BOOMERANG PAGE 5 AUSTRALIA

AMUST AUSTRALIA

Faith groups: the game plan must be for 2030

Thea Ormerod

Faith communities across Australia held vigils on Monday 18 October, outside the offices of members of parliament, including that of the Prime Minister with their unified call for Australia to take stronger climate policies to the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, especially a stronger target for the year 2030.

A group of 50 people, including a dozen clergy of various faiths and Catholic Religious, rang bells and held a liturgy outside the office of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Groups from various faiths also held vigils outside the offices of other MPs, some Coalition and some Labor. They included Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, Trevor Evans in the seat of Brisbane and Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Warren Entsch. were held in 43 countries. With a unified message about protecting the earth, they were held in places as different from each other as New York and Nairobi, Lilongwe in Malawi and London, some with corporate targets such as BlackRock and others challenging deforestation.

Over 120 diverse faith communities across Australia were involved on Sunday and hung banners on their places of worship or held events, calling on Scott Morrison to set much bolder climate targets for 2030. As the Government considers a target of net zero emissions by 2050, faith communities say that only an ambitious near-term goal would make that goal meaningful.

Venerable Bhante Sujato, Buddhist monk of Sutta Central, who attended the vigil outside Scott Morrison’s office, said, “We are distressed that the Coalition’s internal debate is about a 2050 target when the main game is slashing pollution this decade. We need targets closer to those of our partners the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union. Indeed, the world needs reductions now.”

In Melbourne, Pentecostal Pastor Rob Buckingham of Bayside Church, said, “Our prayers are for the Morrison Government, that they will take the bold action needed to protect the integrity of God’s creation. We can already see the early but escalating effects of climate change. We must rise to the challenge now, in order to protect the future of humanity.”

“We share the Nationals’ concern for regional communities but, with the world moving away from fossil fuels, it is more compassionate to assist these communities to diversify their local economies. Otherwise, we abandon them to an uncertain and bleak future. Especially so because people in the regions are also bearing the brunt of fires, floods and droughts made worse by climate change,” Pastor Buckingham said.

In Australia, actions were organized under the auspices of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), a founding partner of GreenFaith International.

View Photos at https://bit.ly/3oLpVhU.

Thea Ormerod is the President of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), a Catholic Christian, retired social worker and grandmother of eight.

Women Leaders in the Abrahamic Traditions

Kim Chong

The annual Abraham Conference was held on Sunday 10 October 2021 with the theme ‘Women Leaders in the Abrahamic Traditions: Role Models for Our Time’, highlighting the contribution and difference women leaders in the Abrahamic traditions made in their time.

The Conference, livestreamed on Zoom for the second year in a row due to COVID-19 restrictions, featured a speaker from each of the Abrahamic faiths: Jacquie Seemann Charak, co-founder and committee member of Or Chadash, a Modern Orthodox Synagogue, and the Sydney’s Women’s Tefila Group;Associate Professor Michele Connolly rsj, lecturer in Biblical Studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney; and YamamahAgha, general manager of the Humanitarian Settlement Program at Settlement Services International.

Gunditjmara woman, Aunty Shirley Gilbert, opened the Conference with an Acknowledgement to Country. She shared her appreciation for the Aboriginal women who made their Aboriginal communities strong through their generosity and spiritual wisdom.

The MC, Jane Jeffes, producer and director of a range of documentaries, former executive producer of The Religion and Ethics

Jacquie Seemann Charak.

Report on ABC Radio, and a mother of two daughters, opened the discussion.

The context of this year’s theme was the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements and the revelations of abuse in our federal parliament early this year, all of which brought thousands of women onto the streets in protest.

“[These movements] bring into question patriarchal attitudes. They demand a new 21st century respect for women and have shone a light on the objectification and the abuse of women, whether that’s sexual abuse and domestic abuse or simply the denial of their full participation in society at whatever level,” Ms Jeffes said.

“This is about women’s agency and what that can do for all society. This theme is particularly relevant now, where we have watched what has been happening in Afghanistan and the impact that will have on Afghan women and girls.”

Jacquie Seemann Charak shared the millennia–old stories of two women from Jewish texts, Devorah and Beruriah.

Devorah was a prophetess and a judge of Israel, “a woman of valour, diligent in her ways and as quick as a fire torch”. Devorah’s leadership resulted in a sustained period of stability for the Jewish people.

The second is Talmudic sage Beruriah, who lived in Israel during the second century of the Christian era. She is one of the few women whose authority in law and ethics and spiritual leadership feature in the Talmud and on par with the male scholars.

Associate Professor Michele Connolly rsj spoke of two lay women and one group of women from the 21st century, who inspire her as they live their Catholic faith.

For Sr Connolly, these women are inventing new ways to keep their spirituality alive and lead women in their faith, without much support from the official structures of the Church. The women are Andrea Dean, Christina Gomez and the Wagga-based women’s group, Spirit Weavers.

Yamamah Agha spoke of the wife of Prophet Muhammed S), Khadija (r), “the first woman of Islam”. A successful businesswoman, Khadija wielded great economic and political power and influence.

Impressed by Prophet Muhammed’s (s) character when he worked for her business, Khadija (r) proposed to him. During their marriage, when the Prophet told Khadija (r) about his divine revelations, she encouraged him to leave the business and preach full time.

Almost every year since 2002, the Abraham Conference has brought together Jews, Christians and Muslims by celebrating the common bonds of ancestry and faith that unite them in their various approaches to Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, who are foundational figures for each of the Abrahamic religions.

The Conference seeks to overcome ignorance and prejudice and promotes better mutual understanding and cooperation among them in pursuit of the common good.

This year’s Abraham Conference was again organised and hosted by the Coordinating Committee of representatives from Affinity Intercultural Foundation; the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations; the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies; the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW & ACT; Australasian Muslim Times AMUST; the Diocese of Parramatta; the NSW Ecumenical Council; the Australian Egyptian Forum Council; and the Indian Crescent Society of Australia.

The 2021 Abraham Conference is available to view at https://youtu.be/8tLqfaNAwQ0

Associate Professor Michele Connolly. Yamamah Agha.

Raising Peace: Peace Festival attracts 1000 attendees

Philip Feinstein

A group of peace minded people and organisations recently created a spectacular Zoom program of 37 diverse and interesting talks over a 10 day period from 16 to 26 September 2021 with an array of topics available to over one thousand attendees!

The subjects ranged from work that heals conflicts in refugee and migrant communities in Sydney, to an Afghan panel discussing the crisis and a peaceful future for Afghanistan.

There were talks on faith and peace featuring Zia Ahmed from AMUST, a day devoted to and run by First Nations people, workshops on permaculture for refugees, including work undertaken in camps for Rohingya and among Syrian refugees, as well as a session by PEN, talking about journalists and writers in detention in Western China, Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere.

After a warm conference opening address by David Shoebridge (MLC), Rita Warleigh of International Volunteers for Peace expanded the introduction of Raising Peace to everyone.

Rita explained the name Raising Peace: “It was chosen because we believe it is time to celebrate peace, to bring it back into the public discourse, and to recognise past achievements of those working for peace.”

While looking at governments spending vast amounts on wars and nuclear armaments, she said: “We need to recognise peace as a process to change the focus of dialogue when it comes to our relationships with other nations, our environment, and our community.”

The keynote address of Raising Peace was given by His Excellency Mr Armando Vargas Araya, Ambassador for Costa Rica, a country that sets an example to the world by their decision not to have a standing army.

He said: “‘Blessed is the Costa Rican mother who knows when her child is born that he will never be a soldier.’ This proverb has a double connotation: The mother need not worry that her child will be asked to die for the state. But just as importantly, she need not worry that he will be conditioned to kill for the state.”

He concluded with the words: “Like freedom, peace is not an original or permanent state. We have to build it again and again every day.”

With the aim to foster collaboration amongst those working for peace, the organisers were totally thrilled with so many young people being involved in various events throughout the festival, as well as organising a session on Youth for Peace.

It was wonderful to see attendees from all parts of the globe with some of them wearing spectacular costumes from their respective countries to give an exciting atmosphere to the festival.

Nick Deane from IPAN, Independent and Peaceful Australia Network said: “It’s been a very exciting journey for the many people involved. For me it began in 2019 when we began discussing the idea. We had no idea that it would reach the scale that it has – the festival was much bigger than we expected and of a high quality.”

Nick further added, “At short notice, as events were moving very swiftly, we managed to include an event about Afghanistan. And then we were overtaken by the now infamous announcement that Australia will be part of AUKUS and obtaining nuclear powered submarines.”

There were many inspiring events at the conference, whether one had an interest in peace on the micro-level, peace within, peace with our First Nations brothers and sisters, or peace in international relations.

So, what will be the outcomes of this festival? The hope is that everyone will be inspired to start a discourse about peace, to take up peace studies, to sing songs for peace, to wear a blue scarf, to volunteer for peace, and to write to a politician or become a politician.

So what does peace mean to you and how can we all create it?

James Cox, Executive Director of Peacifica and one of the organisers of Raising Peace, pointed out: “People out there want peace above all. Many people are upset about rising militarisation. Many are upset that we are heading down a path that has war at its end.”

While there is huge concern about the course that this nation is headed, readers can access many of the positive presentations from Raising Peace on Festival Recordings – Raising Peace

And as James Cox concluded: “Peace needs us all!”

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Chris Hayes MP

In the federal Australian parliament on Monday 25 October 2021, I moved that this House:

(1) notes that 29 November 2021 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People as declared by the United Nations in 1977; (2) recognises the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self determination and a future built on peace, dignity, justice and security; (3) acknowledges the obstacles to the ongoing peace process, particularly the need for urgent action on issues such as settlements, Jerusalem, the Gaza blockade and the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories; (4) further recognises that the ongoing humanitarian situation in Palestine is far-reaching, with many in the Australian community affected by this ongoing conflict; and (5) calls on the Government to ensure Australia is working constructively to support security and human rights in Palestine, in advance of a just and enduring two-state solution in the Middle East.

As we approach 29 November, I take the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Palestinian people and stand united in their struggle for self-determination. When the Oslo agreements were drafted in 1993, they were intended to give the Palestinian people autonomy. However, 28 years later the military occupation continues to control the lives of Palestinians and their access to the basic necessities of life, including the vital water supply.

Under the Oslo agreements, Israel retains exclusive control over almost all the water resources. The agreements allocate 80 per cent of the mountain aquifer water to Israeli use and 20 per cent to the Palestinians. Apart from the human rights implications that arise, it is quite concerning given that over the last 28 years the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank has nearly doubled. Due to these restrictions, the Palestinian authority is forced to purchase significant water supply from Mekorot, Israel’s national water company.

This issue is further complicated by the very poor Palestinian water pipelines, which mean that about a third of the water supply, I am advised, is being lost to leakage. The water shortage in the West Bank is acute in summer and Mekorot restricts the water supplies for the higher demands of the Israeli settlements. As a result, the average water consumption for all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza falls well behind the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum levels.

Access to necessities such as water is an inalienable human right and, unfortunately, these rights are not being realised due to military occupation. Clearly this is inhumane and unjust. We must work towards affording self-determination to the Palestinian people, including a future that’s based on peace, dignity, justice and security.

I acknowledge there are many obstacles in the ongoing peace process, particularly the need for urgent action in respect to settlements, Jerusalem, the Gaza blockade and the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories. I believe it falls to countries like Australia, who believe in the dignity of all people, to become more engaged in addressing the need for a tangible process towards the creation of the Palestinian state while ensuring respect and security for a Jewish homeland.

I genuinely accept the right of the Jewish state to exist and for it to be able to defend the rights and freedoms of its people. However, I firmly believe the future of the Jewish state and, indeed, the region depends on Israel’s ability to live in peace with its neighbours, including a Palestinian state.

On this note, I call on the government to ensure that Australia’s working constructively to support security and the human rights of Palestinians, including the unequivocal commitment to adjust an enduring two-state solution consistent with international law.

While slightly digressing, I’d also take this opportunity to reiterate my concerns about Mohammed El Halabi, the former director of World Vision Australia in Gaza and the West Bank. Mr El Halabi has been charged on allegations of funnelling $50 million of World Vision aid money to a terrorist group, Hamas. Although investigations have been conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, independent auditors as well as World Vision itself, they have all failed to show any evidence that money was actually diverted, Mr El Halabi remains in prison. He’s been severely restricted in his legal defence throughout his four-year ordeal, depriving him of a fair trial, and has been forced to attend over 150 court appearances without any substantial evidence to support the allegations against him.

I have been in contact with Mr El Halabi’s distressed father on a number of occasions now regarding his son’s plight and, accordingly, I use this opportunity to renew any call for the international community to continue to place pressure on Israel to finalise Mr El Halabi’s trial without further delay. I look further to a future where Israel and Palestine can coexist in peace and harmony and I echo the views of Pope Benedict—let the twostate solution become a reality, not remain a dream. Philip Feinstein is a Sydney based writer, musician and activist working for MUSIC FOR REFUGEES www.musicforrefugees.org

Khodr Saleh to lead the Labor Team for Canterbury Bankstown Roselands Ward

AMUST Media

The NSW Labor Party officially endorsed Mr Khodr Saleh OAM to Lead the Labor Candidates team for Roselands Ward Canterbury Bankstown Council on Friday 29 October 2021, for the upcoming council election on Saturday 4 December 2021.

“I am proud to be running with Bhadra Waiba and Md Kabir as trust integrity skills team reflecting community diversity and work hard for our local community,” Mr Saleh said.

Mrs Waiba is a front line nurse who worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to support vulnerable people in our local community being the first Australian Nepalese Indigenous woman to run for public office in Australia and if she get elected, she will be the first Nepalese Indigenous woman elected at the public office in Australia.

Md Kabir is a well respected hard working local family man known for his integrity, dignity, honesty.

“I look forward to speaking with every local resident about our vision for the future of our City and also hearing your ideas on how together we can make Canterbury Bankstown City even better.”

LIFESTYLE 20 22 Home is where the heart is

Dr Amna Rehman

“Welcome Home,” exclaims the recording of our GPS as our car enters the driveway of our current accommodation. Whenever I hear these words set on the mobile map, I start to feel relaxed. It’s time to take off my hijab, and stretch my legs, eat, drink, and simply unwind. My home is my comfort zone. There is no place like that.

But last night, for the first time, it struck me when I listened to those words, “Is this really my home”? I walked from the front yard and thought in my mind if it really were my ultimate dwelling? Then I instantly realized that we are actually thinking about relocating to some bigger place in a few months; it’s actually a rental place. And even if it were my own house, will it ever be my final resting place?

Is there any “rest” inside our homes in this mortal world? I started questioning myself. There is always something going on; some chaos, some struggle; from carrying out domestic chores to fights and uproar among the dwellers, to toil and trouble of living a fast paced life leading to the death of its inhabitants; there is no such thing as rest in our worldly abodes.

And as my restless soul was pursuing the veracity of the world, the word of Allah came into my mind and reminded me of the reality of my belongings including my home. The truth is, that as a matter of fact, we are living in a bubble. This world is a transit.

Even if I invest all my money and energy in building a house for myself; I can’t guarantee to live there, even for a day. And even if I were to live, I can’t expect to live there in absolute tranquility; because that’s not what God promised us to provide in this mortal world.

At that particular moment, the superficiality and shallowness of this perishable world hit me very hard; and I felt scared.

Actually, our real welcome party will be when the gates of paradise open for us and we are invited to go inside that.

“O soul at peace, Return to your Lord, well pleased, well-pleasing. Join my servants, enter my paradise.” (Quran 89: 27-30.

That is our final accommodation; our ultimate resting place, where there will be no grief, no hunger, no heartbreak, and injustice. And this idea merely is sufficient as a counselor for us.

It’s also a wake-up call for us in case we have forgotten the hereafter. It’s crucial to ask ourselves every now and then if anything in this insubstantial world is worth losing the Paradise for?

Let’s search our soul to see if Jannah lies there as a permanent destination.

Let’s strive to get there.

Let’s pray for that.

“Oh Allah, I ask you for Paradise”.

Investigate and find out how truly beautiful and impeccable it is, and how to get there. It’s a lifetime job but will pay us in the end if we work hard for our Master. He is calling us there. He is Al Wuduud, and He loves us more than we can ever imagine, and is looking forward to saying “Welcome Home” to those who believe.

Home is where the heart is. And when your heart belongs to Allah; no place feels better than Paradise.

“For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath – an eternal dwelling. How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)!” (Quran 3:136)

Dr Amna Rehman is a Psychiatry Registrar in Central Coast Local Health District NSW, Australia

When it doesn’t go to plan!

Kathryn Jones

Have you ever found yourself frustrated or upset because something you planned didn’t work out how you imagined it?

I have found that it isn’t the plan changing that is causing us grief, it is the way we are seeing it.

Allah has told us in the Qu’ran, “They were planning, and Allah was planning, and Allah is the best planner.” [Quran 8:30]

He is talking about those who were scheming in this verse, but it still is a good reminder for us that we are not the ones in control!

You see, there was a time when I needed everything to go as I planned it, or it seemed like everything was out of control. The funny thing is, it always is out of my control, it’s just that I couldn’t see that at the time. It was my own way of thinking about it that had me so stuck.

The way it actually works is … none of us has control of the outcome. It is always in Allah’s hands. All power and might is with Allah! We have the choice to fight that or accept it. If we fight it, then we feel frustration, sorry, disappointment and grief and can often miss the opportunity to enjoy the moment. We sabotage our own experience.

On the other hand, if we accept that the outcome will be however it will be, go with the flow, we have th opportunity to enjoy that moment, no matter what it looks like.

Our experience is in fact coming through the way we think about it!

Let’s take an example to understand this deeper …

You planned to catch the train to an important event and just as you arrived at the station the train was pulling out and you missed it. In the end you have to call for an uber to get there on time because the next train will arrive too late.

Scenario one, you are upset because you don’t really have the money to be catching an uber and the entire trip in the car you are stressing about how you can pay the bills. By the time you arrive at the event you are feeling depressed and don’t really want to be there anymore and because you are wearing a sad face, no one really socialises with you at the event. You go home feeling like the whole thing was a waste of time.

Scenario two, you are not excited about the idea of spending money on an uber but you recall that Allah is the Provider so everything will be fine. You show up at the event on time and in good spirits and have an amazing time. The next day you find out that the train you would have caught broke down and so everything had worked out for the best that you missed the train.

The situation was the same in both cases, but the experience of it was completely different, simply by the way you thought about it!

Kathryn Jones is the CEO and Founder of Back To The Fitrah Mentoring Academy (BackToTheFitrah.com), building emotional and spiritual resilience in the Ummah.

Share or not to share? The psychology of narrations

Hena Jawaid

As a human being, we come across various life setbacks which we want to share with our friends and family members. But it has also been noticed that sometimes our emotional ventilation/sharing gets us on the wrong path or leads us to take inappropriate decisions or make insensitive measures to address a problem.

Perhaps, because a person with whom we are sharing a problem is; 1. giving us a flawed advice or suggestions, 2. not guiding us appropriately, 3. not properly listening 4. not understanding our concerns and circumstances

Therefore, we end up questioning is it worth to share our experiences of suffering with anyone in this world or not? Sharing personal experiences which shape our lives is the most critical aspect of living.

One has to be very mindful while disclosing personal matters with anyone.

The content that we share with other people around does shape our personality because it is important how the person is interpreting our fears, matters, perceptions, and experiences. People with whom we share our worries constructs our perception of an experience which ultimately defines the future course of our lives.

The conversation is not only significant for oneself but also for one’s future. It is crucial as what kind of directions and perceptions other people are offering us after listening to our narratives.

These suggestions and opinions influence our view of an experience. Not only it impacts our way of thinking it also affects our behavior and actions towards people and event.

It is always a better idea to communicate our feelings and emotions with someone who has a neutral background and offers active listening.

Active listening means one is giving you impression that they are there to acknowledge your doubts and apprehensions about something which is significant for you without passing any judgment or offering their personal views on the matter because we want to identify ourselves through our experiences.

When we narrate our thoughts and perception about an event or occurrence, we simultaneously detoxify ourselves from implicit emotional barrages. Once we unpack pandora box of feelings and able to see the picture clearly there we start perceiving the issues from different aspect to resolve it rather than reappraising the situation every time with new suspicions. Our brain simultaneously starts working on a solution as soon as we unladen turmoil from our senses.

The function of a brain to seek solution by itself is usually hindered when our experiences are primed by others’ opinions and analyses.

Just like physical health, mental well-being should be taken care by regular expressions of stress and concerns in front of a person who observes unconditional positive regard and follow non-judgmental attitudes.

Hena Jawaid is a mental health professional having trained in Pakistan and US completing 5 years of medicine and then 4 years training in psychiatry. She has contributed to international and national newspapers, magazines and scientific journals on professional and community issues and spends many hours volunteering for various NGOs.

9 Self-Care strategies when going through separation or divorce

Princess R Lakshman

Practise these self-care strategies and have faith that Allah has put you to this and He will put you through it and give you what is best for you and your Deen, Inshallah.

1. Self-Compassion- blame keeps one stuck in the past. Live “through” the pain and grow from it to be better and to move on with hope and faith. Blaming causes further pain and anguish. Express gratitude for everything, even those experiences that were painful. Thank Allah for helping you survive them. Thank Allah for making you stronger and wiser.

2. Re-visit your life’s purpose and dreams

– write down your dreams or goals and envision the best life for yourself. Now that you have started a new chapter in life, use your energy into realising your purpose. 3. Talk it out but don’t gossip - speak to positive people and a trusted professional about your feelings. Let things out and unburden, instead of bad-mouthing your ex-spouse. Refrain from talking all day, every day about your breakup to differ-

ent members of the family and relative circle. This inevitably turns into a gossip session. 4. Eat, pray, sleep, exercise - keep focussing on the daily basics of life. Eat healthy meals on time, engage in daily exercise so that your body releases endorphins, the “happy hormones,” sleep for at least 6 hours, and be sure to commit to daily prayers, dhikr, and silent mo-

ments of reflection. 5. Tahajjud salah and silence - try getting up for Tahajjud salah as much as you can.

This will help you overcome any kind of confusion you may be going through regarding your separation or divorce.

After your Tahajjud salah, ask Allah the questions you need answered and sit in silence. Have faith that He will give you wisdom, signs, and inspiration to make

choices that will be good for you and your Deen. 6. Start learning something new - whether it is a new craft or a new language, now is a good time to start learning something new. This will help you keep your mind engaged in something productive instead of allowing your mind to dwell on the past and bring about anxiety for an imagined future.

7. Rearrange your room and de-clutter

your living space - the movement of energy and positive vibrations in the home are vital. Create a space for yourself which will be your sanctuary. Rearrange furniture and add new colours in order to breathe new life into your home, filling it with light and joy. 8. Detox your body daily - one of the best strategies for detoxing your body is to drink water and excrete toxins from your body. When your body repairs and replenishes from the inside, your immunity and overall health improves. 9. Daily awareness practice – perform a 3 to 5 minute body scan meditation activity. This daily exercise of the mind brings about clarity and awareness.

Princess R. Lakshman is a writer, speaker, qualified clinical nutritionist, life coach and a counsellor. She is based in Sydney, Australia.

Sakinah: Peace of mind

Farid Ahmed

What is peace of mind? It is a pleasant calmness, serenity, and tranquility in the human mind.

It is essential for human happiness. It is a deeper feeling that is very hard to explain, but the urge or the longing for it is present in every mind. It is an urge that we cannot see or touch or buy. Every human is after the peace.

A story about a king and the peace

A king had no peace of mind. His counsellor advised him that if he could wear clothes from someone who had peace of mind, then the king would find peace of mind. The king’s soldiers could not find anyone with peace of mind. Eventually a couple of soldiers found a man in the bush, who said: “I have peace of mind, but I have no clothes. I live in the bush and cover myself with tree leaves.”

The Quranic term for peace of mind is As-Sakinah. In calamities, or in stress, or in danger, or in anxiety, or in sickness, a believer can receive Sakinah to pass tests and tribulations.

Allah is the creator and the controller of our hearts, and only He can send the true peace that we need. That’s why, true believers turn to Allah for peace whenever they need it. Then, Allah sends peace in their hearts. Holy Quran confirms:

“It is He (Allah) Who sent down the peace and calmness (As-Sakinah) into the hearts of the believers.” [Al-Quran 48:4]

Where can we find peace of mind?

I am not suggesting going for you to find peace of mind in bush, but I am pointing to the real source of peace.

That source is not clothes, buildings, lot of money, luxurious life, glittering costumes, glamour, name, fame, expensive living, high position, holding power, sleeping on money, sleeping pills, strong drugs or intoxicants, alcohol, exotic foods etc.

The real source of peace according to Islamic faith is the Creator (Allah), and He has installed the urge for peace of mind in humans. Therefore, Allah is the real source of peace, and He did not make the peace available for sale or purchase. Allah says in the holy Quran:

“Allah is He, Other than Whom there is no other god: The Sovereign Ruler, The Holy One, the Source of Peace (As-Salaam).” [Quran 59:23]

How to program the mind for receiving peace?

1. Believe & relax: Strongly believe in what Prophet Mohammad (s) said and feel positive: “Whoever for Allah wishes best, puts through hardship.” [Bukhari]

2. Surrender to Allah & stop worrying:

For life or death, trials, or tribulations, simply surrender to Allah’s Guardianship. Remember to say, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihin raajeoon (To Allah we belong and to Allah is our return.” [Quran 2:156] 3. Pray to Allah for peace: As Prophet

Mohammad (s) used to pray, “Allahumma Antas Salam, wa minkas-salaam (O

Allah, You are the source of peace, real peace only comes from You).” [Muslim]

IFAM elects central team for 2021-2024

AMUST Media

The Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) held its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) online via Zoom on Saturday 23 October 2021.

An overwhelming number of Members of General Meeting (MGM) participated in addition to some observers at the AGM.

The Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims is a leading Australian Muslim organisation dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values.

Since 1993, IFAM has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.

The AGM started with the Quran recitation by Br Faraz Mahmood President of IFAM Perth, followed by Hadith by Br Abdul Gaffar Khan a MGM from Brisbane.

The State Secretary of IFAM Victoria Br Qaizer Nasir presented ethics and etiquettes of AGM and followed by Imam Jawad Ahmed, Director “Why Islam” USA (ICNA) giving a motivational talk, Nasiha.

Various reports were presented including the annual financial report, consolidated IFAM central report, IFAM State and Halaqah reports and Presidential report.

The election for Central Office Bearers – 2021-24 was conducted in stages by Br Siddiq Buckley (AIM) as the Chief Election Officer, Br Muhammad Moniruzzman (IPDC) and Sheikh Ahmed Ibrahim Oaf (AIM).

A. The first election was held to elect IFAM Central President where Br Rais Ahmed Khan was elected President.

B. The second election were held to elect 9 IFAM Central Shura (Consultative Body) Members: 1. Dr Chaudhary Kashif Aziz 2. Br Chaudhary Rab Nawaz 3. Br Irshad Ahmed 4. Br Muhammad Anis Qureshi 5. Br Muhammad Hamid Abbasi 6. Br Muhammad Khurram Jawaid 7. Br Javed Akhtar 8. Br Usaid Khalil 9. Br Wajahat Ali Khan Rana

C. The third election were also held for States Shura members. The following

Brothers were elected as Shura members by MGM of their respective states to represent their State in Central Shura: 10. Br Khurram Ali Khan, Australian Capital Territory 11. Br Shaukat Cheema, New South Wales 12. Br Jamil Chaudhry, Victoria

D. The fourth election were also held for Central Sisters Shura members. The following Sisters were elected as Shura members by MGM of Women Division: 13. Sr Nabeela Rais 14. Sr Humaira Saeed 15. Sr Najia Khalil

E. The fifth and final election was also held for Vice President and Secretary General among the Shura members. The following brothers were elected by President and 15 shura members:

Dr Chaudhary Kashif Aziz, Vice President

Br Usaid Khalil, Secretary General

LIFESTYLE 20 22 The Soul Speaks: Reflections and poems by Princess R Lakshman

Asiya Bharadia Princess R Lakshman.

The first time Princess R Lakshman heard the word ‘author’, she was only nine years old. While many young people go through hundreds of different career options before finally settling on one, becoming an author was always something Princess knew she was going to do.

Currently residing in Sydney, Australia, Princess is a third generation Fijian-Indian. She is a revert Muslim, mother, wife, and wears numerous professional hats - writer, clinical nutritionist, life-coach, counsellor, and narrative therapist.

But more than that, she’s a human with a soul that speaks so clearly that she feels compelled to share her soul’s messages with her readers.

Speaking about her new book The Soul Speaks, Princess states, “I know there are many books that talk about healing and recovery, but this is my word on healing and recovery.”

The Soul Speaks is a collation of the poems and reflections written over several years by Princess, capturing moments in her life as she was healing and recovering from mental illness that began when she was battling a “brain tumour, adjusting to life as a single mother after a sudden marriage breakdown due to domestic violence, and facing rejection and disownment from family due to her choice to embrace Islam as her chosen spiritual path.

During this healing phase, she worked on herself and received professional help to overcome substance addiction, suicidal ideation, and violent outbursts as a result of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to triggers from her childhood experiences of familial inter-generational paedophilia.

As part of her healing journey, she began penning poems that came to her during the most mundane of tasks. “I’d be doing the dishes or folding laundry and I’d hear a voice within me. And I knew I had to get these messages down.”

Princess found that these poems emerged in the moment when she first began recognising the light within herself. It was during these moments of self-awareness when she truly understood what her soul was trying to convey. Princess explains that her writing process was unique. “It was like I was being spoken to, told to just release that particular voice I was hearing, and it was coming so strongly from within me, I knew this wasn’t just a message for me but a message that needed to be written and shared.” Princess’ teenaged daughter is the closest person to her heart and was also the first person to witness her mental illness. When the first author copy of The Soul Speaks “ arrived, she clutched it to her chest and read from it, stating that she was beyond proud of her mother.

“She said ‘Mum this is amazing! This is you staying with me even when you’re not with me because these are your words,” Princess fondly recalled.

“I’ve dedicated this book to her, and I felt

extremely grateful when she said that,” she further added. Princess has strong faith in the healing ability of someone who has been through trauma and abuse. “There are many I’d be doing voices in our head that belong to oththe dishes or ers…when we are little we start hearing folding laundry people’s opinions on who we are and who and I’d hear a we should be. Our authentic voice about voice within ourselves and our own potential gets me. And I drowned by these different voices.” knew I had “But I feel if you sit in silence and to get these surrender yourself to Allah’s divine plan messages for you, then you will hear an intuitive down. voice - low and soft in volume but feels right, and good, and joyful, and that’s when you know it’s your soul speaking. There’s no judgement or doubt, it’s a very sure voice without any yelling, shouting, and belittling. This voice isn’t telling you what to do, it’s guiding you.”

The Soul Speaks

by Princess R Lakshman

ISBN-13: 9781984508195 Publisher: Author Solutions Inc Pages: 158

Available as paperback, hard cover, and eBook.

Amazon https://tinyurl.com/47y68yun

Barnes & Noble https://tinyurl.com/px9b4jy9

Xlibris Publishers https://tinyurl.com/eeydf4pk

The Soul Speaks is a collection of poems that truly speak to the soul. They resonate with readers and render them into looking inside themselves, searching for their voice, a reminder of Allah to always love

Find that place within you themselves and be

That can’t be violated the person they were

That can’t be cursed That can’t be manipulated meant to be. Her words are also echoed throughout

That can’t be rejected the book and espe-

And can’t be disowned cially in her favourite

Find that place within you poem from the colThat is soulfully you And not the perception of you lection, titled ‘Find that Place’ (page 139 of The Soul Speaks).

Recognise that pure place Princess is cur-

Yes, that place within you rently working on a

Is what returns to God memoir, two novels

Because that’s the place from which you’ve grown (women’s fiction), and a daily journaling prompts book for when first in you Muslims. the soul was blown.” Her first novel The Girl Child is also ~ Find that Place, available on Amazon. The Soul Speaks To contact Princess, visit www.princesslakshman.com Asiya Bharadia is a writer and journalist based in Brisbane, Australia.

Being part of an Australian skin care campaign

Lara Hawwash

When I was approached to be part of the Neutriderm Campaign I was so excited to be a Hijabi representative! I wanted to show that there are plenty of Muslim women out there that love to take extra care of themselves, hair and beauty regime.

As a Muslim hijabi women, being part of an Australian Campaign was great as I’ve felt a sense of inclusivity and belonging.

On the day of the photoshoot I was able to meet wonderful influencers whom held a strong passion towards skin care. We had conversations about the different products used and discussed which worked for us.

We realised that the product itself catered to diverse skin types just as the campaign promoted cultural diversity!

The Neutroderm Campaign is being featured on different social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. It has also been featured on Australian TV such as 9Now, SBS, etc. @neutriderm_australia interviewed me on set asking about not only how I take care of myself from the outside but also from the inside!

We emphasised the importance of taking care of our mental health so that the external care can come about with utter love and gentleness.

I personally take care of my skin by drinking plenty of water and using natural skin care products. I have been using the Neutriderm moisturising lotion and I love it, as it has kept my skin feeling fresh and smooth.

I feel my presence in the campaign brought about a positive feedback. As many Muslim Australian women shared the ad with me, they were pleasantly happy to view a hijabi figure on the screen to allow them to feel a sense of inclusivity.

One message I’ve always sent my followers is that no matter what they want to do, they can do it if they put their hearts to it.

So if there is any person who has a goal or passion I highly recommend you do it with your head held high, and remember you are beautiful, and nothing can stop you from doing what you love.

Lara Hawwash (in grey hijab) at the Neutriderm photoshoot.

Lara Hawwash is an event planner, that does events for the community, through my events I try to help out business that need exposure.

Dr Fathi Osman: A contemporary Muslim thinker

Mohammad Yacoob

In 1996 Dr Fathi Osman received an award at the University of London (UK) by prominent Islamic Institutions and distinguished scholars worldwide. His voice was a new voice that presented Islam as a religion that gave the world an open-ended system constantly developing and dynamic. His significant contributions to Islamic thoughts is his legacy. He joined Muslim Brotherhood in the 1940s, worked on its weekly journal, but broke away in the 1950s.

Dr Fathi Osman devoted much of his life to writing. He spent time explaining Islam to both Muslims and non-Muslims, arguing its dynamics & applicability in any part of the world, and showing that Islamic law is easily applicable in contemporary life because of its flexibility to adapt to modern times. In addition, he wrote more than 40 books in English and Arabic to make Islamic civilization and culture more understandable.

His writings addressed Muslim scholars. First, he explained Islam and its flexibility in simple terms to those who are very unyielding, conventional. Second: He seems to have exposed tendencies of those who are over-cautious. His overall explanation was to show that Shariah is constantly evolving within the framework of Islam and has relevance to our time.

Economic, political, and social development is possible through an interaction between tradition and modernity. To emphasize, he said, it should be scrutinized and put to work by Muslims, forcing Muslims to think more closely, carefully, and rationally and to liberate themselves from each others’ influences by thinking deeply and independently.

Time and again, he emphasized that the divine sources of Islam are permanent and unchangeable. However, the Islamic thinking in dealing with them has been changing because of the interaction between particular and general.

He said intellectual history and Islamic heritage have proved that Islamic dynamism, when put to use to allow the general to interact with the particular for a given time and place, has yielded results in the presence of ever-changing circumstances. He reminded Muslims about the example of Imam al-Shafi’i, who changed his teaching when he changed his residence from Iraq to Egypt.

He mentioned that a jurist might have different views on many issues under varying circumstances. According to other possibilities and understandings, a jurist who lived in different countries might have different opinions about the same issue.

Fathi Osman intellectually took it upon himself to explain dynamism within Islam and its divine sources, to make the contemporary mind understand that these sources can cope with changing needs in different times and places, confirming that Islam came for humanity – for the entire world.

Things and events are permanent in this world, irrespective of time and place; others are changeable and variable liable to vary and change. Keeping in mind that Allah Mighty God is the Lord of the world, Dr Fathi Osman emphasized Islamic dynamism and stressed the need to provide the combination of general and particular for the given time and place.

He wrote that we should apply permanent divine principles to tackle the ever-changing human circumstances, especially the law. However, he saw it as a challenge and felt that Muslims and non-Muslims alike will always face difficulty understanding the divine law and changing circumstances.

He added that in this era of globalism, emphasizing human rights, rights of children, youth, women, and non-Muslims, Muslim societies should revert to the original guidance to draw their strength. He always felt, and rightly so, that Islam is for the entire humanity and divine laws are applicable everywhere and any time.

Humans have brought about globalism, which made many forces of nature subservient through advances, accomplishments, and achievements in scientific fields. Most of these scientific achievements are in use worldwide and do not allow any country to be left alone to manage its affairs separately from the entire world.

Fathi Osman is evoking interest in Muslims and powerfully and irresistibly forcing them to change their thinking about Qur’an and God’s revelations, and at the same time indicating that we certainly have a lot to learn. He also drew our attention to the fact that the views held in the past are frustratingly similar. Yet, his message, in a very subtle way, was that we should not give up hope to explore ways to find solutions to issues at an international level for everyone to benefit from it worldwide.

The human mind gets influenced by socioeconomic circumstances in a given society or a country, so much intellectual discourse may lead to different conclusions at different times and places. Using human behavior and cognition, and intelligence Muslims must interpret the guidance provided in the Qur’an for the betterment and welfare of a society at a given place on this planet. It is essential to ensure that it is applicable and available in other parts of the world.

Dr Fathi Osman wants Muslims to think and reflect using reasoning, intuition, or perception at the individual level. He said,”The divine sources of Islam are permanent and unchangeable. Still, the Islamic thinking in dealing with them has constantly been changing, as Islam’s intellectual history and heritage have strongly proved.”

He reminded Muslims and non-Muslims alike that the era of physical miracles has ended with the coming of Prophet Muhammad (s) when God in the Quran, through the very first revealed verses, emphasised reading and urging its readers to observe & reflect on God’s signs.

He made an attractive and micro observation and said that Quran was gradually revealed over the years to respond to the changing circumstances of the message. He says and rightly so that nothing happens all at once, things happen over some time, and that’s why he argued his point, saying that Quran was revealed piecemeal in 23 years.

Dr Fathi Osman explained that Islam as a faith accepted by God, and the Quran in the belief in One God, must be understood at all levels of human thinking. He says this is because the whole universe, its various phenomena, and the laws and systemic orders are continuously put in place in a very coordinated and systematic manner.

But for human beings, the use of analogy (Qiyas), juristic discretion (Istihsan), and intellectual practices (Ijtihad) are available to make rules within the framework of Quranic commands. It is a centuries-old practice for a country or a community to decide contemporary issues and needs when there is no text in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Edicts of the past are not binding if the message is for all periods of all time.

The real essence of Islam, Dr Fathi Osman believes and has shown in his writings, is truth and morality – the moral elements and axiom. The best lesson from his writings is God-consciousness, compassion, and commonsense, which could help a human being move toward welfare and the improvement of humanity.

Dr Fathi Osman wrote books, helped Muslims and non-Muslims understand Islam and Muslims. He did this by individually analysing, interpreting, and explaining in detail every concept of Islam in the Qur’an, Including Faith, Worship (Ibadat), Shari’ah (Mu’amalat), and Moral Values and Manners. In addition, he discussed laws, human dignity, rulers-ruled relations, socioeconomic justice, women in society, civil and commercial dealings, and universal relations.

Dr Fathi Osman wants us, the Muslims, to think, think and think, and put our minds to work.

In his book Concepts of the Quran, he explained that the belief in the finality of divine guidance “does not prevent human efforts to understand, interpret, infer by deduction or induction or any other intellectual method, developed according to the general principles, and implement this text.” (Concepts of the Quran – a topical reading by Fathi Osman)

Mohammad Yacoob is a retired industrial engineer and an engineering proposals analyst who lives in Los Angeles, California. Mohammad Yacoob is originally from India and settled in the US for 5 decades. He is one of the founders of the Consultative Committee of Indian Muslims and former vice president of the Islamic Center of Southern California

Emancipation of Muslim women: The real story

J.S. Ifthekhar

Oppressed, submissive, veiled, uneducated and deprived of rights. That’s about forms a word picture of Muslim women today. Labels are for clothing, not for people. Society, however, tends to judge Muslim women through the prism of stereotypes. The status of women in Islam remains the most controversial of subjects with people taking diametrically opposite views. The widespread misunderstanding of Islam and the typecasting of the females only adds to the confusion.

A just released book, Daughters of Eve – Islam and Female Emancipation, seeks to dispel the erroneous perceptions. It examines the position of women and how their condition changed down the ages. Through a comparative study the book tells how women fared in the ancient age (pre 7th century CE), in the Islamic age (7th-18th century CE ) and in the modern age.

The book raises critical questions which are waiting to be answered.

“If it was difficult to be a woman in the past, it has become more difficult to be a Muslim woman in the present”, writes Haider, the Australia based author, referring to the misleading information going around.

More often than not female modesty is defined as some kind of ‘forced oppression’. Slave girls in dazzling jewellery and flimsy silk is how Muslim culture is often defined. What precipitates matters is lack of correct information about Islam among non-Muslims.

And when it comes to Muslim women many are not just ignorant abut also misinformed, writes Haider.

The condition of women, he says, has been awful through all ancient civilisations. But despite the suppressing environment some women made their mark as poets, rulers, warriors and priestesses in the ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and other civilisations.

However, a whole lot of women played their role without getting due respect and reward. Tracing the developments, he says the world witnessed the ‘great emancipatory leap’ for women with the advent of Islam. There was a qualitative change in the condition of women in general. This was because Islam judged people not on the basis of gender, race, caste or wealth but ‘taqwa’ (piety). Motherhood was called a blessing and women were given the right to education, property besides economic and legal rights. From being buried alive at birth to a status of parity with men, women emancipation turned full circle.

Haider dwells at length on the subject and cites Quranic verses and Hadith to show how Islam provided a variety of rights leading to their true emancipation when the world considered women to be no more than a chattel.

In recent centuries women in Muslim societies regressed intellectually even as women in Europe and West progressed. But of late Muslim women have turned to education again. And this time the impetus comes from modernity and not Islamic scholars.

Haider sees an ulterior motive in the talk of contemporary Muslim women being backward and suppressed. If they are not sufficiently educated today the reason is not religion but historical, political and cultural ones, he argues.

The book discusses in detail contemporary female issues, historical social changes affecting women and root cause of female suppression.

Giving the Muslim perspective, Haider says enlightenment of women, providing them education, financial freedom, legal recourse, physical security, love and respect is more important. “Islam doesn’t consider commodification of female body or the public display of lust to be emancipation.

An ivy league PhD holder may not necessarily be a good person”, he says.

Read

Lubna Anwar

“Read” – he said, And then he read, and what he read was for all times to come ahead….. The laws that changed the world forever, the rules that guided humanity and came as a savior The phrases that made each one to ponder… the existential issues which we were so far left to wonder…. A Book, a guide, a mentor, a light Yes it came to illuminate— illuminate the darkness within the soul, the emptiness of a desolate life Some accepted and were awed, some repudiated and would only find it flawed, to each his own “it reflected”, the heart you approached it with, is what recoiled …… It didn’t need your approval; your life needed this guidance Mundane and arcane brought together like never before. Stop, Pause, and Reflect was the modeYou were taught to live by this, in this transitory abode. Encouraged emancipation in an epoch stuck with slavery addressed women’s rights which they could fight for bravely. Gave women a fair share in inheritance, was not stopped to have her financial freedom, she could chose the groom and send proposal, and could ride a horse and fight a battle….who gave her that freedom before, none other then and even not after, for many more years to come. Listed the rights of the destitute on you, every penny you earned had a share for them too What did it not cover, essentially nothing…..from the drop of sperm to the vastness of the universe, from the morals of the upright to the upcoming plight of the imperious….. Gave way to the unstructured-ness, the Prayer set the routine of an aimless life, In the spirituality of it did the hearts find comfort, burdens were lifted and challenges were subvert. Some were lost in their hedonism, and ‘to comply’ they found burdensome, Some got so caught in introspection, every second they wanted to move towards redemption….none was the way prescribed, balancing between the two was the divine advice Talks to you, and talks to me…. talks to all humanity Give it a heart without bias, give it a mind sans doubt, and see how it turns your life around….. Not a book to swear by, it’s a book to Live by……..

Lubna Anwar is a Freelance Writer and Educator with a Master’s degree in Information Technology. A certified Life Coach , mum of 2 and a member of Raising Young Scholars an Islamic Education Academy, for which she writes parenting and educational blogs, she is an education enthusiast, and believes in quality and affordable education for all. She has recently come up with a Mindfulness Journal for Muslim women.

The importance of a Wassiyah

Denise Il

Hearing of death is always hard. Debilitating when it’s a family member. Often, grief obscures our focus and judgement, making the practical elements like organising the burial and settling of affairs for the deceased, challenging. But when there is the absence of a legal Will, the process can become exceedingly difficult.

Recently, we were notified of a revert brother who died suddenly. He was unmarried and had a strained relationship with his family, who weren’t Muslim. He had not organised a will prior to his death and his burial rested on the shoulders of his parents, who wanted him cremated.

National Zakat Foundation (NZF) and our service partners were approached to advocate for an Islamic burial. After a series of negotiations, the family finally agreed for us to take over, if we bore the costs of the burial. And with that, it was settled. We were fortunate because they agreed. But it was in their right not to, in which case we wouldn’t have been able to take the case any further.

We are living in the most uncertain times. Because of the pandemic, deaths are on the rise. We are seeing severe, even fatal symptoms, sweep across the community in such a short span of time. Recovery is far from a certainty. So many of us are not familiar with the Islamic rulings regarding a Wasiyyah (Islamic Will).

Misconception that it’s only about inheritance but it’s a lot more than this; Islamic burial, custody of children, sadaqah jaariya options. We should also break misconceptions that people might have that you can simply hand write a Will and say we should follow the Shariyah, this will not be accepted in Australian courts, hence the importance of an Islamic Will that’s legally recognised in Australia.

Our team at National Zakat Foundation (NZF) are committed to assisting families in our community who have lost a loved one, but the circumstances aren’t always straightforward. Particularly during the pandemic, we are facing issues such as having to negotiate with non-Muslim family members; or reassuring families who have lost a loved one so suddenly that they are under the strain of not being able to afford the costs of a burial; or trying to make arrangements for a burial of a brother or sister who is alone in Australia with immediate family who are overseas and unable to enter the country because of border restrictions.

NZF along with our service partners, will help you in the process of setting up your Wassiyah according to your wishes, while making sure it is compliant with Islamic Shariah and Australian law. An Islamic Will is one thing that you can control during these uncertain times.

Let NZF help you have peace of mind; you can contact us at info@nzf.org.au or 1300663729.

Denise Il is a writer at National Zakat Foundation Australia, and is based in Victoria.

Seeking refuge in Allah before Quranic study

Dr Asrar Talukder

“So, when you recite the Qur’an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, the expelled [from His mercy].” (Quran 16:98)

Before going to share my reflections upon this verse, I would like to give a disclaimer that this is not a theological explanation of the Quran, but some rational thinking shaped by the Quran.

In the Quran, the story of Adam (a) and Shaitan is described in seven places. In summary, we can define the Shaitan by his ego, arrogance, and self-righteousness. As such, if we fail to understand the limitations of our capacity to acquire knowledge, ie, limitations of scientific methodologies, there is a big risk that our arrogant and egoistic reading of the Quran can lead us to astray instead of guidance.

In the West, broadly speaking, scriptures are replaced by culture and divine books by sciences. The science tells us what is right or wrong. Therefore, we must know the limitations of our scientific methodologies.

We get our experimental knowledge from our laboratories. We can carry out experiments only using what we can measure by our five senses. Our miraculous technologies can’t to go beyond our material/physical realities. Science can tell us what is good or bad for our bodies. We are not only bodies but embodied soul, which transgress our physical realities.

In the West, despite enormous development of health and wellbeing, people are in deep spiritual crisis. In Australia, on average 300 murders are committed every year. Whereas annual suicide rate is 3000 and the number are on rise.

People are leaving organised religions en masse but flocking to meditation and wellbeing centres. Thousands of Yuga centres have been established recently in Australia and the number has been growing ever since. It does not mean in any way that the people of no faith are condemned to unhappiness. Lest, they become egoist, arrogant, and self-righteous.

On the other side of the arguments, those of us who believed in divine revelation, do we need to have blind faith. Or are we allowed to ask questions about our understanding of the divine. I think, yes, we can if we are humble and aware of our limitations.

My favorite example is of Ibrahim (a). He had seen in his flesh and skin the miraculous power of Allah. Nevertheless, once he asks to Allah, O Allah if you would show how you give live to death. Allah replied don’t you believe me. He said, “sure, but it will satisfy my curiosity”. Allah did not scold him. Instead, Allah gave him a demonstration. Curiosity and doubts are beneficial when we are anti-thesis of shaitan that is remaining humble.

The religion is much more than theology. Only the people of clear understanding will be able to remember his or her creator with true essence. Asking questions while remaining humble and conscience of our self-limitations is the way to achieve it.

Read full version: https://tinyurl.com/yurj832w Dr Asrar Taluker is a marine geologist and a passionate community activist. He is based in Perth, Australia.