Issue 196 - March 2022

AMUST

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

www.amust.com.au ISSUE # 196

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Multicultural News & Views

MARCH 2022; SHA’ABAN 1443

India on the Brink: Preventing Genocide NEWS PAGE 2

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PH: (02) 9158 3020

Hope: Religious discrimination bill debate BOOMERANG PAGE 6

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Digital Newspaper Available

EMAIL: INFO@AMUST.COM.AU

AIMA launches national blood donation drive COMMUNITY PAGE 9

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Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad: Timeline & Tributes FEATURE PAGES 11 - 14

Ukraine: Western hypocrisy and inaction exposed

Khadijah wins Premier’s Harmony Medal

Mohamed Ainullah

Mobinah Ahmad Khadijah Habbouche has won the Premier’s Multicultural Youth Medal announced at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner on Tuesday 1 March 2022 held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

In a crowd of almost 1300 guests, Khadijah stood confidently wearing her medal amongst the other winners of the 2022 Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals, and was a beautiful representation of hope that young Australian Muslims bring to this country.

This award, 2022 NSW Rugby League Youth Medal recognises a person under the age of 25 who has helped create, welcome and support inter-cultural connections and understanding between people from diverse backgrounds.

As a young Australian Muslim woman, of Lebanese Palestinian background, Khadijah stands as a confident, passionate and resilient young Australian. continued on page 3

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Khadijah Habbouche with her Premier’s Multicultural Youth Medal. Photo: Mobinah Ahmad

While Western powers have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine being a flagrant violation of international law imposing wide-ranging sanctions against the Putin regime, they have been exposed for their inaction on the ground and their double standards in ignoring the occupation of Palestinian territories for more than half a century by the state of Israel and annexation of Kashmir by India, breaching international laws and in non-compliance of all relevant UN resolutions.

Since US and its allies including Australia invaded impoverished countries like Afghanistan and Iraq and continue to bomb and kill defenceless people in their “War on Terror” in Muslim countries, their inaction in standing up to the Russian dictator’s adventurism in Ukraine is striking.

Apart from huffing and puffing and sanctions against the Putin regime, that have no deterrence value against Russian onslaught, Ukraine has been left defenceless by Nato powers categorically denying any armed support for the sovereign nation, even in face of threats, intimidation and challenge

by Vladimir Putin.

Western leaders have pledged far-reaching sanctions including asset freezes on banks and President Biden warning that Putin’s aggression will cost Russia dearly.

Australian PM, Scott Morrison had promised “further waves of sanctions” against Russians, including hundreds of members of parliament, as he condemned Putin for the brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. continued on page 3

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM farewelled by family and community Zia Ahmad Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM, a well known community leader, Chief Adviser of AMUST and its keen proofreader passed away at the age of 91 at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia peacefully on Thursday 10 February 2022.

Dr Ahmad was a a retired professor of engineering having studied at Aligarh Muslim University, India, University of Wisconsin, USA and University of Sydney, and taught at various institutions in India, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Arriving in Australia almost 51 years ago, he was involved in the foundation of a number of community organisations and institutions including Australian Islamic Mission (AIM), the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare (IFEW), Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF), Islamic

Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) and the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST. He dedicated his life for imparting Islamic education and training, especially learning and teaching of Quran and the Arabic language, interfaith understanding and communal harmony in Australia as well as overseas.

His funeral prayers were held on Friday 11 February after Juma congregational prayers at Rooty Hills Masjid as well as at the Kemps Creek Cemetery joined by hundreds of people before his burial at the Muslim Lawn section of the Kemps Creek Memorial Park.

He is survived by his wife Jamal Ara Ahmad, 90, sons, Zia, Najm, Manar, daughters Fauzia, Najia and a very large close knit family of nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren numbering over 80 members mainly settled in Sydney.

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Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad at his granddaughter’s wedding on Saturday 22 January 2022.

continued on page 10 Dispose of this paper thoughtfully - PLEASE RECYCLE

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NEWS

India on the Brink: Preventing Genocide

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FEATURE 11 - 14

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Mohamed Ainullah A global summit was held from Saturday 26 February to Monday 28 February 2022 bringing together dozens of prominent experts, civil society leaders, and officials from international organisations warning against the genocide of Muslims in India.

The Summit was organised and hosted by a coalition of interfaith and human rights advocacy groups from the Indian diaspora, genocide prevention field and others committed to preventing genocide wherever it may be.

Experts at the conclusion of a three-day global summit said that since genocide is a process and not an event, India is not merely at the brink of a genocide of its Muslims but the process of genocide is, in fact, already underway in that country.

Participating in a panel titled, “Genocidal Hate Speech & State Responsibility,” Adama Dieng, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), said though India had a long and cherished history of peaceful coexistence, intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief had increased.

Jason Stanley, a professor of philosophy at Yale University, said Hindutva was part of a “global fascist movement. Ultra-nationalists see this as their time.” There was a “direct causal link” between the Nazis and Hindutva. “The early thinkers of the RSS made explicit suggestions that India should follow the Nazi’s model,” he said. “The CAA looks frighteningly like the Nuremberg laws. There is a movement to strip from Muslims the right to have rights. The

map is extremely clear.”

Mohan Dutta, a professor from New Zealand who Hindu supremacists recently targeted, said Muslims were frustrated at Facebook’s failure to take down hateful content, such as comparing Muslims to pigs and dogs, even after it was flagged. “Research suggests that dehumanization is a key component to violence,” he said.

Participating in a panel titled, “India’s Role in Global Islamophobia,” Hatem Bazian, a professor of Islamic law at Zaytuna College in the US, said Muslims were facing genocides across the world, including in China, India, Myanmar, Palestine, and Kashmir.

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ISSUE 196 / MARCH 2022

LIFESTYLE 16 - 17

UMMAH 18 - 19

EDUCATION 20

BUSINESS 21

NEWS

SOCIAL 22 - 23

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Khadijah wins Premier’s Harmony Medal

Continued from page 1 She is an active member of various Youth Advisory Committees, including the Canterbury Bankstown Youth Crew and the Muslim Women Australia Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC).

The 14-year-old is actively involved in developing social awareness and action amongst young people, and creating a platform for high achievement and a voice for social goodness.

At the same event inductees of the 2022 Multicultural Honour Role were announced naming Eddie Jake OAM, Aziza El Saddiq, Sath Grey and Carla Zampatti, and the winners of the 2021 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards (PMCA) were acknowledged.

Zia Ahmad won the Lifetime Achievement Award at PMCA with the citation,”Currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST, Ziaul Islam Ahmad’s journalistic career has had a significant and long-term impact on the community promoting multiculturalism, global outlook, and unity of mankind. As the founder of many community organisations, and winner of multiple community awards, Ziaul has dedicated almost 50 years to social cohesion, understanding and harmony.”

AMUST together with Jane Jeffes and Hazen Agency also won the PMCA award in the category of Best Use of Digital and Social Media for their project on Recipe for Ramadan, with the citation, “AMUST launched an online event to celebrate Ramadan festivities during COVID-19 event restrictions by engaging with communities on digital and social media. Exploring a new way to engage, Australian Muslims were encouraged to extend a virtual invitation into the homes and lives of others and exchange family stories while enjoying traditional food. The successful campaign was covered by mainstream media including SBS World News, ABC Radio, community online TV, network Clued TV, and Guardian Australia.”

2022 Premier’s Harmony Medal winners. Photo: Mobinah Ahmad

Khadijah serves as a beautiful representation and role model for those around her to work passionately for your community and contribute into making it a more harmonious place to live, especially for young people.

She uses her voice to express young people’s thought and feelings, particularly for vulnerable communities.

“As long as what I do is done with sincerity authenticity and purpose and I hope this award will demonstrate that young people are capable of contributing wonderful things to the community regardless of their background,” said Khadijah in an exclusive interview with AMUST. Much like her name sake, Khadijah is an ambitious and brave woman who contributes back to her community, serving the needs of others.

Through her community activism, Khadijah is involved in youth program development, mentoring of young girls aged seven to eleven years old, and establishing community projects and initiatives.

As a SAYIT Youth Group Team Leader,

Zia Ahmad celebrating his PMCA Lifetime Achievement Award with his family.

Khadijah facilitates workshops and team building activities, organises events aimed at bringing girls of various backgrounds together to work for the common good, and mentors a group of young girls using culturally and religiously inclusive mental health and leadership strategies.

“Mentoring is a big part of my life and I hope I can still be mentored and receive the support as I contribute to grow and continue to mentor others as well,” said Khadijah.

For the last two years, Khadijah has been an active Canterbury Bankstown Youth Crew Member where she contributes to a team that organises events and initiatives in the Canterbury Bankstown municipality, contributing in planning activities and helping to make the local district a great place for youth of all backgrounds and experiences.

This year, Khadijah has been an instrumental part of the MWA Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC) which she contributed to forming as a result of the issues young people were facing during the extended

lockdown, particularly in South West Sydney.

As a member of MYAC Khadijah contributes to discussing youth related and community issues and identifying strategies to address them. Khadijah is passionate about ensuring there are channels of communication that exist that are suitable for CALD young people.

MYAC was established in the midst of lockdown to give young people a voice, allowing them to be heard and to express their opinions on current issues, while giving them the opportunity to put into practise proposed recommendations, with the ultimate aim of assisting young people across communities.

Other community initiatives that Khadijah contributes to have included, publishing tips on surviving lockdown on social media platforms, planning school holiday activities (virtual and face to face), and organising the packing and distribution of gift hampers for young people experiencing domestic and family violence.

Winners of the PMCA Best Use of Digital & Social Media award.

From left: Zia Ahmad, Mehar Ahmad, Jane Jeffes & Rory Jeffes.

Photo: Multicultural NSW

Ukraine: Western hypocrisy and inaction exposed Continued from page 1 The economic squeeze on Russia is having some effects on Russian economy with the crash of the Russian currency by as much as 30% since the invasion. This collective punishment against the Russian population does not seems to have any significant effect on Putin’s invasion plans of Ukraine though.

Meanwhile there has been world-wide outrage including demonstrations against war in several Russian cities, against the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces from three sides North, East and South using aerial, naval and ground assaults against a number Ukrainian cities.

Russian forces seized the control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant earlier during its invasion and have “neutralised” Ukraine’s airbases and air defences, destroying dozens of military ground facilities, and major airfields.

Now the Russian forces are bombarding Ukranian infrastructure within the civilian population areas against stiff resistance by Ukrainian defenders.

MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

Left: A woman stands among debris after the reported shelling of a kindergarten in the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine, on 17 Feb 2022. RIGHT: A Palestinian boy next to the remains of his home in Gaza City in May 2021.

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NEWS

Declaration of Israel as an apartheid state by Amnesty International welcomed globally

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BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8 - 10

FEATURE 11 - 14

AUSTRALIA 15

Beautiful Prayer of the Prophet (s) for the Deceased

Israeli soldiers detaining a Palestinian boy during clashes in the West Bank city of Hebron in 2018.

Photo: Reuters.

Dr Aslam Abdullah Amnesty International is yet another reputable organisation that has declared Israel as an apartheid state, a fact Palestinians had long believed and experienced.

In its 280-page comprehensive report titled “Israel’s Aparthied against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crimes against humanity, Amnesty has systematically analyzed institutionalised discrimination committed by Israel against Palestinians considering then an inferior non-Jewish racial group.

The declaration by Amnesty has been welcomed by a number of Palestinian rights and advocacy groups including the BDS movement calling the international community to enforce an end to apartheid against the Palestinian people.

“Australia must stop denying, minimising or excusing Israel’s criminal actions, and instead join with others in the international community in calling for an end to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, dating from 1967; the scrapping of the racist Nation State law of 2018 and the dozens of laws and regulations that discriminate against non-Jews, and for Palestinians to be facilitated in exercising their lawful right of return to the homes from which they were driven out at the inception of the State of Israel in 1948”, said Jake Lynch, patron of BDS Australia and Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney.

The report begins with a quote from the former Israeli Prime Minister saying in a March 2019 statement that “Israel is not a state of all its citizens… [but rather] the nation-state of the Jewish people and only them.” Under international and human law, describe such a statement as racist.

Israeli laws, policies, and practices against the Palestinian people violate international human rights law, the Apartheid Convention, and the Rome Statute.

Apartheid constitutes the creation and maintenance of a system or regime of oppression and domination by one racial group over another. Israel systematically pursues a policy of discrimination against a race, Amnesty reported. All the rules of Israel are for the benefit of Jewish Israelis – a system of apartheid. The report concludes the following:

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1. Israel considers and treats Palestinians as an inferior non-Jewish racial group.

2. Israel pursues segregation systematically and highly institutionalized through laws, policies, and practices to prevent Palestinians from claiming and enjoying equal rights with Jewish Israelis.

3. Israel oppresses and dominates the Palestinian people.

4. It negates the rights of Palestinian refugees residing outside Israel and the OPT to return to their homes.

5. Israel segments the Palestinians into different geographical areas and divides them differently.

6. It prevents the Palestinians from exercising their fundamental human rights.

7. The legal fragmentation of the Palestinian population serves as a foundational element of the regime of oppression and domination of Palestinians.

8. Israel denies the possibility of realizing equality within Israel and the OPT. 9. Israel denies nationality and residence, family life and places severe restrictions on freedom of movement.

10. Israel violates their social and economic rights, including access to housing, adequate living standards, livelihoods, work, healthcare, food security, water and sanitation, and education.

The report concludes that Israel’s institutionalised segregation and discrimination system against Palestinians amounts to a method of apartheid and a severe violation of Israel’s human rights.

“The importance of the report cannot be understated, with the depth and breadth of research conducted clearly identifying the systemic methods used to oppress and dominate Palestinians,” APAN President, Bishop George Browning said.

Amnesty asserts that all of Israel’s civilian administration and military authorities and governmental and quasi-governmental institutions enforce a system of apartheid against Palestinians.

Amnesty believes that Israel continues to perpetrate widespread and systematic human rights violations against the Palestinian population against a backdrop of decades of state-sponsored discrimination, segregation, and persecution.

Amnesty report documents inhumane acts, serious human rights violations, and crimes committed against the Palestinian population under international law. It examines specifically the brutal actions of forcible transfer, administrative detention and torture, unlawful killings and serious injuries, and the denial of fundamental freedoms

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

Sukoon Quteifan ‘Auf bin Malik said: God’s messenger prayed at a funeral and I have retained in my memory some of his supplication.

He was saying, “O God, forgive him, show him mercy, grant him security, pardon him, grant him a noble provision and a spacious lodging, wash him with water, snow and ice, purify him from sins as Thou hast purified the white garment from filth, give him a better abode in place of his present one, a better family in place of his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one, cause him to enter paradise and preserve him from the trial in the grave and the punishment in hell.”

A version has “And guard him from the trial in the grave and the or persecution committed against the Palestinian population in Israel and the OPT. Amnesty concludes that the apartheid state of Israel commits these violations intending to maintain this system and amount to the crime against humanity of apartheid under both the Apartheid Convention and the Rome Statute. The report recommends actions at several levels.

However, the most conclusive and practical recommendation is for businesses and nations having trade relations with Israel.

Next, it recommends adequate procedures and codes of conduct following internation-

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punishment in hell.” He added that the result was that he wished he had been that dead man.

[Sahih Al-Albani] By remembering this beautiful Dua of the Prophet Muhammad (s) for the deceased, I send my deepest condolences to the entire Ahmad family.

We will always remember Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad for his massive contribution to the Australian Muslim community and try to follow his footsteps towards the betterment of the community.

May Allah grant Dr Ahmad jannat al firdaus and give patience to his family.

Sukoon Quteifan is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Sydney, Australia. She is the creator and the illustrator of “Sukoon Al Quloob - Peace of Hearts”, an Islamic Cartoons facebook page. You can follow her on facebook @SukoonQuteifanArt. al standards to ensure that you do not promote apartheid. Finally, it suggests ceasing such ties if apartheid continues to unleash its crimes.

Dr Aslam Abdullah is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org. He is also the editor of the Muslim Observer published from Detroit, MI, USA. He is based in the USA and is a trustee of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin. He has taught at several colleges and universities in India, England, and the USA. ISSUE 196 / MARCH 2022

LIFESTYLE 16 - 17

UMMAH 18 - 19

EDUCATION 20

BUSINESS 21

BOOMERANG

SOCIAL 22 - 23

Abbu: AMUST loses a valued team member

AMUST

AMUST ISSUE # 196 FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2022 1 SHA’ABAN 1443 News

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- Khadijah wins Youth Medal - Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad farewelled - India on the brink

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Boomerang

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad (right) proofreading the June 2020 issue of AMUST with his son Zia Ahmad (left).

- Abbu: AMUST loses team member - Religious freedom bill - UAE once blessed now oppressor

Community

8 - 10

- AIMA launches national blood drive - How does she do it?

FEATURE

11 - 14

- Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM: Timeline & Tributes

Australia

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- IPCC 6th report on climate - Community support for prayer break

Lifestyle

16 - 17

- How to overcome insecurity - My journey into a medical career

Ummah

18 - 19

- Progressive stolen generation - Ukraine-Russia conflict

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Education

- Allah’s human project - Ding dong dell - secure your well

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Business - Australian economy better - Saudi Halal Expo

Social

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- Social spotlights: Hijab - Top Tweets: Palestine

With the passing away of Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, at the age of 91, I have not only lost my father, I affectionately called Abbu, but also a co-founder of AMUST, its Chief Adviser, writer, editor and a long time proofreader till his last days.

It was back in 1990, when my fellow Muslim activists cajoled me to start a community newspaper presenting news and views from an Islamic perspective as well as serving the needs of the fast growing multilingual Muslim community.

With my full time university job, providing for a family of five young children, involved heavily in Islamic activism and various community organisations and institutions, I was looking for a companion who could provide strong leadership and support for this new project.

Professionally a biochemist, I was not a trained journalist, but had gained some experience in editing, publishing and managing various Islamic publications, newsletters, magazines and journals, over the last 20 years since my arrival in Australia.

Abbu was an engineering academic, Islamic scholar and community leader engaged in various learning and teaching activities already, however when I called for help for my new project, he enthusiastically, not

only encouraged for me to go ahead but as- timedia technologies, Australasian Muslim sured me of his full support in planning and Times AMUST was reborn in July 2014 management of the new publication. as an English-only, full colour community Hence Australian Muslim Times com- multimedia news platform with monthly menced its publication from January 1991 as print and digital newspaper, weekly Email a multilingual community newspaper initially newsletter and a frequently refreshed news produced on a fortnightly basis and later be- website and online social media presence. coming a weekly with slight change of name In addition to contributing as a writer to Australasian Muslim Times AMUST. from time to time, Abbu was the proofreadAMUST was produced for a number of er of the final manuscript before it was sent years in English, Arabic and Turkish lanto the printers and always demanded guages with periodical supplements it as per schedule with the result in Bosnian, Urdu, Farsi and Benthat AMUST has always come gali with the help of a large out on time for the last seven team of multilingual editors, years. writers and helpers from the Abbu used to take a few Zia Ahmad extended family and the comhours to proofread the munity from our large family newspaper meticulously Assalamu home/office in Bonnyrigg. and at his age used to get Alaikum I must give credit to Abbu tired. Last year when my who kept in line the large mulsister gently advised him if Greetings tilingual team of producers. dealhe could take it easy and could of Peace ing with their diverse idiosyncrasies occasionally skip the proofreadthrough strict discipline of meeting the ing he got very angry and categorideadlines and producing AMUST regularly cally stated that he will keep proofreading and strictly on time as scheduled.

AMUST until he died.

After a long break when I was retiring in And that’s what he did. He last proofread 2013 from my university job, I looked into AMUST Issue # 195, February 2022, one the feasibility of restarting AMUST and again week before he passed away. with Abbu’s encouragement together with my Inna lillahe wa inna alaihe rajeoon. We daughter’ Rubinah’s advice on modern mul- are from Allah and to Him we return.

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Disclaimer 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.

AMUST Team

Editor-in-Chief: Zia Ahmad Managing Editor: Mobinah Ahmad Sub-Editor: Nilufer Kurtuldu Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Mehar Ahmad Multimedia Journalist: Faseeha Hashmi Columnist: Dr Abul Jalaluddin (Finance) Columnist: Bilal Cleland (Victoria) Columnist: Manarul Islam (ACT) Columnist: Dr Daud Batchelor (QLD) Columnist: Zahid Jamil (NSW) Columnist: Shahjahan Khan (QLD) Promotion: Dr Wali Bokhari Web Developer: rubinah.design Printers: Spotpress Pty Ltd Distributers: Abul Fateh Siddiqui, Shujaat Siddiqui, Usaid Khalil, 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, Luqman Landy.

Contact AMUST Post: PO Box 111, Bonnyrigg (Sydney), NSW 2177 Australia.

Email: info@amust.com.au Web: www.amust.com.au Phone: (02) 9158 3020 Facebook: @amustnews Instagram: @amustnews Twitter: @amustnews

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Causes for hope in the religious discrimination bill debate AMUST

Rita Jabri-Markwell

There was intense political debate over the Religious Discrimination Bill where in a dramatic move, five Government MPs crossed the floor to vote with Labor, Greens and independents on an amendment that would make it harder for religious schools to ban students because they identify as LGBTQI. Soon after the Government pulled the Bill out of Parliament.

For those of us who were engaging with Parliament, it was a nerve-wracking week.

We came so close to getting religious discrimination and vilification protections. For some Muslim community advocates, particularly in Victoria, they felt they were close to gaining protections from state laws encroaching on parents’ rights to choose a school that accords with their values.

Here’s a quick explainer: Discrimination is where someone or an organisation treats you unfavourably because of your religion.

Vilification is where someone incites hatred against you because of your religion. The Government’s Bill dealt with the former, but not the latter. The Bill also included protec-

tions for religious speech, which became known as the ‘right to discriminate’ by many critics and their supporters.

We knew all along that Labor would be trying to amend the Bill. During the week, I was involved in discussions with Federal Labor about the need for an anti-vilification clause

My reflections on 15 March massacre

Farid Ahmed

The 15 March is fast approaching again. It was a dreadful day in 2019 for the Christchurch Muslim community when peaceful Muslim worshippers were killed without any provocation.

Acknowledgement I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Muslims in Christchurch and the Muslim world for their demonstration of peace despite the indescribable sufferings.

It shows that Islam is about peace and that Muslims are true ambassadors of peace. I would also like to acknowledge Kiwis for their extra-ordinary love and compassion, and their leaders to lead the country through an inclusive way. Moreover, I would like to acknowledge the world for their support.

Love won against hate 15 March was one hate, and that hate was defeated by love in New Zealand.

The world did not support the hate either. The humanity cried with love and expressed its strong desire for peace.

This unity in love and compassion must continue in every country for a peaceful world, and to remove human suffering.

them even though I still cry due to my love for them. We lost them temporarily, but they gained Paradise (Inshaallah). Therefore, we have not lost the rewards from Allah at all.

What have I learnt?

15 March 2019 massacre taught me a lot.

I have summarised my views as follows: 1. Life & death is controlled by Allah. The killer wanted to kill all of us, but Allah has chosen some martyrs from among us.

2. The best way we can heal our trauma/ grief is to surrender to Allah’s decisions, and accept whatever Allah allows for us.

We should be happy with whatever tests Allah permits us to go through without feeling anger or breaking down with grief.

3. Living without fear but courage. Only fear of Allah for best deeds must be our mission before death embraces us. Let Allah be our guardian to take care of us.

4. Most people in this world reacted to the tragedy with love and peace. We should endeavour to find common grounds to promote unity and peace among humans.

Conclusion

Honour for the Martyrs Whatever awards or Honour I have been offered for my little contribution in setting the tone of peace after 15 March 2019, is dedicated to the most honourable martyrs.

My wife and 50 other friends have received the highest honourable status in Paradise (Inshaallah), and I feel happy for

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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

15 March was a tragedy, but the result was Martyrdom, Paradise, human unity, love, compassion, and peace. Let us focus on positivity and work harder for the better.

Let us do our best to pass the test in this life and leave the future with Allah. In conclusion, I would remind us about the Quranic verse again: “Inna pillage wa inna alai he rajeoon (To Allah we belong and to Him is our return). [Quran 2:156] Farid Ahmed is a survivor of Christchurch attack on 15 May 2019, a peace advocate, author of HUSNA’S Story and Quran teacher in Christchurch.

in the Bill.

In a positive move, Federal Labor agreed to push the anti-vilification clause, beginning to be known as the “Christchurch amendment.”

That name carried a pretty clear meaning of what it was responding to – the of hatred that fueled Tarrant, and continues to fuel many others.

The amendment was put to the House of Representatives in the early hours of Thursday morning. Government (Coalition) MPs voted on block to take it down, winning by one vote. However, one Coalition member, Bridget Archer, crossed the floor in a reassuring act of conscience. We thank her and the independents and greens for standing by this amendment.

We had strong hopes about the Bill being amended in the Senate. But by Thursday lunch, we knew it was off the table.

For me it was an incredible sense of loss.

Some of us have been working on trying to get these protections for over two years.

Some speakers, like Dr Anne Aly, said that she had been fighting for more than 25 years.

The Government’s handling of this Bill was poor with a protracted public debate that seemed to increase animosity for people of faith and decrease understanding in why enabling diversity of communities, cultures and faiths was a good thing.

So, when the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese promised that an elected Albanese Government would legislate these protections, including for vilification, many of us were greatly relieved. But for many in religious communities, there was also a question mark about what a Labor Bill would mean for religious schools.

The Government’s Bill contained protections for statements of belief that carved out religious speech that is malicious or vilifies, threatens, harasses or intimidates other people. This set a standard for vilification that many in the Muslim community were asking to be reciprocated in an anti-vilification clause.

It is unknown what a Labor Government would do with the Coalition Bill’s protections for religious statements of belief. Labor made it clear in the House of Representatives debate that people of faith should be able to state their beliefs freely as long as they weren’t malicious, but they didn’t support any existing discrimination protections being overridden. Labor may continue with that provision changed, or leave it out. Faith organisations will be keen to discuss this should Labor win the next election.

In addition to providing discrimination and vilification protections, Labor said it would: • act to protect all students from discrimination on any grounds; and, • protect teachers from discrimination at work, whilst maintaining the right of religious schools to preference people of their faith in the selection of staff.

This part refers to the rights of LGBTQI teachers and students – an issue that caused a lot of consternation on social media nationwide – but also students who might be discriminated on other grounds, for example, gender, disability, religion.

To prove its true support for religious freedoms, the Coalition must match Labor’s promise on anti-vilification protections. It is in their political interests. Pleasing some members in the hard right of their party takes away their chances with a majority of voters, who overwhelmingly want to see Australia move forward in a positive way from Christchurch.

At least for now, we can be assured there are many members of the Labor Party that know about the legal gap when it comes to religious vilification. Their impassioned speeches through to 3am in the morning are a cause for hope. I’ll leave you some excerpts below. I look forward to the day that it is not only Labor Party members who speak this compassionately about our community, but members across the Parliament.

Now there is a push for a bipartisan commitment to protections, to approach this with less politics and more good will.

From our community’s perspective, that means negotiating vilification protection from the LNP and negotiating protections for religious freedoms from Labor. The latter is a lot more complicated legally and politically and lacks a coordinated view from our community. There are many in our community who are concerned about parents rights and Islamic schools and there are also many who are fearful of being branded bigots or supporting bigotry. Detailed engagement will be critical.

Rita Jabri-Markwell is a solicitor with Birchgrove Legal. Previously she has had a career advising Shadow and Government Ministers, NGOs, and employed as advisor to AMAN, a national body working to secure the psychological and physical safety of Muslims.

She currently provides pro bono support and mentoring to AMAN legal volunteers.

Christchurch Islamic Awareness Week 2022 Abbie Montgomery 7-15 March: The 15 March Whanau Trust, with support from the Muslim Association of Canterbury and The Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ (FIANZ) are inviting the public of Christchurch to Al Noor Mosque for Islamic Awareness Week.

The Message: Love Peace & Unity The 15 March Whanau Trust was formed

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as a result of the Mosque Terror Attacks in Christchurch to provide help directly to the effected Whanau of Shaheed, those injured and witnesses with formal requirements and empowerment programs. The chairperson, trustees and officeholders are Muslims who were also directly affected by the attacks, along with 3 Non Muslims in the admin team.

Abbie Montgomery works in Mental health & is a mum to 2 daughters. She is not Muslim but is a resident of Christchurch. “We are one”.

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The religious freedom bill and bigotry Bilal Cleland Muslims want protection for freedom of religion in Australia.

Since 1998, well before the Twin Towers assault in 2001 led to the “War on Terror,” the lack of protection of the rights of the Muslim community has been an ongoing issue in Australia.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in its report to Parliament in 1998 recognised that “Discrimination and vilification on the basis of religion and belief discourages participation in the community and may infringe then right to freedom of religion and belief.”

Bigotry which “discourages participation in the community” accounts for the declining respect towards voices of authority in our nation from those who feel sidelined, ignored or vilified.

The Commission recommended: “ The implementation of similar federal legislation [to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975] on the basis of religion would ensure that the same standard of protection is offered to all Australians on the basis of religion.”

Then 9/11 events in the USA and the invasion of Afghanistan, soon followed by the invasion of Iraq, changed the world.

“Australia enacted 82 anti-terror laws — more than any other Western country.

The proliferation of anti-terror legislation led to the “over-surveillance of Muslims”, making them “feel untrusted and viewed as potential terror suspects”, or criticised for “not doing enough” to condemn acts of ter-

ror.” [12 Sep 2021 ABC News] Then came the religious vilification case with Catch the Fire.

“The case was sparked in 2002 by ministries comments that Muslims were demons training to make Australia an Islamic state, that the Koran promoted violence and killing and that Muslims derived money from drugs.

Judge Michael Higgins ruled the church had breached the Act.” [18 December 2004 Age] The Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal soon overturned the decision. [29 May 2018 AMUST] The weakness of the Victorian legislation was eventually addressed by the Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Vilification Protections of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission “More broadly, we repeatedly heard how Muslim Victorians feel disconnected from, and isolated within, Australia.” [3.4.2 January 2020 VEOHRC] This pattern of vilification was behind the willingness of many Muslim organisations to support the Religious Discrimination Bill.

This was despite the history of conservatives supporting the weakening of the Racial Discrimination Act by taking our section 18C, opening the way to racial vilification, led by Senator James Paterson. [1 Sept 2017 Guardian] Although he denied that he had tried to use anti-Muslim feeling for political purposes, the Prime Minister acknowledged in an interview that Islamophobia was a problem in Australia and implied the problem could extend to some individuals in the Liberal Party.” [21 March 2019 SMH]

That is why the Religious Discrimination Bill was often regarded with suspicion.

The Uniting Church’s national council urged the government to delete a section that says a “statement of belief does not constitute discrimination for the purposes of any anti-discrimination law”. [4 October 2019 SMH] Most attention was focused on the LGBTIQ community but those of us with memories of the VCAT case were wary.

“However, we maintain any permission given to individuals or religious organisations that allows them to discriminate on the basis of religious belief must be carefully balanced against the rights of people to be free from discrimination and live with

UAE: Once blessed, now oppressor of fellow Muslims Dr Daud Batchelor Does it make sense that prosperous UAE harms poor Muslims and scuttles others’ aspirations to experience democracy; instead constrains them to suffer wars and live under autocrats? Is it sensical it befriends Israel, protagonist of Arabs, while undertaking militaristic ventures that promote its own self-destruction?

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) leads Emirates’ power politics, relying on domestic repression (SWP).

Two prongs of his foreign/defence policies are hatred for the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and hostility to Iran; the former his greatest concern.

MBZ eliminated his only domestic threats, liberals and Muslim Brotherhood (MB- classified as terrorist even though it’s very moderate).

He fears if MB gains power elsewhere, it may embolden Gulf followers. So Emirates’ leadership supports authoritarian governments.

MBZ isn’t seeking fellow-citizens’ love but relies on US-Israeli protection.

However, Obama’s dropping support for Hosni Mubarak, shocked UAE rulers, forcing them to conclude they couldn’t depend on Washington.

Now UAE allies with Israel. Israel however, promotes destruction, as per their Yinon Plan.

UAE should heed Allah’s admonition: “you see those in whose hearts is disease, hurrying to friends, saying, ‘We are afraid misfortune may strike us.’ But perhaps Allah will bring victory or His decision, and they will become regretful over what they MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

self-conceal.” (Quran 5:52) With Saudi Arabia, UAE led the counterrevolution against the Arab Spring movement. It supported the 2013 Egyptian coup against elected President Morsi, consigning Egyptians to military rule.

UAE intervened in Libya in 2011 to prevent Islamists taking power.

UAE favours authoritarian rule and supported General Haftar. Even the Obama administration criticised UAE for circumventing UN arms embargos to provide Haftar supplies.

After Turkey intervened, Haftar’s forces retreated.

The goal of halting Iranian expansion drew UAE and SA into Yemen, devastating it.

SA relied on cooperation with MBZaligned Al-Islah-led forces; key opponents of Houthis.

Under UAE influence though, SA reduced support for Al-Islah; UAE troops persecuted them.

In 2018, fighting erupted in Aden, when UAE-backed separatists prevailed against SA-backed loyalists, capturing Aden.

UAE’s actions in rejecting Yemen’s most effective Sunni militia, and establishing territory independent of the Hadi government, prevents peaceful resolution, causing Yemenis massive harm and deaths.

Last month, Houthis attacked UAE with drones killing three people. The war intended to prevent a ‘Yemeni Hezbollah’ threatens UAE’s own devastation!

UAE supported overthrowing Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and a Transitional Military Council (TMC).

The coup facilitates UAE/SA/Egyptian control over Sudan. UAE supports the TMC and promoted General Hemedti’s leadership, whose forces helped massacre 130 protestors.

Emirates’ covert financial flows helps

generals resist the popular democratic movement. Unsurprisingly then, the 2021 military takeover dismantled a power-sharing agreement with Sudan’s civil society.

Tunisian President Saied seized executive power with his 2021 self-coup by declaring an emergency.

Tunisia’s last democratic stronghold in North Africa, represented a success of the ‘Arab Spring’.

Evidence suggests UAE instigated the current coup. In 2020, Turkish intelligence reportedly foiled a coup attempt coordinated

by UAE. “The destructive role of these Gulf actors and their strides towards crushing all Arab democracies, whilst remaining best friends with the ‘worldwide spreader of democracy’ [US] shows which side the American government is on.”

UAE leaders ignore Islamic teachings that Muslims are brothers (Quran 49:10), prohibits killing believers (Quran 4:93), and the necessity of shura councils (Quran 42:38).

The Abraham Accords enhanced UAE-Israeli cooperation. Palestinian leaders though consider UAE betrayed the Palestinian cause.

In 2021, Israeli and Emirati forces, for the first time, conducted joint naval exercises.

UAE also joined the US-initiated dialogue involving anti-Muslim protagonists India, Israel and the US. UAE has dangerous potential to become an Israeli-led proxy, further destabilising the Middle-East.

We call on MBZ to cease UAE’s oppressive actions and embrace the Muslim Ummah.

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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dignity.” [Media Statement on the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 Uniting Church] Religious bigotry directed at the Muslim community leads to the alienation which rejects all statements from authorities as reflecting bigoted agendas.

Such alienation may be one of the factors behind the death rates so recently revealed, “..those who were born in North Africa and the Middle East were about 10 times more likely to die from the virus than those born in Australia — after age was accounted for.”[17 Feb 2022 ABC News ] Bilal Cleland is a keen reader, a prolific writer and a regular columnist of AMUST based in Melbourne.

Mighty Lake, Strips Of Land And Body Of The Mountain Fazlul Huq Mighty lake with defined and undefined body parts has the hue made in the lightest blue.As the foreshore and the two placed on the left and right have the dress code made autumn’s blaze hued in orange and red, green and gold, brown and rose.

And so is made over intruded strips of land widened and narrowed, long and shirt.

While the smoky mountain anchored on the distant shore has the lower edge colored in brown and gold as the mountain top remains trapped in smoke and haze.

As the narrowed canal springs out from main body of the lake to make into corridor within two bodies of lands.

Dr Fazlul Huq is a retired academic and Editor-in-Chief Emanreserch Journal Of Angiotherapy.

He is also the poet “Jujube” at Allpoetry. com with over 35,000 compositions.

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Planting the seeds for growth Indy’s disability support story AMUST

AMUST Media Moving from India and becoming a disability support worker wasn’t where Indy expected he’d end up. But after jobs in horticulture and then in the police force, he realised it was exactly where he was supposed to be.

While it might seem an unexpected career path, Indy says his previous work experience has led him to where he is now.

“In horticulture, I was working in disability residential accommodation and recovery places, which is when I realised how important it is for people to have greenery around them. I regularly met people with disability there,” he says.

“Then, the police force. It was a big change but something I always wanted to try. I worked there for five years, and again had many interactions with people with disability. I wanted to try and understand and help them as much as I could, but it was hard to provide support in that role.”

It was then that Indy decided disability support was what he wanted to do. He started studying community services through TAFE. “I was studying full time while working part time in the police force. I really enjoyed the course and started working in the care and support sector so I could get a feel for what it involved,” says Indy.

While he was studying, Indy found work supporting a person with disability who lived nearby. He jumped at the opportunity to gain experience while studying.

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“This person had had a stroke and needed support to look after their health. It was a really eye-opening time for me – that you could be supporting anyone, from any walk of life,”says Indy.

That work took Indy somewhere he didn’t imagine a role in support would – overseas.

“My client told me he was going on a trip with his family and he wanted to bring me along. We went to the Pacific Islands in Tonga – I would never have gone there on my own, it was amazing,” he says.

“When I was getting into the care and support sector, I saw job ads talking about how you could travel but I didn’t really think it would happen. I couldn’t believe it!”

Indy has now been working in the care

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and support sector for a couple of years.

He’s just started in a coordinator role, which means he looks after the rostering of disability support workers to people with disability.

“Some people with disability require two support staff, some from morning to night, while others need sleepover staff – so there are lots of things you need to consider,” says Indy.

“Then if there aren’t support staff available, or if someone can’t get to a shift for whatever reason, I jump in and do the shifts so I’m still getting that face-to-face time with people with disability,” he says.

It’s a varied, dynamic role. One that offers Indy a clear path forward.

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“I see myself moving up to become a client services manager, then a senior client services manager. At one point I thought it might be a good idea to start my own business in the care and support sector, but who knows?” he says.

“I’m planning on going on to do a Diploma of Community Services after my certificate to keep on learning. The organisation I’m working with really values growth and helps you with further study if you want it.”

For a career like Indy’s, where you’ll continue to grow and be supported while making a genuine difference, consider working in the care and support sector. For more information, please visit: careandsupportjobs.gov.au

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AIMA launches national blood donation drive

Dr Habib Bhurawala With Omicron sidelining more than 100,000 blood donors in recent weeks, the Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) launched a nationwide blood donation drive on Friday 25 February 2022 in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross (Lifeblood) and various mosques and Islamic centers to recruit more than 1500 new blood donors at 43 mosques across all states and territories of Australia in what may be one of the nation’s largest religious blood drives.

Australia has one of the safest blood supplies in the world. One in three Australians will need blood or blood products at some time in their life, whether during childbirth while undergoing chemotherapy or surgery or as a result of trauma such as a road accident.

Blood is needed somewhere in Australia every 24 seconds, but currently, only 3.5 per cent of people donate blood.

COVID lockdowns, a change in people’s movements and lifestyles, and general social anxiety has led to many donors cancelling their regular donations, or simply failing to show up, which has resulted in around 4,500 planned donations are being cancelled – or not attended – every day. It’s a real challenge for blood supplies because cancer patients, trauma cases, pregnant women, and unborn babies require donated blood even during a pandemic.

Our growing population is relying on just 500,000 blood donors across the country, and right now, many of them need someone else to continue this lifesaving work.

Traditionally high numbers of no shows and cancellations are seen during the winter months, with many regular donors unwell.

However, Blood donor centers have never seen cancellation numbers this high in the middle of summer.

President of the Australian Islamic Medical Association, Dr Muhammad Kahloon, calls for those of Islamic faith to join this noble cause and help save lives. It is part of the Islamic faith to go above and beyond the call of duty to preserve and save the human life, “Saving one life is like saving the whole humanity-Al Quran”.

How does she do it?

Mobinah Ahmad

Have you ever seen a Muslim woman and wondered, how does she do it? With her commitment to her faith, her cultural heritage, her family and social relationships, her responsibilities, her health, her passions, her service to the community, her role as a leader – how do we navigate multiple roles as Muslim women?

In celebrating International Women’s Day, the Navigating Multiple Roles as Muslim Women online event will be held on Tuesday 8 March 2022, 6:30pm-7:30pm on Zoom, and presents a stellar line up of speakers: Dr Susan Carland, Tasneem Chopra, Chahida Bakkour and Dr Zuleyha Keskin.

Being a Muslim woman should not mean we are limited to a restricted box of what we can and can’t do, however it is important to know our priorities when having multiple roles.

This maintains good mental, physical,

Rooty Hill Mosque, NSW.

Adelaide City Mosque, South Australia

Algester Masjid, Brisbane, QLD

AMUST

He further stated that “If you are feeling well and eligible to donate, we really need you to get off the bench and help out now.

You only need to be clear of COVID-19 symptoms for seven days to donate”.

Dr Kahloon stated the objectives and purpose of AIMA was to unite and inspire Muslim health professionals in Australia, where AIMA members wish to serve and contribute towards the welfare of Muslims and the broader Australian community.

He provided a brief overview of AIMA activities, including blood donation drive, CPR training sessions in Islamic centers and Mosques for community members and more recently, community and school awareness sessions on COVID-19 and vaccines.

While Lifeblood (Australian Red Cross) encourages people to book in advance, donor centers welcome walk-ins. Blood can be donated every three months, but plasma can be donated every two weeks. Donating blood will take only one hour of a person’s time, and every blood donation can help save up to three lives.

One unit of blood is usually separated into three main components but can be separated up to 22- this means many lives can be saved with just one unit of donation.

The AIMA blood donation drive has been hugely successful on its launch on Friday 25 February 2022. Many Islamic community members signed up for blood donation at many Mosques and Islamic centers across Australia. However, more Islamic community members still need to come forward and contribute to such a noble cause.

Anyone who would like to donate blood can check their eligibility on https://www. lifeblood.com.au/blood/eligibility.

If you are eligible to donate, please register a blood donor account on https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/utils/create_account, then join your Lifeblood team by following “My details” à Preferences à Search “Australian Islamic Medical Association (AIMA) Blood drive” then make an appointment at a nearby donor center.

For any questions or queries about this blood donation drive, please get in touch with admin@aimamed.com.au Dr Habib Bhurawala (MBBS MD FRACP DCH) is a consultant general paediatrician currently working at Nepean & Blue Mountains hospitals in Sydney. He has a strong interest in community work, especially health education/promotion.

spiritual and familial health and avoids dangerous consequences such as burnout or isolation.

This expert panel will touch on various aspects of having multiple roles including, how to juggle various roles, why they feel it’s important to have various roles as Muslims, being a mother while having various other roles, and perks and challenges of having a leadership role in the community.

Facilitator: – Tasneem Chopra – Broadcaster, Speaker, Author, AntiRacism Champion Panellists: – Dr Susan Carland – Academic, Television Host – Chahida Bakkour – Head of Airspace Platform at Airservices Australia – Dr Zuleyha Keskin – Academic, Community Activist Register Now at https://tinyurl.com/2wtvz74z AMUST is a proud Media Partner of this event.

“Being a Muslim woman should not mean we are limited to a restricted box of what we can and can’t do...

“

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Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM farewelled by family and community Continued from page 1 Short informal memorial services and dua sessions were held at his family residence Dar-ul-Islam in Bonnyrigg, Sydney as well as at the residences of his children in Sydney and Canberra.

The Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM), a community based Daawah organisation that he founded and guided, organised a condolence meeting for late Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, a hybrid event on Sunday 27 February 2022 at Marsden Park Masjid in Sydney attended by a large number of people via Zoom from many parts of the world.

The program MC’d by the current President of IFAM, Mr Rais Khan included tributes and reflections by local as well as international speakers who had known Dr Ahmad at various stages in life in India, US, UK and Australia.

The Secretary General of IFAM Mr Usaid Khalil, summed up his life by quoting from the Quran, “And whose words are better than someone who calls ‘others’ to Allah, does good, and says, “I am truly one of those who submit.”? (Quran 41:33) “When our group came to meet him initially in 1990, he spoke about the need for a group of people who could help him further establish Islam in Australia as a way of life. And of course, we all felt the same way and it was under Abbu’s guidance and his leadership we set out to achieve our goals through IFAM. He was well known for fulfilling his commitments that became a matter of life and death for him and he set out to teach us this one lesson among many oth-

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ers,” Mr Khalil recalled.

Dr Muzammil Siddiqui from Islamic Society of North America talked about his days as a teenager in Rampur, India in early 1950’s where Dr Ahmad spent his most precious five years studying Islam, various languages, literature, religion and ideologies.

Professor Khurshid Ahmad, 92 from Islamic Foundation, UK, a long time colleague of Dr Ahmad in the Islamic movement, Jamaal-e-Islami talked about his collaboration and services in global Daawah movements, his scholarship in Quranic learning and teaching and his contribution in establishing various organisations and institutions in Australia and South East Asia.

Sheikh Abdool Rehman Khan from US, a keen reader of AMUST who recently met Dr Ahmad three years ago in Sydney recalled of his meeting and robust discussion on the responsibilities of Daawah workers in the West.

Local speakers Mr Kazi, Ali OAM, Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman, President of ANIC and Dr Rateb Jneid, President of ANIC recounted Dr Ahmad’s efforts towards development of the Australian Muslim community and many organisations and institutions that he helped found.

Dr Ahmad’s eldest son, Zia Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief of AMUST, briefly summarised landmarks of his long life and his key characteristics that can serve as an inspiration for Islamic workers including strong commitment to tasks, multitasking, punctuality, volunteerism, financial self sufficiency, planning and doing homework before all meetings, talks and teaching.

Mr Rais Khan, President, IFAM.

Mr Usaid Khalil, Secretary General, IFAM.

Mr Kazi Ali, OAM.

Mr Zia Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief, AMUST.

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a 2.5% tax of a Muslim’s total savings & wealth.

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FITR $15 pp FIDYAH $15 per person-per day

Credit Card / PAYPAL donations visit: aro.org.au

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Your donations will be distributed to locals in Yemen, Lebanon, Asia Pacific & African Countries and Afghan refugees. * For tax deductible invoice, please email your name & transfer receipt

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ISSUE 196 / MARCH 2022

FEATURE Late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad: Tributes & Reflections by colleagues, friends and students

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Rabbi Zalman Kastel AM, Sydney In a crowded room, after an interfaith presentation organised by Fairfield council.

I, a Jewish man, and a Rabbi, was introduced to an elder in a wheelchair.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM took my hands in his and spoke from the heart about how important it was for Jews, Christians, and Muslims to promote goodwill.

He honoured the work of Together For Humanity by becoming a member and provided strong moral support and encouragement.

I visited him at home many times over the years. When I arrived at his funeral his son, Zia, told me simply, your friend is gone.

Dr Charlotte Clutterbuck, NSW When I first met Dr Ashfaq, fifty years ago, I was still very young. He and Mrs Ahmad immediately welcomed me into their family and I have shared many weddings and other occasions with his six children, almost as if they were my own siblings. My parents also shared a great respect and affection for the family. As my husband Bob and I started a family, our children and grandchildren have maintained the friendship through four generations. I greatly admired Dr Ashfaq’s open-minded and warm-hearted belief in interfaith dialogue, a multicultural community and his fidelity to Islam and his family.

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney, Sydney Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was my elder by more than two decades, the patriarch of an extended family, a pioneer and leader for Muslims in Sydney, the founder of educational and community organisations, and an avid promoter of interfaith relations and societal harmony. But to me, above all, he was my friend.

I met him many times at conferences, Muslim celebrations, and family occasions.

I was often a guest at this house, especially for Eid. Whenever he saw me, his face lit up with a beaming smile. He would greet me affectionately with a kiss on each cheek.

His kindness spanned our differences in age, culture, and religion. I was like an adopted member of his family.

I will miss my friend but take comfort that his legacy continues in the generations who follow his example. May Almighty God reward him for his long life of service to the Muslim communities and to the wider Australian society.

Professor Jamil Farooqui, India Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was a man of extra ordinary qualities. He excelled in every walk of life. He acquired education in highest ranks and received gold medals. As a teacher he inspired students to the pursuit of knowledge and earned their admiration. As a human being he exhibited high intellectual, moral and religious qualities.

After completing modern education, he studied Arabic and the Qur’an to understand the real spirit of revealed message. He was so impressed by the ideals of the Qur’an that he manifested it in his actions and devoted his entire life to teach and convey the Divine ideals to the world.

He established various organizations in Australia for the welfare of humanity to manifest high human qualities, have good and cordial relation with fellow human beings and lead peaceful and dignified life.

May Allah grant him high place in paradise.

Dr Anis Rahman, Hamilton, NZ Our elder, our mentor, Uncle Ashfaq will be in my memory forever. I met him in 1981 and was so impressed with his personality that I stuck with him for life. I visited him in Sydney regularly for his precious advice and the usual telling-off.

His words always increased my iman and improved my connection with Allah. He showed, by taking us as part of his family, how to keep all family members connected.

I have used his plan of weekly family Usrah to help us understand and practice Islam.

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May 1972, Sydney Airport.

My family will be forever indebted to him.

Professor Akhtar Kalam, Melbourne We were shocked and saddened to note that our beloved Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad is no more amongst us. This is indeed an extremely distressing news! Our deepest condolences to all of you. I do not have words to express the sadness that overwhelms me.

We, as human being are helpless in the way Almighty Allah works through His plans.

I can only pray to Almighty Allah to forgive all the shortcomings of our dear Dr Qazi and reward him immensely for all the good deeds, and provide him a place in Jaanatul Firdaus with great honour, respect and ease.

May Allah also make these hard times easy on you and all the members of your family.

I still remember the first time I met him in Melbourne, over 30 years back. There were some political issues in Makkah and unexpectedly he came to my apartment.

He was much more senior to me, an alma mater of AMU and contributed substantially to our former institution. Knowing the Aligarian custom and culture, I provided him with all hospitality that is expected to be given to a senior.

His contribution to the Muslim community in Australia is tremendous. He was founder of the first Islamic societies in Australia and held leadership position in most of them. He was a towering personality, contributed in federal and state level.

He was an eloquent speaker both in Urdu and English. He was a prolific writer and wrote many books, commentary, discussion papers etc.

You have lost your father - which is a great loss, your mother has lost her dear long standing companion, your siblings have lost their dear father, many Australian Muslims like me have lost their mentor and I on top of this have lost a great advisor and an excellent communicator.

Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor, The Milli Gazette, New Delhi Late Prof Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, a retired professor of engineering, was an outstanding figure of the world Muslim Ummah.

He spent his life teaching the Glorious Quran and Arabic language and worked for inter-faith dialogue and communal harmony in Australia.

With his demise, we have lost a brilliant son of the Ummah. May Allah grant him maghfirat and high station in Paradise.

Amin.

Professor Syed Masood, Melbourne I wish to express my deepest condolence at the passing away of Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad sahib. It is big loss to Australian Muslim community.

He has contributed greatly in establishing and promoting Islamic religious values and education in Australia for over 5 decades.

He was a mentor and affectionate guide for me during my initial university academic life in PNG in early 1980s and I learnt a lot from him.

Professor Ibrahim S Jawahir, USA I first met Dr Ashfaq Ahmad in January 1981, while I was doing my PhD at the University of New South Wales.

My first impression about him was that he was a true father-figure, fully committed to the mission of Islam and actively involved in community development in Australia and the region. I also had the honor to work with him at the PNG University of Technology.

He was my professional mentor and spiritual advisor. He and his family treated me as one of their children, cared for me, helped me and supported me in all my endeavors.

I learned to be a better Muslim and to be involved in community work. Being close to him and his family gave me sense of belonging and support in my early professional and personal life.

Daawaah trip to Woollongong, 1972, Bulli Pass.

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Professor Imtiaz Uddin, Chicago, Former Professor & Head, Electrical Engg, REC I met Ashfaq saheb in summer 1962 when I joined the Regional Engineering College, Srinnagar, J&K. He was already there as a popular staff member and teacher at the REC. He welcomed me enthusiastically and supported me in settling down in Srinagar. Soon we became good friends. I have fond memories of working together, going around and seeing scenic places in Kashmir, enjoying the company of friends, etc.

Ashfaq saheb was outgoing and very social. With his impressive personality, friendly nature, Islamic knowledge, and ability to mix with others, he was liked and respected in the community at large in Kashmir.

After he moved to Australia, he helped establish a dynamic Muslim community in Sydney displying his vision, initiative, and leadership qualities.

He was an inspiring colleague and a dear friend; he will be missed. May Allah accept his good deeds and reward him with Janah.

Dr Muhammad Salim, Islamabad While stepping at the University of Sydney in early 1979, I had the privilege of joining Sydney University Muslim Students Association (SUMSA).

Since Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was in PNG but with the intimate association of his son Mr Zia Ahmad, my family developed very strong bonds with the Ahmad family.

In 1980, when the family study circle (Family Usrah) was initiated, it provided a unique forum for toddlers, kids, youth and young parents to learn Quran, Islam and Islamic social values.

Of course all the agenda of this forum was designed and approved by Dr Ahmad.

On his periodic visits to Sydney, he used to monitor and steer the activites of this forum personally.

After a couple of years, he returned to Sydney for good and patronised the trainings, meetings and opportunities for inculcating true Islamic spirit in the lives of Muslim youth and adults and the Muslim community at large.

Mid 1985, my family moved to Pakistan but whatever a little good persists in my family, it has been largely due to his patronage and inspiration.

Abbas Raza Alvi My interaction with Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, I used to call him Chacha Sahib, spanned for 3 decades.

He was a mentor, teacher, an elderly experienced advisor, a friend and a senior Aligarian. A person who knew & understood very well the true feeling of an Aligarian. A few times his scolding to me was like the warmth of his love & blessings.

I had a few meetings with him before the formation of the ICSOA. During my last meeting with him, he has handed over his comment paper and blessed me. The mission statement of ICSOA which is part of our constitution was written by him.

Waseem Ahmad, Gold Coast I would consider myself among the unlucky ones who did not get to spend a lot of time with Dr. Ahmad. I read and heard a lot about him before our first meeting in December 2021. I felt connected to him in a spiritual way.

His services for the community and Islam are truly inspiring. I was fascinated by the fact that most of my Islamic mentors in Pakistan had been his close friends. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to him during our first meeting and I feel lucky he was communicating very well that day. I consider myself very lucky that now I am associated with his family and I get to marry his granddaughter. It’s important for us to understand his vision for Islam in the modern world and continue his legacy in Modern Australia.

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

11

AMUST

FEATURE

1930 Born in India

Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was born on 12 December 1930 into a middle class landlord family in Eastern UP, North India. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a housewife.

1934

Orphan at 4 Years Old

When he was two years old, his father died and when four years old, his mother died.

Ashfaq Ahmad and his only elder sister, Akhtar Bano, grew up with their grandfather and aunty (Phoophi) in Mohammadabad Gohna, Azamgarh.

1983

Family Organisation

With a growing extended family, Ashfaq founded a weekly study circle called Usrah and Australasian Intergrated Family (AIF) that was later named Islamic Foundation for Education & Welfare (IFEW) both continue to date.

1985 Founded the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair

Ashfaq noticed that Eid was only celebrated in people’s private homes. Back in his home country, Eid was celebrated in large gatherings and festivals, and he wanted to have the same feelings of celebration with his friends and families.

1991 Editor-in-Chief of AMUST

Ashfaq co-founded the first multilingual high quality Australasian Muslim Times Newspaper in 1991. Pictured with Qamaral-Din Champion (AMUST Journalist). After a two decade long break. his eldest son re-started it and Ashfaq contributed to the newspaper till final days.

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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

NEWS 1-4

BOOMERANG 5-7

COMMUNITY 8 - 10

FEATURE 11 - 14

1939-47 1949 Involved in Freedom Struggle

Ashfaq belonged to the Sheikhain family of Farooquis, Siddiquis and Abbasis of Arab ancestral origins, hailing from Ghazipoor, UP, involved in legal profession of Qazi in Mughal empire and then judges and lawyers during the British Raj. During World War II (1939-1945), there was a great political upheaval in India that motivated Ashfaq Ahmad to get involved in the freedom struggle for India from Britain during the 1940s.

He met and worked with Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, first education minister of India and Dr Zakir Hussein, Vice President and later President of India.

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Joined Islamic Movement

1

In his final year of his Engineering degree, Ashfaq decided to revert back to Islam, and join an Islamic movement, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. Jamaat-e-Islami is an Islamic movement in India, founded by Islamic scholar, Abulala Maududi. Six years later, Ashfaq became the Ameer (President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Aligarh Muslim University,1955-1959.

1971 Arrival in the “Lucky Country”

Ashfaq arrived in Australia to do his PhD at the University of Sydney. He did not know much about Australia but was amazed at how well he was treated

by Australians, and came to love Australia developing great friendships. He decided to burn his boats and settle in the “lucky country” and became a citizen in 1973 together with his family.

1978

Significa of Dr Qa Ahma

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad is by pro having earned his major qualific University of Wisconsin, USA

However his major passion in l the application of Islam in the da people of oth

Papua New Guinea

Ashfaq, his wife and two daughters lived in Lae, PNG from 1978 to 1983 where Ashfaq served as Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and established Muslim community organisations and institutions in PNG.

1972-2006

He is a tireless community worker of Islamic Councils (AFIC), Islam (IFEW), Multicultural Eid Festiva and community organisations an active in the interfaith communit Malaysia, UK,

Australian Community Achievements & Awards Founding Secretary, Australian Islamic Mission (AIM) 1972.

Founding President, Muslims Australia (also known as Australian Federation of Islamic Councils AFIC) 1976-77.

Editor-in-Chief, Australian Muslim Times 1991; Chief Advisor, Australasian Muslim Times AMUST, 2014-2022.

Member, Board of Trustees, International Council of Islamic Information (United Kingdom), since 1993.

Founder and Patron, Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) 1993.

Founder, Member and Patron, Aligarh Muslim University Alumni of Australia (AMUAA), since 1992.

Member, Association for Indian Muslims (United States), 1992.

Founder and Patron, Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare, since 1986.

Co-Founder and Chief Organiser, Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF), since

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1985.

Founder and Member, Council of Islamic Affairs New South Wales (now ICNSW), 1974-1976.

Founding President, Sydney University Muslim Students Association, 1972-1974.

Assembly Member, Council of Parliament of World Religions, USA, since 1993.

Establishment of the Interfaith Youth Friendship Centre, 2006.

Awards and recognition Lifetime Achievement Award, Australian Muslim Achievement Awards, 2011.

Sir Syed Award, AMU Alumni of Australia, 2003.

Centenary Medal for contribution to Australian society, 2001.

Services to Islam Award, Australian Muslim Professionals (FAMP), 1994.

Community Service Award in recognition of a valuable contribution to the Bicentenary, 1988.

Charles Sturt University i dertaking the Dr Qazi A Ahmad Biography Project, w aims to document Dr Ahm contribution to society thro out his life. For more informa contact info@amust.com.au.

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LIFESTYLE 16 - 17

UMMAH 18 - 19

1950

EDUCATION 20

BUSINESS 21

SOCIAL 22 - 23

1955

FEATURE

1959

AMUST

Masters in USA

Ashfaq moved to the US for one year to complete a Masters in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He was a founding member of Muslim Student’s Association in USA & Canada 1959-1983.

1960

Marriage to Jamal Ara

Ashfaq married his bestfriend’s sister, Jamal Ara. They had six beautiful children: Zia, Najm, Fauzia, Sadia, Najia and Manar. This pivotal life event led Ashfaq to becoming a serving leader of a multi-generational family network of over 80 people maintaing 5 decades of tradition. Ashfaq & Jamal Ara built an interconnected family empire that continues to thrive & grow today.

Senior Lecturer

Ashfaq was a Lecturer in Engineering at Aligarh Muslim Universtiy 1955-1958 and Senior Lecturer at Jamia Milia Islamia in New Delhi, India 1958-1961.

ant Timeline 1969 azi Ashfaq ad OAM

His Grandfather Passes Away

Ashfaq was raised by his grandfather who was a retired judge who passed away at the age 103 in 1960. Ashfaq’s only elder relative and role model who took care of him as an orphan, died when Ashfaq was 30 years old.

1963

ofession a retired engineer and academic cations at Aligarh Muslim University, India, A and University of Sydney, Australia.

life is, and has been for most of his life, aily life of mankind, both for Muslims and her faiths and beliefs.

r having founded the Australian Federation mic Foundation for Education and Welfare al and Fair (MEFF) and many other large nd institutions. Ashfaq also has been very ty in Australia and internationally in India, USA and Saudi Arabia.

is unAshfaq which mad’s oughation,

2020 d

Order of Australia Medal

At the age of 90, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad received the Award Medals from the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, QC on Tuesday 8 September 2020 at Government House.

MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

Sacked & Threatend!

Due to political interferences between Indian and Pakistan in Kashmir, he was suddenly terminated from his job in 1969 and threatened with anti-national charges.

He had to leave his home and country with his wife and six children to an unknown new land, Australia.

2022

Final Event: Mobinah’s Wedding The last social family event Ashfaq attended, was of his granddaughter, Mobinah’s wedding. He gifted a Quran and a beautiful message of wisdom, lessons and values.

This event was 3 weeks prior to his death.

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Moved to Kashmir

Professor Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, served as Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering and acting Principal at Regional Engineering College in Srinagar, Kashmir, 1961-1963. He held an influencial position.

10 Feb

Passed Away at 91yo

At the age of 91, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM passed away in the presence of his eldest son, Ziaul Islam Ahmad reciting a poem from his childhood by Mohamed Allamah Iqbal.

His memory and legacy is kept alive through the thriving organisations he started, his books and publications, his pioneering ideas and events, his reputation as a dedicated Australian Muslim, friends, networks, multicultural and interfaith contacts and over 80 family memebers: children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

We thank Allah for bringing this soul on earth, for giving him a long life where he made such an incredible impact.

Let us all remember death and live this life to only please Allah. Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.

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FEATURE Late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad: Tributes & Reflections by colleagues, friends and students NEWS 1-4

AMUST

Osman Karolia, Sydney Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was a retired professor of engineering who dedicated his life for imparting Islamic education and training, especially learning and teaching of Quran and the Arabic language, interfaith understanding and communal harmony in Australia as well as overseas.

In 1987 when I was 15 he presented me with a leadership award after I entered a competition on providing solutions to challenges facing the community. It was at one of the very early Eid festivals held at a local primary school which grew into the current MEFF festival.

30+ years later I took a group of Unity Grammar students to visit him for advice on living a meaningful life and for his reflection after many decades of service to the community. His advice was to serve with humility, never stop learning and regardless of the career path you choose always give back to the community. I’m privileged that for the last four years our school continues to do volunteer work and with the family of Dr Ahmad.

He reflected on the early days of the community and his pioneering work in establishing prayer centres, University services, burial facilities, media outlets and so much more to serve the Muslim community. Much of what we enjoy now is from the toil of people like him who had a vision for future generations.

Allah have mercy on his soul, give him the highest levels of jannah and give strength and patience to his family On behalf of my family and the Unity Grammar community we extend our condolences.

Farooq Murad, CEO, The Islamic Foundation, UK We are extremely saddened to learn about the passing away of your beloved father, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Sahib. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala bestow His Mercy and forgiveness, grant our beloved brother and scholar a high place in Jannat-al-Firdaws and give you, all his family and colleagues and students.

Prof Khurshid Ahmad Sahib, Dr Manazir Ahsan, trustees and colleagues at the Islamic Foundation, Kube and the Markfield Institute of Higher Education join me in offering their sincerest condolences and Duas.

Professor M Shahid Akhtar, New Delhi Very sad to know about the demise of your Abbu Janab Dr. Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad today at Sydney Dr Saheb has great contributions during his half a century of stay in Sydney, at the time of his migration there, in the year 1971, very small group of Muslims were there in Sydney, now due to his vision & efforts large extended family memders are there under the umbrella of Islamic values..

Dr Saheb was a faculty member in Jamia Millia Islamia (Civil and Rural Engineering Institute) for some time in the year 1958.

He was a very good teacher with a Islamic bent of mind, his students still remember him.

Now I am also the head of Civil Engineering Section of the same Institution,(University Polytechnic, Jamia Millia Islamia).

Aamir Ahmad, Sydney Dada- you were the one we all looked upto, you’ve done everything by sacrificing everything towards Islam. You were the father for all of us including the father of the Australian Muslim Community.

I haven’t see anyone who only knew on how to sacrifice for others and not himself.

It was the day when I was still a new-born and doctors had given up hope that I would stay alive. You held me tight in hospital as though I was your son and nurses at the hospital commented on the relationship you had with me. Not just me but for every grandchild- you were our DADA and Big-DADA

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BOOMERANG 5-7

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FEATURE 11 - 14

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Former Students from Regional Engineering College (REC), Kashmir Pal Luthra, California It was with great sadness to hear about the demise of our favorite professor, Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad.

Dr Ahmad was more than a professor. He was almost like a spiritual guide to his students. I was in the first batch of the students at the Regional Engineering college, Srinagar.

He not only educated us but also inspired us to face the world with confidence.

He once said that “Everybody is equal in a hammam.”

While some of his students have preceded him in death, others will miss him.

Dr Ahmad with Unity Grammar students volunteering for AMUST packing and posting. for your great- grandchildren.

Your sacrifices for the Muslim ummah and especially your family will always be remembered. As I open up my Facebook newsfeed this early morning of 11/02/21you are being remembered for all the sacrifices you made towards Islam and for the Muslim community in Australia.

Who would have know our 2020 Ramadan/Eidul ul Fitr would have been the last one with you. I pray to Allah (swt) to grant you the highest rank of Jannah and InshAllah we will all be together once again in Jannah. Love you a lot Dada and forever missing you.

Professor Qazi Obaidur Rahman Hashmi, New Delhi I must say that given his family background, temperament, and deep human sensitivity, he was always willing to go extra miles to help people in distress.It’s a fact that Ashfaq Bhai devoted his entire life to serving the impoverished and marginalised in the society by extensively contributing to the betterment and meaningful existence of the younger generation in the society.He endeared himself to his close as well as distant relations by being their patron, mentor and well wisher in the real sense of the word.

He supported my elder brother to secure a suitable placement in the Indian Army at a time when there was no one else to vouch for him.

Dr Nadeem Siddiqi, Sydney Abbu has held my hand and guided me immesely through the embroynic stage of

the alumni scholarships, the initiative would not have seen the light of day and thrive if Abbu was not such an integral part of it. I benefited hugely from his insights and vision. The same was replicated on the Quran academy. The need to superimpose education with the light of the Quran was such a natural progression that it became a seamless activity and the results speak for themselves.

Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad was and will always be the north star for the AMU Community, his influence and footprints are for us to take inspiration from and keep the flame burning bright. The community now can see far and wide because it is standing on the broad shoulders of Dr Saheb.

Zahid Jamil, Sydney I have the honour of Knowing late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad for almost 30 years. I believe he had somehow built trust in me which brought us close in some ways. The close interaction helped me in understanding him a little more. I learnt from him a great deal in different areas.

Dr Fazlul Huq, Sydney I have met Dr Ashfaq Ahmad for the first time in September 1971 in the cafeteria of the University of Sydney not far from the footbridge when he was doing his PhD in Engineering and I was doing postdoc in the School of chemistry.

I feel so privileged to have known Dr Ashfaq Ahmad and hope to meet him again in the hereafter.

Ghansham Dass Gupta, Canada It is sad to hear about the demise of Professor Sahib.

He was our best Teacher Mentor and Guide, and he truly loved us and gave us his best. His jovial style of teaching and handling situations is unforgettable.

He not only trained us good Mechanical Engineers but also groomed us as good and competent persons to handle any type of situation in our career with a smile on our face.

He taught us Structural Engineering and Thermodynamics, and his teachings have always guided me in my professional carrier, spreading over 50 years.

We old friends still remember his choicest phrases and words and relive old moments.

I pray for Jannat for him and all the best for his family.

Vijay Kumar, India Qazi Ashfaq was a wonderful man and in the eyes of his students he was a larger than life figure...tall, hefty, sporting a maulana type beard; he didn’t take too many classes but the few subjects he taught he adopted the approach of getting his students to become inquisitive in the subject matter rather than spoon feeding the material.

His loss is bound to leave a void in the minds of his students who knew and remember him.

Harbachan Singh Raina, Kashmir I was thrilled to know from my batch mate Mr Dharam Pal Luthra of Mechanical that Dr Ahmad lived in Sydney. On my request, he has sent his family photo taken with the World famous Taj Mahal.

More than half a century has elapsed but Dr Ahmad’s picture is vivid before my eyes.

God bless him.

Rajeshwar Jain, India In class room, Dr was a tough task master.

But, outside class, he was a different person, a friend and a guide. I still recall , one Sunday, in a surprise visit, few of us landed at his house. Apart from good tea and snacks, we played cricket for couple of hours with him. Sweet remembrance.

Javed Shabbir Khan, Kashmir A very sad news indeed.Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad, our professor at REC,was not only a loving teacher but a friend of his students.

Though I did not hear of him for more than half a century but his memory remains as fresh as ever.

Wish his soul to remain in eternal peace.

Left: Dr Ahmad with is grandson Aamir, 1993. Right: Dr Ahmad with his great-grandson Aabid, 2019.

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

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Sham Lal Malhotra, New York I am from the first set to graduate, now in New York.

I remember Professor Ashfaq very fondly.

Out of the class he was a friend.

Once, along with a class mate we surprised our dear professor by knocking on his door on a Sunday. He was happy to see us.

His wife made pakoras & tea for us.

It is good to know he led a long & happy life.

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EDUCATION 20

BUSINESS 21

IPCC 6th Report: a call to put faith into action

Thea Ormerod

The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (AR6) released on Monday 28 February shows the latest science behind the many climate-linked extreme weather events which hit both rich and poor countries in the last year.

It paints a frightening picture. As with the COVID threat, people of faith should not hide from the truth, but are called to replace fear with courage and compassion.

Many Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and other people of faith baulk at the topic of climate change, seeing it as a ‘political issue’. However, climate started out in the 1970’s as an engineering, moral and social challenge, but was made a ‘political issue’ by fossil fuel companies seeking to

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stop government regulation from threatening their profits.

For supporters of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), it is primarily a moral issue. Guided by the principles of fairness, truth-seeking and compassion, we are concerned that the people who are hit the hardest by climate impacts are usually those who are already poor, and have the least capacity to cope.

They are also today’s young people, many of whom dread the future predicted by scientists, and will be on the streets protesting on Friday 25 March at the next School Strike for Climate.

The report puts forward various statistics, arrived at after painstaking processes by climate scientists. People of faith may be wary of the realm of ‘politics’, but they are surely moved by many of the stories behind the statistics.

At the time of writing, tragically people have lost loved ones in the floods in Southeast Queensland and the Northern Rivers of NSW. Nine people so far have lost their

AMUST

Well in Maharashtra State. Credit: New York Times. lives and tens of thousands of people’s homes have been impacted, with all the associated trauma.

The river through Lismore has never risen this high in living memory, damaging businesses, homes and infrastructure and driving up insurance premiums.

The fact is that, for each 1°C rise in global average temperature, the atmosphere can hold approximately 7 percent more moisture on average — increasing the likelihood of extreme downpours.

At the other extreme, climate change is making droughts worse. In western India, annual rainfall has declined by 15 percent.

Farmers have been drawing on groundwater for their crops, but this is dwindling too.

Water is so precious that women are saying they drink half a cup of water even if they want a whole one. Most people buy drinking water from far away.

This decade is the small window for deciding the ultimate success or failure of humanity’s response to climate change.

As people of faith, we must embrace our responsibility to take action now and not ‘later’. To begin with, at the coming federal election, let us at least vote for the candidates who are more likely to pass laws which will transition Australia to a low emissions future.

For ways that people of faith can take action, visit www.arrcc.org.au. We have attempted a fair-minded summary of various parties’ climate policies at https://tinyurl.com/nbeknt58.

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

Order of Australia Community support award for Philip for prayer break Feinstein Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley with Philip Feinstein from Music for Refugees.

Community supporters at Cumberland Council Chambers on Wednesday night 3 March in support of Muslim councillors to take a short prayer-break at sundown.

AMUST Media

AMUST Media Despite ongoing COVID postponements, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC Governor of New South Wales, was finally able to start presenting Order of Australia awards to various recipients.

On Tuesday 8 February, the Award Ceremonies commenced in the Government House, the heritage-listed official residence and office of Her Excellency, for the 28th Governor to occupy this Government House. She has held this position since 2 May 2019.

After Guards of Honour escorted the Award recipients to their places, our National Anthem was played by a five-piece Police Quintet. The recipients were then invested and congratulated by the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC Governor of New South Wales as she handed them their respective medals and certificates. During the ceremony various achievements about the medal winners were read out.

Philip Feinstein was recognised for his refugee work and other achievements – it was also stated how long he had been a volunteer writer for the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST. MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

Amongst the other recipients for medal awards were Hugo Weaving, distinguished actor and mentor of young actors; Khalfan Rashid, a refugee from Burundi for considerable bravery following a high speed accident in September 2017; and Matthew Airy, Matthew Bassford, Cairlin Langerak and Arun Trevitt, for their actions following high speed accidents.

Following the ceremonies, the recipients, guests and officials were invited to the magnificent gardens in Government House where refreshments based on NSW produce were served.

It should be noted that construction had begun on this new Government House in 1821 and was influenced in its location and architectural style by the existing Governor’s Stables, completed in 1836. Locally quarried sandstone was used for the construction.

This new Government House was designed by Edward Blore and built in the Gothic Revival style characterized by castellated towers and other medieval features.

Everybody intermingled where pleasant conversation continued for another two hours.

Other Order of Australia awards have continued during the month.

A diverse range of faith and community leaders led by the Sydney Alliance held a public session at Cumberland Council Chambers on Wednesday night 3 March in support of Muslim councillors to take a short prayer-break at sundown.

The Sydney Alliance and its partners strongly support the right of local government staff and councillors of diverse faiths, including Muslim councillors, to take a short prayer-break if necessary.

The group is advocating against a rescission (amendment) which would prevent Muslim councillors from the free expression of their faith in the offices of Cumberland City Council.

The amendment opposes a motion, recently brought by Mayor Lisa Lake, to grant the request for a short prayer-break.

According to census data, over 200,000 residents of Western Sydney have a Muslim faith. The rescission motion does not represent the best interests or the religious diversity of the Cumberland area.

Shalika Bandara, a Buddhist, representing young people across the Cumberland LGA and the broader Sydney Alliance, described the significance of inclusion and religious tolerance to the wider community.

“As Buddhists, we believe in the plurality of religious expression and the opportunity for all of us to practice our faith in peace and harmony,” Shalika said.

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“We stand in solidarity with the Muslim community who have been specifically targeted with this motion. Every religious community have a right to be represented on the local council. Prayer time is not a favour, it’s not a privilege, it’s a birthright. We are emphatically against this recission motion and implore you to dismiss it.”

The Sydney Alliance and its partners value the diverse faiths of Sydney and support the Muslim community’s fair and reasonable requests to observe their religious tradition of prayer.

About the Sydney Alliance The Sydney Alliance is a diverse coalition of community organisations, religious organisations, unions, and schools that uses the tools of community organising for the common good - to make Sydney a more just, fair, and sustainable city. The Alliance is the largest and most diverse network of communities in Sydney with over 40 civic organisations and over 20 in the Cumberland LGA. We believe that a strong and connected community enables Sydneysiders to shape their own future, to grow and develop as leaders, to be full democratic actors and to speak and act with others on their own behalf. We build grassroots power that respects the contributions and dignity of all people. Head here for more information about how your organisation can become a partner of Sydney Alliance.

Contact Daniel Nour, Sydney Alliance Communications Coordinator, dnour@sydneyalliance.org.au, 0410 106 913.

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How to overcome insecurity AMUST

Princess R Lakshman Do you ever feel anxious, have little or no confidence, or feel unsafe in your circumstances? Do you feel the need to depend on others for things or approval? Do you feel self-pity or that you need to prove your worth to others? If so, you could be having feelings of being ‘insecure.’

Insecurity creates self-doubt and fear and cripples you from living a joyful, productive life. When you feel insecure, you resist total submission to Allah. You begin to believe in shaitaan’s whispers that you are “not good enough” or that you “don’t have what it takes” or that you are a “fraud.”

These negative whisperings not only create massive blocks in every aspect of your life, such as, relationships, finances, spirituality, to name a few, but also affect your mental health and holistic wellbeing overall.

Insecurity stems from emotional hurt

or pain that has not been healed. Instead of processing hurt and emotional pain, we tend to put on a brave face and slap on a big, padded band-aid over them. We become fearful of our own vulnerabilities by moving on with life carrying a load of unprocessed emotions.

The way to process emotional hurt and pain is to identify what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. You may need professional help from a therapist to successfully identify these suppressed, or sometimes blocked, memories. Once you have identified them, you are then on the road to overcoming feelings of insecurity associated with these memories.

Strategies to Overcome Insecurity Affirmations repeated daily can re-wire the brain. Below are six typical situations which may cause feelings of insecurity.

Try practising these affirmations to become aware and re-wire your brain.

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

Situation

Affirmation

When people compliment others in front of me

I am unique. Allah has blessed every creation with their own unique abilities. I am enough because I am Allah’s creation.

When I struggle financially

Allah is Ar-Razak. Only Allah provides my sustenance. Everything I need, Allah provides immediately.

When I struggle with my body image

Allah has blessed me with optimum health. I am a soulful being dwelling temporarily in this body. Every salah I pray, my body re-energises with faith and wellbeing. I am a beautiful creation of Allah.

When I feel I do not deserve compliments or monetary rewards for my efforts

I am worthy of rewards. I work hard and Allah knows my efforts. He rewards me for my efforts. I accept wholeheartedly whatever HE has ordained for me to receive as payment for my services.

When I feel I don’t have as much as my other friends or family members

Allah provides me with comfort and ease. I accept wholeheartedly and gratefully all that ALLAH provides for me and my family. I embrace Allah’s abundant blessings in my life.

When I feel I lack skills or aptitude

I have a mind with unlimited potential. Allah gives me knowledge, intelligence, reason, and creativity.

Allah helps me in every task I perform that is good for me and my Deen.

Contemplation for a Good Life (CGL) Dr Mutiu Salami In contrast to viewing meditation from a secular approach, contemplation from Islamic doctrines is derived from Qur’anic and prophetic injunctions, and targeted towards seeking insightful understanding of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Badri, 2000).

As eastern and theistic religions view meditation as an altering state of consciousness which pays attention to present-moment experiences, Islamic contemplation is focused on connecting present natural experiences and events towards God’s majestic creation, in order to attain God consciousness.

According to Malik Badri, a meditative heart, which contemplates the grace of God that emanates from His creations can easily detect the negative thoughts and emotions that pass through the mind, which is a function of the great sensitivity that the mind has acquired from long contemplation and continued remembrance.

He further posits that the psychological state of those who regularly contemplate the grace of God attain some acute perception acquired through contemplation and remembrance. This makes their spiritual cognition easily overwhelms negative thoughts and emotions, and experiences less stress, anxiety and depression.

The Qur’an states: “Those who fear God, when an evil thought from Satan assaults them, bring God to mind, and lo! They see

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clearly” (Quran 7:201).

It takes little effort for any individual to contemplate or meditate over an experience at the beach, in the woods, at gigantic and vegetative mountains or while watching a colorful sunset and nightful stars. Observing these artistic beauties of creation and being able to appreciate the One who brought the appreciated object of contemplation to fruition, elevates one to levels of spiritual cognition.

Spiritual cognition is regarded as that heightened state of Allah’s consciousness that explain the ability to gain emotional control and adaptive psychological functioning.

Contemplation for a Good life (CGL) is designed as a psycho-spiritual resource that can serve the purpose of improving a per-

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES

son’s wellbeing, whether in times of difficult moments or as a means of regulating emotional disturbances. It is designed to strengthen an individuals’ ability to appreciate Allah’s mercies in his life through pondering over His Blessings, thereby elevating his sense of gratitude. The CGL is designed to unravel the mechanism through which Muslim therapists and helping professionals can help others navigate a God-based meditative approach towards attaining spiritual cognition and psychological wellbeing.

A contemplative person, aside from being able to connect an object (God’s creation) or life experience to Allah’s supremacy, artistic beauty, and perfection, holds the opportunity to averts negative emotional and cognitive states when they come to light. The con-

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templative person also retains the ability to store spiritual cognitive strengths that helps in the face of challenging difficulties.

In all, a person’s connection to God, which is a function of how his faith transforms into belief, and eventual life patterns, remains a key component in attaining spiritual cognition. Muslims and God-conscious individuals can take this God-based meditative exercise as a means of relieving emotional disturbances through the use of such a psycho-spiritual approach.

Mutiu Salami is a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Malaysia.

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Zakat to create a better future for our community Ameera Syed Before understanding the need for Zakat and Sadaqah, here in Australia or elsewhere, change begins with each of us understanding why and how we can follow the beautiful religion of Islam.

Since 2013, the National Zakat Foundation Australia has been primarily focused on local emergency relief and establishing a platform that can provide an end-to-end welfare service for the Australian Muslim community through the Pillar of Zakat.

Over the years, our work has expanded from the collection and distribution of Zakat to the provision of educational resources, sustainable support systems through Community Programs and raising awareness about the Islamic obligation of paying Zakat.

There is still a persisting view in our community that a thriving Western country, like Australia, doesn’t have people in need, especially when comparing to other countries.

Sadly, we still see real Muslim families,

men, and women in Australia approach us with heart-breaking experiences of being kicked out of homes, enduring abusive relationships, experiencing sudden unemployment with no means to care for their children with limited government services due to their eligibility status – and the stories don’t stop there.

On a community level, the Zakat and support received at NZF from our generous donors and partners goes towards empowering each Muslim in need to find their footing, work through difficult situations towards a better future, and join us as a Zakat payer themselves to help other brothers and sisters in need.

For this vision to continue, we need to start with understanding the importance of Zakat. What does Zakat mean to us? How does that translate into our relationship with ourselves, our communities, our faith and Allah Himself? As Muslims, we all know the five Pillars of Islam and we incorporate it into our lives on a regular basis.

We pray daily and Fast for a month each year while abiding to their specific rulings.

“... we need

to start with understanding the importance of Zakat.

Yet when it comes to Zakat, which only needs to be done once a year, many of us lack the understanding of the ordained rules on its calculation, distribution, and the blessings it brings for us as a Pillar of Islam.

We’ve become so caught up in the process of validating another’s need for Zakat and what cause is most deserving that we undermine the basics of Zakat ordained by Allah in His Quran and Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Sunnah.

If you’ve been wanting to improve your relationship with Allah through understanding more about the Pillar of Zakat and have

been looking for someone to help you on this journey leading into Ramadan, visit us at www.nzf.org.au or call our team at 1300 663 729.

This Ramadan let’s make a commitment to learn something new about Zakat and work together to empower Muslims in our communities through Zakat. Even if we’ve embodied one thing that will allow us to stand before Allah on the Day of Judgement and testify that we strived to learn, let it be about upholding this Pillar of Islam – Pillar of Zakat.

“

My journey into a medical career Saleha Khan My name is Saleha Khan, and I am honoured to be the GPSN National Chair for Australia in 2022. I now stand as a fifthyear medical student studying at Bond university and can’t wait to work towards career in General Practice or Psychiatry in the future.

During the last 4 years, I have served as the Undergraduate Academic Year Representative, collaborated with student leadership networks including the General Practice Student Network at a local and national level and am soon to publish a Research Project for my MD that studies the effects of ‘Transcranial magnetic stimulation’ on patients with Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.

This year, I am also travelling to Central Queensland to gain exposure to rural medicine by doing my placement at Roma Hospital that stands to be 477.6km from Brisbane in the outback. I hope these experiences will make me a better doctor to serve my patients with quality and integrity.

Getting selected to study in a medical program, is one of the most exhilarating and life-changing moments. It means you are about to embark on a life-long journey of endless learning, countless experiences, and the opportunity to give back to others. Whether it is assisting in the delivery of a newborn baby or suturing on an open wound in surgery, the vast skill set and knowledge you acquire is invaluable.

Often such great responsibility can be overwhelming. It is easy to feel like the whole world rests on your shoulders and this can, at times, play a toll on your mental and physical wellbeing. Whilst you may find yourself completely immersed in your

books and at times sacrificing your social gatherings to maintain your grades, the best advice I can provide is to join a club or society whilst in your journey to becoming a doctor.

Being a part of a club provides the unique privilege to meet like-minded individuals and facilitate another way of sharing similar ideas and passions for shared interests.

Not only does this offer a range of strong communication, teamwork and time-management skills that you can use in your everyday life, but it makes your university experience so much more enriching and fulfilling.

Not long ago, I was in a very similar situation, trying to find my way around the inner workings of medicine. Whilst in my search for choosing which society to join, I stumbled upon The General Practice Students Network (GPSN), and this is when my adventure began!

In my first year of medicine, when I joined as Events Coordinator of GPSN within my local university, I never would have foreseen the incredible experiences that came my way. That’s part of the brilliance in GPSN – there is so much room to grow and develop, and you never know where this organisation will lead you.

From organising GP career nights, to OSCE nights and running unique Clinical Skill Events, GPSN was a committee that stood true to service, leadership and academics that lied very closely to my core principles.

This budding society has always pushed its boundaries against the norm, and I am extremely humbled to have witnessed it through my years in medical school.

I take pride in becoming a GPSN member, being able to progress from an Events coordinator to Chair of my local university and then stepping up to being National Events Officer and now National Chair.

“It is easy to feel

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“

like the whole world rests on your shoulders and this can, at times, play a toll on your mental and physical wellbeing.

Saleha Khan, GPSN National Chair 2022 on front cover of GPSN Magazine.

It was a huge part of my medical journey that made it very special, as I got the opportunity to continue within the club to a national level over the past 4 years. I could not think of a better way to end my medical school journey with GPSN.

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Saleha Khan is a 5th year medical student GPSN National Chair 2022 at Bond University in Gold Coast. She is the daughter of an Aligarian, Dr Javaid Khan, University of Queensland.

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A progressive stolen generation in Europe Nesrin Khalifa Over the past 20 years young newly-immigrant children in Sweden, aged below 16, have been forcefully taken away from their parents by the Swedish social services.

In most cases, they have been exposed to traumatic experiences in their new households, such as abuse and rape.

Over the past couple of years, there has been a noticeable increase in the take of young children away from their recently-migrated families. Statistics confirm that about 20, 000 children are seized by the Swedish social services every year.

These innocent victims are taken for the most unreasonable excuses to be placed in foster homes with horrendous conditions and exposures.

In fact, the NCHR (Nordic Committee for Human Rights), had published a report in 2012 titled ‘Child removal cases in Sweden and the neighboring Nordic countries’. The

report discusses the magnitude, impact and consequences of taking these young children away from their families.

The article quotes, “…sending this request to the Council of Europe, the Minister Committee and the European Parliament for a thorough investigation of the very prevalent and destructive Child Removal Cases that are being practiced, on a daily basis, in the neighboring Nordic countries.”

The children taken away are faced with the reality of having to adapt to a lot of changes.

These adaptations are not as simple as one might imagine; it’s a complete change in the language they used to talk in, the religion or faith they used to follow and the ethics they were raised around and taught. This leads to a gradual deprivement of their identity as a whole.

Why do they do this? So they can whitewash them, breed a new Swedish cohort and introduce to history a new stolen generation.

In fact we start to witness the consequences of this tragic child removal act. A one of many proofs is the ongoing court trial on a man, in his 60s, who was found guilty of raping the foster child that was placed to live with him.

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Another huge piece of evidence is the resignation of a Swedish social service worker; who said that his morals didn’t align with what is currently happening, of corruption and cruelty, with the foster children.

The torn families of these very young victims have been trying to tell their stories on different platforms of social media. Desperately trying to seek justice from anyone who is able to make a change; so they can hold their children in their arms again. Because not only do the Swedish social services take away the children from their parents, but on many occasions they don’t allow them to meet ever in person again. Their only, supposedly-fortunate, option is to video call each

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other. How heartbreaking is this?

As a Muslim community, an issue like this should matter to us, because Islam teaches to speak against injustice acts that affect anyone, anywhere. This is why we should stand in unity, opposing what is currently happening in Sweden and raising awareness about this matter.

Nesrin Khalifa is a 15-year-old student in Al-Noori Muslim School. She is a passionate writer, public speaker and debater who loves to advocate about various matters that interest her and the Australian Muslim community.

Why do Hindu nationalists hate Islam and Muslims?

Dr Aslam Abdullah Hatred against Islam and Muslims among a section of Hindus under militant Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) has crossed all limits in India. In almost all aspects of life, Muslims and their lifestyles have become the target of contempt and wrath.

Hijab is under attack, and the call to the prayers in a mosque is subject to objection.

The boycott of small vendors with Muslim names is typical, and their entry in many areas is restricted.

Men with beards and caps and women with veils are targets of regular insults, and the burning of Muslim homes and businesses is part of a pattern overtaking the states run by the RSS political wing, the BJP. As a result, India is becoming like a rogue state with no safety for men, women, and children belonging to the Muslim and Christian communities.

Who are the hate mongers? Why do they hate Islam and Muslims, and what do hatemongers want to achieve from their bigoted acrimony?

The hate mongers include Hindus who believe in the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra and consider the presence of Muslims as a source of continuous pollution of the land that, in their view, deities gave to them.

Further, they assert that Hindus have the sole monopoly of India that in its original geography included Pakistan, Afghanistan, Burma, and Bangladesh.

In their views, Islam is a foreign religion, and Muslims invaded the land and introduced a way of life that challenged the Hindu caste system and customs, instigating millions to switch their loyalties from Hindu deities to one supreme God. The caste system divides the society into four varnas or categories determined by birth.

On top of the hierarchy are Brahmans. They occupy the highest position because they are from the head of the creator. The lowest are untouchables known as Dalits. In between are castes specializing in war and business.

Brahmin are 5 percent of the population, Rajputs are 4 percent, Vaishyas are 2 percent, Dalits and tribals make 23 percent, others including Marathas, Jats, Kayasthas are 6 percent.

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Muslims are 15 percent, Christians, 2.5%, Sikhs, two percent, and Buddhists and Jains are less than one percent each.

Hindu nationalists believe that Islam wooed Dalits to its fold for its egalitarian values and challenged the supremacy of Brahmans. Much of the conversions, they insist, were forcible.

They also argue that the creation of Pakistan in 1947 as a separate country for Muslims makes India a state for Hindus only.

They fear that Islam may extend its influence on tribals and Dalits who still live in abject poverty and humiliation. It is this fear that makes them hostile to Islam and Muslims.

A demographic shift in favor of Islam poses an existential threat to them.

The Hindu nationalists view them as an extension of the Aryan race and believe they have maintained their purity by practicing a strict caste system. But, on the other hand, the twice-born or the so-called upper castes, predominantly Brahman, consider them the purest of the pure.

Their militant organization, RSS, consists of Brahman leaders.

The RSS upper caste leaders have used the Dalits and tribals as pawns against Muslims in this context. They use the resources of other twice-born castes to incite Dalits and tribals to combat Muslims.

Many people recruited to demolish the Babri Masjid came from castes generally viewed lower by the twice-born.

The RSS teaches and systematically propagates hatred at grassroots levels. In 1925, a medical doctor named Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded it in the Western Indian city of Nagpur. Its purpose is to propagate the ideology of Hindutva and to provide “new physical strength” to Hindus as defined by upper castes.

The RSS believes in an India led by upper castes exclusive for Hindus, with non-Hindus living as second-class citizens. When it came to non-Hindu religions, the view of Golwalkar, who supported Hitler’s creation of a supreme race by suppression of minorities,

Relatives mourn Mohammad Mudasir, 31, who was killed in rioting in Delhi. Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

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was that of extreme intolerance.

He wrote that the non-Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture or languages. They must learn and respect and reverence the Hindu religion and entertain no idea but glorify the Hindu race and culture.

They should wholly subordinate to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less preferential treatment— not even citizens’ rights.”

RSS does not have any formal membership. Instead, Hindu men and boys join the nearest shakha, the basic unit. It is estimated to have had 5 to 6 million members.

The Sarsanghchalak is the head of the RSS organization; it is a nominated position by the predecessor.

Sarkaryawah is equivalent to the general secretary, and the elected members of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha select him.

It has four Sah-Sarkayavah or Joint general secretaries. Pracharak are active, the fulltime missionaries who spread the doctrine.

RSS has about 4000 pracharaks.

Karyakartas are the active functionaries. A karyakarta undergoes four levels of ideological and physical training in camps.

Mukhya-Shikshak is the Head-teacher and chief of a Shakha. Karyawah is the Executive of a Shakha. Gatanayak is the Group leader.

Swayamsevak is a volunteer.

The number of Shakhas (branches) is about 60,000. Most of them are in the Hindi-speaking region.

The shakhas conduct various activities for its volunteers, such as physical fitness through yoga, exercises, and games, and activities that encourage Hindutva and anti-Islam and Christian teachings.

Organizations that follow the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s ideology refer to themselves as members of the Sangh Parivar.

The RSS holds a firm grip on many Hindus and spreads the hatred at the grassroots in an organized manner. Its supporters in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Americas provide extensive financial support. These supporters promote hatred worldwide, and their main targets are Muslims, and Christian missionaries.

The hatred has roots in the Hindutva vision of history and religion. The poison emitted in the 1920’s by upper caste leaders in the name of Hindutva has spread worldwide, threatening global peace and stability.

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Ukraine-Russia conflict AMUST

The 2014 Crimean annexation

Rida Ansary

In light of the ongoing situation regarding Ukraine and Russia, the shadow of a much deeper story looms over it. As armed riots of Kazakhstan clear from the horizon and the potential for confrontation with NATO materialises, we must take a closer look at something. The largely controversial but misunderstood action of the Russian Federation that set a precedent for present strategic moves; the Crimean Annexation.

The annexation of Crimea in 2014 was a culmination of the Ukrainian conflict. The incident showed a diversion of the Eastern European nation towards Western political influences. In a bid to form a profile for itself independent of its neighbour, Russia, Ukraine ousted its President Yanukovych.

This placed tension between the two countries who had before been in a stable friendship as neighbouring allies of the Eastern Bloc.

President Putin’s decision to reincorporate Crimea in 2014 as part of Russian territory sparked outrage online and in news sources.

However its historical relevance was buried under claims of aggression. Most see it merely as a reaction to Ukraine’s deviance from Russian influence, rather than a calculated and reasonable move.

The Crimean peninsula on the coast of

the Black Sea was under the sovereignty of Russia since its retrieval from the Ottoman Empire in 1783. The area was taken back a century before the Crimean War, during which the Russian Empire built and seasoned its Black Sea Fleet. This was for the territorial defence of the Black Sea region, Russia’s most valuable strategic location for millennia.

Formerly part of the Bosporan Kingdom and later the Byzantine Empire, Crimea has been captured by the Golden Horde. It was then integrated into the Ottoman Empire,

though Russia had inherited the land from the Byzantines. To retrieve Russia’s rightful territory, Empress Catherine the Great annexed Crimea in 1783.

In 1784, following the Russo-Turkish war (1768-1774) this action was legitimised. It was reinforced by the signing of the treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca between the Russian and Ottoman Empires. The agreement ensured the Russian Empire’s access to the Black Sea and brought Orthodox Christian subjects, the custodians of the region, under its protection.

Unfortunately, Russian entitlement to the Black Sea region and Crimea was not to be recognised in the following years. It was instead to be buried under generations of denial by the actions of the British, French and Ottoman Empires. A collaborative seizure of the territory took place during the Crimean War (1853-1856) after Britain and France had decided to assist the deteriorating Ottoman Empire.

Breaking the centuries old treaty, the Ottoman Empire played into the hands of its allies who felt threatened by Russia’s growing influence in the 19th Century. Their promise of restoring the weakening nation to its former glory was not ultimately fulfilled. The empire was left to follow an inevitable path to collapse.

The war ended with Russian territory in foreign hands once again and a dying empire.

However, President Putin’s retrieval of Crimea and the Black Sea region in 2014 has again restored Russia’s sovereignty over its very own land both historically and culturally. It also closed an unhappy chapter in the nation’s history.

It should be noted, that the necessary response to an ongoing conflict was taken. The annexation is justified by the historical roots of Crimea, not merely by strategic purposes.

Rida Ansary is a high school student in Sydney planning to study in the International Relations field. She is interested in matters relating to politics and how to improve the world.

The OIC transformation and its reflections Ghofar Ismail

On September 25, 1969, the leaders of Islamic countries gathered in Rabat, Morocco following the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Zionist Israel on August 21, 1969.

This meeting gave birth to the Rabat declaration, which later became the forerunner of the birth of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference).

At its inception, this organization had a simple goal, namely to politically provide full support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. In its development, the OIC’s members continued to grow from 40 at the beginning to 57 countries in in 2022.

The OIC has become the second largest international organization after the UN. Not only has the quantity developed, the cooperation in OIC has also undergone transformation in a positive direction.

solidarity, which tends to be narrow, rigid, even ideological, to become politically more grounded, pragmatic, and contemporary. In addition to voicing solidarity, the new OIC began to discuss wider cooperation, including trade, tourism, investment, poverty alleviation, health, and so on. Furthermore, like regional international organizations such as ASEAN or the EU, or the UN, the OIC has launched 5-year and 10-year strategic cooperation targets.

Challenges and Opportunities Even though the OIC has declared a transformation towards a pragmatic direction at the intergovernmental level, it is undeniable that the OIC still face classical challenges.

Structurally, majority of OIC member coun-

tries are developing countries, where some have complicated relations with other members, domestic conflicts, high poverty rates, health issues to welfare. Some observers have even pointedly criticized the OIC as just a group of poor nations. These factors may still raise the distrust among members, which make cooperation ever harder to achieve.

However, this does not mean that OIC does not have opportunities for cooperation.

The OIC have seen the future vision as stated in the OIC 2025 Action Program, which includes a shared spirit to promote Islamic solidarity, partnership and cooperation.

It also highlighted existing historical relationships and cultural closeness among OIC members to enhance political, social and economic cooperation. Another supporting

factor is the fact that a number of OIC countries have GDP per capita of more than US$ 40,000. In addition, they have been making progresses essentially in human resources, science and technology.

In conclusion, we should be optimistic that the transformation of OIC has a bright future.

We should be able to explore more opportunities to implement the OIC 2025 Action Program. Opportunities are numerous, but they are just still scattered, and need further management and exploration.

Ghofar Ismail is Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy and is based in Canberra.

OIC Summit, Istanbul, 2016.

Transformation In 2005 this organization carried out a paradigm and conceptual transformation from its previous position to the new one, which agreed to discuss in greater depth the real aspirations of Muslim world. It translates the concept of solidarity into action with three main objectives, namely internal reform of the OIC, reorganization of the OIC to adapt to contemporary challenges through the modernization process, and efforts to improve the OIC’s position as a major player in the international forum. In line with the development of global politics, at its session in 2011 the “Organization of Islamic Conference” was changed to “Organization of Islamic Cooperation.“ The change from “Conference” to “Cooperation” implies transformation from MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

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Allah’s human project: choice, free will and destiny Dr Asrar Talukder Disclaimer: I read Quran in the light of science, philosophy, ethics, and public policy. This is not a theological discussion, but some rational thinking shaped by the Quran.

According to the Quranic stories, one day Allah had called upon his angels and said that He was going to make his vicegerent on earth. The angels wondered why He was going to make someone who would spread corruptions and spill bloods. They were already there to glorify Him with all praises and declare his perfections. Allah simply replied what He knew they knew not (refer to Quran 2:30).

Allah taught Adam (a) the names of all things. He asked the angels to name those things, which they failed. Then Allah asked Adam (a). He named them correctly. Allah could have easily taught Adam (a) such beautiful praises that would have made the angels speechless. Instead, Allah showed that his vicegerents had very different roles and purposes. I call it Allah’s human project.

The Adam (a) had been created to be sent to the earth. But he was asked to live in paradise. In our mundane practices, it felt like someone has a job posting at a branch office.

But he is asked to spend first few weeks at the head office for the orientations. If we consider that the stay of Adam (a) in the paradise had been the orientation for Allah’s human project on earth, we must realise what training Allah wanted to give Adam (a) before sending him on earth. It has been our primordial lessons.

Allah said in the Quran that the purpose behind the creation of mankind and Jinn kind is to worship him alone (refer to Quran 51: 56). One would expect that Allah would have taught Adam (a) how to pray? How to fast or how to praise Him properly, which would be truly pleasing to Him? Instead, He simply said to Adam (a), “Live in paradise with your wife. Go, eat, and drink whatever you both want and from wherever you both want. But there is only one condition that do not go near this particular tree (refer to Quran 2:35).”

At the end, Adam (a) and his wife were human. They made the mistake. Allah taught them how to repent and accepted their repentance. It appears to me that Allah wanted to give one simple message to Adam (a) and his wife that life was nothing but a

choice. Allah would send them the guidance about the right and the wrong choices, but the choice would be their responsibility.

Our religion tells us that we are only responsible for our action and intentions. The results come from Allah. In other words, our actions and intentions belong to our choice and free will, but the outcomes are in the scopes of our fate and destiny. For the believers, they can have their comforts

and solaces that they will always get their rightful compensations if not here, then in hereafter.

Read full version: https://tinyurl.com/42e8hb88 Dr Asrar Talukder is a marine geologist and a passionate community activist. He is based in Perth, Australia.

Ding dong dell - secure your well Christine Osborne Ding dong dell Pussy’s in the well.

Who put her in?

Little Johnny Flynn.

Who Pulled her out?

Little Tommy Stout.

Many Australians of Anglo-Saxon folk lineage will know this 16th century English nursery rhyme about a cat down a well although it is likely less popular today due to the connotation of animal cruelty.

Wells have recently been the subject of world news coverage due to the frantic efforts of rescuers to save children who have fallen into them.

Rayan, a five-year-old boy in the Rif Mountains of Morocco, was followed Haider, by a nine-year-old who became wedged in the narrow shaft of a dry well in remote Zabul, in the province of southern Afghanistan.

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Despite heroic attempts to reach them, neither child had survived this ordeal. Only last week another tragedy involved thirteen women and children plunging down a 15 metre deep well in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

They had been watching wedding celebrations while seated on a slab laid across an abandoned well when it suddenly collapsed under their weight sending them hurtling among debris to the bottom.

Uncovered wells are an equal hazard for wildlife, especially in India where leopard, jackals, hyenas, even elephants have become trapped after falling in. In an interview with the BBC, Suresh Wadekar, a Forestry Officer in the west Indian State of Maharashtra said he had rescued 137 leopards, a protected species during the past twenty years.

Anand Bora, a renowned Indian wildlife photographer, took this picture of an exhausted leopard whose rescue, supervised

by Mr. Wadekar, saved it from drowning after the poor creature had been swimming at the bottom of a well for some twenty-four hours.

Human encroachment on natural habitat

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in Asia as well as Africa, sees increasing accidents involving wildlife. Buffer areas marking a zone between forest or grassland and human settlement is dotted with open wells which sees animals entering after prey fall frequent victims to misadventure.

With US specialists assessing there may be at least 35,000 abandoned wells in the state of Iowa alone, one dares not imagine how many exist in India with its huge rural population dependent on well water.

Architectural monuments, early ‘step wells’ with stairs descending to water level, some even with rooms where travelers could cool off, date back thousands of years.

Splendid structures of which less than a score remain are not however the shaft wells common in rural areas of South Asia where women —always women—are the water carriers, risking their lives to haul water before walking miles back home carrying heavy jars.

The Modi government needs to accelerate education highlighting the danger of uncovered wells in India while simultaneously implementing measures to ensure they are made safe. Something to be likewise con-

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sidered in Sri Lanka where a crane was required to lift a 4 tonne elephant upside down to safety from a well concealed by undergrowth and which somehow miraculously survived.

Initiatives such as filling in dry wells, covering those providing access to water or encircling them with a low wall are deemed essential.

And while it is accepted that developing nations may lack the means to finance such programs, unless something is done, more human and wildlife lives will be lost when the cost of frequently failed rescue efforts actually outweigh the reparations of making wells secure.

Photo below of a safely covered well in rural Gambia, West Africa.

Christine Osborne is the author of many books on Islamic countries including Pakistan. She is also the CEO of www.worldreligionsphotolibrary.com a multi- faith collection specialising in the mainstream faiths. She has visited more than 30 Muslim majority countries.

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The Australian economy performing better than many expected FINANCE Dr Abul Jalaluddin The Statement on Monetary Policy by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on 3 February 2022 depicts that, despite the Delta variant lockdowns, the Australian economy performed better than expected in the year ended 31 December 2021.

The economy produced higher results in the key economic indicators including economic growth, rate of unemployment, wage growth and household wealth creation. The inflation was higher due to higher level of economic growth and employment.

In December 2021, the rate of unemployment was expected to be 6% which turned out to be 4.2%, a marvellous achievement.

The economy added over 64,800 jobs in this month. The rate of unemployment is expected to fall around 3% by the end of 2022, for the first time since the early 1970s. Australia is moving closer to full employment which is a situation when there is no involuntary unemployment. Full employment or at least low unemployment brings with it real economic and social benefits for Australians and their communities.

The RBA expected the Australian economy to grow by around 3% in 2021. Now it is expected to have grown by 5%, another high economic outcome. This is despite the lockdowns associated with the outbreaks of

the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the second half of 2021. The economy is expected to grow by around 4.25% in 2022.

In 2021, wages were expected to grow by only 1.5%. This is now anticipated to pick up to around 2.5% in December 2021, which is marginally above its pre-pandemic rate of wage growth. In line with the expected higher level of economic activity and demand for human resources, the rate of wage growth is expected to be 3.25% in 2024, which would be the fasted growth since 2012.

For the year ended 31 December 2021, the rate of inflation jumped to 3.5%, well above

RBA’s target band of 2 to 3%. The price of fuel, the cost of construction for new dwellings and the price of consumer durables accounted for about two-thirds of this general price increase (inflation). The rate of inflation is expected to be 3.25% by the end of 2022.

Much of the increase to 3.5% of the Australian inflation in 2021 is attributed to big rises in the prices of petrol and home construction. Over the years, world prices of oil go up and down due to international market forces/reasons and Australia has done virtually nothing to cause the recent rises in oil prices.

development within the Halal industry.

The Exhibition aims to spread and expand the awareness about the industry among the visitors by attracting major international bodies to share their knowledge and to present their research and innovations.

On a second note, the Saudi International Halal Expo 2022 aims to attract professionals from around the world, Muslims and non-Muslims to establish great business opportunities with regional & international businesses.

The Saudi International Halal Expo 2022 promotes a healthy, ethical, and fairway of life in all aspects including family, society, and business interactions and transactions where anyone would be attracted to these values that transcend religion.

The organisers of the Exhibition; 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences set the Expo date to take place from 7–9 November 2022 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, RICEC. The organisers aim to secure and connect 200 local & international companies in this three-day event, welcoming over 10,000 visitors from nearly 35 countries worldwide.

The organiser’s plan is to host this Expo annually and to highlight the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the main hub for all the Halal industry’s business-

es and to create a huge network of new buyers and suppliers.

1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences is pleased to announce the partnership with Australasian Muslim Times which is believed to be an important partnership and of added value to the Saudi International Halal Expo 2022.

Mr Bilal Al Barmawi – CEO & Managing Director of 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences said, “we welcome all professionals in the Halal industry worldwide to meet, network, and share experiences in the Saudi International Halal Expo 2022, and we humbly offer this chance to all the international companies & organisations to gain a greater exposure in the Muslim hub & the fast-grow-

The other major contribution to this level of inflation relates to supply chain issues and mismatches between demand and supply for various goods and services, mainly because of Covid-19 outbreaks. The underlying rate of inflation excludes these unusual large price hikes in the economy and this (underlying rate of inflation) was 2.6% in 2021, which is within the RBA’s inflation range of 2 to 3%.

Australia is not the only developed economy experiencing high rate of inflation in 2021. Empirically, Australia’s rate of inflation of 3.5% was much lower than the USA (7%), the UK (5.4%) and our neighbor New Zealand (5.9%).

The most significant risk to the Australian economy continues to be health-related due to potential Covid-19 outbreaks. The rate of unemployment will probably settle to the pre-pandemic levels over the next few years. The resolution to the supply disruptions would partially offset inflationary pressures and check the underlying rate of inflation within the target band. The health outcomes are expected to be manageable in the forthcoming years.

The confidence of Australian households and their levels of spending are likely to be higher. In this scenario, the economy is expected to grow reasonably well, creating employment opportunities and generate incomes for all Australians..

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

Saudi International Halal Expo to highlight growing Halal industry Khaled Shaban The Saudi International Halal Expo 2022, which is the first of its kind to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will serve as an outstanding platform to present the latest trends of the global Halal market and to highlight the challenges this industry faces which may vary in complying with Halal regulations & standardization and to offer a great opportunity to focus on the latest innovations, research, and

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ing consumer market of Saudi Arabia”.

Al Barmawi further added, “We believe that the support of local & international partners in the Halal industry and the Food & Beverage industry is very important to us and is of great value to the Saudi International Halal Expo 2022. The success of the first edition of this event relies on all of our partners.”

For more details and information on how to participate in the Saudi International Halal Expo, visit www.saudihalalexpo.com Khaled Shaban is an event coordinator in the 1st Arabia Tradeshows & Conferences and event coordinator for the Saudi International Halal Expo 2022.

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Social Spotlights

Ibtihaj Muhammad

Helping ACT

@HelpingACT

We are ecstatic to announce that HelpingACT has taken delivery of a new car, the HelpMobile, yesterday at CanberraToyota Phillip.

As you may know our old car broke down and we needed a replacement. Thanks to the generosity of Canberrans, the ACT Government and others around Australia, we were able to raise the funds for this.

Full marks to Amir and his team at Canberra Toyota Phillip including Sanil, Paul, Donna and Muhammad for excellent customer service and quality cars, new and used.

They went out of their way to find us exactly what we needed at an exceptionally competitive price. Plus, the extra service to help us with comprehensive insurance, extended warranty, servicing for a year and roadside assistance for five years which was all icing on the cake. And throughout the process they made us feel valued.

Congratulations to Mirko Milic for leading and inspiring such a wonderful team.

If you need a car, please see Amir at Canberra Toyota Phillip, and let him know you heard it from HelpingACT. Also a call out to Rowan and Conner at Rojo Signs Phillip for the quality work, service, and discount for the signs on the car.

An Excellent job!

@ibtihajmuhammadusa

The French Senate has voted to ban hijabs in sports competitions, echoing an already longstanding hijab ban by the French football federation. We’re watching in real time the French government violate the rights of its Muslim citizens.

This is what happens when governments and officials (in France, India, Quebec, etc) mask their discrimination with legislation.

Religious freedom is a human right and we must protect it at all costs.

We must stand together and vehemently denounce discrimination in all of its forms.

We will not be silent as discriminatory governments revoke the freedoms of our sisters. Every woman should have the choice to wear what she wants and the opportunity to play sports, regardless of her faith.

Challenging us on hijab only strengthens our resolve to wear it. Together we fight.

Muslim Women Australia

@MuslimWomenAustralia

IREA

@ireaofficial #HIJAB - MY RIGHT - MY CHOICE Hijab Campaign on the streets of #Australia!

Australian #Muslims standing in solidarity with Indian girls for their right to wear Hijab in their schools, colleges and universities

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Kindness, care and acts of service are taught through action. We are so grateful to be working with the wonderful students and teachers at Arkana College on the ‘Cooking for a Purpose’ program.

Small groups of students in year 6 at Arkana College in Kingsgrove will be regularly cooking hot, delicious, and healthy meals under the guidance and supervision of the teachers.

The first session was last week, where the hot, freshly cooked meals were delivered to MWA and were given to individuals and families who are in genuine need, having been going through hardship, and have not been able to enjoy a specially prepared meal in a while, served with dignity and honour.

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Nadeem Ashfaq

@nadeemashfaq10

This is the amazing, courageous and life-saving angel from Nigeria, Imam Abdullahi Abu bakar, who risked his own life and that of his family to save the lives of of 262 Christians, who were fleeing from attacks by extremists.

In June of last year extremists launched deadly co-ordinated attacks in 10 villages that killed hundreds of ethnic Berom farmers, but amidst the mayhem, this beautiful 83-year-old Imam showed true courage, selflessness, and brotherly love, as he protected human lives, despite religious differences.

While Imam Abdullahi was finishing midday prayers, he and his congregation heard gunshots and went outside to see members of the town’s Christian community fleeing.

Instinctively, the Imam ushered 262 of them into the mosque and into his personal home next door.

He then went outside to confront the gunmen and when the attackers asked him about their whereabouts, the cleric refused to give them up. He refused to allow them to enter, pleading with them to spare the Christians inside, even offering to sacrifice his life for theirs.

The Vice-president of Nigeria Mr. Osinbajo said: “This Imam has done so much to promote peace by his singular act than most politicians could do and deserve all the commendation and high honour.”

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari also said: “A Nigerian national has written his name in gold in the international arena and his deeds will resonate wherever and whenever there are discussions on religious tolerance, cordiality between Christians and Muslims in the country and around the world’’.

The president recommended the sterling virtues of Imam Abdullahi to all clerics, in particular, and Nigerians in general.

May Allah bless this imam with the the most beautiful of rewards.

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Nazeem Hussain has a pretty amazing story

AMUST

TOP 6 Tweets Palestine

“I rocked up to work, started going through my emails, then all of a sudden, I got a call — blocked number.

He said, ‘Hi Nazeem, my name is David. I’m calling from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, otherwise known as ASIO’.

He wanted to talk about ‘the Muslim, South Asian or Arab-speaking communities in Australia’. At the time, I was doing Islamic Council of Victoria media stuff, working this suit job, and doing stand-up comedy at the same time.

I said, ‘Look, David, I’d love to talk, but I’m at work right now’. And he said, ‘No worries. As soon as you finish work, we’ll call you’.’

As soon as I left the building, I got a call: ‘Hi, Nazeem, if you could just turn right at the Yarra River...’ — which was exactly in front of where I was standing. ‘Meet me and my colleague, and we’ll go out for dinner at a really nice restaurant on Southbank,’ he said.

I felt like I was in a James Bond movie, except he was playing Bond and I was playing the soon-to-be-dead terrorist.

At dinner, the conversation was just about ordinary life — you know, how my day at work was. I almost forgot that I was having this interview with ASIO. It almost felt like a first date.

They made a point of saying they were going to pay, so I ordered an entire fish, which had ‘market price’ next to it on the menu — something I wouldn’t ordinarily order because the price is mysterious. I just kept ordering more and more mango juice.

But then the conversation pivoted and they started dropping in facts that only my family would know. They said something like, ‘So when your parents got divorced when you were six…’ — just to let me know that they’re ASIO. I was like, ‘Why are we even doing this? I’m not doing anything wrong.

I’m not a terrorist. I’m not an extremist Muslim. Why do you want to speak to me?’

Then David leaned across the table and said something to me that I don’t think I will ever forget. He said, ‘Look, Nazeem, we don’t think you’re a terrorist ... But we do think that you have the propensity to become radicalised, and to radicalise others around you. You’re a charismatic guy, Nazeem’.

And I said, ‘Um... thank you?’

Then the conversation wrapped up, and we were about to part ways.

David turned to me, dead in the eyes, and said, ‘Nazeem, before we let you go, don’t tell anybody about this meeting, ok?’.

And I said, ‘Sure, of course not’. And then I told everybody I knew about this meeting.

“I never heard from them again, but it never really resolved. I never felt like, ‘Oh well, my case is closed’.

I didn’t get arrested, I didn’t get locked up, I can travel freely. I’m not on any list (to my knowledge). But the mere fact that you’re being interviewed by Australia’s spy agency scares the crap out of you. You start questioning whether you can call your home your home.

Turns out, a lot of my friends and other community members had this same sort of experience happen to them. As a community, we were rattled. We felt intense scrutiny.

But a life lesson that I’ve learnt the hard way is that even when you’re suspected of being a threat to national security, you should always order the most expensive thing on the menu.”

Courtesy of ABC Radio National MARCH 2022 / ISSUE 196

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ISSUE 196 / MARCH 2022