answer questions like “Which lecturer has the name of an Ottoman Sultan?” or “Which lecturer is known for their love of cats?”. The winner received a gift pack, including a copy of Quran gifted from the Imam of Masjid al Aqsa.
The Dean Awards were also presented on the night, which are given to those who achieved a grade of distinction or high distinction in all coursework subjects undertaken. The Iftar dinner concluded with floor reflections. One student said: “Many of us have classic Islamic education, studied Islam overseas or were trained in a madrasa. However, we do not have the accreditation for our knowledge. ISRA is a unique organisation and it fulfils the need of accredited Islamic tertiary education in an Australian university.” Seyma is the Student Support and Welfare Officer for Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) based in Melbourne.
Excited participants waiting for the next question.
“My Australia
is one where we do not just tolerate diversity; we celebrate it.
“
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FEDERAL SENATOR FOR VICTORIA Authorised by Senator Raff Ciccone, 1013 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC 3128
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Family violence upskilling for Muslim leaders Dr Nada Ibrahim Over 30 Muslim Leaders enjoyed the Family Violence Upskilling for Imams & Community Leaders 2019 event on 24– 25 April 2019 organised in partnership with Board of Imams Victoria (BOIV); inpsiredNAFSi; Centre for Islamic Thought & Education (CITE), University of South Australia and funded by Victoria Government. Dr Nada Ibrahim was contracted to lead this program and deliver it. This program has been piloted in Feb 2018 with the Brisbane Muslim Community at great success. It is great to see the Board of Imams Victoria taking the lead on the issue of family violence in creating awareness and increasing Imam/Community’s capacity in sustainable work on this important area. The 2-day intensive event, included a combination of presentations and workshop-based individual, paired and group activities. The sessions were co-facilitated by Dr Nada Ibrahim and Aunty Debra Bennet from Relationships Australia Queensland. We thank Allah and the BOIV especially Sheikh Saleem Nawas and Sheik Mostafa for all their efforts in making this a successful event. We thank all the table facilitators, admin staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to put this event together. We also thank every Imam/Leader of the Melbourne Muslim community who participated to make this a hugely successful event alhamdulillah. Imams/Leaders benefited by being upskilled with knowledge and practical skill on strength-based language; identifying men’s and women’s roles from the perspectives of country-of-origin, culture-of-origin,
Professional panel presentation.
religion-of-origin and family-of-origin and the challenges in doing so; trauma-informed practice; myths surrounding family violence (FV); privilege and its erosion for FV victims; internal & external voices of FV victims, Iceberg models on gender inequality; understanding FV dynamics and statistics (including those for Australian Muslim community); strengths of Muslim communities and families based on social justice values, community & diversity, family & marriage, respect & compassion; FV response in family, workplace, community & cyber spaces ; reporting FV and barriers associated with accessing Australian criminal justice system; FV best practices and associated challenges based on the perspectives of general practitioner, police, service provider and magistrates court when working with victims of violence; developing rehearsed plan when responding to FV in Muslim communities; legislation and duty of care for Com-
munity Leaders when responding to FV; importance of collaboration when working with other agencies, Islam’s view about FV and discussions on Quran 4:34; developing a strategy on how leaders can break cycle of violence, how they can educate themselves and their communities on FV, creating safer families and homes and creating responsive workplaces and communities.
Evaluations suggest that participants particularly enjoyed the interactive nature of the workshop and the activities that engaged them. The professional presentation panel was a big success including the roleplay that followed demonstrating best practices by Imam, general practitioner, Victoria Police, inTouch as service provider and Victoria Magistrates Court. There will be follow-up sessions from this event in areas particular to further development of the Imams and Community leaders in the space of family violence. Any interest in such training can be directed to Dr Nada Ibrahim on Nada.Ibrahim@unisa.edu.au Dr Nada Ibrahim is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Islamic Thought & Education, University of South Australia with a PhD(Criminology), M.Ed(Guidance & Counselling) and B.HSc(Psychology with an Islamic Psychology intersect). Her expertise is in building healthy family relationships including intimate partner violence (IPV) in Muslim communities, domestic and family violence (DFV) in faith-based and culturally and linguistically diverse communities and offers culturally and religiously appropriate prevention/recovery strategies in addressing DFV in Muslim communities.
Riverstone Muslim Cemetery Board hosts multifaith Iftar
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of welcome by Mr Ali. He introduced the guests, described the brotherhood relationship between the Muslims & Catholic group The “Riverstone Muslim Cemetery board in Sydney. Sydney’ arranged a Multifaith Iftar parMr Kazi Ali praised Mr Peter O’Meara for Ramadhan Mubarak! From IFAM and Queanbeyan Muslim Community ty at ‘Himalaya Restaurant” on Friday allocating 5 acres Cemetery space at Kemps 24 May 2019. The party was arranged Creek to the Muslim Community inside Mosque in a small community of in honour of Mr Peter O’Meara, CEO which they also built a small prayer place. Queanbeyan,next to Canberra has of Catholic Cemetery & Crematorium Among others, Dr Moinul Islam, PresiBoard. been in the making since 2013. dent of Shapla Shaluk Lions Club also adIt was attended by dignitaries from differ- dressed the gathering. He thanked for invitNeed your generous help for the ent communities/organizations in Sydney. ing the Lion personnel to the Iftar party. construction to continue. Guests present in the party were among Dr Islam then described different charity Be a proud contributor in its making others - Mr Rafique Hassan, President of projects done by Shapla Shaluk Lions Club with your generous donation today, Quakers Hill Mosque and Mr Mohammed that include repatriation of two destitute in this blessed month of Proposed Azam, Secretary of Quaker Hill mosque; Bangladeshi young people who faced preQueanbeyan mosque building Mr Anjum Rafiqi, Mr Azam Ali and Mr Ramadhan (May 2019). mature tragic death in Sydney in the recent Masjid Queanbeyan next Muslim to Canberra Ibrahim inMollah from Riverstone past. is in the making since six year “May Allah (the most High) accept all your good deeds”. Construction month He (May 2019) due to&lack of Funds…. Cemetery Board would and Mr stop Mizan this Howladar praised Mr O’Meara Mr Kazi Ali ADDRESS: were present the let Iftar party. Please do in not that happen. for their effective steps towards creating a It was also attended by Lion Members: Dr great bonding between the Catholics & the 00 183-185 Gilmore Road, Construction would ofstop this month (May It2019) due to lack Funds…. Moinul Islam President Shapla Shaluk Muslims. is a great example of theof peaceQueanbeyan, NSW 2620 Please do Lion not Elius let that happen. Lions club, ChowdhuryClub ful multicultural Australian society. www.queanbeyanmasjid.org.au Secretary, Lion Warren Latham- ex GovA special memento “Shapla Shaluk Lion ernor & Council Chairman & & Lion Ron Crest” was presented to Mr Peter O’Meara qbn.masjid@gmail.com Gattone -Immediate past Governor Lion as a token of gratitude. District 201N5. Mr O’Meara then thanked the Riverstone Bank details: The party was presided over by renowned Cemetery board, Muslim community & the BSB No. 062 334 Muslim veteran, charity worker & social Shapla Shaluk Lions Club for the acknowlAccount Number: 1103 3525 elder Mr Kazi Ali, President of Riverstone edgement. Muslim Cemetery board Sydney. The Iftar party then ended with a tradiA/c Name: Saarban Islamic Trust The meeting started with a short speech tional Indian/Pakistani dinner. Dr Moinul islam
Construction stage - STOPPED AS OF NOW!
f “Corset ometre of a one sqSuTRUCTION is CON 1,425” $
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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
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ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
LIFESTYLE 25 - 30
UMMAH 31 - 32
EDUCATION 33 - 35
TRAVEL 36 - 37
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL 38 - 39
Remembrance for victims of attack on places of worship Mehar Ahmad Unions in Unison Interfaith Iftar, held on Thursday 9 May at Trades Hall in Sydney, observed a minute of silence in remembrance of victims of attacks on mosques in Christchurch, churches in Colombo and on Chabad of Poway Synagogue in US. The diverse audience was addressed by the Secretary of Unions NSW, Mark Morey, Bob Carr, Shaoquett Moselmane and many other prominent speakers. This was the second annual Unions in Unison Interfaith Iftar and was hosted by the Secretary of Unions NSW, Mark Morey and the Secretary of the Transport Workers Union, Richard Olsen to celebrate the diversity in the Australian Society. The event with a delicious South Asian menu for the Iftar Dinner was sponsored by Unions NSW and South Asia Labor led by Aisha Amjad and Harish Velji. The master of ceremony Aisha Amjad welcomed all the guests present at the Iftar and drew attention to the significance of the venue and the diversity of people attending representing multicultural Australia. Mark Morey thanked Aisha and Harish in organising the well-attended function and acknowledged the presence of interfaith and community leaders, politicians and union members. Mark emphatically said that what happened in Christchurch is absolutely not acceptable. “We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and we will not remain silent and we support community to be together since we
are a diverse community. We have always been a diverse community and people who say racist slurs weakens our community,” Mark said. He further added, “But coming out together, tonight is very strong statement of working together and building bridges in our multicultural community.” Bob Carr organised the first parliamentary Iftar in 2004 inviting members of the Muslim Community together with other interfaith leaders to the NSW parliament. He was delighted see a number of prominent high achievers from diverse background in the audience. Bob Carr condemned the recent attacks on places of worship and welcomed the interfaith gathering in making a statement of unity in diversity. He highlighted the plight of 800,000 Rohingya refugees and hoped that the newly elected government will make strong representations for them to be fully given the citizenship of Myanmar in the near future. Bob Carr also conveyed the recognition of Palestine by the Labor Party and again hoped that if the Labor government is for after the federal elections on Saturday 18 May, it will formally recognise Palestine. Shaoquett Moselmane, NSW MLA of Lebanese origin, who had the privilege of introducing the Quran as well as the Geeta in the Parliament of NSW during his address said that the Lebanese Australians have been victims of racism in the past in this country. However now they know the law and can fight back for themselves. Mehar Ahmad based in Sydney is a Public School Teacher and President of Seena Inc, Publishers of AMUST.
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Mark Morey, Secretary, TWU.
Bob Carr. Photo by Colin Henderson.
JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
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COMMUNITY
ALMA’s Welcome Ramadan Program
Jafran Anzar Austra-Lanka Muslim Association (ALMA) along with ALMA Children Education Program (ACEP) organised a program to welcome the holy month of Ramadan on Sunday 28 April at Auburn Town Hall in Sydney. The ‘Welcome Ramadan Program’ is an annual program organised by ALMA and ACEP prior to the commencement of Ramadan. One of the objectives of the program is to help the community prepare for this blessed month. The event also showcased the talents of children participating in ACEP Program. The program included speeches, nasheeds, presentations, reminders and a drama. In line with the name of the program, some of the children provided valuable information on how to maximise our rewards in
Ramadan. The program started at 3.45 pm and it was kicked off by the masters of ceremonies, Izwath and Hiba, who are both students of ACEP. The one-and-a-half-hour program included various performances. The highlight of the program for the night was a drama which showcased the life of Hind (r) and it was organised by the Senior Girls Class. Nasheeds were also performed by the younger students in the class. The Senior Boys Class did a presentation recapping their learnings from Surah Al Kahf. The special guest presenter for the evening, Sheikh Kamal, gave a valuable speech which helped the community prepare for the month of Ramadan. After Maghreb salah, light refreshments were provided for the guests to enjoy. Alhamdulillah, it was a very beneficial evening.
NEWS 1-4
BOOMERANG 5-8
COMMUNITY 9 - 18
MEFF 19 - 22
AUSTRALIA 23 - 24
IFAM hosts suburban Iftars in Sydney
Usman Malik Like every year IFAM hosted Iftar festivities for the local community in different suburbs of Sydney this year. A large number of families turned out to attend these blissful gatherings. Iftars were arranged in the suburbs of Rooty Hill, Bankstown and Campbelltown by the IFAM chapters
Senator Mehreen Faruqi speaking at the event.
(Halaqa’s) in those areas. IFAM President Mr Rais Khan had instructed all its local chapters to arrange Iftar festivities brothers and sisters, most of whom are living away from their families away from home in this foreign country. “It is also a great service to earn maximum reward from Allah by serving others in this holy month of Ramadan,” he said. IFAM has always been committed in bringing the community closer and fulfilling their social needs. Usman Malik is the MGM of IFAM. He is based in Sydney.
Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi hosts Women’s Iftar AMUST Media
Green’s Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi hosted her annual Women’s Iftar dinner on Tuesday 7 May in Granville, Western Sydney. The dinner was attended by more than 80 women and addressed by Senator Faruqi and a number of prominent speakers including
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Randa Abdel-Fattah and Souha Korbatieh together with poetry performances by Aishah Ali and Layla Mkhayber. The speakers spoke about the significance of having Muslim women, like Senator Mehreen Faruqi, in parliaments and the importance of Muslim women engaging in politics and making sure their voices are heard.
AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
Senator Faruqi is Australia’s first Muslim Senator and is up for re-election on 18 May during federal elections. She concluded her address with the following words: “Since migrating from Pakistan in 1992, I have worked for the community as a civil & environmental engineer, academic and consultant. Now I’m your Senator for NSW and I will continue to stand against racism
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and bigotry and against the likes of Pauline Hanson if I am re-elected to the Senate on May 18th.” “This election, your vote is powerful. Now more than ever, you need a strong Green voice in the Senate to speak against racism, fight for action on climate change, and to hold the next government to account.” ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
LIFESTYLE 25 - 30
UMMAH 31 - 32
EDUCATION 33 - 35
TRAVEL 36 - 37
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL 38 - 39
AMUST
Cultural Program Co-ordinator: Fousiya Bismi
Session 1: 11.00 pm - 12.00 pm MC:
Talib Bismi
Session 2: Main Ceremony 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm MC:
Welcome & MC Announcements
Session 3: 3.30 pm - 4:30 pm MC:
Orhan Kaba
Welcome & MC Announcements
Welcome
Talib Bismi
Sarwar Tahzeeb
Orhan Kaba
Quran Recitation
Quran Recitation
Australian National Anthem
Qari Ejaz Karimyar
Qari Mustfa Taheri
Mehreen Javed
Traditional Bosnian Folk Dance
Poster Competition Announcement
Acknowledgement to Country
Sydney Bosnian Folk Group
Young Innovators Network
Ziaul Islam Ahmad, Patron of MEFF
Sikh Martial Arts
Stage Performance
Quran Recitation
Young Innovators Network
Welcome Address
Young Innovators Network
Shaheedi Faujan Gartka Akhara
Qari Mustafa Ashrafi
Chennai Duff Drumming Australian Tamil Arts
Islamic iQuiz
Ali Alsalami, President of MEFF
Thanks & End
Poster Competition Prizes
VIP Addresses
Talib Bismi
Zileej
Thanks & End
Taekwondo Performance
Session 4: 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm
Australian Taekwondo & Fitness Academy
Welcome & MC Announcements
Sponsor’s Addresses
Tick Tock Magic Show
Thanks & End
MC:
Minaret Mountain Books
Thanks & End
Session 5: 7.00 pm - 7.30 pm
MEFF Sponsors Orhan Kaba
Presented by The Magic Circus
Book Reading ‘It’s Jumma‘ah Day’
Sarwar Tahzeeb
VIP Addresses
Talib Bismi
Talib Bismi
Sarwar Tahzeeb
FIREWORKS AT 7:30PM Near the Oval
Talib Bismi
MC:
Hussain Tirmidhi
Entry Prize Announcements Hussain Tirmidhi
Martial Arts Ahil Mira
Spontaneous Entertainment Free for All
Prayer Timings Zuhr Prayer
Asr Prayer
Maghrib Prayer
Isha Prayer
Zuhr Adhan 12:00 pm Zuhr Salat 12:15 pm
Asr Adhan 2:45 pm
Maghrib Adhan 5:10 pm Maghrib Salat 5:15 pm
Isha Adhan 6:30 pm
JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Asr Salat 3:00 pm
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Isha Salat 6:45 pm
AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
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CENTREFOLD 27/5/19
AMUST
NEWS 1-4
BOOMERANG 5-8
MEFF 2019 MAP
COMMUNITY 9 - 18
MEFF 19 - 22
AUSTRALIA 23 - 24
EXHIBIT STALLS ENTRY
Please use this as a guide only
R2
CAMEL RIDES
R6 SHUTTLE BUS FROM FAIRFIELD STATION
SMITHFIELD RD SHOWGROUND MAIN ENTRANCE
PONY RIDES
R9
A11 A10 A9
A8
A7
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PRAYER AREA PRAYER B7 B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1 AREA MEN C19 C18 C17 C16 C15 C14 Entry
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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Entry
LADIES
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D17 D16 D15 D14 D13
D12 D11 D10 D9
D8 D7
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C6 C5 C4 C3 C2 C1 T3
TABLES Sp
EXHIBITION STALLS
Entry B20 B19 B18
B17 B16 B15 B14 B13
B12 B11 B10 B9
A20 A19 A18
A17 A16 A15 A14 A13
A12 A11 A10 A9 A8 A7
B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1
B8 B7
T1 T4
A6 A5 A4
VIP EN
H2
A3 A2 A1
T6
T5
T10
T7
T8
T9
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H1
TRY UNDER CONSTRUCTION (NO ENTRY)
V8
V9
V10
VIEWING AREA FOR FIREWORKS
R8
EXHIBITION STALLS DIRECTORY | A-Z Stall No. Stall Name (A-F) B7 B8 A7
C11 A13 A14 C1 A8,9 10, 11 D5
D3
B11 B4 C12 C9 C7
B12
20
Amal Makki Hijabs | Shawl | Undercaps | Abaya | Burqa | Swimming Costumes | One And Two Piece Scarfs Ause Uguz (Turkish Islamic Clothing) Ladies Clothes | Gifts Items: Kids Clothes | Albums | Dummy | Frames | Baby Wraps | Kitchen Wares: Scraping Items | Silicon Brush | Icing Trays & More Australian Hearing Services Information Ayahs Hijabs | Dresses | Skirts | Tops | Pants | Bags | Shoes | Jelbabs Bella Fashion design Traditional Pakistani And Indian Wear For Women boutique nour al houda Islamic Clothing EDU FUN Australia EDUCATIONAL TOYS: | What’s Inside My Alphabet? | Alphabet Board | Fish Letter Puzzle | Turtle Letter Puzzle | 1 To 10 Puzzle Set | Play & Learn 1 2 3 | Spell - A - Word | Play & Learn Alphabet | What’s Inside My Numbers? | Number Board | A B C Clown Arabi | Arabic Alphabet Blocks | Magnetic Arabic Alphabet | Building Arabic Words Set | Movable Arabic Letters | Trace Me: Arabic Numbers | Trace Me: Arabic Letters Elton Consulting on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities Information On The Western Sydney Airport FLOCK CLOTHING Women's Clothing: Dresses | Tops | Scarves Galaxy Foundation Clothes | Shawls And Scarves Hejaz Financial Services Islamic Super | Investments And Finance Holy Teaching The Meanings Of The Holy Quran | Injil | Zebur And Tavrat Hura Henna Artist Henna Painting (Bodyart) | Artificial Jewellery | Indian Clothing indian henna artist sydney HENNA TATTOO AND FACE PAINTING
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Stall No. Stall Name (G-M) B10
C3 D11 D1 C4 D15 B14 D13
A6 B5 D9 E1
B1 B2
B6 A1 A2 D7 D8
international paintball group Exclusive Discounts For Paintball Islamic Co-operative Finance Australia Limited (ICFAL) Information jade vine Children And Teen's Hijabs & Hijab Caps | Hijabs KANIZ FATEMA Light Up Bubble Guns | Light Up Tys Keerti Henna Art Kids Face painting Khairi LED balloons - Ayesha Aamir LED Balloons | Arts & Crafts | Handmade Keychains | Stoles | Small Designing Ropes Knc group Hijabs | Formal Accessories | Handbags And Home Made Candles. Minaret Mountain Books Children's Books: 'It's Jummah Day' | 'The Butterfly Refugee' | 'Daris The Bosniak' | Wooden Bookmarks Modest Designs Hijab & Islamic Wear Nuzhat Jabeen Clothes | Shoes | Jewellery Orphans and Widows West Africa Inc. African Jewellery | African Décor Palestine Fair Trade Australia Jenin Olive Oil – Blend Of Distinction | Organic Jerusalem Olive Oil | Organic EV Olive Oil | Rumi | Bottle | Organic Green Olive Tapenade | Jar | Freekeh (Roast Wheat) | Maftoul – Organic | Handrolled Couscous | Soap – Traditional Nabulsi | Za’atar Rahimah Ho Abayyas For Men & Women & Children | Scarves Caps | Prayer Cloths | Brooches sunnah queen Jilbabs | Khimars | Niqabs | Skirts | Canvases | Calligraphy | Keychains the emina shop Scarves | Clothes | Bonds | Pins | Hijabs The Islamic Bookstore Islamic & Children’s Books | Islamic Frames | Prayer Mats | Kids DVD
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Stall No. Stall Name (M-Z) B13
C5
D10
D12 A4 C13 C14 B16 B17 A12
Tiny Kingdom Kids Clothing: Winter Sets | Scarfs | Tops | Pants TOYS JUNCTION Kids Toys | Beyblades | Bubble Guns | Light Toys | Girl Character Toys Which Include Frozen | LOL And Boy Character Toys Which Include PJ Mask | Spider Man A Many More Unimoni Pty Ltd Foreign Currency Exchange & Money Transfer Services Bags | Goodies Unity Grammar Information | Balloons | Pens University of Wollongong Information Walidsportsclothes Books | CDs | Clothes Costco Costco Membership DOAA Kids Clothes | Hijabs
Stall No. Information Stalls T1
Stardust Circus
Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program (UNSW) Information on free mental health services available fo refugees Alliance for Gambling Reform T3 T2
T4
hornsby dawah community
T5
Daleel
T6
Ethnic Communities Council of NSW
T7
Young Innovators Network
T8
ICSOA/Redcross
ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
LIFESTYLE 25 - 30
UMMAH 31 - 32
EDUCATION 33 - 35
TRAVEL 36 - 37
SOCIAL GATE E 38 - 39
FOOD STALLS ENTRY
CENTREFOLD
FOOD STALLS DIRECTORY Stall No. Stall Name
Juice Please Pty Ltd Sugarcane Juice Fusion | Sizes Are Small And Large Galaxy Foundation Lokma With Various Chocolate Sauce | Sahlab Dos Churros Handmade Gourmet Vegan Churros | Cold Drinks FlufďŹ e Floss Fresh Fairy Floss: Candy Floss On A Sticks | Bags | Rainbow Tubs | Water | Soft Drink Pearls Gozleme Fresh Turkish Gozleme: Dessert Options Nutella | Strawberry | Banana | Spinach Cheese | Add Beef Mince | Chicken | Mushroom | Veggies | Potato | Gluten Free And Vegan Options Available Chatfest Gol Gappe | Samosa Chaat | Bhel Puri | Papri Chaat | Tea | Water May's Malaysian Hawker Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) | Singapore Noodle (Curry Spice Noodle) | Char Kway Teow | Char Beehoon | Malay Cold Tea Himalaya Enterprises Pty Ltd Naan | Curry | Tandoori Chicken
F1
GATE F
F2 F3 F4
FIRST AID
F10
F11 F2
F3
F6
F4
V3
F12 F13 F14
S1
FOOD VANS DIRECTORY
R1
S2
ponsor Stalls
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And
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AMUST
Stall No. Stall Name
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R7
R3 V5
V4
V6
V7
F9 F10 F11
F12 F13 F14 F15
SMITHFIELD RD SHOWGROUND NORTHERN ENTRANCE
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION & WELFARE
Stall No. Sponsor Stalls D16 Low Cost Housing D17, C17 C6 D6 S1 S2 H1 H2
Sydney ice Cream Ice Cream | Coffee | Slushies | Drinks Jordan Kebab V2 Beef Kebabs C & C Tambakis V3 Twist Potato | Arancini Balls | Salad | Chips | Waffles | Toastie | Smoothies | Acai | Lemonade | Cold Drinks M & M Kebabs V4 Beef Kebab | Chicken Kebab | Hot Food | Cold Drinks | Hot Drinks Sweet choise V5 Ice Cream | Slushie | Cold Drink Big Roys Kebabs V6 Beef & Chicken Kebab | Snack Pack | Chicken Schnitzel Roll | Tuna Roll | Hot Dog | Pluto Pup | Fish & Chips | Hot Chips | Drinks Twist Chips on a Stick V7 Menu Attached IMAKAN Malabar Snacks: Unnakai (Spindle Shaped Sweet Dessert Made V8 Chiefly Of Plantain) | Chatti Pathiri (Layered Pastry Made In The North Malabar) | Erachi Pathiri (Meat Stuffed Rice Bread, That Is Deep-Fried | Samosa (Friend Dish With A Savoury Filling, Such As Spiced Potatoes, Onions, Lentils | Cutlet (Mashed Potato And Cooked Meat (Chicken/Beef) Stuffing That Is Fried With A Bread Batter/Covering) | Kaipola (Sweet Combination Of Egg And Banana) KASAP PTY LTD V9 Gozleme | Beef And Chicken Kebab | Charcoal Adana & Chicken Shish | Pluto Pop | Potato Chips | Chicken Chips | Chicken Stick | Drinks & Water Harinder Kaur V10 Ice Cream | Coffee | Gelato | Fresh Juice | Slushies | Drinks | Popcorn V1
R4
Interest Free Land For Sale Human Appeal Australia Information on Emergency Relief & Empowerment of Communities MySatGo Travel Advice & Consular Information Service | Photo Booth Islamic Foundation for Education & Welfare (IFEW) Information | Books Australasian Muslim Times AMUST Community Newspaper
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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
SHOWGROUND ENTERTAINMENT R1
Drumming Workshop All Day
R2
Thomas Train Ride START Free from 11AM - 3PM
R3
Thomas Train Ride END Free from 11AM - 3PM
R4
Facepainting: 12PM - 4PM, 3PM - 5PM
R5
Balloon Twisting 12PM - 4PM Balloon Twisting (Roaming) 3:20PM - 4:20PM
) or
SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS AT 7:30 PM (near the oval)
JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
R6
Creative Kids Workshops Ages 6-9: 3PM - 4PM Ages 10-16: 4PM - 5PM
R7
Magic Show (on stage) 5:40 - 6:30PM
R8
Fireworks: 7:30PM
R9
Islamic Art Exhibition Dora, Mickey, Minnie, Tarek: Throughout The Day WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
RIDES Storm | Swing Ride | Bungee Tramps | Sizzler | Zumur | Astroliner | Dodgem Cars | BIG Ferris Wheel | Gravitron | Rocking Tug | Inflatable World | Paddle Boats OR Water Balls | Cup & Saucer | Mini Chairs | Convoy | Auto Bee | Train | Giant Slide. and much, much more!
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AMUST
AUSTRALIA
NEWS BOOMERANG MEFF Souvenir 2019 1-4 5-8
COMMUNITY 9 - 18
MEFF 19 - 22
Cultural Program
AUSTRALIA 23 - 24
Co-ordinator: Fousiya Bismi Session 2: Main Ceremony 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Session 1: 11.00 pm - 12.00 pm MC:
Talib Bismi
MC:
Welcome & MC Announcements
Session 3: 3.30 pm - 4:30 pm
Orhan Kaba
Welcome
Talib Bismi
Australian National Anthem
Qari Ejaz Karimyar
Mehreen Javed
Traditional Bosnian Folk Dance
Acknowledgement to Country
Sydney Bosnian Folk Group
Ziaul Islam Ahmad, Patron of MEFF
Sikh Martial Arts 2020
Shaheedi Faujan Gartka Akhara at fairfield showground
Welcome & MC Announcements Quran Recitation Qari Mustfa Taheri
Poster Competition Announcement Young Innovators Network
Stage Performance
Quran Recitation
Young Innovators Network
Welcome Address
Young Innovators Network
Qari Mustafa Ashrafi
Chennai Duff Drumming
Sarwar Tahzeeb
Sarwar Tahzeeb
Orhan Kaba
Quran Recitation
MC:
Islamic iQuiz
THE FIRST, Thanks & End Poster Competition Prizes VIP Addresses LARGEST, Thanks & End Taekwondo Performance LONGEST Session 4: 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm VIP Addresses Strengthening communitiesSession 5: 7.00 RUNNING 7.30 pm Frompm the -Australian Sponsor’s Addresses Welcome & MC Announcements MEFF Consortium EID FESTIVAL and helping those in need Thanks & End Tick Tock Magic Show Entry Prize Announcements Ph: (02) 9823 2063 IN AUSTRALIA Email:Arts info@meff.com.au Book Reading ‘It’s Jumma‘ah Day’for the last 28 years. Martial Australian Tamil Arts
Ali Alsalami, President of MEFF
Talib Bismi
Zileej
Australian Taekwondo & Fitness Academy
MC:
Sarwar Tahzeeb
Talib Bismi
Talib Bismi
MEFF Sponsors
Presented by The Magic Circus
Orhan Kaba
Minaret Mountain Books
Thanks & End Talib Bismi
MC:
Hussain Tirmidhi
Hussain Tirmidhi
FIREWORKS AT 7:30PM Near the Oval
Call 1300 760 155 Visit www.hai.org.au
Ahil www.meff.com.au Mira
Spontaneous Entertainment Free for All
@MEFFAMC
Prayer Timings
Zuhr Prayer
Asr Prayer
Maghrib Prayer
Isha Prayer
Zuhr Adhan 12:00 pm Zuhr Salat 12:15 pm
Asr Adhan 2:45 pm Asr Salat 3:00 pm
Maghrib Adhan 5:10 pm Maghrib Salat 5:15 pm
Isha Adhan 6:30 pm Isha Salat 6:45 pm
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ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
LIFESTYLE 25 - 30
UMMAH 31 - 32
EDUCATION 33 - 35
TRAVEL 36 - 37
AUSTRALIA
SOCIAL 38 - 39
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Catholics host Interfaith Iftar in Sydney Dr Patrick Mclnerney The Catholic Diocese of Parramatta and the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations co-hosted an Interfaith Iftar Dinner on Monday 20 May 2019 at the Cathedral Hall. The iftar dinner is when Muslims, who fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, break their fast. More than 50 invited guests included representatives of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities, politicians, university academics, leaders from other churches and representatives from the Diocese of Parramatta. It was truly interfaith and ecumenical. The proceedings began precisely at sunset with the Azan (The Call to Prayer) recited by Sheikh Eid, a visiting scholar from AlAzhar University in Cairo who is assisting with religious services in the Parramatta Mosque during Ramadan. It was inspiring to hear the chant of the azan wafting through the Cathedral precincts. The Muslim guests then broke their fast with dates and water, as per the sunna or custom of the Prophet Muhammad, after which they prayed the evening prayer. After the Acknowledgement of Country, Bishop Vincent warmly welcomed everyone present. He noted that western Sydney is multicultural and multi-religious. He affirmed this as a richness, a blessing, a cause for celebration. As the Catholic leader in western Sydney, he stated: “In these troubled times, when evil forces seek to divide us on the basis of race, colour, ethnicity or religion, may Muslims, Christians, people of all faiths, and all people of good will remain united in heart and mind and resolve. May faith bind us in human solidarity, hope drive out fear, and love overcome hatred.” Rev Dr Patrick McInerney, Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Re-
lations, added a few words of welcome. He addressed all as “sisters and brothers”, as per the opening sentence of Pope Francis’ and Sheikh Tayeb’s joint Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which states: “Faith leads a believer to see in the other a brother or sister to be supported and loved.” He then recited a ‘grace before meals’ in Arabic, which included the line, “make us worthy to sit together at your heavenly table”. This resonates with the fifth chapter of the Qur’an, called Surah Al-Ma’idah (The Surah of the Table). Sheikh Eid then did a Qur’an recitation, which included the following verse: “O humanity! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him.” (Surah Al-Hujurat [The Rooms], 49:13).
Sheikh Mosaad Issa, Imam of the Parramatta Mosque, gave the keynote address. He emphasised the importance of interreligious dialogue. Referencing the above quote from the Qur’an, he noted that this verse is not addressed to Muslims only, but to all people. He concluded that we are commanded by God to get to know each other, to show respect and kindness, to cooperate with each other, and to do this in practical ways in our daily lives. During the meal, the guests from the different religions did as Sheikh Mosaad had suggested. We chatted and came to know each other better. A wonderful, friendly atmosphere prevailed throughout the evening. After the main course, Mr Bernard Kirkpatrick and members of the Cathedral Choir performed several hymns. Mr Kirkpatrick explained the hymns beforehand. The Christian chants resonated with the Quranic recitation earlier in the evening,
Wishing all the readers a blissful and joyful Eid. May Allah (S) accept your fasting and your good deeds.
providing a spiritual bond among all the guests. As Fr Patrick noted, the final Taizé hymn was a Christian version of the Muslim dhikr (prayer of remembrance). After the dessert course, Bishop Vincent presented gifts of appreciation to the Sheikhs and to the choir members. Photos and selfies cemented new friendships and were posted on social media. The Muslim guests particularly appreciated that the Catholic Church had taken this initiative to host an iftar during Ramadan. They welcomed it as an expression of respect and acceptance. They also appreciated the opportunity to hear Christian hymns and have then explained. The similarities in chants gave a spiritual connection. As the guests departed, there were promises to follow up on our friendships during the coming year and to have an even bigger interfaith iftar next Ramadan. Rev Dr Patrick McInerney is the Director of the Columban Mission Institute and Coordinator of its Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and is based in Sydney.
Pessimistic attack Warisha Mufti I am a dangerous thought rising in your head, Now even the sun looks so dead, The season has a thousand shades but instead, Hapless pay no heed to anything but the deadly night that dread, You have been losing every fight, How Hopeless your presence that’s what you thought every night, How many times you hold a pen to write, A letter of unbearable pain, for that wishing for death, will be right, Everyone is stabbing your back, If love is not for you and every single heart is black, Then why not to be rotten to the core track, Or choosing death, there is no need to blame because I am your own created Pessimistic attack..
Sukoon Quteifan JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Sukoon Quteifan is a graphic designer and illustrator. She is the creator and the illustrator of “Sukoon Al Quloob - Peace of Hearts”, an Islamic Cartoons facebook page. Sukoon is based in Sydney, Australia. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
Warisha Mufti has done her BS in Education. She loves to write poetry. She is based in Karachi, Pakistan. AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
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Federal Election: Miracle win, devastating loss & future implications Professor Shahjahan Khan A political miracle delivered the victory to the ruling Coalition of Liberal and National Party (LNP) in the Federal elections of Australia in May 2019. Out of 151 seats in the House of Representatives, LNP has won 75 (projected 78), opposition Labor Party has won 65 (projected 67), Greens Party 1 and others 5. As a result, Mr Scott Morrison will remain the Prime Minister of Australia for the next three years to lead a majority government. Regardless of the outcome of the Australian Federal election on Saturday 18 May 2019, Muslims in Australia have shown unprecedented interest in the election as the risk of electing racist bigots in the Parliament was too high. In a democracy, voting is the citizen’s power to elect leaders of their choice. Abstaining from voting should not be an option. It will give politicians with an agenda of hate and division easy access to parliament. The defeat of former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott in his long-held seat was a reflection on how out of touch this arrogant politician was. It is another favour to Mr Scott Morrison that this trouble maker backbencher is out of the parliament. In the last several years, Labor Party was leading all the opinion polls consistently and even at the eve of the election this party it was favoured to win the election. Many
Australians are asking, what went wrong with this party? The election results were decided based in Queensland and Western Australia, especially in northern Queensland. This is where the Labor party lost most of its seats and the election. This party did not win any single seat north of Brisbane. Preferences from conservative parties improved LNP performance significantly. The voters in Australia often decide their voting preferences based on the local issues that affect them directly, rather than national priorities, and to a lesser extent any political ideology. The reasons behind Labor losing the election includes its unpopular policies such as changing negative gearing and seniors tax credit. But more directly, the Andani Coal Mining factor had the most devastating effect on the Labor party. People in north Queensland live on mining because it provides them jobs and economic growth. This overwrites anything else including the climate change issue. The vicious TV ad campaign of United Australia Party of Mr Clive Palmer attacking Labor and its leader had seriously impacted on the voters in Queensland and Western Australia. This party spent $80m to run a successful negative campaign against Labor and its leader. Mr Scott Morrison must be grateful to his newfound political ally regardless of any under the table deal or not. Although Labor has been consistently above the Coalition in the opinion polls over the years, its leader Mr Bill Shorten
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was never as popular as his opponent at any time. The ‘faceless’ man may not have recovered from the background role he played in removing Mr Kevin Rudd as the Prime Minister. Voters did not forgive him, but ironically, they forgave Mr Scott Morrison when he did the same to Mr Malcolm Turnbull. In the Senate election, 40 seats were for grab, 6 each from 6 states and 2 each from two territories. The other 36 senators were elected for 6 years in the previous election and will continue to serve for the next three years. In the new Senate, Coalition will have 33, Labor 26, Green 8, Centre Alliance 2, One Nation 1 (maybe another one), Australian Conservatives 1, and Jacqui Lambie will return. Interestingly, in the Senate vote, One Nation party received 10.2% primary votes in Queensland compared to 3.2% nationally, in spite of all division and scandals in the party. In the House, this party received 8.7% primary votes in Queensland and 3.0% nationwide.
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In the 72 seat senate, the government will have to get support from 37 senators to pass bills that means they will need the support of at least 4 crossbench senators to get their agenda through the parliament. Long-serving opposition leader, Mr Bill Shorten has already stepped down from his position taking the responsibility of losing the election, and Labor is already in the process to elect its next leader most probably Anthony Albanese. If Labor could elect a good leader who is acceptable to the wider Australian population, changes its unpopular policies and take pragmatic, rather than ideological approach and remain united they may return to power at the next election. Professor Shahjahan Khan is professor of Statistics at University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He is the former President of Islamic Countries Society of Statistical Sciences and Expatriate Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
Israel-Palestine dialogue in Sydney Philip Feinstein While rockets were being fired from Gaza into Israel and aerial bombing by Israel into Gaza, a meaningful dialogue was taking place in Sydney. On Sunday 5 May, the Head of the General Delegation of Palestine, Izzat Abdulhadi, and the Israeli Ambassador to Australia, Mark Sofer, were being interviewed at a public forum in the Emanuel Synagogue in Woollahra in Sydney. Senior Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins (OAM) was the moderator in a full house of more than 300 enthusiastic people, most of whom were Jewish. The event was held under Chatham House Rules, meaning that no press or recordings were allowed. However the Australian online publication Plus61J was granted special permission to interview the Ambassadors prior and post the event and on which this report is based. In this rare opportunity to hear Israel’s senior diplomat in Australia together with his equivalent representing Palestine, it was heartening to hear them both trying to look ahead and not engage in historical dialogue. However, events of the past kept emerging, leading to robust exchanges despite the respect both men had for each other. In this forum, Izzat Abdulhadi was given the respect and time to talk and present his views, but there was always the risk that a
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similar meeting with the Palestinians may give rise to anti-Israel rhetoric. “The current attitude of demonising Israel is not helpful,” Sofer said. And, if similar respect were given to Sofer at a similar meeting: “I’d be happy to attend a forum of Palestinians to discuss how to move forward,” he said. Continuing with the dialogue, Abdulhadi emphasised: “We agreed to establish Palestine on 22 per cent of the original mandate, and we recognise Israel’s right to exist in 78 per cent of the land, as per the Oslo agreement, so we can’t compromise the compromise. Because of the settlements, we are left with only 9 per cent.” While showing admiration for the large turnout of observers, Abdulhadi also wanted to recognise the role of Rabbi Kamins. “Because he first came to Canberra where
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we talked about the issue, I have a lot of admiration for his even-handed approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Also, he has been to Palestine and he saw the settlements with his own eyes. He was very neutral. It was very important for this discussion. I was very glad because I felt comfortable saying what I wanted to.” Abdulhadi further added: “My message to the Jewish community is to support the international law covering human rights for the Palestinian people. The Jewish community here should play a role. It is very influential and has influence on the Australian government and on the Israeli government. I’d like to engage more with the Jewish community because I think it’s very important for understanding, and I’d like to encourage the Palestinian community also
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to engage with the Jewish community to try to change stereotypes about each other and know more about each other.” Sofer pointed out: “Israel is doing well – not the same can be said for the Palestinians which I think is sad. So a better path for them might well be to stop rejection of proposals, to cease violence and together help build up their own economy and institutions, a civil approach. There has been a breakdown of trust.” It is to be hoped that this meeting, like others in the past, can start to gain traction. Philip Feinstein is a Sydney based writer, musician and activist working for MUSIC FOR REFUGEES www.musicforrefugees.org
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“Freedom” to change anti-Islam narrative
both visited Australia at different times. Australian Muslims should not deprive their fellow citizens of their first human right, which is to understand who is their Creator and how He should be worshipped. Therefore every Muslim in Australia should be pro-active in promoting Islam and support projects like Freedom to allow every Australian to understand Islam better and what it truly means to be a Muslim.
Gulhan Eryegit Yoldas As we celebrate Eid this month with our families please spare a thought for French Muslim mothers. Last month in another blatant demonstration of oppression of women and Islamophobia, the French Senate voted to ban mothers who wear headscarves from accompanying their children on school trips. In the face of growing anti-Islam sentiment, French Muslim convert and film co-director Julien Drolon together with co-director Zara Shafie, his Malaysian born wife have produced arguably the most inspiring documentary film of the year, ‘Freedom’. A first of its kind, this documentary film features 50 converts from across the globe sharing their reflections and stories on their journey to Islam. The producers took two years filming, beginning in 216, 50 Muslims from 25 countries to offer their narrative on Islam. “Freedom” attempts to change the anti-Islam narrative in a world where anti-Muslim sentiment has been rising globally. The world screening tour of the film took it to New Zealand with six screening from 27 April to 6 May in all major cities of the country still recovering from the Christchurch Mosques’ tragedy in which 51 Muslims were killed and more than 50 were injured by a white supremacist. AMUST conducted an interview on Friday 24 May with Julien Drolon on the inspiration behind this pioneering initiative that resulted in the production of “Freedom’. AMUST: Why did you make this film? Julien: What inspired us to make Freedom is the alarming growth of anti-islam narrative in the mainstream media. People around the world deserve to know the truth
What are some ways people can get involved and take action in supporting Freedom? People can support Freedom by donating to our LaunchGood campaign “Christchurch, Never Again” at www. launchgood.com/never-again. This campaign aims to prevent hatred towards Muslims from growing, through powerful media content to educate millions about the beauty of Islam.
about Islam and how it can truly liberate them from the shackles of their own desires. What were the greatest challenges in the making of this documentary? The greatest challenge was to find fundings for the making of the film because the majority of the Muslim community does not understand yet the crucial importance of in-
Christchurch screening of ‘Freedom’ at the University of Canterbury, Jack Mann Auditorium, on Saturday 27 April
vesting in our own media content. Another greater challenge is to find fundings for the promotion of Freedom. What’s one key message you would like to share with Australian Muslims? I actually learned English and Surfing in Australia, in Sydney. I stayed there for a year living in Manly Beach. Zara and I have
What are your plans moving forward? Following the growing demand of Freedom internationally, we are planning to translate Freedom in more than 10 languages. Last year we screened Freedom in Brisbane and received the highest score from our world screening tour. We screened the documentary to an audience of Muslim sisters and they rated Freedom 9.3/10. We hope that we can show Freedom to the Non-Muslim community in Australia and we are open with the idea to organise a screening tour this year providing we find the right partners locally. FREEDOM is the single must-watch documentary film of the year. Watch it, support it and promote it within your communities. It’s an incredibly powerful resource in highlighting the pathways to Islam, to true freedom and liberation and a testament to the verse “…Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.” (Quran 28:56)
Predominantly non-Muslim crowd at Freedom screenings.
ICPA holds distinguished annual Iftar AMUST Media With the slogan “Ramadan of Mercy”, the Islamic Charity Projects Association (ICPA) held its 26th annual Ramadan Iftar dinner on Friday the 5 May 2019, coinciding with the 5 Ramadan 1440H at the Al-Amanah College Grand Hall Liverpool, Sydney. The Iftar hosted a comprehensive line up of government officials, ambassadors, consulate generals, councillors, diverse community representatives and media. In his speech, Mr Hajj Mohammad Mehio said “how graceful is this blessed Ramadan evening as it brings us together to the dinner organized by the association that has won the hearts many.” JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
Dr Sheikh Salim Alwan reminded attendees that this year’s annual Iftar event brings with it a sad memory that is still fresh in our minds. The horrific atrocities which targeted Muslims praying on a Friday in two New Zealand mosques two months ago, only to be followed a month after that with another major incident in Sri Lanka. During her address, The Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (representing the Prime minister of Australia, The Hon Scott Morrison) presented the Prime Ministers Ramadan 2019 message to the audience and thanked the ICPA for its strong advocacy against the rise of anti-muslim sentiments and the need for Muslim community concerns to be heard, also highlighting that these calls have been enacted upon. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
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Working with Muslim inmates AMUST
Everyone makes mistakes and can change
Ahmed Kilani Two much-cherished items were gifted to me by two Muslim inmates, hand painted writing ‘Allah’ in Arabic and a hand made bracelet that hang proudly on the wall in the Chaplaincy office of Long Bay Correctional Centre. The beautiful green painting depicting the name of God in Arabic “Allah” is by an Afghan brother who did a horrific crime and is serving a long sentence. He has acute mental health issues and was badly tortured and beaten as a young man. He unfortunately eventually inflicted the violence done to him upon others. He finds great peace in painting. I was so honoured when he surprised me with this gift. The other item is a hand made bracelet gifted to me by a Bengali brother who grew up in an extremely violent household due to a violent dad with an alcohol problem. He was kicked out to live on the streets of Western Sydney at the age of 12 and got involved in petty theft and crime. He made it using beads from a broken masbaha (prayer beads), dental floss and other items. When he gave it to me he reminded me to always fear and love Allah at the same time. This is a guy who is strongly built, with tattoos and intimidating looks..... but is a soft gentle soul. Both these men, who despite their circumstances take full responsibility for their crimes, are typical of the men I deal with in jail. They are lost souls who regret their past, but so crave a life of peace and love. What I have come to learn from working in men’s jails since 2015 as a Prison Chaplain, is that with the exception of the 1-2% of psychopaths who appear to inherently have no regard for the wellbeing of others, the vast majority of the men I see in jail are the products of abusive and dysfunctional pasts and the bad company they ended up keeping. The abuse may have been physical, emotional/psychological and with a minority
A Woman’s Prayer Dr Reginald Naulty It was not like the quiet, reserved prayers we say here; It was all out there in her native Maltese Arabic, like the call from the minaret, a whole culture on show, full of suffering, the baffled incomprehension of a simple soul: when would God come? When she was ready, He did: a loving presence within. A nobody in the world, she was loved by God. That for which she was born had happened. She gave thanks, deeply.
The name of Allah painted by a Muslim inmate from Long Bay Correctional Centre
A hand-made bracelet made by a Bengali brother. sexual. They usually also have had no proper father or male role model to mentor and guide them, in fact in many instances he was their abuser. Any man can father a child, but it takes a real man to be a good father. It does not mean that everyone that experiences abuse or the lack of a father/mentor will end up in jail, but from my experience, it appears to be a very common life experience of those that do. A lot of people in society have a bit of a self-righteous attitude that all the people in jail are bad people and deserve to be there - as the saying goes “do the crime do the time”. Of course, there has to be consequences for making bad life decisions, especially when it results in actions that are harmful to others and society in general. However, from my experience, anyone could end up in jail. I have met plenty of good families and parents of men in jail (some of them prominent and respected people in our community) to learn that sometimes the best most religious households and upbringing is not enough to prevent some men from going off the rails. The reality is anyone can fall.....and everyone can be redeemed. If Allah will forgive all sins except taking partners with Him, who are we not to forgive. As a community, and in this instance I call specifically out to the Muslim community, we all need to do more to provide better mentorship and support to those who have been in jail. These men are our brothers
and sons, they are also in many instances husbands and fathers. They are part of our community. They are us. We owe it to them and ourselves to take ownership of the fact that 10% of the prison population in NSW is Muslim, yet Muslim males only make up about 1% of the male adult population in NSW. Unfortunately, criminality has established itself as a bit of a subculture in certain sections of our community and become “normalised”. This is especially the case with crimes around drug dealing and the criminality that comes with it - gangs, guns, drug use....etc. We need to put a stop to this as a matter of urgency. We can start off by putting an end to the misguided hero status amongst some of our youth, particularly in the Lebanese Muslim community, of glorifying someone because they went to the “habass” (jail). You may see them as a bad boy....I see them in tears in segregation crying like a baby with regret. If you are a parent, be careful who your son’s friends/associates are and reach out for help if you see signs of things not being right. Sudden wealth/money with no real job, constant late nights and negative change in attitude are usually signs of things not being right. In the past young men used to deal drugs without consumption, now many dealers start off as social users who eventually become habitual users and are forced to deal to pay for their addiction. What is even
more tragic is that the vast majority of the growing problem of Muslim drug addicts in our community are sourcing their drugs from Muslim drug dealers (I will write more about this in the future InshaAllah). We can also drop the shame of having a family member, cousin, friend in jail. Take responsibility and don’t be ashamed to ask for help. The percentage of re-offending within a year of being released is 49%. And if you have been to jail 2-3 times this percentage increases dramatically. We need to do more to help break the cycle. A safe home environment with no bad influences, a full-time job and a good mentor are essential ingredients. Last but not least, we should all stop being self-righteous and judgemental. Many of the men I deal with just want to feel loved and a sense of worth. I have seen murderers memorise the whole Quran in custody and become those with the best of manners. I have seen the worst of men become the best of men. Jails, or as they are called today correctional centres, can be exactly that for the sincere. Everyone can make a mistake and everyone can change. Ahmed Kilani has been working as a full time Prison Chaplain for Corrective Services NSW on behalf of the Islamic Council of NSW since 2015. He is one of 6 male and 1 female Prison Chaplains working to provide spiritual and pastoral care to Muslim inmates. He is also the co-founder and editor of MuslimVillage.com
Dr Reginald Naulty, originally from Adelaide, has taught at Charles Sturt University and has been a prolific writer since 1972.
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Bachar Houli Program announces charity partner
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AMUST Media The Bachar Houli Program is proud to announce Human Appeal Australia as its official charity partner for the next three years. Human Appeal Australia is a charitable, Not-for-Profit organisation working to strengthen humanity’s fight against poverty and social injustice through emergency relief and self-sustaining development programs. HAA through its local division HAA Community Care uses a range of programs to help the local community empower youth and raise awareness of humanitarian work. In line with the Bachar Houli Program, its youth initiatives aim to give young people platforms to realise their potential and contribute to a sense of identity, self-worth, and belonging. HAA works across several charitable causes in the social, educational and International Development space with an aim to invest in long term solutions to develop underprivileged communities. The organisation spans across four con-
tinents and has operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, changing the lives of millions of beneficiaries. Human Appeal Australia’s Director, Mr Bashar Al-Jamal, said that the partnership furthered the organisation’s focus towards the education of the younger generation. “We have established numerous initiatives such as our High Achievers Awards, University Scholarships, Aspiring Leaders Tours and our own Sounds of Light Talent Quest,” he said. “These are just a few examples of our investments in the Australian Youth who are the future of today.”
Human Appeal Australia’s Head of Community Care Mr Amin El-Bureeny added that HAA believed all youth had potential and were capable of success. “Many don’t know how to turn that potential into something productive and beneficial to themselves and others, which is where along with the Bachar Houli Program we can have a profound impact.” In just five years the Bachar Houli Program has developed a reach of over 35,000 participants. “As the founder, I am proud to see how much the program has flourished over the years,” Bachar Houli said. “I am extremely passionate about my faith
and ensuring the next generation of young Muslims can reach their full potential in life.” “I am particularly proud of the cutting-edge programs that we have developed since launching, including the Male and Female Bachar Houli Academies, Bachar Houli Cup, AFL Iftar Dinners and Employment programs.” “To have such a fantastic organisation like Human Appeal Australia as the Bachar Houli Program’s official charity partner is extremely exciting.” “Together we can ensure that we have a positive impact on everyone that has a touch point with our programs.”
IFAM organises table Dawah Cup by the tennis competition MLNSW Sports
Usman Malik Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM), Rooty Hill has been organising table tennis competitions for the youth every year. This year the youth table tennis competition was held at Australian Islamic college of Sydney (AICS), Mount Druitt. There were 32 players who participated in the competition in a warm and enthusiastic way. Brother Rab Nawaz, IFAM President in Rooty Hill, and Brother Fiaz Qureshi, IFAM Vice president in Rooty Hill, supervised all activities and helped in the successful conclusion of this competition. All the winners were awarded trophies by the chief guest Mr Masoud Cheema, chairman of AICS. He commended the organisers for arranging such healthy activities and for staying committed for a better future for JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
our youth. First prize was won by Razi Amjad, while Moeid Qureshi and Aadil Ali stood second and third respectively. They were greatly applauded by the audience. Brother Rab Nawaz thanked all the participants and guests in the end and prayed for the success of our youth in their future endeavours. Such programs help to make our youth better prepared for the future and give them a great deal of physical and mental strength. Sports have always been the means to bring the individuals close to each other where they interact to form a meaningful bonding. It helps utilise their energies in some effective and positive way. This has also been one of the priorities of IFAM to involve youth in a number of sports and Islamic educational activities with the purpose to shape them for active roles in the community.
Rizvi Khan A successful volleyball tournament was organised by the Muslim League of NSW sports body, Australia Fiji Sports Federation Incorporated on Sunday 14 April 2019 opposite the Green Valley Mosque at Mihajlovic Reserve. Eight teams participated in the Dawah Cup, with a free sausage sizzle and drinks for everyone on the day. Rooty Hill Team were crowned champions of the volleyball Dawah Cup. Br Tabassum, the chairman of Volleyball committee was thrilled by the success of the tournament and the turnout was very encouraging. Br Tabassum while looking at the success of this tournament said that his committee was motivated to organise another similar tournament very soon. He took the opportunity to thank everyone
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for their support and contribution towards making this tournament a successful event. “Well done and congratulations to Rooty Hill team for your win. Everyone played very well but the winner is only one and this tournament, it was team Rooty Hill,” Br Tabassum said. Players and their families enjoyed the day and prayed Zuhr, Asr and Maghrib in congregation. Soft drinks were provided by the Muslim League of NSW as a gesture to promote brotherhood, while the lunch was provided by the Australia Fiji Sports Federation Incorporated. The feedback received was very positive. Insha Allah, there will be many more sporting activities and tournaments planned after Ramadan. Please contact Wasim Khan on wasim.n.a.khan@gmail.com for more details.
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Using public transport time wisely Umar Khan The time we spend using public transport getting to school, uni or work can really add up and may seem like a waste of your time, but using your public transport time efficiently in a smart way can be highly beneficial. Writing & Reading Notes I do this very often whilst using public transport and therefore am a great advocate for this routine. Using Google Docs Offline, I have my notes synced across my tablet, laptop & computer, meaning that I can read and access my notes at anytime. You don’t have to use a fancy app like Google Docs or OneNote to go over your notes during your commute – there is nothing stopping you from reading your exercise book or textbook to help refresh concepts or to read ahead. Take Time Out Sometimes we just need some time to relax. Take the time to read a book, play a game or talk to friends online. You will find
that you are more relaxed and not flustered when you arrive at your destination. Though this will help you relax, avoid doing this too much, as it can become counter-productive. Overdoing this can eventually become an inefficient use of your time.
Take a Nap Who doesn’t love a few extra minutes of sleep? Maybe you’ve had a tough day, or have gotten up too early. A nap can fix that. Just remember to set an alarm to go off before you arrive at your stop so that you
don’t miss it. Just be warned that this can become counterproductive, as it may make you drowsy. Read or Watch Concepts you are Learning It’s amazing how much information is out there on the internet. Use your time effectively on public transport by watching YouTube videos or reading about concepts that you are learning currently, have learnt already or will learn. This will help in solidifying your understanding and review content you’ve learnt . These are just a few ways to use your travel time on public transport efficiently. No matter how long your commute, you can always find ways of using your time efficiently. Just make sure to plan ahead what you want to do to use your time efficiently, this ensures a clear mindset before you board your next transport service. Umar Khan is a recent IBDP graduate, now attending Macquarie University and is based in Sydney, Australia.
Ramadan Food My Ramadan with my Australian friends Drive by Shahid Afridi Foundation Shafqat Ali
Daniya Syed Shahid Afridi Foundation Australia ran Ramadan Food Drive to help underprivileged people in Sydney and Melbourne. The program is part of #GiveBackToLocalCommunity initiative where Shahid Afridi Foundation’s Australian Chapter distributes food packages to the deserving section of our community here the two major cities of Australia. As part of this initiative, SAF Australia prepared Food Hampers containing 15 common food items that any family may require in the month of Ramadan, packing these items into a box and delivering it to deserving families, refugees, single parents and people impacted with life-impacting medical conditions. SAF Australia also encourages the participation of young kids and teens into the food packing activity so that they can appreciate the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us. So far the organisation has delivered 81 food hampers in Sydney and Melbourne and intends to donate more during the later days during the month of Ramadan. Shahid Afridi Foundation is a global charity organisation with chapters all around the world including US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, UAE, Bahrain
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and has recently established its chapter in Australia as an ACNC registered charity organisation. The organisation was established by the star cricketer Shahid Afridi and is running several projects in Pakistan to help underprivileged people to provide better Healthcare, Education and Clean Drinking Water. Ramadan is a month of blessings and festivities, every household prepares & consumes special food items according to their culture in suhoor and iftar. This month also highlights the importance of giving and sharing with people who do not have access to basic food due to the hardship they are facing. Shahid Afridi Foundation Australia put the two aspects together to come up with the idea to provide for those in need. If you are interested to donate food items or would like to contribute monetarily, contact SAF on: Syed Atif Faheem (0413 911 091) Email: syed.atif@shahidafridifoundation.org Facebook: fb.com/SAFAustraliaChapter Website: shahidafridifoundation.org Daniya Syed is a student of Year 9, she is technology enthusiast and have participated in FLL International Robotics Championship competitions. Daniya also has keen interest in community related activities and volunteers herself for various charity organisations.
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The month of Ramadan is for fasting, socialising and doing charity work. It is a beautiful blessed month full of living human magic. It includes: • Waking up at the time when human sleep is on peak. • Fasting for a whole day; even really young one can do so. • You stand up for hour every night for a month. Young Innovators Network team initiated a small website to aid Muslims to provide them with practical tools to get the maximum benefit from Ramadan. Here are a couple of tools mentioned below: How to tell my Australian friends about Ramadan On the website, Ramadan for Australians page (http://moz.pakoz.com.au/rfa/) shows: • A short video to guide of the do’s and don’ts of Ramadan to help you as a non-muslim to educate yourself about Ramadan. • Brief guide as to how can you can facilitate your Muslims colleagues in the workplace. • Special Greeting Card designed for to share with non-Muslims. You can download the card from the link given above. Ramadan Planner The Ramadan planner is more than a calendar. It has the personalised and practical experience to help Muslims organise their spiritual activities. You can download it from http://moz.pakoz.com.au/rp/. • At the top of the planner, you can insert your name and also resolutions for Ramadan. • Just below that, you will find a key that shows what each abbreviation used in the planner stands for.
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• You can tick the Salah you have completed. • Keep a track record of how many good deeds you have done. • How much Quran did you read? It is work in progress since there is a lot more to come for Children and Family. Please give feedback and suggestions at learn@younginnovators.net.au. Shafqat Ali based in Sydney is the Training Manager at Notebook Solutions, Campbelltown and a mentor with Young Innovators Network.
Autumn Morning Hosneara Zaman Ali Patchy clouds of fog Appear here and there, A gusty wind of Autumn Scent in the air. Mist settled on the lake Obscuring views of nature, While the morning sun Makes strides to reach the earth Trees shed leaves Of orange and brown Scattered along the path. Birds begin to hush their summer songs Being weary, flying from tree to tree Seeing cozy shelter As the trees stand bare. School kids walk in a rush, Along the path Of yellow and red leaves The crunching sounds Beneath their feet Bring joy and cheer. ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
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HAI sponsors school Iftar dinners for caring and sharing Alsu Kurlow It was amazing to see so many students, teachers, staff and supportive parents from all backgrounds together in the spirit of sharing and community at our local schools in Sydney during Iftar dinners in the fasting month of Ramadan. Guests from numerous schools and community groups including those of different faith traditions learned more about each other and shared a meal over warm conversations. Every year, several Iftars are hosted where Muslims break their fast, together with non-Muslims sharing their meal and unite as a school community. This experience of coming together is much needed in our time. Human Appeal International Australia is proud to be involved with events that celebrate multiculturalism by bringing people of different backgrounds together in the spirit of sharing and caring. It truly resembled what the blessed month of Ramadan is all about. Alsu Kurlow is the Community Events and Children & Youth Coordinator of Human Appeal Australia. For the third year, Human Appeal Australia sponsored Ramadan Iftar dinner at the Granville South Creative & Performing Arts High School on Tuesday 14 May.
For the first time in 60 years, Bankstown Girls High school held their first ever school Iftar on Thursday 16 May 2019 and Human Appeal Australia was their proud sponsor. Members of the Bankstown city council, teachers, police officers, parents, students and all supporters from the community were brought together and broke their fast. Suada Bilali, Bankstown Girls High School Principal, welcomed guests and acknowledged the importance of sharing a meal together and the amazing work that Human Appeal does for the community. “At every event I attend, I see Human Appeal Australia, such a reputable charity organisation always there to give a helping hand, absolutely amazing!” said Tania Mihailuk, MP. School students with their amazing hospitality served up hot cooked meals to all guests. For such successful turnout, Human Appeal Australia as the proud sponsor of the Iftar generates quality leadership for our future generation and inspired individuals to do what is important for the sake of humanity. Raghda Assoum presented a powerful speech on behalf of Human Appeal Australia about the organisation, what it means to donate towards the neediest individuals of our nation and how any donation can make a difference.
The event was a great success with hundreds of students, parents and teachers from different faiths in attendance. A range of delicious fod was served and
On Friday 17 May Belmore Boys High School held their annual Iftar Dinner to encourage the power of solidarity and tolerance amongst all people. The event, held on school grounds, invited members not only of the Muslim community but also those of different faiths and backgrounds. The Iftar started by Athan as a signal for
breaking of the fast, followed by Maghreb (sunset) Prayer. Numerous figures attended the event such as Mr Tony Burke MP, Mr Jihad Dib MP, City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Mr Khal Asfour, Clr Bilal El- Hayek, Clr Nadia Saleh, Ms Hala Ramadan, Principal of Belmore Boys High School, several school principals and many members from the local community.
On Friday 10 May 2019, with the support of Human Appeal Australia, Unity Grammar College held a very successful commu-
nity Iftar with around 150 guests on their school grounds. A night filled with cultural experiences
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Tuesday 21 May proved to be a delightful evening at Punchbowl Boys High School Iftar Dinner. The afternoon was really a spectacular event as all members of the community shared a meal by breaking the fast in the holy month. More than 80 people attended the school’s Community Iftar, including Mr Jihad Did MP, Clr Bilal El- Hayek, Mr Wayne John Pearce OAM, an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach, many school principals and other members from the local community.
A couple of short talks were given by the Principal Mr Robert Patruno and a couple of keynote speakers, each described what Ramadan is about from their own perspective. Mr Patruno stressed how this dinner helps lead to a better understanding of the many groups and faiths that we all experience each day. Students and staff from Punchbowl Boys High School raised $3000 to go towards a charity program run by Human Appeal Australia and donated with a cheque presentation on the stage.
everyone enjoyed the evening. About 90 people attended the school’s Community Iftar, including Lynda Jane Voltz MP, Julia
Dorothy Finn MP and Glenn Enmore, Deputy Mayor (Cumberland Council).
The Burwood Girls High School that continues to pride itself on inclusiveness and multiculturalism held its Iftar on 16 May starting with a call to prayer followed by buffet dinner. Students were heavily involved in the organisation of the event, the delicious soup for the Iftar was cooked by school students and the amazing chef, Daniel. About 100 people attended the school’s Community Iftar, including Mia Kumar, the Principal of Burwood Girls’ High School,
Jodi Mckay MP and Jihad Dib MP, Shadow Minister of Education. Students and staff from Burwood Girls High School raised $1000 to go towards two water wells, a charity program run by Human Appeal Australia and donated in a cheque presented on stage. It was amazing to see so many students, teachers, staff and supportive parents from all backgrounds together in the spirit of sharing and community.
shared amongst guests, the essence of Ramadan was truly felt and the community’s understanding and harmony were clearly
presented. Ramadan is very much about sharing food and hospitality with all our fellow brothers and sisters in humanity.
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BLISS: Australia’s single Muslims services Sajdah Torrens
BLISS is a new innovative matching service for Muslims. A complete system based on ethical introductions. Currently in Australia, the Muslim population is approximately 2.3% which includes the aged, youth, different beliefs, many cultures and those already married across all states. So how do Muslims in Australia marry? How do you find potential partners who match you? You contact us at BLISS where we are a central agency bringing all Muslims of all beliefs together. As an introduction service, we are a fully supportive environment. With qualified counsellors to help you with your journey. We look at the whole picture from a cultural, Islamic and personal belief system. We are here to work for you with you. Matching is more than just placing two people together; it is about integrating two families based on many dynamics. How does it work? We have a few services which are designed to complement each other. We have an online app which is both iTunes and Android. The app is both an informational centre for everything BLISS as well as an online matching service which is based on
ethics and accountability. Events: We have monthly face-to-face dinners for single Muslims of Australia (based in Sydney). These are high-quality events where you have a chance to meet quality Muslims
with the support of our facilitators. The dinners are designed as a respectable evening which is tastefully conducted to provide our clients comfort in meeting with potential partners.
Private Matching: Our private matching is one-on-one matching service where clients are given VIP access to all those registered with our service. BLISS provides a third person and private introductions in our office locations. This gives Muslims the opportunity to meet in a safe environment away from prying eyes. No need to meet at coffee shops, exposing your business. We are confidential and skilled in private matching and counselling services. Educational Workshops: BLISS has qualified counsellors to assist with all relationship issues which may arise. Our educational workshops are designed to be a teaching tool and awareness programs designed specifically for the Muslim population. Online Matching: Our app is different from all the rest! We have a strict verification process which ensures there are no fake profiles, no stalking and no tolerance to ill behaviour. We are contactable. All clients must provide an Australian License or Passport to be approved. If you meet a person you like online, you may book our office to meet with them. Or discuss meeting at the next event. The whole system is designed to keep meetings on safe neutral grounds. Sajdah Torrens is a qualified counsellor and the proprietor of BLISS (Black Label Islamic Single Services). Based in Sydney, Australia.
Tree of Life training for Muslim workers The power of Blessings Abeera Rauf
Tim Carroll BYDS, in partnership with the Muslim Social Workers Network and the Dulwich Centre, invite people to attend our Tree of Life training – an opportunity to learn a wonderful technique for working with people who have experienced difficult times. This methodology was originally co-developed through a partnership between Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough (Dulwich Centre Foundation) to assist colleagues working with children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. The approach proved so successful and popular that it is now being used with people of all ages, in scores of countries and settings as a way to examine our lives and experiences from a strength-based perspective: dulwichcentre.com.au/the-tree-of-life/ Sydney based social workers, Ola Elhassan and Lobna Yassine were invited by David Denborough in 2017 to train in and adapt the Tree of Life model for working with Muslim communities.
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Some of this work led to the creation of the Skills, Values and Story cards that have also been used very successfully. (pictured) The cards will be available for purchase on the day. Thursday 20 June. Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200. Attendance at this fully catered day is $100.00. https://tinyurl.com/eventbritetreeoflife Members of Muslim Social workers network can attend the day, free of charge. fb.com/Muslimsocialworkersnetwork Membership is $50.00 per annum for professional social workers and $25 per for students. A second day of training for general public/practitioners will take place on Friday 21 June. More information: BYDS: info@byds.org.au, PH: 02 9793 8324 Tim Carroll is Director of BYDS, a youth arts organisation based at the Bankstown Arts Centre. BYDS has been making beautiful art with young, culturally diverse people from the community for 27 years.
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Isn’t it beautiful how one day you’re praying for something and years later you don’t even remember that you used to beg for that thing and cry and in the end prayed that your wishes leave you alone or you get rid of them? And then years later you’re sitting on the prayer mat with your hands raised and all you’re saying is Alhamdulillah for all the loss you bore that made you closer to your Creator. You see by repeatedly saying “Allah Tawakkal” you’re actually handing yourself in the hands of the Almighty, with you being loved 70 times than that of a love of a mother. If you notice how this relaxes all your muscles in your body, know that you’re on the right track. This World confuses you, scares you by the reality, by putting you in doubts, “Hey brother what if you don’t get a job instantly?”
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And you start believing it, WHY? Have you reached this far by yourself? Why lose focus from your hopes and goals because of someone who’s ahead of you apparently? How can you forget that when no one was there to take you out from your disastrous thoughts, it was Allah who opened all the doors (Al Fattah) that led you to the point where you’re thanking Him today, not for any particular reason but just because how well of a human being you have become over the past few years. Isn’t it enough? If you ever feel less or your vision gets blurred just start repeating “Allah Tawakkal” (My Lord is the best of planner and I trust Him in His plans) and you’ll stop seeing yourself as a mess and people who put you in trouble would wonder why you’re satisfied all of a sudden and it is indeed the best thing to be proud of, to pass on. Abeera Rauf Mukati is a writer/poetess from Karachi, Pakistan and has skilled in the art of conveying stories through her poetries and making the audience connect with her abstract ideas. ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
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Amity College girls Christchurch visit Shaymaa Hallani The Amity College Girls High School captains had the privilege to visit Christchurch, New Zealand from 3-5 5 May 2019 with the coordinator, Miss Shaymaa Hallani, and graduates Safiya Ilham, Hatice Odemis and Esra Savran. It was an experience that we are so grateful for and is one we will never forget. We were given the opportunity to visit the victims of the horrific attack, as well as pray Jummah (Friday Congregational prayer) at Al Noor Mosque. We were welcomed with open arms as we gave our condolences to those present and were also lucky enough to distribute gifts to the women and children. As a school, we were able to raise over $5,000, which was donated to those most in need amongst the victims of the tragedy. We were able to pay our respects to the families of the victims including that of Hajj Daoud Nabi, as well as that of the martyred three-year-old boy. Listening to their heartbreak and being able to see first hand the effects of such an attack was truly humbling. So together, we prayed for peace, faith and forgiveness as although we were reminded of the heartbreaking impact these horrific events had caused, the families we visited were so inspirational, displaying absolute faith and positivity in these very hard
Zahra Toufaili
times. Having the privilege to go to Christchurch and visit those for who we raised money for was truly more than we could ask for and deepened our appreciation for our efforts throughout the year. We were able to pay our respects to the
Sarah Sayadi
families of the victims which truly made us see the fruit of our efforts within their beaming, grateful smiles. Together, we prayed for peace, faith and forgiveness as we were inspired by the victims, displaying absolute faith and resilience.
We were reminded of the importance of friendship and social charity to create unity within humanity. We hope our visit shows that we have not forgotten them and that the rest of the world stands by their side and that we all stand together.
Dedicated educationist Waqas Jaffri visits Australia Usman Malik
A renowned figure in the education sector of Pakistan Syed Waqas Anjum Jaffri visited Australia on the invitation of Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) in May 2019. Mr Jaffri is the CEO of Dar-e-Arqam school group which has more than 650 campuses located in many different cities of Pakistan. Dar-e-Arqam schools are a great help to middle-class society of Pakistan who strives for quality education at affordable prices. Mr Jaffri is also the director of Al-Ghazali education trust which is quite well known in Pakistan for its broad range of educational services. Al Ghazali trust arranges and supervises many different educational facilities in rural and remote areas of Pakistan where normal education facilities are deficient or not available. Mr Jaffri, while addressing a gathering in Sydney, told that the purpose of these facilities was to help poor and needy students
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who couldn not pursue their education for a number of reasons. He explained that there were no charges and fees for the students except those who could afford to pay something. The payment schedule was not compulsory and it was up to the choice and affordability of the families of individuals students. Mr Jaffri said that there were more than 4000 students being accommodated in different villages who were also given free books and stationery. A large number of students were those who had some disability or mental retardedness. They couldn’t find any specified facilities in nearby areas and Al-Ghazali trust was committed in reaching out to them for support. He also mentioned that they were working closely with many government and non-government organisations for getting sponsorships and for sharing resources like teaching staff, classrooms and transportation. Mr Jaffri is also the Chairman of ‘AFAQ’, an institution involved in designing and printing of different textbooks.
He told the gathering that they were getting almost 10 million books printed every
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year under ‘AFAQ’ umbrella. These books were being distributed in different educational institutions in Pakistan and abroad. These books were also being provided in different Islamic schools around the globe including Japan, USA, Canada, Europe and Australia which fulfills the requirements of modern education in accordance with the Islamic way of life. He thanked IFAM for inviting him to Australia and giving him the opportunity to speak. He advised all the brothers to uphold Quran for guidance and live with unity to make a good Islamic community. Mr Jaffri concluded by saying, “Humans are social creatures and have always lived in groups. They tend to associate with other people of similar beliefs and values. The best group of people are the ones who enjoy the true fellowship of each other just for the sake of Allah and without any material interest.”
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Freedom of speech, a farce in today’s world Zahid Jamil The concept of Freedom of speech is increasingly becoming a farce in the modern world. The Wallabies star Israel Folau has been sacked by Rugby Australia for expressing his religious belief about homosexuals. The matter was dragging on for the past few weeks. A hearing has found that he committed a “high-level breach” of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct over controversial social media posts. Christian beliefs are not different from Islamic beliefs in many life matters. A devout Catholic, Israel Folau will end up losing millions of dollars and a great sporting career for mentioning what is written in the Bible and believed by hundreds of millions of Christians around the world. The opinions and ideologies promoted by the so-called liberals of modern societies have been imposed on silent majority and expression of beliefs, considered sacred for thousands of years, have been made sin in modern times. The founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange has been made an international villain and culprit for making public the crimes of the most powerful governments on the earth. He had the courage of exposing world leaders and political regimes around the world who had committed crimes against
their own nations and people. Assange and his organisation, WikiLeaks, have published some of the most dramatic documents exposing American wrong-doing in Iraq and Afghanistan including larger estimates of civilian casualties than reported by official sources. It also released over 250,000 American diplomatic cables with multiple nasty secrets, exposing the dirty games of the White House and the CIA. The Western governments who aspire to be the champions of democracy and free speech have little stamina of absorbing exposure of their own wrongdoings. Much of the media today is controlled by a few media tycoons in many countries. Rupert Murdoch’s media empire controls much of the political decision making in Australia. The media Moghul has a huge influence in American political institutions through its control of US papers, cable channel Fox News, and Fox film studios. The current US president Donald Trump repeatedly challenged media establishments and popularised the term ‘fake news’. Though a controversial figure himself, the most powerful man on the earth have at times discredited leading news media channels. Donald Trump was seen quoting Wikileaks reports and applauding the truths it revealed often during his presidential campaign. Now as US president, he is obliged to act against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. India, described as the largest democracy in the world, has seen the loss of media in-
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dependence over the past four years of rule by Hindu nationalists. According to Reuters, some reporters, as well as television anchors, have been threatened with physical harm, abused on social media and ostracized by Modi’s administration. A number of journalists have been killed over the past four years by the agents of extremist Hindu groups for raising their voice against the current political regime. In its annual World Press Freedom Index, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said that India was now ranked 138th in the world out of 180 countries measured, lower than countries like Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Myanmar. On one hand, under the pretext of freedom of speech, the leading governments in the world justified insults to the prophets by the cartoonists, promoted and awarded the journalist and authors who insulted religions, hurting beliefs and sentiments of hundreds of millions of people.
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On the other hand, they have failed in their duty when their own institutions faced exposure of their criminal acts and punished those who showed courage to speak the truth or express their fundamental beliefs in public. By adopting double standards and acting in the interest of what suited them, the leading governments and media institutions have made international standards of freedom of speech, a mockery, deception and sham. 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/
Toowoomba Mosque: Rebuilding from ashes Professor Shahjahan Khan Two arson attacks on Toowoomba Mosque in early 2015, one year after its inception, caused serious damage to the Mosque building. Since then, with the support from Muslims across Australia, especially with those in the greater Brisbane area and Gold Coast, the determination and resilience of Muslims in Toowoomba to rebuild the only Mosque in the city and region have been always undeterred. After going through the pain stricken and unknown journey of settling with insurance claim/assessment for more than one year, the Islamic Society of Toowoomba worked with the surveyor, acoustic assessor, architect, town planner, structural and traffic engineer another six months to prepare the paperwork for the development application to extend the burned building to make it a proper Mosque with all facilities under one roof. In late 2016, on receiving conditional approval of the proposed extension from the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC), the Society had to appeal against two unacceptable conditions – limiting operational hours from 6am-9pm and number of worshippers to 150 in Fridays and 50 on other five times prayers. In two different DAP meetings of the Council our appeals were successful and those conditions were removed in 2017. The approval required the Mosque to have 42 sealed car parking spaces, 18 of those were on the same level as the Mosque building blocking all grassland on the block leaving no breakup or green areas. To attend this problem, the Society purchased another neighbouring property to fit in the required number of car parking spaces in 2017. Later in 2017, on getting operational work
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permit (another approval of detailed drawings) from the Council we started looking for builders to start the construction work. It was not until July 2018, we received a proper and detailed quotation from a Gold Cost based builder. This quote was only to complete the lock up stage of the building
project at a cost of nearly $700,000. Part of the condition of the contract was to provide evidence of guaranteed finance for the completion of the whole contracted job before signing the contract. Due to lack of enough available fundraising at this stage, in August 2018, we had to borrow $400,000
Completion of lock up stage in April 2019.
Fire burnt in April 2015.
Start rebuilding construction in October 2018.
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from MCCA Income Fund with personal Guarantee from two key members of the community to finalise the contract before starting the work. The work for the lock-up stage of the project started in October 2018 and has been completed in April 2019. In the meantime, we have received approval of our modified revised development application (mainly to move 18 car park from Mosque’s front yard to the new property) from TRC that will make the traffic management much safer. On completion of the project, 500 Muslims, including 100 women at the mezzanine level, will be able to pray in the Mosque at any time. To get Occupation Certificate from the Council we still need to complete the following tasks: Electrical fittings, Toilet fittings, Air-conditioning, Sound system, Plaster and paint, Fencing and gates Carpeting, Car-parking with two driveways, Retaining wall and earthwork, Acoustic walls, Camera and Security system, Landscaping, Rainwater tank, Disable access, Infrastructure fee to Council, surveying and amalgamation charges etc. To cover the rebuilding cost of the Mosque, Muslims in Toowoomba have organized successful fundraising dinners in Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast and Toowoomba along with collections from many Mosques in Brisbane, Darwin, Sydney, New Castle and Wollongong on Fridays. We still need around $350,000 to complete the above unfinished tasks of the project as per the revised plan (with some added cost). Please donate at Bank Account: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Toowoomba Plaza Branch, A/C Name: Toowoomba Islamic Charitable Organisation, BSB: 064459 A/C Number: 1034 1586. Swift Code: CTBAAU25XXX. ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
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Book Review: The First Command Asif Pasha
Islam and education are synonymous with each other. That learning is central to Islam is clear from the very first revelation Iqra, meaning ‘read’. There are many Hadiths (Prophetic traditions) which encourage Muslims to seek knowledge even if they have to travel all the way to China. Wisdom, the Prophet said, is the lost property of the believer and he should take it wherever he finds it. No wonder early Muslims acted on these commands in letter and spirit and made tremendous contributions to the advancement of science, social sciences and other disciplines. How come the later day Muslims fell back and regressed intellectually? And thereby hangs a tale. Some Western scholars refuse to acknowledge the ‘golden age’ of Muslim intellectualism. They have misgivings about how the Muslims influenced the world in general and the West in particular with their knowledge and wisdom. Answers to all these questions can be found in the book – The First Command. Its author, Jamal Haider, unveils the secret behind the success of Muslim scholars and the source of their knowledge, Quran. Through painstaking research and analysis, he tells in detail how and why Muslims remained the best of scholars and scientist for nearly a thousand years. Not just this, Mr Haider seeks to correct
The First Command Iqra: its impact on global intellectualism and Renaissance Jamal Haider, author of ‘The First Command’
the prejudice against Muslim scholars in a rational way. Hats off to Mr Haider for writing a gem of a book. Such a book was long overdue. Moreover, it is the need of the hour to show to the world how Muslim scholars developed knowledge in various disciplines – science, social science, theology, philosophy, literature and other areas of learning which later got transferred to Europe. The book, divided into three sections clearly explains the high value placed on education by Islam. Mr Haider adopts a historical approach and explains how the world was at the advent of Islam. Then he goes on to discuss the growth of education during the Prophetic period, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad dynasty, Abbasid dynasty, the quest for science, influence of Muslim scholars, scien-
tists, philosophers and the influence of Muslim literature and culture. The author also talks in detail about female scholars and how they were no less passionate than men in the acquisition of knowledge. All in all The First Command is the last word on Muslim education. It is an eye opener to many of those who are unaware or harbor prejudice against Islamic views on education. Mr Haider’s lucid writing makes for a good read. Asif Pasha is a veteran politician of the Congress Party of India. He is a former Law Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh, India and President of ‘All India Muslim Educational Society’. He is now retired and resides in Hyderabad, India.
Jamal Haider is a Geologist, It (ECM) Specialist and Writer. He completed his Masters in Nottingham University UK after graduating in Dhaka University of Bangladesh. He worked there as a Deputy Director in a government research organisation. He has written and published a number of papers and reports. In Australia he completed a graduate diploma in University of New South Wales and worked as an Enterprise Content Management Specialist in a government organisation. Now he is a full-time writer.
Keynote speakers at the Islamic Schooling Conference Ramila Chanisheff The theme of the 4th Annual Australian Islamic Schooling Conference and Forum is social justice in Islamic schooling. It’s hard to imagine a timelier and more relevant theme than that of social justice. Islamic schooling has grown and continues to grow rapidly. Just as the establishment of Islamic schools in Australia was a reflection of the maturity of local Muslim communities, so too are we witnessing a maturity within the field of Islamic schooling. At this juncture, attention to social justice could hardly be more critical. This year’s event will provide researchers, educators, parents and other community members with the opportunity to discuss their most pressing social justice issues, as well as policies, processes, pedagogies, and other practices that either enhance or diminish social justice in Islamic school education. The Conference and Forum include a broad range of sessions, including examinations of social justice and how it impacts or intersects with educational policy; debates around equity and diversity; the marginalisation and vulnerability of Muslim learners; Islamophobia and racism; and debates around privileged knowledge in curriculum. AAISC4 Keynote Speakers include: Professor Syed Faris Alatas, The Social Dimension of Justice in Islam: The Contribution of Theology(National University of Singapore) Professor Alatas will examine justice or adâlahin the Islamic context, explaining its key concepts of balance or mîzânand moderation or wasatiyah. His keynote presentation will include an examination of the different dimensions of moderation in society JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
that would together define social justice, focusing on specific dichotomies such as zahir-batin, tradition-modernity, private-public, and autonomy and regulation in order to develop a contemporary understanding of moderation that satisfies the requirements for social justice. Professor Stephen Dobson, The most important demand placed upon all education(Victoria University of Wellington) Professor Dobson will explore the notion that teaching knowledge and skills means nothing if it results in pupils and later adults who undertake acts of racism, violence, persecution and bullying. His keynote presentation will examine what this means
in education as we come to terms with Christchurch (New Zealand) and many other violent instances around the world. What are those so-called soft 21stcentury skills we need? Afeefa Syeed, What teaching for social justice looks like in an American Islamic School (Al Fatih Academy, USA) Al-Fatih Academy is grounded with a curriculum based on integrating peace and civic education. As a cultural anthropologist, Afeefa has worked for the past 25 years in government and non-profits on areas of educational innovation, social justice, and gender inclusion. Her keynote will illustrate practical ways that teaching for social
justice have been weaved across the curriculum, learning and teaching and in both primary and secondary years of an Islamic school. Registrations Now Open! Conference date: 13-14 July 2019 Conference Venue: The University of Melbourne. Registration for the 2 days of Conference and Forum (incl. food/refreshments) is $250.00 per person Attendance at the Conference Gala Dinner is $50 per person, hosted by the Islamic Museum of Australia. Register for this year’s event via Eventbrite. Afeefa Syeed.
Professor Syed Faris Alatas.
Professor Stephen Dobson. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
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Towards demystifying Shari’ah: Part 3 Dr Jan A Ali Read parts 1 & 2: tinyurl.com/amustshariah Based on one or a combination of the sources discussed previously, shari’ah regulates all human actions both at the individual level as well as social level. The collective human behaviour both in terms of action and inaction, according to fiqh (jurisprudence) classification, falls under one of the following five categories: i. fard (obligatory) - acts that are commanded, for example, five ritual prayers obedience of which are rewarded in this life or in the next or both and any disobedience is punishable either in this life or in the next or both, ii. mustahab (recommended) - commendable acts such as optional charity that are worthy of reward but failure to accomplish them doesn’t attract punishment, iii. mubah (permissible) - acts that are value-free attracting neither reward for accomplishing them nor punishment for neglecting them, for instance, walking or driving to work, iv. makrooh (repugnant or reprehensible) - acts abstinence from which are encouraged and are reward but non-abstinence is not considered a sin, for example, divorce, and v. haram (prohibited) - forbidden acts such as consumption of alcohol which are considered a sin and are punishable in this life or in the next or both. When it comes to human conduct, sources of shari’ah, particularly the Qur’an make numerous references to evil conduct that are reprimanded and made punishable in order to prevent injustice, corruption, and prejudice and references to righteous behaviour are praised and rewards are promised in an attempt to promote good, justice, and harmony. Thus, the shari’ah is founded on the benefits of the individual and the community designed to guard these benefits and enable betterment and perfection of the conditions of human life. The basic purpose of shari’ah is to protect the interest of people against harm and, therefore, benefits are harmonised with the
objective of shari’ah. Muslim scholars have classified the entire range of benefits or interests into three categories. In a descending order of importance they are: i. daruriyyat (necessary) which are enumerated at five, namely protection of faith, protection of life, protection of progeny, protection of intellect, and protection of property, ii. hajiyyat (complementary), and iii. tahsiniyyat (embellishments). Unlike understandings of law in the secular modern context or in the Western sense, shari’ah is much more than law. This is because it not only covers dogma, rituals, ethics, and morality, but also deals with “purity” concerning ritual washing and bodily functions and, further, includes laws relating to civil, commercial, criminal, administrative, and other matters. Malise Ruthven elaborates: By common consent the Shari’a or holy law represents the greatest historic achievement of Islam as a religious cultural system, providing Muslim societies with a degree of order and authority under the “rule of God” that counterbalanced the instability that often prevailed at the political level (Ruthven, 2006: 135). Mohammad Kamali (2006) further eluci-
dates that shari’ah relates not only to a “code of law” but to religion as a way of life— din—based on the idea of the unity of God, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage. He contends that the fundamental focus of the shari’ah is the five pillars of Islam. Moreover, shari’ah offers protection of five pivotal values of Islam: i. protection of religion/faith, ii. protection of life, iii. protection of offspring, iv. protection of intellect/dignity, and v. protection of property/wealth. The shari’ah is then understood as a corpus of rules of divine origin implemented by human agency to govern private worship and social relations. Muslims find that it specifies the rules and regulations governing the lives of the faithful believers. For them it is a way of life, a “complete exchange,” in which all important religious, legal, moral, ethical, social, cultural, economic, and political institutions find simultaneous expression. From a Weberian perspective, it exhibits a “substantive rationality” within which morality, ethics, law, religion, economy, and politics are enmeshed, in contrast to a “formal rationality” (which Weber associates exclusively with Western capitalism), within which law is separate from other parts
of societal structure and operates under its distinct code of conduct and conventions (Weber, 1978). Izzi Dien (2004) sheds further light on the construction and concept of shari’ah, arguing that it covers all aspects of human existence, including life after death. It does not represent a set of theories and rules to be utilised within the limits of social government, but signifies a comprehensive way of life, which is similar to a path leading to water, as the word shari’ah implies. The law is inextricably bound with the faith, following its route and regulating its orders and directives (Izzi Dien, 2004). Shari’ah, it may be said, constitutes a code of behaviour divinely decreed to guide the believer in his or her literal execution of religious duties in this world and quest for divine favour in the Hereafter. Due to the centrality of shari’ah in Islam since its systematization during the second and third Islamic centuries, it has remained pivotal in the mainstream discourses and institutions of Muslim societies. Shari’ah is better understood with the help of an Islamic jurisprudential tool known as fiqh. Fiqh, which literally means “understanding” or “knowledge,” is Islamic jurisprudence used to define rules and methodologies of law. It is the methodology employed to work out and apply the law. Fiqh is a jurisprudential corpus mainly produced in the second and third centuries of Islam by the ulama (Muslim scholars), with unique methods of reasoning and argument (Hussain, 2011). It effectively became the corpus of the shari’ah as developed from the canonical sources and implemented to address issues facing Muslims relating to their practices of worship and social relationships (Philip, 1996). In essence then, fiqh is a science of ascertaining a wholesome understanding of Shari’ah and is a discipline that permits academic discussion and exegetical analysis of Islamic practice (Hussain, 2011). Dr Jan A. Ali is a Senior Lecturer in Islam and Modernity in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University. He is a Sociologist of Religion specializing in Islam with a research focus on existential Islam.
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The role of ‘husnu zann’ (positive thinking) in preventing slander Janelle Di Falco When we speak about the challenges we face as Muslims living in secular countries, the topic of sins often comes up. However, we tend to avoid seeing something like slander as a major sin (even though it is!) instead of choosing to focus on things like temptation, alcohol, and drugs – all of which present their own challenges. With respect to slander, Islam is not the only religion to note it as a phenomenon - slander has been prevalent from history until contemporary times. Public discussions on preventing slander or even recognizing when it is taking place have been largely absent from many faith histories (in contrast with legal concepts such as defamation, which existed in ancient Greek and Roman times). From an Islamic perspective, Muslim scholars provide a lot of focus on this topic, yet largely missed discussing the prevention of slander by considering the Islamic notion husnu zann (positive thinking). The presence of husnu zann can prevent slander from taking place in a world where suspicion and judgment are extremely prevalent. The practical view is to apply husnu zann through a vast amount of Islamic positive emotional states to enlighten the heart before engaging in, agreeing with, and spreading slander. Many of us are familiar with the case of the Prophet’s wife, Aisha (r) who was slandered unjustly which generated a lot of conversations and reactions at the time of the
Prophet (s). Despite this well known historical incident, the lessons and principles outlined in Islamic sources, such as tafsirs (exegesis), have not become an influencing factor in the behaviour of members of today’s Muslim societies. Slander continues to be an inherent part of society, Muslim or not, particularly with the presence of social media. The idea of slander can be understood from an Islamic perspective that defines it and warns against it when teaching about relaying unwanted information about someone. For example, when the Qur’an conveys the story of Aisha (r), it explicitly warns against slander in the Quran and hadith, since the implications of slander are so negative and destructive. Slander can lead to destructive consequences as with the example of Aisha (r) where it almost led to divorce, but it can also lead to the destruction of careers, reputation and so on. There are also famous contemporary examples of slander which have rocked the Muslim world such as those associated with scholars like Nouman Ali Khan and Tariq Ramadan. The relationship of slander to husnu zann has not been discussed at large within Muslim societies. Husnu zann encompasses good intentions, thoughts and action towards God, the universe and human beings. A fundamental context that is absent when slandering occurs is for a person to identify the internal problems of the self, which begins with the Islamic spiritual concept of jihad al-nafs (struggle with oneself). Many scholars see jihad al-nafsas the pinnacle of husnu zann as one can reach
heightened levels by identifying personal struggles. The causes of slander go back to a lack of spiritual concepts that are embedded in a person – and a lack of recognition of the need to purify oneself with these concepts. This involves delving deep into the energies of the self as Imam al Ghazzali has noted. There are also circumstances where a person gets involved in slander due to fear of a sin they have committed or one of the spiritual diseases of the heart such as jealousy, prejudice, pride, or hypocrisy. These diseases are worldly pleasures which, if one keeps invoking them, leads to negative thoughts and becomes part of a person’s disposition and hence corrupts their character. This corruption interrupts the akhlaq and
adab of a person - it becomes a habit in someone which can often lead to difficulty in attaining husnu zann, which in turn leads to slander and negative thinking. When understanding the relationship between slander and husnu zann one can access spiritual elements in a person’s nature and use it to fill one’s life so that sui zann can be replaced with husnu zann. When sui zann - the opposite of husnu zann - is ignited, it can cause destructive virtues in a person to come out and the reason for slander. Janelle Di Falco is masters and honours degree student of Islamic studies and classical Arabic. She completed her Islamic studies bachelor degree. She is based in Melbourne, Australia.
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Africa Tour Part 1 - Ethiopia: AMUST
MODERN IBNE BATOTA Zia Ahmad In April 2019 myself and my wife Mehar embarked on our first tour of Africa south of the Sahara visiting Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa for a period of three weeks traveling via Abu Dhabi on Etihad airlines. I spent most of my time in Ethiopia. One of the main purposes of visiting Ethiopia was to observe good governance by the year-old government of Prime Minister Dr Abiye Ahmad. Ethiopia is a land locked remains of the great ancient Christian empire of Abbysinia or Habasha and included the modern-day Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan and Eritrea. Ethiopia is an impoverished country ruled for 27 years by a regime dominated by people from the northern region of Tigray with the same prime minister for all those long years. Since coming to power through democratic elections, last year in March the new PM, a military intelligence man with a PhD has brought drastic reforms in the country. He ushered democratic representation from all regions, tribes and religious groups, Christians and Muslims, men and women, sharing power and involving all Ethiopians in good governance. He made peace with Eritrea after 20 years of conflict in a show of generosity granting them the disputed land that was central to the long years of conflict. Dr Ahmad has been relentlessly working for peace in the horn of Africa visiting all conflict zones and trying to bring about peace. He developed the revolutionary idea of having 50% women in the Ethiopian ministry. Some key positions of Defence, foreign affairs, position of president etc are all headed by currently by women in modern Ethiopia. After trying very hard through the Ethiopian embassy in Canberra, I could not obtain a confirmed appointment with Dr Abiye Ahmad but decided to go to Ethiopia any way and meet other officials and ministers. I found the Ethiopian ministers media-shy of the western media, where they considered AMUST of the same category. However we visited the foreign ministry, interviewed Mr Nebiat Getachew, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs as well as visited Ministry for Women and interviewed the Minister of State for Women, Ms Semegne Wube. Ethiopia is a poor country, but I found people very polite, friendly and soft-spoken. Almost one third are Muslims while the
great majority are orthodox Christians from ancient times. I was given some contacts in Addis Ababa by Mr Abdella Umar of Ethiopian back-
ground and the father in law of my nephew, currently residing in Canberra as well as by Dr Mahmoud Khan, originally from South Africa but living in Sydney since 1970’s. On the day of our arrival we were visited by Mr Abdella Umar’s relative Mr Taha
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Addis Ababa.
Interviewed Mr Nebiat Getachew, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs.
Interviewed Minister of State for Women Ms Semegne Wube.
Masjid Tewba.
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Abdi Mohammed who is a commissioner in the government who advised us to visit the Nagesh mosque in the north of Ethiopia. The next day of our arrival in Addis Ababa we met an Irish Muslim Abdur-Rahman (Kenelm Piers Alexander) McCausland,
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Meetings in Addis Ababa
principal consultant for Haqiqah Permaculture who is married to an Ethiopian lady with 3 beautiful children and has been living in Ethiopia for the last 11 years. We offered our Zuhr prayer at an impoverished mosque, Masjid Tewba, in the city
centre next to our hotel. On the third day, Mr Negalegne Mequint third secretary from foreign ministry came to visit us in the hotel helping us to secure ministerial appointments. Guided by Br Abdur Rahman, the Irish
revert we visited Sheikh Abdul Salam who runs a 300 student residential Islamic University/tertiary madrassa in Addis Ababa. Sheikh Abdul Salam speaks fluent Urdu and so do all other teachers there having graduated from Bannauri Town, Karachi
Four story residential building of the Madrassa in Addis Ababa.
Attached Mosque complex, offered our Zuhr prayer with hundreds of students. The Sheikh took us to an upmarket Yemeni restaurant.
Merwa Academy students.
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and from Faisalabad, Pakistan. He is a disciple of Maulana Tariq Jamil. It was really funny, the conversation between the four of us. Abdur Rahman speaks English and Amharic (Ethiopian main language; the Sheikh speaks Amharic and Urdu (poor English) while I speak English and Urdu. So between Abdur Rahman and me it was English, between Abdur Rahman and Sheikh it was Amharic and between me and Sheikh it was Urdu. So when together I have to talk in Urdu and English for them both to understand so as you guys know how much I love talking, I use to take twice as long and Mehar was sick of it. Throughout my tour I used to wake up at 3 am, catching up with AMUST communication/editing for Newsletter online articles till 6 am and then gym, swim, free breakfast and then out and about by 9 am. Very efficient use of time. So I caught up with my travel blog and photos in the morning. One of the great pleasures of the Ethiopian tour was to visit, mix and pray Zuhr with kids in an Islamic primary School, Merwa Academy. The school is run by donations (some donors from Australia who I am not allowed to name since they want to stay anonymous) and some minimum fees. The government does not support Islamic Schools at all here. It’s a poor school, short of resources but has lovely children and dedicated teachers. The children learn three languages: Arabic, Amharic and English. The very little ones spoke pretty good English and mobbed me and Mehar all the time while we were there. The best part was praying Zuhr with the kids, the imam being a student as well followed by zikr and dua together by all students. There is only one ground and after the prayer and during lunch break, the Musallah turns into a volleyball court For Juma, we decided to offer our prayer at the first mosque built in Addis Ababa, the Wali Mohammad Mosque, not far from CBD and our hotel in the city. Since Ethiopia was a Christian country, they were reluctant to allow mosque being built in Addis Ababa. An Indian architect/ builder Wali Mohammad was employed to construct a number of buildings in the capital by the king about 100 years ago and he requested to build a small mosque that the king allowed. It is a small mosque but nice and clean. The second very large mosque Marketa/ Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa was built by the Italians to secure Muslim support for their short occupation of Ethiopia. A classical Ethiopian face.
Wali Mohammad Mosque.
Zahra with Mehar at Wali Mohammad Mosque, Ladies section. JUNE 2019 / ISSUE 163
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Social Spotlights ISRA Australia @isra.org.au
Massive congratulations to our Dean’s Award recipients. We are so proud of what you have all achieved. Your perseverance, dedication and motivation is very admirable!! We look forward to seeing what your academic future has in store for you, we value and admire your hard work.
Brothers In Need @brothersinneed.org
It was our honour and privilege to accept these non perishable items from the students from Alfaisal College. These items will go directly to the homeless community.
Together For Humanity
@together4humanity
Zalman, Syed and teachers from Arkana College compare prayer direction apps on their phones! #interfaith #interfaithdialogue #abrahamic #prayer #interculturalunderstanding #apps #teachers #together4humanity
NSW Police Force @nswpoliceforce
Last night (Thursday 9 May 2019) Campsie Police Area Command held an Iftar dinner. This meal is of special significance to the Muslim community as it ends their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Beginning in 2013, the dinner helps promote strong relationships between the Police and the local community. Seventy guests attended, including representatives from the NSW Police Force, local places of worship, community leaders, schools, and grass roots organisations. The NSW Police Force is committed to building trust and partnerships with all culturally diverse communities across NSW through respect, dialogue, cooperation, appropriate and effective consultation and communication.
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ICV - Islamic Council of Victoria @icv.official
The Annual ICV Interfaith Iftar was held at Gippsland on Saturday 11 May. It was jointly organised with GAMCI (Gippsland Australian Muslim Community Inc). The event was part sponsored by AFIC. It was well attended by members of the local interfaith community, councillors, members from the ICV family. The Hon Russel Northe, MLA for Morwell, the Rev Sharon Hollis, Moderator for the Uniting Church, Father Andrew from Ararat, members of the ICV board were also in attendance. ICV President spoke of the need to work with the community and to ensure that we all keep an open mind and continue to have a dialogue to promote harmony and respect of each other’s faiths. Bro Zaffar, President of GAMCI gave a talk on the activities carried out in Gippsland. WWW.AMUST.COM.AU
Muslim Women’s Association
@muslimwomenassociation The MWA Linking Hearts Ramadan Iftar. Thank you to @doms.strawberries. delights and @a_touch_of_class_events and the team for preparing a very special evening for women and children. From the amazing food and dessert setup to the special gifts purchased for every client who attended. Such beautiful smiles and laughter resonated on this inspiring evening! #linkinghearts #muslimwomenassociation #empoweringwomen #communitycollaboration #workingtogether #strongertogether ISSUE 163 / JUNE 2019
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TOP 6 Muslim Memes
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Top Productivity & TOP 7 Memorisation Apps Tweets #SorryDay 26 May
Me on the morning of Eid
Umar Khan
Standing outside the masjid on Eid like:
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Many people assume that all technology is distracting when studying, but there are some apps that can help you increase
your productivity and help you memorise key concepts. In a pursuit to find out which apps could help you study, I tried out a few to review. Here’s a list of apps that can help you study like a boss!
Forest Platforms: iOS, Android and PC (Limited Features on PC) Price: $2.99 (on iOS and Android) Rating: 9/10 Need help focusing, then Forest is the perfect app for you. Its aim is to stop procrastination. The app is like a game. The idea is pretty simple: each work task is a seed, and dependent on how much time you devote, it grows into a tree or a bush. Eventually, as you complete more tasks and grow more trees or bushes, soon you can grow a forest! You can select the time period you want to spend on something ranging from as long as 60 minutes, allowing you to grow a tree, to as short as 10 minutes, which will get you a shrub. Trying to exit the app whilst your
task is ongoing will kill your plant :( The app also gives encouraging messages to help you stay on track telling you to “stop phubbing”, “stay focused”, “put down your phone”, “go back to work” and “stop looking at me”. Once you’ve completed the allocated time period, the app allows you to tag the time period with a label of your choosing, i.e. work, study, etc. The one con to the app is that it costs $2.99 on the Play Store and the App Store. But, if you are looking for a way to stay focused, Forest is a great app!
Tiny Cards Platforms: iOS, Android and PC Price: Free Rating: 8/10
When you have to go to work on Eid because you booked the wrong day off... Need help memorising concepts – then Tiny Cards has you covered. This free app allows you to prepare for tests and memorise vocabulary through flashcards. You can use ready-made flashcards or make your own and share them with friends.
This app is probably best for subjects where you need to memorise vocabulary or key concepts, such as in languages or science. The app is colourful and uses spaced repetition, showing the flashcards before quizzing you on the concepts.
Quizlet The first breakfast after Ramadan feels so haraam.
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Platform: iOS, Android and PC Price: Free (unless you go for Quizlet Premium) Rating: 9/10 Quizlet is a very similar app to Tiny Cards. The app, like Tiny Cards, shows flashcards and aids in memorisation through repetition. You can use prepared flashcards or create your own. The interface on Quizlet is more formal and less colourful but the layout is pretty simple. Search for your topic or create new flashcards and you can start your revision.
One major difference between Quizlet and Tiny Cards is the premium feature which includes test preparation resources made by experts. This is a costly feature with pricing set for individual flashcard sets. But, don’t fear – there’s plenty of content on the free version of the app to help you revise.
These are some of the best study apps available to help increase your productivity and help you memorise concepts. There may be other study apps that might work better for you. Comment below on what
apps you recommend for studying. Remember, technology doesn’t always have to be bad for studying! Stay tuned for the Top Notetaking and Time Management Apps!
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5 YEARS Awards Night & Gala Dinner
Seena Incorporated cordially invites you to join us in celebrating 5 years of Muslim media with the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST reaching a milestone with its news platform by awarding individuals who contributed to its success together with a gala dinner.
The Highline Venue, Ruby Ballroom, Bankstown, NSW
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