Issue 205 - December 2022

Minaret College: Showcasing 30 years of successful growth

Minaret College, the Melbourne based Islamic school marked a significant mile stone by holding a two-day 30 Year An niversary Community Celebration from Friday 25 to Saturday 26 November 2022 attended by students and their families, staff, community leaders and politicians.

On Friday 25 November, students from Springvale, Officer and Doveton campuses indulged in an exclusive students-only event with plenty of rides and food stalls. As indi cated by the smiles on students’ faces, the day was the perfect way to wind down after a productive school year.

The following day, Springvale Campus opened its doors to the community and invit ed guests including the Mr Julian Hills MP, College board members and leaders past and present, students from the original class of 22 students in 1992, College dux from pre vious years, long-serving staff members and families.

Minaret College has humble beginnings, being established by its Founding Director, late Mr Mohamed Hassan OAM, as Islamic College of Noble Park, back in 1992 with only 22 students. The College continues to be inspired by its ambitious vision to pro vide Muslim children with an environment that preserves their Islamic Identity by fos tering Islamic values and prepares them to be model Australian Muslim citizens partic ipating positively in building a prosperous, harmonious and safe society.

The College now spans three campuses in South-East Melbourne (Springvale, Officer and Doveton) catering for students from

ELC to year 12 and continues to grow as lo cal families seek a school which has a prov en record of academic success while nurtur ing students in a way which develops their Muslim identity, inculcates Islamic values and fosters Australian citizenship.

Speaking about the event, the College Board Chairperson, Dr Ahmed Hassan, re flected on the ‘seed’ that the College Found er Mr Mohamed Hassan OAM planted 30 years ago, and the flourishing Minaret Fam ily which stands tall in support of the com munity.

After the official ceremony, two signifi cant installations were revealed to mark the importance of the occasion.

A 30-year timeline now greets visitors at the administration foyer at Springvale Cam pus, sharing the significant milestones that have laid the foundation for Minaret College today. A plaque commemorating the naming of the multipurpose hall to Mohamed Has san Hall was also revealed as part of the day’s proceedings.

Islamic Bank Australia: Strategic week in Sydney

Islamic Bank Australia continues to pro gress towards launch as Australia’s first Shariah-compliant bank, with a special strategy week 15-17 November 2022 at tended by a number of international direc tors meeting in Sydney where they decided to raise capital up to 40 million Australian dollars.

The bank was licensed in July this year as Australia’s Islamic bank, and is currently working towards a launch in early 2024.

The bank’s strategy week saw a number of key leaders fly into Sydney, including the founding CEO of the UK’s first Islamic bank, Sultan Choudhury. Choudhury was made an Officer of the British Empire for his services in driving Islamic banking in the UK.

Choudhury was accompanied by Md Shaji Madathil, one of the bank’s largest sharehold ers from Dubai, and Moin Mahfuz, a barrister from London. All are directors of the bank and have deep experience in Islamic finance.

Meetings at the bank’s head office in Par ramatta involved major design walkthroughs with senior staff and directors as well as dis cussions about how to best ensure the bank could serve the needs of the Muslim commu nity.

The week culminated in a dinner to cele brate the progress made in building the bank towards launch.

The bank continues to grow its custom er waiting list, and is currently focusing on building key systems such as the core bank ing system and a mobile banking application that will provide a fantastic digital experi ence.

Anwar Ibrahim is Prime Minister of Malaysia

Anwar Ibrahim, 75 finally became the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Thursday 24 November 2022, a role denied to him for three decades through political ma noeuvring, defamation and court cases on trumped-up charges, resulting in several stints of imprisonment.

He was at work the next day on Friday in the PM office in the capital Putrajaya and has promised that his Cabinet will be leaner compared to the previous, oversized admin istration while he will forego his salary as prime minister and the new Cabinet mem bers would be asked to cut their salaries too.

His coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) emerged as the biggest winner with 82 seats after the election held on Saturday 18 No vember, paving the way for him to form the new government with the help of other mi nor parties.

Anwar with his legacy of promoting Is lamic democracy, justice, pluralism, equal ity for all Malaysians and good governance

free of corruption would be better off to reconcile with the Islamic party (PAS) with similar ideals to form a stable unity govern ment to best serve the country.

PAS which won 49 seats in the new parlia ment has become the country’s single larg est party at the expense of UMNO that has largely ruled Malaysia since its independ ence, but tainted with years of corruption.

“We have a truly convincing majority … this is a national unity government, all are welcome,” Anwar said, adding however that new entrants to the coalition government had to accept pre-conditions of incorrupti bility, upholding good governance and en suring a “Malaysia for all Malaysians”, An war said in his first press conference after the swearing-in ceremony.

Starting as a charismatic student activist during the 70’s and founding the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), he was enticed by Mahathir Mohammad during the early 80’s to join the government with a rapid rise to deputy prime ministership dur ing the 90’s.

Jenny Bryant

Zia Ahmad

Anwar Ibrahim (left) with the Malaysian king and queen, and Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (right) after the swearing in as PM on Thursday 24 November 2022.

Minaret College Board Chairperson Dr Ahmed Hassan (centre), Executive Principal Mohammed Taksim (right) and Executive Advisor Ms Susie Hassan (left) greet guests for the Official Ceremony.

Imran Khan back on the road after surviving assassination attempt

Zia Ahmad

Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to a huge crowd of support ers on Saturday 26 November in Rawal pindi in his first public appearance after an attempt on his life, urging them to live without fear of death.

While Pakistanis all over the world and other cricket fans were watching a stunning win by the Pakistan cricket team against the yet undefeated South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday night 3 November to keep their T20 World Cup campaign alive, they heard the horrible news of the assassination attempt on Imran Khan.

The former PM of Pakistan and a crick et hero turned highly popular politician, led the Pakistan cricket team to the World Cup victory in 1992 at the same SCG, was shot in the legs when his protest convoy came under attack in Wazirabad, close to Islama bad where one man was killed and up to 10 people injured.

Imran Khan was taken to a hospital in Lahore where he underwent surgery and is recovering in hospital in stable condition while nationwide protests have erupted in the country in his support and bid to call for early elections in Pakistan.

“It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding,” Fawad Chaudhry, a spokes man for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said.

He further added, “If the shooter had not been stopped by people there, the entire PTI leadership would have been wiped out.”

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that party chief Imran Khan knew about the plot to “eliminate” him but he still decid ed to continue the march.

His aids have claimed the attack being a clear assassination attempt by his rivals with Asad Umar saying that Imran believed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and intelligence official Major-General Faisal Naseer were

behind the attack.

Imran’s physician Dr Faisal Sultan told that Imran was in a stable condition and do ing fine at the Shaukat Khanum hospital in Lahore and expected to be discharged in a few days.

He further added that PTI officials are meeting with him to discuss the immediate fate of Imran’s campaign march, but Imran has vowed it would continue with the na

Muslim Lawn

tionwide support for him.

Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam, currently leading his side at the T20 World Cup in Australia, tweeted from Sydney that he “strongly condemned this heinous attack on PTI leader Imran Khan” while praying “May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen.”

Minaret College: Showcasing 30 years of successful growth

Islamic Bank Australia: Strategic week in Sydney

continued from page 1

Attendees went on to celebrate the day with festival rides or visiting stalls from local businesses and community organisa tions.

“This was exactly what we needed,” said Executive Principal, Mr Mohammed Tak sim. “The last few years has been extremely taxing but a day like today allows us to re connect as a community and show apprecia tion for all the blessings we have as a Mina ret College Family.”

Reflecting on the last 30 years, Mr Taksim shared, “Alhamdulillah 30 years ago, the College founder and a small group of ded icated staff made many sacrifices to create what we are enjoying today and I can only

hope that our continued efforts will be sim ilarly beneficial for generations of Muslim Australians to come InshaAllah.”

Minaret College is serving the needs of the Muslim Community in the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne providing a learning environment enriched with Islamic subjects such as Qur’an, Islamic Studies and Arabic as well as daily Hifz program.

Over 2500 students are currently benefit ting from this Muslim school infused with Islamic values in the Australian state of Vic toria.

For further enquiries, the College can be contacted via email at admin@minaret.vic. edu.au or further information is available on their website at www.minaret.vic.edu.au.

continued from page 1

“We’re actually spending a lot of time building our customer experience and de signing what we will look like. It’s not just about being Shariah-compliant – we want to be a community bank that everyone loves banking with as well,” said Dean Gillespie, the bank’s CEO.

The Islamic bank has recently launched a capital raising round seeking to raise around $40 million in investment to move the bank towards full launch. The bank is in discus sions with a number of international Islamic banks and sophisticated local investors about raising funds.

“One of the reasons we flew our entire team to Sydney was to celebrate how much work had already been completed, and to plan out how we maintain our momentum,” said Gillespie.

“It’s fantastic that we have such support ive shareholders – all of us are completely dedicated to building the community a truly ethical bank.”

The bank has a team of people across NSW, QLD and WA working on making the bank a reality.

“We’re getting closer every day, but it’s ac tually quite challenging to start a bank – so we are very grateful for the messages of sup port, including people approaching us want ing to invest in our business.”

The bank’s CEO has also sought to drive regulatory changes in order to make it easier for Islamic transactions to take place.

Gillespie made a nationwide call for re forms on stamp duty directly to state and ter

ritory premiers and treasurers to ensure Mus lim Australians are not double-charged stamp duty when they buy a home.

“I’m delighted that both the ACT and Tas mania wrote back to me confirming they would now exempt Islamic finance transac tions from double stamp duty. We already have exemptions in Victoria, and I’m meet ing with NSW government over coming weeks to work with them also in making these changes.”

“These changes are massive and will make a difference for hundreds of thousands of Australians across the nation. Muslim Aus sies should not be penalised for banking in line with their faith, so it’s great we are mak ing progress,” said Gillespie.

He said that the bank would continue to push for changes where required to make the financial landscape fairer for Australians of the Islamic faith.

Stamp duty reforms are regarded as critical to empower the growth of Islamic finance in Australia as Muslim Australians can be dis incentivised from Joan ownership without reforms.

“We have to solve this issue. Victoria, and even the UK, have solved this already. I’ll keep pushing for these reforms,” said Gilles pie.

The bank expects to launch with Shari ah-compliant everyday bank accounts, sav ings products and home finance in 2024, with business banking coming shortly afterwards.

You can subscribe to the customer waitlist here: https://islamicbank.au

Anwar Ibrahim is Prime Minister of Malaysia

continued from page 1

But then, Mahathir with his serial ambi tion to stay in power manoeuvred to get him charged for sodomy and corruption repeat edly and finally in 2018 when both joined together to oust the ruling party, he again did not hand over the top post to Anwar against the agreement.

The recent 15th general election held last week led to a hung parliament, although An war Ibrahim’s reformist Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance and the Malay-Muslim Peri katan Nasional (PH) coalition led by Malay nationalist Muhyiddin Yassin emerged as the two biggest blocs.

Constitutional monarch Sultan Abdullah

Sultan Ahmad Shah after seeking the views of his fellow sultans made a decision on the leadership tussle “for the interests and well-being of the nation and people” invit ing Anwar to for the new government.

Anwar said the first order of business when parliament reconvenes will be a vote of confidence with the backing of the 82 MPs in his PH coalition and its ally various allies.

He claims the support of 30 MPs from the Barisan Nasional (BN) bloc and 23 MPs from the Gabungan Parti Sarawak having the support of 135 MPs, well over the 112 simple majority threshold to form the new government.

Anwar Ibrahim (right) and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail take part in the swearing-in ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday 24 Nov 2022.

Honourable Julian Hill (Federal Member for Bruce) addresses the audience.

Inaugural naming of the Springvale Campus Hall to Mohamed Hassan Hall.

Primary students perform for an attentive audience.

Secondary students performing a nasheed.

LMA Career Expo supports jobseekers

Thursday 24 November

saw a bumper attend ance at the Lebanese Muslim Association’s Career Expo in Syd ney, held at the LMA’s Lakemba headquarters next to the iconic Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib Masjid (Lakemba Mosque).

This year’s event saw the LMA collabo rate with 24 businesses and educational and training organisations as exhibitors, includ ing the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST as the event’s media partner.

Career Expos are important as they pro vide students and other jobseekers the chance to gain insights into the profession(s) they may be considering and also give them the opportunity to practice their interperson al skills through networking with potential employers.

The event followed closely on the heels of the LMA’s highly successful Nation al Mosque Open Day held on Saturday 29 October which attracted huge crowds to Lakemba Mosque and other participating masjids last month.

The Expo hosted hundreds of students including large numbers from Belmore and Punchbowl Boys High Schools, Mill er Technology and Lurnea High Schools, Bankstown Seniors College and other col lege and tertiary students and jobseekers.

Photography and makeup workshops (the latter provided by Ministry of Beaute by Ghada Nour) were held, while it was a real coup for the LMA to have world renown nu tritionist Moodi Dennaoui on board to run a two-session wellness forum.

Known throughout the fitness industry

as ‘The Diet Doctor’, the charismatic Den naoui had his youthful audiences captivated by his presentations.

Bilal El-Hayek, Deputy Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, was the Expo’s Master of Ceremonies and handled proceed ings with his usual aplomb.

“The LMA is very fortunate that we can call upon gentlemen like Moodi and Bilal to assist us with major events – they are both true friends of our organisation,” Chief Pro gram Officer Bronwyn Hadife said.

“The event was an overwhelming success and we thank all of the organisations who partnered with us – the schools and colleg es, the businesses, training and educational organisations and of course of the sponsors (the Ministry of Beaute by Ghada Nour, Moment Weddings, Al Aseel restaurants and The Last Slice pizza restaurant).”

“We were also delighted to have AMUST on board as our media partner; they have been fantastic to us in promoting our recent major events and we look forward to a long, ongoing association with the AMUST team.

“A strong relationship between the LMA and the media outlet which has become the

voice of Australia’s diverse Muslim com munity is vital.”

Editor-In-Chief Zia Ahmad, who repre sented AMUST at the Career Expo, said: “We are proud to partner with organisations like the LMA in these kind of events, which benefit the entire multicultural community.

“AMUST sees it as our duty to provide ad vice, direction and opportunities to the next generation of talented community members who are full of such great potential.”

John Mahoney is a Content Writer with over 30 years experience and is based in Sydney, Australia.

John Mahoney

Consequences of alcohol intoxication

Within a span of a couple of days two top highly experienced Australian edi tors are now facing the consequences of poor behaviour due to alcohol intoxica tion at two large iconic events.

The editor-in-chief of independent pub lication Crikey and a former editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Peter Fray heckled, while in a state of drunkenness, at award-winning ABC journalists at the Walkley Awards on Thursday 17 Novem ber held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. He later apologised but stood down from his current position.

A day before on Wednesday 16 No vember Murdoch’s top editor, Chris Dore, editor-in-Chief of The Australian lost his job allegedly because of his drunken be haviour making lewd comments towards a woman at a party in California while on a visit to the US. He had been at the company for 31 years.

Alcohol is a legalised drug in spite of its harmful effects on an individual’s health and behaviour as well as of those surround ing him or her.

As explained in a com prehensive article on al cohol by Dr Mohammed Naushaduddin in AMUST (November issue and online), “even in small amounts, alcohol caus es changes in chemicals in the brain that leads to loss of self-restraint or inhibition and makes one feels some pleasure be

comes confident and even brave.”

“Increase in alcohol doses depresses the brain’s general activity making the person very vulnerable to their environment, being robbed of material, dignity or person.”

“However, as the amount increas es, lack of awareness triggers an angry and aggressive response – making a person a risk to self and others. Depending on situations, one cannot predict the transition from a seeming confident state to a horrible nuisance state.”

Hence alcohol intoxication leads to uncontrolled behaviour in a person’s conversations, ac tions and judgements that has con sequences for the person as well as those around, that one regrets later.

Somehow there is an obsession with al cohol in social and sporting events for its

advertising, consumption and distribu tion on a global level in general and in the West in particular.

Qatar, host of the FIFA World Cup came under heavy criticism when it of ficially banned alcoholic beverages from the sale within the eight stadiums where the soccer matches were being held.

Gianni Infantino, President of the Fédération Internationale de Football As sociation (FIFA) gave a press conference in Doha, Qatar, the tournament’s host na tion just before the tournament defending the restriction of alcohol consumption.

“I think that if you can’t drink a beer for a few hours here and there, you’ll survive. Especially because these kinds of restrictions also exist in France and Spain,” he said, referencing how the sale of alcohol is prohibited inside many sta diums to avoid violence caused by drunk fans.

Readers comments

Re: Principled conduct? Shao quett Moselmane and the NSW ALP

I agree with Em.Prof.Rees that it is im portant to divulge and condemn Labor’s cowardly betrayal of Shaoquett Moselmane. Rees’ compelling exposé ...

“Via the secret trickery of senior mem bers of the NSW ALP, Shaoquett had been ousted from nomination for election” has been clinched after years of relentless ‘po litical bastardry’ inflicted on Shaoquett, ... is a warning to we voters what val ues our political representative stand for

It reminds me of Labor’s bastardly be trayal of Julian Assange’s rights to come home to Australia. It’s not a coincidence that Assange’s championing Muslim rights againstUS/UK/Australia war crimes and Shaoquett’s championing of our Chinese communities against ignorant racist Austral ians incited by Australia’s backing USA’s anti-China propaganda slurs.

Australia’s loyalty to US interests is the only reason that makes sense of the ousting of Shaoquett. Why dump a man of great honour and decency? A man whose tireless generosity celebrates the achievements of NSW multicultural communities and the

needs of the vulnerable;

“”One amazing individual is Leba nese-born NSW Parliamentarian Shaoquett Moselmane. He has raised funds to sponsor more than 2,000 rough terrain children’s wheelchairs to seven countries” including Syria and China. George Georgatos Wheels for Kids https://independentaustralia.net/ life/life-display/wheelchairs-for-kidsspreading-a-message-of-hope,11439.

Dr Vacy Vlazna

“I personally know Shaoquett for 20 ye ras, from a young ambitious to politician, he is honesty and with work ethics. Unfor tunately the leader in this country is incom petent and unreliable. It is sad to see him not be nominated. I agree with Dr Vacy Vlaz na’s comment, thank you.

Rosita Luk

Re: The forgotten Sunnah of Khutbah: the duration

Well, you are inconclusively right. It is not only the Jumah khutbah but also the eid khutbahs, some imams had neglected the su nah of addressing the female congregations separately die to the long khutbah.

May Allah Suhanahu Wa tahala grant all the Umah the Istiqom and the right under standing of the Din. Aamin.

AbdurRahmon Arowosegbe Nigeria

Community

8 - 12

- Mind Body & Soul: Womens retreat

- Acknowledgement of AMUST pioneers

- MEFF starts 2023 stall marketing

- Challende of Athiesm

- DV upskilling for imams

Australia 13 Lifestyle - Compassionate connections - What a story is not - Checking blood pressure at home

- 17 Ummah - Icon of contemporary Islamic economics passed away

18 Education - History of Muslims in NZ - WGS year 12 graduation

19 - 21

AMUST Team

Editor-in-Chief: Zia Ahmad

Managing Editor: Mobinah Ahmad Graphic Designer: Rubinah Ahmad

Multimedia Journalist: Mehar Ahmad

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, Us man 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. Post: PO Box 111, Bonnyrigg (Sydney), NSW 2177 Australia. Email: info@amust.com.au Web: www.amust.com.au Phone: (02) 9158 3020

Chris Dore. Peter Fray.

The world should show respect to Qatar’s values

Sixty-five percent of the world’s population is watching 32 nations com pete in FIFA World Cup currently being held in Qatar a Muslim Majori ty country in the Middle East with a population of 2.6 million, including 800,000 local Qataris.

Most visitors are from the USA, Saudi Ara bia, England, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Germany. The 1.2 million will stay in over 100 hotels.

The teams will play at eight different sta diums, including Al Bayt Stadium, Lusail Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, and Stadium 974.

Qatar spent 220 billion in the last 12 years to prepare for this competition, the first of its kind in a Muslim-majority country. However, the Qatari culture and its Muslim values have come under strict scrutiny from liberals and conservatives.

Do the conservatives ask if they can freely consume alcohol? While the liberals ask if gay couples will be allowed to attend match es. Should women dress modestly?

Qatar has strict laws about drinking, drugs, dress, and sexual conduct.

Its laws allow particular points of sale for alcoholic beverages and allocate spaces for fans to sober up in the case of overindul gence.

In general, Qatar permits the sale and con sumption of alcohol to people over 21 years old at hotels, restaurants, and bars that hold a permit but not in the streets or other public places. However, being drunk in public is a crime punishable by Qatari law.

Qatar prohibits smoking in all public plac es, including museums, sports clubs, shop ping malls, and restaurants.

The Qatari penal code also criminalizes ex tramarital affairs. Qatar punishes sexual rela tions between same-sex people with impris onment of one to three years; its penal code states that: “leading, instigating or seducing a male in any way to commit sodomy or dissi pation” is a crime.

However, Qatar will also display the rain bow flag.

Representatives of the organizing commit tee have reiterated that LGBT+ fans will be welcome in the country.

In its official Qatar 2022 Fan Guide, FIFA does not mention women requiring to wear the traditional Islamic head covering.

The only reference to the dress code in the 76-page document is: “Think about what you’re going to wear on matchday! Pack your costumes, team shirts, and flags, but make sure you know the rules before heading to the stadiums.”

It recommends that men and women en sure their shoulders and knees are covered.

Qatar is an independent sovereign country deeply rooted in culture, traditions, and reli gious values. Therefore, it has every right to

follow its laws and rules. No country allows foreigners to violate its laws and regulations.

For example, the UK does not permit American tourists to drive on the right side. Adultery is a crime in the Philippines; the law differentiates based on the gender of the spouse.

In the Americas, the following countries restrict LGBT rights. Barbados, Dominica, Grenada (male only), Guyana (male only), Jamaica (male only), St Kitts and Nevis (male only), St Lucia, St Vincent, and the Grenadines.

In Africa, the following countries have laws restricting LGBT: Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Egypt (de facto criminalization), Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gam bia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya (male-only), Li beria, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius (male only), Morocco, Namibia (male only), Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone (male only), Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland (male only), Tanzania, Togo (male only), Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe (male only).

In Hungary and some areas of Poland, laws restricting LGBT activities exist.

In Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania, the following countries have strict laws against LGBT. Afghanistan, Bangladesh (male only), Bhutan (male only), Brunei (male only), Indonesia (in some areas), Iran, Iraq (de facto), Kuwait (male only), Lebanon (male only), Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar (male only), Oman, Pakistan (male only), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore (male only), Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan (male only), United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan (male only), Yemen.

In Oceania: Cook Islands (male only), Kir ibati (male only), Papua New Guinea (male only), Samoa (male only), Solomon Islands, Tonga (male only), Tuvalu (male only).

Many nations competing in the World cup have laws restricting LGBT rights. There fore, it is hypocritical on the part of the world to ask Qatar to change its statutes while al lowing other countries with similar rules to compete.

The world needs to respect those who do not view sexual orientation as a matter of public display. Sex in many cultures is with in the context of a man and woman married under the law.

Those with an alternative viewpoint should not expect the world to follow their dictates. If they want to live their lifestyle, they need not impose it on others. Similarly, those who dislike this lifestyle should not show a hom ophobic attitude.

However, people should realize that the world cup is not an event to show one’s sex ual orientation. Instead, it is a competition to prove one’s skills and stamina in one of the most rigorous sports.

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 trus tee of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin. He has taught at several colleges and universities in India, England, and the USA.

Mary, the most honourable woman in Islam

Mary

and God proclaims her to be the best woman amongst all human ity, whom He chose above all other women to bear the miraculous birth of Jesus (a), one of the greatest of all prophets, due to her piety and devotion.

“And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary! Surely Allah has se lected you, purified you, and chosen you above all women of the world. O Mary! Be devoutly obedi ent to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those bow (in prayer).’” (Quran 3:42-43)

Islam gives Mary the status of being the most perfect of women created. In the Quran, no woman is given more attention than Mary even though all the prophets, with the exception of Adam, had mothers.

Of the 114 chapters of Quran, she is among the eight people who have a chapter named after them,

the nineteenth chapter “Maryam”, which is Mary in Arabic. The third chapter in the Quran is named after her father, Imran (Heli).

Chapters Maryam and Imran are among the most beautiful chapters in the Quran.

In addition, Mary is the only wom an specifically named in the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad (s) said:

“The best women of the world are four: Mary the daughter of Heli, Aasiyah the wife of Pharaoh, Khadee jah bint Khuwaylid (The wife of the Prophet Muhammad), and Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, the Messenger of God.” (Hadith: Al-Tir midhi)

Mary ‘s story has been related in the Glorious Quran since the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (s), and will continue to be so, unchanged in its pristine form, until the day of judgment.

Sukoon Quteifan is a graphic de signer and illustrator based in Syd ney, Australia. She is the creator and the illustrator of “Sukoon Al Quloob - Peace of Hearts”, an Is lamic Cartoons facebook page. You can follow her on facebook @SukoonQuteifanArt.

Dr Aslam Abdullah

Sukoon Quteifan

(a), the moth er of Jesus, holds a very special position in Islam,

Significance of mutual consultation/democracy

Bilal Cleland

Mutual consultation in Islam

“Those who hearken to their Lord, and estab lish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance.....” [Quran 42:38]

“This verse lays down mutual consul tation as the basic principle which should guide Muslims in the transaction of their na tional affairs. This simple word contains the nucleus of a representative form of govern ment of which the West is so proud.” [The Islamic Institution of Shura Al Hakam ]

Modern Middle Eastern countries have ig nored this key concept in Islam.

Often unpopular and reliant on family commanded military forces to protect them from their own people, they frequently slip into corrupt and totalitarian practices.

At the time of the Arab Spring in Tunisia in 2011, Lamya Hamad wrote: “The Prophet (s) held many councils of war before going into battle. At one point, he believed that they should fight only if the enemy entered Madinah. However, his companions opined that they should go out and meet the army. The Prophet (s) accepted the latter opinion even though they lost. Despite this, God revealed shortly afterwards a verse which stressed the importance of shura.” [Lama Hamad Shura: Islamic Approach to Deci sion-Making, Why Islam]

Mutual consultation in the West

The notion of mutual consultation as a

rule of government found expression in the West over several centuries.

The English Civil War was waged to re move the tyranny of divine right rule by kings.

It led to seventeenth century thinkers like Henry Stubbes looking to the life of Prophet Muhammad (s) and his Islamic Republic as a model of good governance, with the head of state subject to the rule of law, presiding over a society which tolerated different re ligions.

In the nineteenth century the demand for mutual consultation as a form of govern ment, rather than rule by the elite, became part of the English working class Chartist Movement.

In 1839 The Great Charter was launched with six demands, basic requirements of a democracy.

They were: universal manhood suffrage,

equal electoral districts, vote by secret bal lot, annually elected parliaments, payment of members of Parliament and abolition of the property qualifications for membership.

The elite claimed such anarchy would destroy civilisation but eventually had to accept extension of government by consul tation.

All demands except for annual parlia ments were achieved, including votes for women.

The issue of electoral districts has not been resolved in some democracies like the USA where political parties draw bounda ries.

Australia dealt with this by appointing in dependent electoral commissions to oversee such matters.

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln, in the Gettysburg Address laid down the most fre quently quoted definition of what is meant

by democratic governance.

He described it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Although the freed slaves were forced to fight for basic civil rights and democracy for over a hundred years from this address, it was an observable goal.

How democratic is the USA?

It is still open to debate as to whether it has been achieved.

In its survey of the state of democracy in 2021, The Economist Intelligence Unit found that the USA is not a “full democra cy.”

“The Economist’s democracy index now groups the US among “flawed democra cies,” with an overall score that ranks be tween Estonia and Chile. It falls short of being a top-rated “full democracy” in large part because of a fractured political culture. This growing divide is most apparent in the divergent paths between “red” and “blue” states.”

“On a 10-point scale, the US earned 7.85 points — slightly down from last year’ 7.92 and the nation’s lowest score since the EIU created the index in 2006.” [14 February 2022 Fulcrum]

Australia scored 8.96 points.

On some other measures it is even worse.

The United Nations Office of Sustain able Development dropped the US to 41st worldwide, down from its previous ranking of 32nd. The US ranks between Cuba and Bulgaria which are regarded as developing countries.

The US currently ranks 21st on the UN’s Development Program’s Index.

The question now being raised is as to whether the tradition of Australia acting as Deputy Sheriff to a flawed democracy, di vided by racism and leaning towards social instability needs to be re-considered.

Being possibly drawn into war with China by a declining state, led by a Trump or his successor, is not a good idea.

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

Australia: Classic test case of being a friend to the US is indeed fatal

Kazi Haq

In the recent announce ment of deploying US B-52’s in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia is slowly and surely draw ing dangerously towards US-led conflict amid the heightened tension be tween China and the Unit ed States. Australia could be the unfortu nate patsy of China.

Acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement has given rise to colossal discourse in international media, especially China and Indonesia have raised concerns about nuclear proliferation in the region.

The announcement of deploying six B-52’s in the NT has further nettled China. Even many Australian ministers know nothing about this decision. The bombers are likely to be deployed in the Australian Tindal Air Force base, about 300km south of Darwin.

The deployment is seen as a part of Aus tralia’s defence alliance with the United States, which started in 2011 while Barack Obama was President. The deal allows them to maintain a sizable US marines on rotation.

B-52 remains the deadliest long-range US strategic bomber capable of delivering nucle ar bombs. The combat range of B-52 is more than 9000 miles, good enough to operate over Beijing, which should be an added concern for Beijing. The United States sends a chill ing message to China amid heightened ten sion over Taiwan’s reunification with main land China. Of course, China slammed the

decision.

Under the AUKUS deal, Australia would be getting nuclear-powered submarines from the US or UK, but it would take more than a decade due to the involvement of complex technicalities. Until then, there was a discus sion to deploy/lease US nuclear-powered submarines in Australia.

The US Submarine Group Commander, during his visit to Australia in August 2022, discussed the possibility of interoperability and joint conduct of missions from Austral ia based facilities. This new arrangement would give the United States dictate the terms and conditions, which would be imper ative for Australia to carry out either directly or indirectly.

Now the deployment of B-52 would add more constraints on Australia to follow the US policy in Indo-Pacific, and more precise ly, Australia would be compelled to be drawn to the US-led conflict with China.

Even North Korea’s most nuclear-threat ened countries, Japan and South Korea, are yet to allow US nuclear weapons to be de ployed on their soil. ASEAN leaders also raised concerns that Australia is drifting away from ASEAN engagement over the China issue.

Australia-China relations became an alltime low since COVID-19. After Labor Par ty in Australia won the elections earlier this year, CCP, in its latest move, placed fourpoint demand on revitalizing relationships. Australia has yet to respond to the proposal, which is certainly odd for Australia to agree with.

Given the trusted relationships between Australia and the United States, Australia is likely to extend its full cooperation with the

US. On the contrary, Australia will not do the same to China, where China wants Australia to cooperate, as evidenced by its four-point demand.

That is why China is so furious with Aus tralia and has stopped answering even phone calls from Australian counterparts. Presuma bly, it was Australia’s effort to arrange a brief meeting between Xi Jinping and PM Antho ny Albanese at the sideline of the 17th G20 Summit in Bali without much outcome.

Deployment of US lethal nuclear bombers and weapons purport Australia’s intention in serious question. Instead of repairing the damage to the relationship between China and Australia, China would find Australia a pawn in case of heightened tension between US-China over Taiwan.

Australia still maintains its goodwill as the forerunner of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty(NPT). Although Australia may not have the audacity to distort the trusted rela tionships with the United States by refusing the US proposal, indeed, it puts Australia in the horn of a dilemma.

It reminds of Henry Kissinger’s famous quote, “to be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal”. To be a good friend of the US, Australia will find it challenging to avoid fatalism.

The United States is seen trying to include all trusted allies in all US-led initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. During the past few decades, most US-led invasions have left the invading countries in ruins, giving rise to an ti-American sentiment even within its allies and partners.

It is also strongly evident from the state ments former Australian PM Malcolm Fraz er, who said in an interview, “United States

B-52 nuclear bomber.

is beginning new cold war in the Pacific; her military policy has failed in Vietnam; failed in Iraq; failed in Afghanistan; the Middle East is a mess…. we are not going to war, which are wrong wars, illegal wars, miscon ceived wars ….”

The fact remains that Australia will get more people’s support for not deploying nuclear-capable war pieces of machinery than by supporting the same. The question is whether Australia would consider the peace-loving people’s approval or join the US-led unjust Indo-Pacific tension over Tai wan.

Undoubtedly, awareness is growing against the lethality of nuclear weapons.

Kazi Haq is a retired Commodore from Bangladesh Navy and an electrical engineer. He served as Director in Prime Minister’s Office, National Parliament, and Managing Director of a dockyard. Kazi is the founding member of BIMRAD(Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development). He is now based in Sydney.

Delivery of tools to combat issues facing youth

Hussein Dirani

The second follow-up Youth Empowerment Conference was held on Saturday, 19 November, in Sydney at Muham mad Rasulullah Centre, Regents Park, where professionals discussed tools for Muslim Youth to combat Educational, Social and Reli gious issues.

The events were organised by Shia Na tional Network of Australia Inc and attend ed by youth and guests, including Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors Hon Mark Coure, local state MP Lynda Voltz and Hajeh Maha Aboud, CEO of the Muslim Women Association.

The conference was a follow-up to the first conference held in Ahlulbait Centre in Auburn on 17 July 2022, where almost 100 Muslim Youth were asked to share their is sues with the community.

The conference was started by the MC, Sayed Kamran, with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by youth reciters Fati ma Dirani and Hussain Dirani.

The first speaker, Miss Rawasy Al Zubaidi, responded to the youth’s demands to extend the Network’s canvas. Miss Al Zubaidi said that English programs should be put on Net work’s Website.

Community directory and database devel opment are on the agenda of the Network.

Discussing the tools, Sayed Zawar Shah suggested that cases of any kind of bullying should be reported to the Grievance Officer in the relevant institutions. He said the swim ming classes for Muslim girls are negotiable.

He further added that the mosques and the centres should create youth drops in vari ous facilities, and Islamic scripture in public

schools should be more organised on a pro fessional level, while prayer rooms in institu tions are negotiable.

Hajeh Maha Abdo, the CEO of the Muslim Women Association Inc, talked about the so cial tools and discussed different aspects of Islamophobia. She advised the youth to deal with such situations with patience and toler ance.

She referred to Islamophobia Register to report incidents.

Hajeh Maha deliberated on the injurious effects of media on youth and discussed the increasing gap between parents and the youth quoting Syeda Fatim Zehra as a role model for our young women.

Dr Sheikh Hossein Javaheri referred to the reasons for the deterioration of faith in youth,

saying it would not happen to us if we had complete faith in Allah.

He referred to various Quranic verses through his PowerPoint presentation and elaborated on how a Muslim should behave in various situations, especially with the neighbours.

Ms Lynda Voltz explained the kinds of bul lying and their negative effects on the youth. She said that the Australian Constitution al lows the people complete religious freedom and also the type of prayers the worshippers want to perform. She praised the Network for such initiatives.

Honourable Mark Coure, Minister for Mul ticulturalism, explained the steps taken by his Government for the Multicultural communi ties. He said that the amount of grants in this respect had been increased by 70 million in addition to the existing allocation.

The present government has increased the number of interpreters and translators. The Minister praised the role of Muslims in Aus tralia.

The Government has set up an Advisory Council for the Religious Communities and NSW Interfaith Domestic and Family Vio lence Declaration with the collaboration of faith leaders.

At the end, the Minister handed plaques to the volunteers for their excellent work and media coverage. A plaque was presented to the Minister by Dr Sheikh Hussain Javaheri, the media spokesperson of the Network.

Afghani lunch was provided by the man agement of Muhammad Rasulullah Centre to conclude the conference.

Hussein Dirani is the Trustee of the Australian Iranian Friendship Association Inc, Senior Trus tee of the Shia National Network of Australia SNNA and the Ahulbait World Assembly repre sentative in Australia. He is a writer and com mentator on many international Arabic media channels and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors Hon Mark Coure with student.

Womens retreat for holistic health wellness

The second Mind, Body & Soul Women’s Re treat was held in Sydney on Sunday 13 October at Dar-ul-Islam in Bon nyrigg hosted by Seena Incorporated bringing together almost 60 regis tered women indulging in a well-structured self care program.

The highly popular event enabled partic ipants from diverse background and ages to gather, relax, foster friendships and feel empowered and included self care and re lationship tips, physical exercise, pamper ing activities, three-course lunch, henna art while immersing themselves in this unique, blissful experience of physical, emotional and mental health.

During the first half hour of the program, the ladies networked and socialised in an in formal setting enjoying tea, coffee and En tree while the henna artist worked on their hands and arms with innovative designs.

The retreat participants were divided into two groups to attend two parallel sessions of 45 minutes each, one on self care facil itated by Princess R Lakshman, owner of Mind Body Healing Hub while the second one for physical activity training facilitated by Hong Win, a fitness instructor from Kan garoo Training.

“Seena Inc has identified a huge gap in our community’s health, that is, women’s

holistic health wellness. It is vital that opti mal health is perceived as not only physical health, but also mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual health,” said Princess R Laksh man, facilitator of the Self-Care segment at the retreat.

She further added, “Self-care for women in our CALD communities is often a for gotten concept because women tend to for get about taking care of themselves as they are too busy taking care of people at home, household chores, and work related tasks.”

“Events like the Mind Body & Soul Wom en’s Retreat provides a much needed time and safe space for women to gather and give

themselves permission to stop doing and just be…be in the present moment and let go of any anxiety and stress of the future,” Princess R Lakshman emphasised. She concluded by advising that, “These events are necessary, and ideally, could be on a quarterly basis, so that these of ten multi-tasking women can pause, take a breath, and learn to practise self-kindness, self-compassion, and positive self-talk.”

After the sessions, ladies prayed Zuhr fol lowed by a sumptuous lunch and presenta tion of gifts for all.

The attendees while commending the or ganisers of the event said that they highly

enjoyed the program and requested to have this kind of sessions more often including outdoor activities and cooking classes to be included in the program.

The feedback received after the event was very positive where they thoroughly enjoyed Princess R Lakshman’s mentoring, the fitness activity and the henna designs. Here are a few post-event comments by the participants of the retreat:

“My favourite part was like-minded wom en coming together in a safe environment. I’m sure that there are other events for Women run by other organisations but not specifically for Muslim women where we have the opportunity for a dedicated prayer area, halal food and not having to explain our lifestyle.”

“I greatly appreciate that Seena has run this event and would love to participate in future events.”

“I enjoyed the holistic approach where it was more than a discussion and food but that we also got the chance to exercise and move our bodies. It was the first time I have attended a Muslim women’s event where I saw this happen. The food was also very de licious.”

Seena plans to have such retreats more frequently with a diversification of activities and participation by many more sections of the community.

Mehar Ahmad

Mehar Ahmad based in Sydney is a Pub lic School Teacher and President of Seena Inc, Publishers of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST.

Princess R Lakshman, Mind Body Healing Hub, facilitated the self care session.

Hong Win, Kangaroo Training facilitated the fitness session.

Beautiful henna designs adorning participants hands by Henna by Kulsoom.

Mehar Ahmad, President of Seena Inc, kicked off the retreat emphasising the need for self care.

National Mosque Open Day returns in style

John Mahoney

Inaugurated in 2014, National Mosque Open Day (NMOD) is an annual event fa cilitated by the Lebanese Muslim Associ ation (LMA) which sees mosques around Australia open their doors simultaneous ly to all members of the community, re gardless of their religious beliefs.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced NMOD into an online format for both 2020 and 2021 and it was a relief to see the 2022 re newal return to the masjids on Saturday 29 October.

Venues involved in this year’s NMOD included Lakemba Mosque, Cabramat ta Mosque, Parramatta Mosque, Young

Mosque, Omar ibn Khattab Mosque (Mar ion Mosque), Palmerston Islamic Centre, Riverdale Mosque and Masjid al Salam Lo gan City.

Australia’s most iconic masjid, the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque (Lakemba Mosque) played host to huge crowds for LMOD and as always, the local community was out in force to support the event.

Features of the day at Lakemba included guided tours of the Mosque, Islamic exhi bitions, Q & A sessions (which provided the expert panel of Imams the opportunity to clear up any misconceptions that visit ing non-Muslims may have had about our religion) and a variety of family orientated activities.

The smiling faces on the countless num ber of children in attendance was a testa ment to the success of the Day.

Two of the many visitors to Lakemba Mosque took their Shahada – declaring that they believe (as all Muslims do) that there is only one God, Allah – and that the Prophet Muhammad (s) is his final Messenger.

The LMA/Lakemba Mosque’s relation ship with our elected representatives has never been stronger, with a host of politi cians from the three levels of government present on the day, including state and fed eral Ministers.

Visitors from the political sphere included Tony Burke MP (Federal Minister for Em ployment and Workplace Relations), Mark Coure MP (NSW Minister for Multicultur alism and Minister for Seniors) and fellow NSW state members Jihad Dib MP and Sophie Cotsis MP, Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour, Deputy Mayor Bilal El-Hayek and other local Council members.

The LMA already has plans afoot to en sure that the tenth National Mosque Open Day in 2023 will be the best on record –which based on the success of this year’s offering, will be no mean feat.

Indonesian students visit Newcastle robotics laboratory

Dr Teuku Aulia Geumpana

A group of 50 students from the Islam ic High School (SMAIT) of Insantama Bogor Indonesia on Friday 18 Novem ber 2022 visited the Newcastle Robotics Laboratory (NUbots) at the School of In formation and Physical Sciences (SIPS), University of Newcastle, Callaghan Cam pus.

This excursion is part of a series of school study tour programs for Insantama final grade students while participating in its international leadership and management training in Australia that ran between 13 to 21 November 2022.

Mr Muhammad Karebet (Kar) Widjajaku suma, the program supervisor of Insantama study tour program in his remark, thanked the School of Information and Physical Sciences (SIPS) of the University of New castle Australia for hosting the students.

He believes the visit will have a signifi cant effect and help the students to progress along an important learning curve in becom

ing future technologically literate leaders.

Before the lab tour, the Insantama stu dents also showcased some of their skills in delivering speeches and performing the Indonesian traditional art of Angklung. Angklung is made of two to four bamboo tubes that are suspended in a bamboo frame and connected by rattan ropes. Profession al craftsperson cuts and whittles the tubes to generate specific notes when the player shake or tap the frame.

NUbots Lab

As the Deputy Team Leader of NUbots Lab as well as the Deputy Head of the School of Information and Physical Scienc es at the University of Newcastle Australia, Dr Alex Mendez himself welcomed the stu dents to the lab.

He elaborated on how NUbots became an autonomous robotics research group and competition team which now has won twice as the world RoboCup Champion.

Dr Mendez added that the NUbots lab fo cuses on bipedal and humanoid robots and a mix of students from the computer science,

software engineering, and mechatronics fields have to collaborate to train the robot to have special skills and abilities.

During the lab tour, the group were split into two to ease their mobility in the lab. A few demonstrations highlighted the skills of each robot, including its ability to kick a ball

and automatically stand up after falling.

In his closing remark, Dr Mendez briefly introduced all types of study programs that are available at SIPS and welcome anyone with further questions to communicate with the school for more detailed information.

Seena AGM acknowledges pioneers of AMUST

The 8th Annual General Meeting of See na Incorporated was held in Sydney on Sunday 20 November 2022 at Dar-ul-Is lam, Bonnyrigg, with the presentation of the Annual Report 2022 and election of the Committee and office bearers for the session 2022-2023.

Seena Incorporated, publishers of AMUST is a registered non-profit, volun teer-based association with the broader ob jectives of rendering social services to the community at large especially amongst peo ple with disability, women, youth and senior citizens through unique projects.

The President of Seena, Mehar Ahmad during her welcome address and report said, “I extend a warm welcome to the Seena team and congratulate them for their dedi

cation and the outstanding team effort at all times. It is Allah’s blessings that He has giv en us different talents, knowledge and skills and when all these three attributes are put together by the team to run various projects, the projects become highly successful.”

Editor-in-Chief of AMUST Zia Ahmad acknowledged the contribution of the late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad by saying,” As a most valuable team member, Abbu, starting as Editor-in-Chief of AMUST back in 1991 and later as Chief adviser, columnist and proofreader, he was a constant companion, colleague, admirer, supporter, well-wish er of AMUST whose blessed presence, prayers, encouragement and advice helped us immensely in remaining steadfast in pro ducing AMUST.”

He further acknowledged the contribution of Mrs Jamal Art Ahmad, “In addition to Abbu, Ammi also played a significant role throughout these long years since 1991 for

“During the last few years when they were frail, where we looked after them while managing and balancing our time with AMUST production, they were still a source

of moral strength and prayers for AMUST. As soon as the print copies were delivered to our premises, I would proudly give the first copies to Abbu and Ammi. Seeing their face lit up would be my reward after working 18 hours per day during the last few days of its production,” Zia Ahmad concluded.

Insantama students visiting NUbots Lab at the School of Information and Physical Sciences University of Newcastle Australia (Sitting Left to Right: Mr Salim Bahanan, Dr Alex Mendez, Mr Muhammad Karebet, Dr Teuku Geumpana)

Dr Alex Mendez with his Phd students showcasing some robots at NUbots lab to Insantama students

AMUST Media

AMUST with their blessed presence with in our home/office and moral and physical support for our project.”

Indonesian students enriching Australian Tour

Dr Teuku Aulia Geumpana

Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Center (AKIC) Sydney is welcomed a group of 120 students from the Integrated Islamic High School (SMAIT) Insan tama Bogor Indonesia who visited the centre on Thursday 7 November 2022 at Wiley Park.

This visit is part of the school study tour program in preparing its last grade students to immerse in international leadership and management training. The program ran from the 13 to the 21 November in multiple places in New South Wales, Australia.

According to the program supervisor Mr Muhammad Karebet (Kar) Widjajakusuma, the program aims to enrich the knowledge and Islamic personality of Insantama stu dents in nurturing their leadership and man agement skills in the Australian context.

Mr Kar added that some destinations of the program are to visit Australian insti tutions and businesses, especially those in the fields of science, education, and pop ular culture. And as part of the training to become future Muslim leaders, the students have to handle by themselves all sorts of necessities required to make this program

successful including preparing the trip pro posal, conducting fundraising, and outlining their activities during the trip to Australia.

Qualities of Muslim Leaders

On this occasion, the founder of Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Centre Sheikh Dr Chalidin Yacob delivered a speech to the students on the updated situation of Australian social culture, education, religion, and human re sources.

Sheikh Chalidin went into detail on the history of how Muslims first came to Aus tralia, the current educational system, and how the Muslim community has managed to prosper and live here in the Land Down Under.

One of the most important messages giv en by Sheikh Chalidin with regard to be coming a great Muslim leader in the future is to keep on practicing the correct aqeedah and continue displaying the beautiful Mus lim akhlaq (good character) in our daily life. All Muslim leaders should possess both of these qualities.

Student Performances

The Insantama students also showcased some of their proficiency in other languag es and traditional artistic displays from In donesia throughout the tour. Several of the performances they have shown are like de livering a speech in three languages (Arabic,

English, and Indonesian language), playing the traditional art of Angklung, demonstrat ing the traditional martial art of Silat, and performing the traditional non-musical cul ture dance of Saman Aceh.

Study Tour Programs

The study tour activities include visits to mosques, museums, and Sydney special landmarks as well as meetings with mem bers of Islamic community organisations, local universities, Islamic schools in Syd ney, and the Indonesian government repre sentative in Sydney.

Australian Museum, Royal Botanic Gar den, Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, Observatory Hill, Blue Mountain are just to name some of the popular places being toured by these students.

To introduce the students to the Muslim community in Sydney, various mosques like Auburn Mosque, Lakemba Mosque, and Sydney CBD Mosque have been visited. Also, visits to some local community organ izations like Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Centre, UNSW Indonesian Muslim Students Asso ciation (KPII), and The Surau.

Considering most of the study tour partic ipants are from the last grade at their school, meetings with some local universities have taken place at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and the University of New castle (UON). These visits are to expose the

Organisational Profiles

The Islamic High School (SMAIT) In santama Bogor is a school with the Islamic Boarding School concept, in which students receive comprehensive coaching in both ac ademic, personality, and leadership aspects. Various student coaching programs are im plemented to prepare strong and reliable fu ture leaders of the Ummah. The school has all levels of education for primary, junior, and senior high students.

Meanwhile, the Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Centre is a centre that started from a small school with only 6 students who wish to learn to read Quran in the Wiley Park area. Through its branch of the organization, Ash abul Kahfi Language School has now served more than 500 students to study Al Quran, Islamic studies, Arabic, and culture class es in the surrounding areas of Wiley Park, Lakemba, Punchbowl, and Bankstown area.

Dr Teuku Geumpana is the Head of De velopment for the Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Centre (AKIC) Sydney, the Chairman of In ternational Webinar on Islamic Economic, Finance and Technology Australia (IEF TAR) and a lecture at the University of New castle Australia.

AMU Alumni recommences Sir Syed Day

Zia Ahmad

AMU Alumni of Austral ia held it annual event, Sir Syed Day in Sydney on Saturday 5 November 2022 at Auburn Town Hall attended by a large number of members and their families as well as invited guests and sup porters.

Sir Syed Day marks the celebration of the birthday of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the found er of Aligarh Muslim University in India, and commemorates his legacy by reflecting on his achievements and the emulation of his spirit in the field of education.

The annual event could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions

and therefore was held with great enthusiasm this year in 2022.

The chief guest at the event this year was Ms Rana Daher, Magistrate at the NSW Lo cal Court while the keynote speaker was Mr Amir Qutb, a young AMU Alumni, currently CEO of a highly successful IT firm, ‘Enter prise Monkey’.

The President of AMU Alumni of Austral ia, Mr Syed Hamid Ali during his address ex plained how Sir Syed’s efforts were directed towards Muslim awakening in confluence with the awakening of all communities in India where the institutions he founded were open to all.

“Despite being faced with relentless adver sity and criticism, he remained unwavering in this pursuit, and Aligarh Muslim Univer sity stands as a symbol of his tireless efforts, from which masses continue to benefit,” Mr Ali acknowledged.

While talking about the achievements of the AMU Alumni of Australia, he said, “I would like to place on record our deep sor row and sense of loss by the passing away of Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad Sahab OAM and his wife Mrs Jamal Ara Ahmad. Qazi Sahab was the founding member of the Alumni and worked tirelessly to establish the whole sys tem and prepared the constitution of this or ganisation along with other senior Aligs. We pray to Allah to grant them both the highest place in jannatul Firdous.”

One of the major ongoing projects of the Alumni is the Sir Syed Scholarship Project which has been responsible for the education of thousands of underprivileged students, and is instrumental in breaking the cycle of pov erty and helping them achieve a better future.

By alleviating the financial constraints that would otherwise hinder them in the pursuit of higher education, the Alumni strives to offer

countless Indian Muslims an opportunity to escape poverty.

The keynote speaker, Mr Amir Qutb during his extempore, frank and humorous address talked about his humble beginnings as a stu dent at AMU and his roller-coaster career of turns and tribulations while in India, migra tion to Australia, achievements and failures and finally succeeding in setting up a highly successful enterprise at a very young age in this country.

The program also included colourful dress parades, songs and dances by Alumni chil dren and the presentation of gifts for all by the chief guest Ms Rana Daher.

The program concluded with a Kahoot quiz competition followed by the AMU Tara na (anthem) from the stage joined by the au dience followed by the annual dinner.

Zia Ahmad is the Editor-in-Chief of the Aus tralasian Muslim Times AMUST.

students to Australian higher learning insti tutions.

Group Photo with Insantama Students.

Insantama Students performing traditional dance of Saman Aceh.

Sydney fundraising for Sahiwal diabetes centre

The Diabetes Centre (TDC) Islamabad, (a reg istered healthcare facility and licensed organisation under Section 42 of the Companies Act 2017 of Pakistan) provides the best diabetes treatment in Pakistan. TDC has be come a hallmark of diabetes prevention through its various programs.

Its unique features are manifold: The larg est and the only diabetes-centric hospital in Pakistan is TDC. Moreover, its doctors are foreign-qualified and specialized in their re spective fields. All diabetes-related services are available under one roof. It has been working in Pakistan for the last 10 years to help patients with diabetes.

TDC is headquartered in Islamabad whereas it has clinics and centres in G-8 Markaz Islamabad and Lahore. Working on Hube and Spoke model, TDC plans to con struct its centres in every city and the main town of Pakistan.

TDC Australia has its presence outside Pakistan including the UK, USA and Aus tralia. They initiated another mega project of developing a brand new hospital in the city of Sahiwal organising a fundraising event in Sydney in support of this project on 1 November 2022 at Grand Royale in South Granville.

Fahad Haneef and Kiran Musharaf kicked off the program by singing the national an

them, followed by the Quran recitation by Sheikh Ibrahim Karasai and a short speech on charity in the way of Allah.

Dr Israr Khan, President of TDC Australia gave a short presentation about the TDC pro ject in Sahiwal followed by invited guests including Pakistani High Commissioner Za hid Hafeez Chaudri, Shaoquett Moselmane MLA, Senator David Shoebridge Julia Finn MP expressed their appreciation of the pro ject.

The event was sponsored by the local business community including Aussie-ASE AN Edu, Dea Physicians, Wollongong Foot and Ankle Centre, Auburn Radiology, Oa sis, Pro Green Energy, Kahloon Farms, SS Smash, Rana Petroleum, Australian Islamic College of Sidney and MA Petroleums Pty Ltd.

Community auctions were organised to encourage the audience to donate funds for the project. Mr Naeem ul Haq, Hassin Goss, and Hussein Salem conducted the auctions and raised a decent amount of funds.

Mr Shafqat Ali organised an online quiz

MEFF 2023 stall marketing in full swing after AGM

where the audience participated in it using their mobiles in line about TDC’s activities and projects.

The TDC Australia management formally acknowledged all special guests by giving shields and certificates for their support.

The program was concluded with a deli cious dinner, social networking, and group photos and musical performances.

All the volunteers were presented with certificates to acknowledge their efforts and services.

Shafqat Ali is the Founder/President of Young Innovators Australia. He is a Trainer, Youth Mentor, Author and Consultant.

Patience

Dr Reginald Naulty

Some things are uncertain like the moon`s rising from cloud curtains: we have to wait and see. Time the unreadable, time the enig ma, reveals reality.

So we know where we stand, we have that much wisdom; experience is our guide, mood is our temptation; aware that fear is a bad master, we act, distracted by doubt.

In sunnier times, confident that underlying law abides, we trust it, and glide on like eagles in the sky riding the winds up high.

Dr Reginald Naulty, originally from Ade laide, has taught at Charles Sturt Uni versity and has been a prolific writer since 1972.

Central Sydney Wolves joins Soup Kitchen

The Annual General Meeting of the Aus tralian MEFF Consortium, organisers of the Multicultural Eid Festival & Fair was held in Sydney on Sunday 6 November 2022 at Dar-ul-Islam, Bonnyrigg, with the presentation of the Annual Report and election of the Management Com mittee and selection of Office Bearers to gether with the constitution of the Festi val Committee for 2022-2024.

Mr Hanif Bismi, MEFF president during his welcome address, after Acknowledg ment of the Country, paid homage to the founders of MEFF who have now left to their heavenly abode.

“Dr Ashfaq Ahmad and Jahan Ara Begum without whose foresight and guiding hand MEFF would not have reached to such suc cess. Also, we remember our early active members Fauzia Siddiqui and Sadia Siddiqi, they are not with us today but their prayers and inspirations are with us and we pray to

Almighty Allah for their success in the here after, Mr Bismi said.

He enumerated the achievements of MEFF over these long years and commend ed MEFF team for holding MEFF 2022 inspite of COVID-19 Omicron surges and hospitalisation and the passing away of three MEFF leaders who contributed to wards its success in the past.

“Covid health protocols prevented us from holding our annual MEFF in 2020 and 2021.

By the Grace of the Almighty, we held our festival again in 2022 with great success, though with late preparation. But Alhamdu lillah we were able to attract bigger crowds. We changed a few key things that helped to achieve this with the full support of the community, our dedicated volunteers and of course us, TEAM MEFF and our families,” Mr Bismi said.

He also appreciated the ongoing facilities provided by the owners of Dar-ul-Islam for MEFF meetings, storage of its assets and other facilities at the premises for holding MEFF festival.

Brothers in Need, a Mus lim not-for-profit organ isation which primarily distributes food to the needy, formed a partner ship with Central Sydney Wolves in 2022, aiming to get their members in volved in their initiatives.

The local soccer club (based in Chullora) recently joined Brothers in Need at the Soup Kitchen at the Culinary School in Punch bowl. Over 100 hot meals and desserts were cooked with enthusiasm and many smiles.

“We’ve tried to get everyone involved across the board – whether player, coach or executive. I loved meeting the Central Sydney Wolves at the Soup Kitchen – they were friendly, lively and happy to have

a chat whilst chopping onions and meat. Some of the men had a laugh, commenting that they hadn’t cut meat in over a decade of marriage, and, now, suddenly, they’re in charge of preparing all of the meat for over a hundred hot meals!” says Dahlia, a staff member of Brothers in Need.

Brothers in Need would like to thank our partners, The Culinary School, Kahil Meats (Bass Hill), and Fresh Poultry 2 U for their contributions.

Further information about the work of Brothers in Need can be found at: brothersinneed.org.au or by calling 1300 007 433

Dean Mousad is the Co-founder/Managing Director of Brothers in Need, Co-founder/ Treasurer of Project Quran, a Teacher/Men tor at Alfirdaus College and a registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association.

Shafqat Ali

Dean Mousad

Central Sydney Wolves joined Brothers in Need at The Culinary School, Punchbowl, to cook over 100 hot meals for the homeless community

Zia Ahmad

Meeting the challenge of atheism

Usman Malik

IFAM management held a session to meet the is sue of atheism in the community on Sunday 20 November 2022 at Campbeltown mosque, attended by around 40 IFAM members in per son from Sydney and Canberra and many more online from Melbourne and other cities of Australia.

Different surveys in recent times have shown that more and more people are ac cepting the argument of atheism where the youth are more prone to it because of their lack of interest and knowledge in religious thought.

Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims has decided to meet the challenge posed by atheistic narratives in order to safeguard re ligious beliefs specially focussing on belief in One Almighty Creator, Allah.

Belief in One God and his constant con sciousness fortifies human development where individuals become responsible members of society extending fair, just and humble treatment to other members of so ciety.

Brother Ahmed Millan a member of IFAM, a revert Muslim who has been ac tively involved in Dawa’h activities shared his experiences and gave his presentation on the topic.

He highlighted on growing numbers of atheists in society and suggested a few ap proaches to handle their narratives effec

tively using a deductive rather than induc tive approach.

He further explained that if certain facts

were accepted as true, logical and rational, then the conclusion would be obvious and acceptable by persons in conversation.

He put forward the example of the Big Bang Theory as a universally recognized Scientific approach as a cause of this uni verse to come into existence. By discussing this cause as a powerful explosion leading to the release of massive energies, creating the whole universe in symmetrical order and doing some extraordinary work to support life would help to reach a conclusion of God as a Creator and Planner in a rather better way.

On the other hand, inductive arguments are just the assertion to make your point valid which doesn’t work effectively.

Another speaker at this occasion was Dr Junaid Jutt who has a PhD in Political Sci ence and is also a member of IFAM.

Dr Junaid elaborated on Muslim history in Australia and described how good practis ing Muslims, as mentioned in various stud ies, after coming to Australia in the eight eenth century with their progeny living as a minority community lost their Islamic faith and submerged in the prevailing culture.

He advised that we should build our communities stronger by living closer to each other, making more Islamic centres, mosques and Islamic schools, sticking to our Islamic values wholeheartedly and tak ing a keen interest in our kids upbringing as good Muslims.

Usman Malik is the MGM of IFAM. He is based in Sydney.

Domestic violence upskilling of Imams and community leaders

Dr Nada Ibrahim

“inspiring”, “engaging”, “innovative”, “amazing”, “empowered”, “love the Islamic perspective”, “so glad I came to it”, “nothing like what I have attended before” are some of the reflections of Imams and Muslim leaders that attended the 2-day intensive Domestic and Family Violence Upskilling for Imams & Community Leaders 2022 event on 22 and 29 October 2022 in Ade laide, South Australia.

The event attracted Imams & Muslim Community Leaders in Adelaide and was collaboratively organised by Bosniaks Masjed Adelaide and the Muslim Women’s Association South Australia funded by the

Department of Human Services, South Aus tralian Government.

Dr Nada Ibrahim led and co-delivered this signature program with Aunty Debra Bennet (Relationships Australia Queensland) that has been successfully delivered in Brisbane (once) and Melbourne (3 times) since 2018.

The Professional Scenario Roleplay Pan el was particularly well received involving diverse perspectives of Imam Abdulsalam Alim (Wandana Mosque), two general prac titioners (Dr Shakib Ur Rahman and Dr Su hana from Australian Islamic Medical Asso ciation), Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Carol Byrnes (South Australia Police), Sari Kheder (Port Adelaide Lawyers), and Namam Salih (Australian Refugee Associ ation) where they illustrated best practices when working with DFV victims.

Some creative activities have been in troduced and fine-tuned over the years of presenting this signature program to engage

learners through auditory, visual and expe riential learning techniques. This facilitates a process of continuous active learning that synthesises and crystallises previous knowl edge, skills and experiences with new learn ing.

Role plays identifying DFV in various set tings of home, communities, and workplac es were a hit as participants enthusiastically put a show of their award-worthy acting performance skills in display, hammering home how easily harmful DFV behaviours are often accepted in society. By shifting the lens of perception, participants are able to see how they can intercept these harmful be haviours to foster safer families, homes, and responsive workplaces and communities.

Imams and Muslim Leaders enjoyed en gaging in healthy discussions in pairs and grouped activities on various topics such as: identifying the multiple origins of gender roles, myths surrounding domestic and fam ily violence (DFV), privilege when dealing with DFV victims, why it is not easy for DFV victims to leave DFV homes, DFV dynamics and statistics, identifying DFV in various social settings, DFV legislation and duty of care, the importance of multi-agen cy collaboration in addressing DFV, mis representation of Islamic scriptures in DFV

situations, identifying faith-led strengths of Muslim communities, then creating a collective DFV rehearsed action plan that stems from the strengths of social justice values, community & diversity, and family & marriage.

Alhamdulillah the organisers especially Imam Rijad Jazvin and Sr Urika Ahmad did a fabulous job in helping make this a won derfully successful event. We thank all the table facilitators and every Imam and Mus lim leader that participated to make this a hugely successful event. No doubt the short, medium and long-term goals that the partic ipants have committed themselves to will add leaps and bounds towards collaborative efforts in creating safer Muslim families and communities free of domestic and family vi olence.

If you would like this event to be run in your state or your organization, please reach out to Dr Nada Ibrahim on Nada.Ibrahim@unisa.edu.au

Dr Nada Ibrahim is a Senior Research Fel low at the Centre for Islamic Thought & Ed ucation, University of South Australia with a PhD (Criminology), MEd (Guidance & Counselling) and BHSc (Psychology with an Islamic Psychology intersect).

Imams & Muslim Community leaders engaged in various topical discussions

Domestic and Family Violence Upskilling Workshop in Adelaide.

Why do you feel tired all the time?

Fatigue is common. One in 5 people feel tired most of the time and 1 in 10 people experience ongo ing tiredness. Psycholog ical causes of tiredness are much more common than physical causes.

It is essential to analyze yourself why you get exhausted easily – is it your lifestyle? has any major event trig gered your tiredness such as bereavement? or is it a part of your life such as work or family that drains your energy?

What are the common causes of Tiredness?

Diet – skipping a meal, lack of sleep, ex cessive consumption of Coffee or energy drinks, inadequate water intake, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive physical activity, stress/anxiety, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.

Medical conditions that cause fatigue

Vitamin Deficiency – Vitamin D/B12/ Iron/Magnesium/Potassium, medication side effect, infections – viral or bacterial, anemia, thyroid problems – Hypothyroid ism, Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, Cancer, Heart disease, chronic kidney disease, Liver disease, lung disease, conditions affecting the gut such as Coeliac disease /Inflamma tory bowel disease/food intolerance.

Psychological conditions that cause tiredness

Anxiety, Depression or Grief due to loss of job/loss of a loved one /relationship prob lems such as separation or divorce.

Empty nest syndrome – experienced by parents when their children leave home for work, study or when they move out.

How to manage fatigue?

Ways to boost energy: Hydrate/eat healthy and balanced diet/limit coffee intake/get enough sleep/quit smoking and drinking/ex

ercise moderately/cope with stress by prac ticing relaxation techniques/have a work – life balance. Vitamin B complex intake boosts energy.

When to seek Medical Attention?

Do not delay seeing your doctor if you ex perience any of these symptoms.

Tiredness is impacting your quality of life /abnormal weight changes such weight gain or rapid weight loss /swelling in any part of your body such as swollen legs or lumps or bumps /gut problems such as change in bowel habit prolonged diarrhea or constipa tion or alternating diarrhea and constipation/ shortness of breath on exertion or at rest and women who bleed excessively with passing of clots during menstruation.

Ask yourself a question do you really feel tired all the time or is it just boredom or a hidden depression?

Dr Ghazala Kirmani is a qualified doctor from India and is based in Sydney. Worked for Priority care health solutions as an In jury Management Advisor. Runs Health and wellness workshops at House of Sakinah ed ucating Women on health issues.

Launch of Pakistan Mission International

Pakistan Mission Inter national was launched in Sydney on Sunday 20 November 2022 at Himalaya Restaurant in Granville in the presence of invited Australian Pa kistani professionals, re ligious and community leaders.

Pakistan Mission is a non-profit, non-gov ernment & non-political organization oper ating more like an institution to network overseas Pakistanis, coordinate their re sources and efforts for the collective benefit of their local community and that of Paki stan.

The Mission will cover the strategic goals, social, economic, political & welfare activi ties of common interest and will collaborate with existing organizations and networks with patriotic Pakistanis.

The program at the launch was started with the recitation of Quran by Imam Sham im followed by an address on unity by Imam Nazeerul Hassan Thanvi.

Shakil Ahmad, President of Pakistan Mis sion International presented the Mission’s objectives and future plans and addressed the concerns of the audience during the Q&A session.

The objectives of the Mission are as fol lows: 1. Network overseas Pakistanis for their lo

Free live screening of ICC T20 World Cup Final

Meri Pehchan Paki stan Inc organized PAK vs ENG T20 Final live screening at Liverpool Catholic Club in Sydney.

More than 320 people enjoyed a historical moment of Pakistan playing the fi nals after 23 years on the huge screen. Con sidering the importance and the community interest, Meri Pehchan Pakistan organised this event free of cost for the Pakistani communi ty especially allowing families and females to enjoy this moment in a comfortable and fami ly-friendly environment.

Meri Pehchan Pakistan arranged free re freshments including Pakola drinks and snacks (through our sponsor) for the audience as well. The audience of the live screening enjoyed the cricket match and appreciated the initiative to arrange such an event for families in Sydney.

Daniya Syed is a technology enthusiast also has a keen interest in community related activ ities and volunteers herself for various charity organisations.

cal community and of Pakistan through social, economic, political & welfare ac tivities.

2. Raise voice for voting rights & seats in Pakistani Parliament for overseas Paki stanis.

3. Conduct events & programs on issues of common interest to benefit Pakistanis.

4. Network with other communities, organ izations & diplomatic channels to bridge gaps and gather support.

5. Raise funds for welfare & raise voice against violation of human rights.

Key participants at the launch included: Ejaz Khan President of Pakistan Associa tion, Khurrum, President PTI NSW, Dr Ki yani President APSWA, Rana Iftikhar, Rana Munir, Zafar Shah, Sada-e-Watan, Munir Ahmad, Sydney Forex, Tariq Mirza, Zahid Minhas, Dosti Radio & many others.

Email: Info@PakistanMissionIntl.org Membership Online: www.PakistanMissionIntl.org.

Shakil Ahmad, RMA, JP is President of Pa kistan Mission International and an Immi gration Advisor.

Inspiration

Fazlul Huq

Change is inspiration and sign not attribute of the Constant. As prayer is submission and bind not amplitude of the utterance.

Apparel is cage and covering as portal is gaze and opening.

Siren is a call onto a new beginning as Testament is guide and glad tiding.

Charity is gain and cleansing as vanity is loss and failings.

Compassion is forgiveness and divine as aggression is cruelty by design.

Repentance is plea and atonement as acceptance is glee and attainment.

Greed is calamity and aberration as peace is tranquility and adoration.

Remembrance is chant and resonance as goodness is charm and radiance.

Dr Fazlul Huq is a retired academic and Editor-in-Chief Emanreserch Jour nal Of Angiotherapy. He is also the poet “Jujube” at Allpoetry. com with over 35,000 compositions.

Dr Ghazala Kirmani

Shakil Ahmad

Daniya Syed

How to cultivate compassionate connection with self and others

What a story is not

Princess R Lakshman

No matter how optimistic you may be, your opti mism may not necessar ily affect another person who is feeling down and dark, unless you are able to connect with him/her with compassion.

Recently, I was asked by a potential client if I had a psychology de gree. I told him that I was a qualified coun sellor, a life coach, and clinical nutritionist, but not a clinical psychologist. He seemed concerned and asked me how I could help him and his wife with their marital chal lenges when I did not have a psychology degree. I told him I had extensive life ex perience and in-depth knowledge to know that I could help him and his wife to at least process any feelings of hurt, pain, trauma or self-loathing, which are usually the key feelings that need processing when trying to rebuild a dysfunctional marriage.

He then asked me matter-of-factly, ‘What else?’

I answered, ‘Compassionate connection. It’s me knowing and you seeing that I’m not just preaching, but actually walking the walk and talking the talk.’

Here’s a poem from my book, The Soul Speaks, entitled Self-Love.

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

Self-Love

Princess R Lakshman

You say you care about the world

Yet you care not for yourself

You say you love the children of the world

Yet you love not the child in you

You say you forgive others

Yet you forgive not yourself

You say you want the best for others

Yet you embrace not the good that comes your way You say you want to heal from all that causes you pain

Yet you choose to re-live painful memories everyday

You say you love Allah

Yet you are unkind to Allah’s creation that is closest to you Yes, you are Allah’s creation that is closest to you

Appreciate yourself

Care for yourself

Be kind to yourself

Be compassionate with yourself Forgive yourself Love yourself Remember…

You are Allah’s creation that is closest to you.

Daily Affirmations to Cultivate Compassion

Compassion for Daily affirmation

I am aware that I have made some choices in life that have not worked in my favour.

For the past three years, I’ve been facilitating sto rytelling circle in the US, Mexico, and Australia. They have been an abso lute delight – wonderful gatherings of open-mind ed people who intuitively understand the power and glory of storytelling.

And yet, during this time, I’ve noticed a curious phenomenon. Even though the word “story” is well-known to everyone, not everyone understands how to tell a story with impact.

I’m not going to give you instructions for how to do that. Why not? Because you already know. You do. It’s just that, some times, funky old habits get in the way. When you let go of those habits, the story you want to tell will shine — kind of like what Michelangelo said when asked how he made the David: “I simply took away everything that wasn’t.”)

So, here goes: Six things that storytelling is not:

1. A Chance to Tell the Story of Your Life: Just because you have a captive audience doesn’t mean you have to rewind the tape of your life and tell them everything. No one really wants to hear it. While you may feel better at the end of your monologue, no one else will.

2. You Talking About “Things”: Simply stringing together a bunch of things that happened to you is not a story. It may be a report, a list of accomplishments, or you waxing poetic about something you care about, but that does not a story. Stories have a dramatic arc — a beginning, a middle, and an end. They flow, like a river, to the ocean. They are not random puddles.

soft voice or forget to make eye contact. Oops! Not a good idea. If no one can hear your story, what good is it? And remember, it’s not just about the words, it’s about the feeling behind the words. Be expressive! Be dynamic! Let it rip!

6. Retelling an Experience (instead of re living it): It is not uncommon for aspiring storytellers, in their commitment to “tell what happened”, to leave out the emotion of the story. Facts are one thing, feeling is quite another. Without feeling, your story becomes lifeless — merely an 11:00 news report. Embodying your story is the real work of a storyteller. Inhabiting it — not just hydroplaning on the surface of events, but diving in to the deep end of the experience you are attempting to convey.

Mitch Ditkoff is the Co-Founder and Presi dent of Idea Champions, an innovation con sulting and training company. He is also the author of two books on the power of person al storytelling: STORYTELLING FOR THE REVOLUTION and STORYTELLING AT WORK. To read more of his articles about storytelling, log onto www.ideachampions. com/storytelling

You will miss my love

Frazia Ali

When a moon and stars will shine Then you will miss my love

Self

I embrace my flaws and I move forward with ultimate faith in Allah (swt) that He may guide me to make better choices.

My Spouse

My Child

My Parents

I am aware that my husband/wife has had a differ ent upbringing than mine. She/He deserves to be treated with respect.

I respect and understand my husband/wife.

I am aware that my child is growing up in a dif ferent kind of world than the one I grew up in. My child has a different perception of the world than mine.

I respect my child and seek to understand his/ her perceptions.

I am aware that my parents have a traditional ap proach to life. Their battles and challenges have been different from mine.

I respect my parents and seek to understand them, learn from them and enrich my life through an open mind.

3. A Sanitized Sharing of an Experience You Had: Most amateur storytellers tend to underplay or completely omit one of the most important elements of a story — the obstacle. Little Red Riding Hood had to deal with the Big Bad Wolf. Perseus had to deal with the Minotaur. Luke Skywalker had to deal with Darth Veda. No obstacle, no story. Of course, the obstacle might be an “inner” obstacle like fear, doubt, or procrastination. That’s fine. Just don’t forget to give your ob stacle its proper due.

4. Multiple Stories Threaded Into One: Dizzy Gillespie, the great jazz trumpeter, said it best: “It took my entire life to learn what not to play.” Translation? Be econom ical in the telling of your stories. Be selec tive! Know what to leave out. Just because something in your story reminds you of something else, that doesn’t mean you need to include it. If you do, you run the risk of spreading yourself too thin and your audi ence losing interest.

5. Talking to Yourself in Monotones: Some aspiring storytellers, not sure if their story is a “good” one or that anyone will listen, have a tendency to speak in a very

When beautiful flowers will give lovely smell

Then you will miss my love

When you will not sleep at night Then you will miss my love

When tears will fall from my eyes Then you will miss my love When you will feel loneliness Then you will miss my love

When you will not find any dream Then you will miss my love When you will not find any dried petals of a flower in the book

Then you will miss my love.

Frazia Ali is a Paki stani American Mus lim single mother. She has two chil dren and lives in San Ramon Califor nia, USA. She start ed writing poetry to spread peace and love through her writing.

Mitch Ditkoff

Intoxicants, addiction and families

Umm Umar

Addiction can devastate family life. But there is a way to regain sanity and nor mality back into life. The keys to find ing the answers are 1) turning to Allah 2) gaining knowledge about addiction and the role the family plays in recovery and 3) getting professional help.

“…and whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out.” (Qur’an 65: 2-3)

What does Islam say about intoxicants?

“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxi cants, gambling (sacrificing on) stone alters (to other than Allah), and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Sa tan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not then abstain?” (Qur’an 5: 90)

Most people think that the solution to the problem is to get the person to just stop us ing, then life will return to normal.

Firstly, you cannot “just stop” addiction.

There are spiritual, psychological and phys ical problems involved. Addiction is an illness and needs professional treatment.

The person with addiction can have an enormous amount of control over the fam ily. He/she can escape the responsibility of facing up to doing something about his/her addiction in different ways.

The addict’s behaviour causes the family to become obsessed with their loved one’s addiction and the problems he/she causes to the family.

The family needs to understand how their own behaviour affects the situation and how to modify it. When the family improves their own understanding, attitudes, actions and reactions this will not only help them to recover but also improve their loved one’s chance of recovery, insha Allah.

If the family is always pretending, cover ing up for and bailing their loved one out of trouble, this only protects them from facing up to his/her own responsibilities and ena bles the addictive illness to continue. Every

person is accountable and responsible for his or her own choices and actions, and Al lah (swt) will not help a person unless they open their heart to Him and ask His help sincerely.

“That is because Allah would not change the favour which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Qur’an 8:53)

As well as this, the family members should do some sincere soul searching. Have they done their best to nurture their relationship with their loved one prior to the addiction? Did they have good communication? Did they practice Islam? The family members may need professional therapy and counsel ling.

Alhamdulillah, Allah (swt) hears the du’a (supplication) of His servants. So, make du’a to Allah (swt) in hope, but always ac cept with patience what befalls, and Allah is with those who are patient.

At NZF the New Beginnings program is designed to support individuals and families who have been victims of addictive behav iours themselves, or through a family mem ber’s lifestyle. www.nzf.org.au/program/ new-beginnings or Call: 1300 663 729

Good Beginnings celebrates further funding

Good Beginnings is a world first primary pre vention program funded by the Department of Social Services that has been collaboratively de veloped by the Sir Zel man Cowen Centre at Victoria University and Benevolence Australia. Good Beginnings encourages conversations between Mus lim couples, working to create respectful relationships at the beginning of their journeys together.

Using a train-the-trainer method, Good Beginnings has now 20 qualified Marriage Mentors who are actively working with Muslim couples. The Marriage Mentors are Muslim community members who range

from Imams, marriage celebrants, psycholo gists, counsellors, mental health workers and social workers to qualified health care professionals.

The success of the program has allowed it to be funded for another year, which will further strengthen the program as feedback received will be incorporated to materials and methods adopted.

In February 2023 Good Beginnings will be training more Marriage Mentors, please contact cowen.centre@vu.edu.au if you are interested in becoming a Marriage Mentor.

If you would like to find out more or take the course as a couple, please visit the Good Beginnings website or reach out via email to cowen.centre@vu.edu.au.

Selcan Kurnali is the Assistant Project Of ficer for Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at Vic toria University and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

How to accurately check your blood pressure at home

High blood pressure (hy pertension) is a silent killer. Checking blood pressure at home is an important part of man aging of high blood pres sure. Regularly checking blood pressure at home helps your doctor deter mine if treatment is working (adjusting the current medication dose or adding another medication).

Home blood pressure monitors are avail able widely. But it’s important to know how to use it accurately.

Tips to help ensure accurate blood pres sure monitoring at home Make sure your automatic blood pressure machine is correct. Before using a blood pressure monitor, have your GP com pare the readings from your monitor with the readings from the monitor in the medical practice.

2. Sit quietly before and during mon itoring. When you are ready to take your blood pressure, sit for 5 minutes in a com

fortable position with your legs uncrossed. Your back should be supported against a chair. Don’t talk while taking your blood pressure.

3. Make sure your arm is positioned properly. Rest your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table, desk or chair arm. You might need to place a pillow or cushion under your arm to raise it high enough. Try to use left arm and always use the same arm when taking your blood pressure. Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing (rolledup sleeve).

4. Blood pressure varies throughout the day. Readings are often a little higher

in the morning. Also, your blood pressure might be slightly lower at home than with your doctor.

5. At the start, measure your blood pressure at least twice a day. Take your blood pressure first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Take it again in the evening. Each time you measure, take 3 readings and then take the average of the 3 readings. If you exercise after waking, take your blood pressure before exercising. Also, empty your bladder first. A full bladder can increase blood pressure slightly.

Talk to your GP for further assessment and management.

Dr Ahmed Khan is an Australian-trained Interventional Cardiologist, who specialises in all aspects of interventional cardiology. His philosophy is one of constant refinement and excellence in all aspects of a patient’s cardiovascular care.

Dr Khan currently works as a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Heart of Can berra, Deakin. He runs a charity (Healthy Heart International-not profit organisation) provides free medical services in Pakistan in the field of cardiovascular health and ed ucation.

Selcan Kurnali

Dr Ahmed Khan

ISRA’s Leadership Program gives youth incredible mentorship journey

Anhaar Kareem

This year, I had the priv ilege of being a part of the ISRA Muslim Lead ership Mentorship Pro gram. ISRA is an organ isation, which combines Islamic education and community service. They provide an excellent pro gram, which allocates young people with an experienced mentor and offers them various opportunities and workshops.

I am grateful to ISRA for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this program, which is generally open to people aged 18 years and over. They generously offered me a position, despite my age, being 15 years old. I appreciate this leniency, which al lowed me to reap the many benefits from an incredible mentorship journey.

I have benefited in countless ways from this program and I am extremely grateful to both ISRA and my mentor, Mobinah Ahmed, for inspiring me and assisting me in so many ways.

Throughout the program, we had various workshops, on a multitude of vital topics. We had a session on prophetic legacy with Professor Mehmet Ozalp, a media work

shop with Antoinette Lattouf, a social me dia workshop with Sereen Omran, a mental health workshop with Nasreen Hanifi and a political workshop with Ehsan Veiszadeh. Listening to role models in the commu nity and their experience interacting with important institutions like the government, or the media has been extremely insightful.

Being able to also meet so many other inspirational young people within the com munity has been amazing. I’ve been able to form friendships but also learn valuable ex periences from so many young Muslims do ing incredible things. As a younger mentee, this program has helped me better navigate potential challenges or questions I have for

my future.

My mentor was able to help me in so many ways. Alhumdullilah, I received academic, spiritual, health, psychological, financial, family, emotional and communal advice which has helped me in so many ways. Mo binah was more than a mentor and became a friend, giving me personal advice and even inviting me to her wedding Alhumdulilah.

I also had the opportunity to put together a project, starting the IWWA Youth commit tee this year, which has Alhumdullilah or ganised four events so far. The committee has an active presence in the community and the assistance that my mentor, ISRA and this program have given me, has been pivotal in enabling these events.

I am excited to InshAllah be able to contin ually implement what I’ve been taught. That includes continuing to run programs with IWWA Youth, as well as having a better un derstanding my university and career options.

I want to deeply thank ISRA for all of their work in recognising the significance of young people and fostering their growth, as well as my mentor, Mobinah for being such an amazing inspiration.

Anhaar Kareem is a 14 year old student and Western Sydney resident. She is an ad vocate, writer and speaker who is passion ate about issues concerning young people.

Batik Girl Animation Movie Roadshow 2022

Lusia Efriani

After successfully con ducting Premiere Film Batik Girl Animation: FICUSIA series one and series two in Indone sia, Lusia Efriani, as the project leader, traveled to Australia to promote the Batik Girl Animation Movie Roadshow from 22 October to 8 November 2022.

This animated film involved 74 Batam State Polytechnic students from various de partments.

Since 2016, Lusia has routinely conduct ed the Batik Girl Roadshow with the me dia promoting a doll wearing batik clothes produced by female inmates in several pris ons in Indonesia. This time she is bringing something different, namely an animated film where this film is a means of anti-drug campaign, especially for the younger gen eration.

The making of this animated film also received support from the Australian Gov ernment through the Alumni Grant Scheme (AGS) administered by the Australia Awards in Indonesia. In Episode III of the animated film, it will be opened by a message from Ms Kristen Bishop (Minister-Counsellor from the Australian Embassy in Indonesia) and closed by a message from HE Derry Aman (Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN). The series of roadshows this time were Melbourne, Bendigo and Sydney but due to the flood disaster in the Bendigo area the roadshow in the city of Bendigo was can celed. The roadshow series in Melbourne and Sydney started from 22 October 2022 to 8 November 2022.

The main premiere was held on 22 Octo ber 2022 at the Diaspora Fair which will be held at Collingwood Town Hall, Melbourne. At this event remarks were given by Diana Pratiwi (President of Diaspora Network Victoria), HE Kuncoro Waseso (Indonesian Consul General for Victoria & Tasmania), Viviene Nguyen AM (Victorian Multicul tural Commission), Cr Sophie Wade (Major City of Yarra).

The premiere of this animated film was

attended by 234 visitors of various ages and ethnicities. Film screenings were also held in the Indonesian language class at Melbourne High School with the host who organized this activity, namely Mrs Silvy Wantania (President Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers Association).

The roadshow then continued to the city of Sydney, which took place at the Peace Building by inviting young people from the Youth Peace Movement organization. After watching the FICUSIA film, it was then fol lowed by a discussion about the dangers of drugs and discussing how young people can use their youth well.

The young people who attended this event were quite enthusiastic. Then the next day, Lucia attended the Children’s Festival which was attended by more children. Apart from screening in several communities, she also took the time to conduct a campaign through SBS Radio so that the mission she wanted to convey could reach a wider audi ence of Australians.

The series of roadshow activities in Syd ney were assisted by Aila Willits, a woman activist in Sydney who is quite active in var ious organizations, especially those related to the United Nations.

Apart from screening in several commu

nities, Lusia also took the time to visit sev eral universities that have collaborated with the Batik Girl program since 2016. After completing the roadshow in Sydney, Lusia returned to Melbourne to visit Swinburne University of Technology and also Deakin University.

Lusia made a visit to Deakin University because one of the partners from Australia in this program was Ms Monika Winarnita, who is a lecturer in the Indonesian Studies School of Humanities and Social Science at the university. Before returning to Indonesia, Lusia carried out another campaign through Radio Kita and also Women’s World Radio in Melbourne, which has always been loyal to support the mission of the BATIK GIRL program since 2016.

Lusia really hopes that with the animat ed film Batik Girl: FICUSIA, many young people can be saved from other drugs. Lusia also has a passion for building relations be tween Indonesia and Australia, not only as “neighbors” but also as “family”. Lusia is also very grateful to Bank Mandiri for al ways supporting its social mission.

Bank Mandiri has always supported Batik Girl Roadshow activities since 2017. This support is given because as a social entre preneur alumni of Bank Mandiri, Lusia is very consistent in carrying out her social mission which not only benefits Indonesian society but can also have a positive impact on Australia as well.

After returning from Australia, Lusia is already preparing for the next program, namely Batik Girl Animation Movie: FICU SIA GOES TO SCHOOL, where Lusia and Batam Polytechnic will go to SMA & SMK to conduct screening & also discuss the dan gers of drugs.

This activity will involve 1000 Senior High School students. Lusia also hopes that the Government of Indonesia can support roadshow activities which will be continued to ASEAN, UK and USA in 2023.

Lusia is a social entrepreneur based in Bat am Island-Indonesia. She is a founder of Cinderella Indonesia Foundation and She built Cinderella From Indonesia Center in 2012 in order to help underprivileged wom en and kids in Batam.

Project Leader “BATIK GIRL ANIMATION MOVIE:FICUSIA” with Ms. Diana Pratiwi (President of Diaspora Network Victoria) & HE. Kuncoro Waseso (Indonesian Consul General for Victoria & Tasmania).

Conducting a campaign through SBS Radio Media in Sydney

Icon of contemporary Islamic economics passed away

competition;

Dr Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqi, 91 credited with founding the discipline of modern Islamic finance and banking and winner of the prestigious King Faisal Prize passed away on Friday 11 Novem ber 2022 in San Jose, California.

Professor of economics at Aligarh Mus lim University, India, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia and University of California, USA, Dr Siddiqi left a legacy that will continue to help countless access interest-free loans to achieve their dreams in compliance with Islamic Sharia.

Dr Siddiqi was a prolific writer in Urdu and English and has 63 works in 177 pub lications in 5 languages and 1,301 library holdings where several of his works have been translated into Arabic, Persian, Turk ish, Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai.

His most widely read book is Banking without interest which was published in 27 editions between 1973 and 2000 in 3 lan guages and is held by 220 libraries world wide.

Nejat means salvation and Dr Siddiqi’s work proved salvation to people who could not advance their financial growth in the highly competitive world due to a lack of capital.

Who would have thought that born in a small town in UP, growing up in colonial India, Dr Siddiqi would surpass the peak of academic excellence with dedication, com mitment, and desire to translate traditional Islamic concepts into concrete programs to benefit people in the modern world of fi nance.

His other works in English include:

• Recent Theories of Profit: A Critical Ex amination (1971);

• Economic Enterprise in Islam (1972);

• Muslim Economic Thinking (1981);

• Banking Without Interest (1983);

• Issues in Islamic banking: selected pa pers (1983);

• Partnership and profit-sharing in Islamic law (1985);

• Insurance in an Islamic Economy (1985);

• Teaching Economics in Islamic Per spective (1996); Role of State in Islamic Economy (1996);

• Dialogue in Islamic Economics (2002) and Islam’s View on Property (1969). He received two major awards for his work: King Faisal International Prize for service to Islamic Studies and Shah Wali ullah Award for his contribution to Islamic Economics.

Describing the future of Islamic Eco nomics, he wrote in 2013 that the changing world would call for five strategic changes in approach:

1. Family rather than the market as the start ing point in economic analysis;

2. Cooperation playing a more significant role in the economy, complementing

3. Debts playing a subsidiary rather than the dominant role in financial markets; 4. Interest and interest-bearing instruments

playing no part in money creation and monetary management;

5. Maqasid based thinking supplanting an alogical reasoning in Islamic economic

jurisprudence. In what follows, I elaborate on these points to facilitate your engagement with these challenging propositions.

Dr Siddiqi devoted an entire book to the Objectives of Shariah (Maqasid Shariah). He did not agree with those writers who insisted on the five categories of objectives mentioned by al-Ghazali, claiming that many other purposes come under them in one way or another.

He suggested more goals to be added be side and beyond the five mentioned above, such as honor and dignity of humankind, basic freedom, justice and equity, poverty alleviation, sustenance for all, social equal ity, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, peace and security, preservation of system, and cooperation at the world level.

He supported his stand by various verses of the Qur’an and the sayings of the Proph et, especially in dealing with the non-Mus lims.”

I have been involved in Islamic eco nomics most of my life. At school, however, I studied science subjects but switched to economics, Arabic, and English literature for my BA degree at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which I joined in 1949.

My reading habit influenced my decision. I was devoted to al-Hilal and al-Balagh magazines, pub lished under Maulana Abul Kal am Azad (1888–1958), poet, critic, thinker, and one of the great leaders of the Independence Move ment.

I also read al-Tableegh and was influenced by the Deobandi schol ar Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (1863–1943), the author of the famous book on belief and correct conduct (for women), Heavenly Or naments.

And as most young people of my age and time, I studied the works of Maulana Abul Ala Maududi (1903–1979). Two of Maududi’s pieces deeply impacted me: lectures at Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow, and a scheme he proposed to Aligarh Muslim University, both in the mid1940s, later published in a collec tion titled Taleemat.

Under the influence of these ula mas – religious scholars – I aban doned science and the engineer ing career I had planned. Instead, I wanted to learn Arabic, gain direct access to Islamic sources, and dis cover how modern life and Islamic teachings interacted.

I stuck to this mission, even though I had to take several detours stretching over six years – to Sanwi Darsgah of Jamaat-e-Islami, Rampur, and Madrasatul Islah in Saraimir before I arrived eventually at Aligarh to earn a PhD in economics.

The years spent in Rampur and Saraimir were full of lively interac tion with Ulama. We spent most of our time discussing the Qur’an, the traditions of the Prophet, commen-

taries on the Qur’an, fiqh (jurispru dence), and usul-e-fiqh, or princi ples of jurisprudence.

That this happened in the compa ny of young men of my age, fired by the same zeal, was an added advantage. We had each chosen a subject – political science, philosophy, economics – that we thought would enhance our understanding of modern life.

We combined modern secular and old-religious learning to pro duce something that would right what was wrong with the world.

We received a warm welcome from Zakir Hussain (1897–1969), the former President of India, then Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Mus lim University; Mohammad Aaqil Saheb, Professor of Economics at Jamia Milliyah Islamia, Delhi; and by eminent teachers at Osmania University in Hyderabad.

Our mission was to introduce Islamic ideas to economics. These were at three levels:

• A background provided by Is lam’s worldview places economic matters in a holistic framework.

• A set of goals for individual behavior and monetary policy,

• Norms and values, resulting in appropriate institutions.

Maududi argued that this exercise performed in key social sciences would pave the way for progress toward an ‘Islamic society. I was fully sold on the idea. We were also in fluenced by the extraordinary times through which Islam and Muslims were passing worldwide.

Islam was ‘re-emerging’ after three centuries of colonization which was preceded by another three centu ries of stagnation and intellectual atrophy. The great depression had just exposed capitalism’s darker side, and Russian-sponsored so cialism was enlisting sympathizers.

We thought Islam had a chance if only a convincing case could be made.

Dr Siddiqi surveyed the history of the idea of Shariah objectives. To him, the concept of Shariah objectives has existed from the very beginning of Islamic history. But it was al-Juwayni (d. 478/1085) who first used the term, from whom his disciple al-Ghazali (d. 505/1111) took it and divided it into five cat egories: Protection of religion, life, reason, progeny, and property.

Ibn Taymiyah (d. 728H/1328) introduced the protection of dignity in place of progeny. He also argued that objectives should not be limited to the protection from haram (for bidden), but it should also include securing benefits. Thus, the number would be unre stricted to five objectives.

Ibn al-Qayyim followed the suit of his teacher, Ibn Taymiyah, and included jus tice among the objectives. He examined the opinions of al-Shatibi (d. 790/1389), Shah Wali Allah al- Dihlawi (d. 1172/1763), and a quick survey of the contemporary literature.

At 91, when he breathed his last in this mortal world surrounded by his three sons and two daughters, Dr Siddiqi had already achieved what only a few chosen ones achieved.

He ensured perpetual reward from his creator for his contributions to bringing mil lions into the fold of economic growth. As a result, marginalized people who lagged be cause of the lack of capital are in the process of building a stable financial life.

Dr Siddiqi turned concepts of divine jus tice and equity into practical reality.

When he started his work on Islamic bank ing, there was hardly an institution applying religious principles; now, there are over 500 Islamic banks and thousands of other non-interest-bearing financial institutions.

His legacy is there to stay and benefit peo ple worldwide. His work has turned him into a legend, and the future generation would rightly call him the future of modern Islamic banking.

Dr Aslam Abdullah

Elaborating on his life in Islamic Economics, he wrote:

Dr Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqi.

Dr Siddiqi with Mrs Siddiqi.

Dr Mohammed Nejathullah Siddiqireleased the second volume of ICIF Newsletter at his residence Aligarh in 2018.

Book launch: History of Muslims in NZ

The book “A Brief History of Waikato Muslim Association” by Dr Anis Rahman was launched at the Waikato Community Inclusivity Symposium held on Saturday 26 November 2022 at Waikato University attended by over 100 invited dignitaries and community leaders.

Dr Rahman, a long time resident of Ham ilton city in the local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand pre sented the book to the Hamilton City Mayor and other government officials and guests at the launch.

Dr Anis Rahman was born in Azamgarh, India and educated in Canada and arrived with his wife and a young daughter from Vancouver to land in Auckland on the morn ing of 10 June 1972 while accepting a Sci entist position in Hamilton with the then New Zealand Department of Agriculture. His was the first Muslim family to start residing in Hamilton.

A pioneer in the establishment of the Muslim Community in NZ, he was a founding member of the Waikato Muslim Association, a first recognised Imam of the Muslim Community in Hamilton, de livering Friday Khutbahs and leading Eid Prayers. At the national level he was the founding member of the Federation of Is lamic Associations of New Zealand (FI ANZ).

Dr Anis Rahman has been a senior lead ing scientists with over 250 research pub lications and recipient of numerous awards from scientific bodies, government and community organisations for his profession al research achievements and for rendering

community services lo cally as well as globally.

The book spanning 80 pag es provides a brief history of the Waikato Muslim Association, focussing on the early struggles of Muslims in the region and the building of a united community. It provides details of the initial gatherings of the com munity, formation of the Association, secur ing a property in Hamilton and building and rebuilding of the current Masjid and educa

tional facilities.

The book is a historical record of the de velopment of the Muslim Community in the region for half a century and an acknowl edgement of the valued contributions of the many individuals involved, who donated both their time and money towards commu nity organisation and the establishment of various institutions.

It includes maps, historical photos of mosques, community gatherings, landmark events, copies of critical documents and manuscripts, media clips and references to

other publications for further reading and research.

Talking about the book, Dr Rahman said, “I decided to write this brief history of the Waikato Muslim Association focussing on the early struggles of Muslims in our region and the building of a united community.”

“I hope this brief record of early histo ry will provide some understanding to our present and future generations of the strug gles their ancestors have gone through. I also trust this will motivate them to work to gether and continue building on this record Inshallah,” Dr Rahman humbly concluded.

The power of reconciliation

“The believers are a sin gle brotherhood. So, make reconciliation (for peace) between your two (con tending) brothers: And fear (Fair judgment of) Allah, that you may re ceive (His) Mercy.” [AlQuran 49:10]

Why Islam guides us to practice reconcil iation? The answer is simple. Islam is the guidance for peace, and reconciliation is one of the greatest tools to achieve peace in this life and to pave the path to attain ever lasting peace in paradise in the next life.

Where should we practice reconciliation?

It should be practiced in every possi ble level such as between spouses, family members, relatives, neighbours, communi ties, religious groups, politicians, religious scholars, and countries. Reconciliation should have no boundaries, and it should be applied to unite humans on common grounds for peace for all.

What are the benefits of reconciliation?

The benefits are numerous. It allows two parties to share their hurt feelings and to listen to one another to understand where exactly things went wrong to cause tension,

fighting, enmity or cruelty. It offers solu tions rather than suppression. It addresses the deep-rooted cause and helps to educate the victim and offender about right and wrong.

It creates a peaceful and safe environ ment to meet and greet, and to open hearts. Reconciliation reduces the re-offending and vendetta because it works to remove the ill feelings from the hearts, and to take respon sibility for the damage one has caused to another.

How does reconciliation help to build a cohesive society?

To err is human. Due to human shortcom ings, it is natural to have hiccups, but with the reconciliation process, people can learn from their mistakes. Reconciliation empha sizes finding ways to bring two parties to gether in moral human values. As a result, a society can intervene quickly to solve prob lems on a compromising basis resulting in better understanding between people.

Why is forgiveness important in reconciling?

Forgiveness is an outcome of love, com passion, wisdom, patience, and hope to receive forgiveness from Often-Forgiving Allah. Forgiveness also gives freedom from ill feelings, and inner sufferings from anger, rage, grudges etc resulting in better well-be ing for the forgiver. Forgiveness allows the

heart to reconcile easily for the sake of Al lah. Therefore, it plays an important role in reconciliation.

Why should the justice system include reconciliation with it?

Justice only looks after the judgment that makes one happy and another angry. It does a good job but doesn’t go further to unite two hearts. Reconciliation can play a part in reuniting hearts. If hearts are reunited, en mity doesn’t continue, and peace comes in.

The Justice system at present isn’t extend ed to establish peace between two parties. Justice makes sure that there are conse

quences for harming others, and reconcili ation offers healing between two parties to restore peace, love, and harmony.

Why should we practice reconciliation?

Reconciliation is Allah’s guidance, and if we practice it, it will be worshipping (Iba dah) Allah, we shall receive Allah’s mercy, and we can enjoy unity, peace and happi ness.

Farid Ahmed is a survivor of Christchurch attack on 15 May 2019, a peace advocate, author of HUSNA’S Story and Quran teach er in Christchurch.

Zia Ahmad

Dr Anis Rahman on stage at the launch of his book at Waikato University on Saturday 26 November 2022.

Farid Ahmed

WGS Year 12 Graduation Ceremony

Saamiya Husain

Western Grammar School, an Islam ic School based in Western Sydney that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, honoured and bid farewell to the HSC co hort of 2022 at their annual graduation dinner on Friday 11 November 2022.

The last two years were challenging years for WGS recent graduates due to multiple interruptions to face to face learning due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, through the constant support of their teachers and wider school staff, students persevered and completed their HSC journey.

The graduation dinner was a wonder ful heartfelt occasion shared with family, friends and staff members of Western Gram mar School recognising and highlighting their success throughout the year.

Students and teachers celebrated their journey together reminiscing warm mem ories of the past and imparting advice for their future.

Students were given their graduation cer tificates to the applause and teary eyes of

family and friends in the audience.

There was a tough competition for 1st and 2nd place academic medallions with an equal number of boys and girls achieving top results. WGS school Captain Muham mad Taahir Mahomed was given the Dux

trophy, the highest possible academic award given in an educational institution.

The night was concluded with an emo tional tribute to the parents for playing an essential role in the upbringing, education, moral guidance and support of their chil

dren.

ies Team.

STEM learning workshops for school students

Saqib was given the junior code master for a storytelling project.

Young Innovators Aus tralia is an organisation for the youth to take charge of their individual learning and future ca reers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). They build up their leadership and entrepreneurship skills in STEM building their own capability to introduce new innovations into the future.

Young Innovators Australia runs STEM learning and leadership workshops for stu dents to learn about computer technologies and take charge. These workshops enable students to become independent and innova tive STEM learners. They take hold of their STEM knowledge, effectively becoming more productive in their studies and creative in their assessments, projects and activities.

In this way, they build up their leadership and entrepreneurship skills towards careers in STEM and innovative areas. The best as pect of these workshops is that they are run by the youth themselves developing deeper connections suitable to the younger audienc es.

Young Innovators Australia recently ran four workshops in Campbelltown: Comput er Coding, Robotics, Ethical Hacking and a workshop on How to Design a Digital Port folio.

Computer Coding Workshop

In the Computer Coding workshop, the participants from 7 to 12 years old learned about the basics of computer coding through the google design block coding program. Every student was given the project based on their interest and capability. The younger students were working on storytelling where they were learning how to emanate different objects and have a dialogue with the charac ters. Where the older students were working on the game programming where they were designing some games of their choice.

This two-day workshop was expanded over two weeks. On the second day after noon, they were rewarded with certificates. In the certificate award ceremony, Dr Habib Bhurawala (Consultant Paediatrician, Head of Paediatrics, Nepean Hospital) came as a special guest along with Mr Omair Ziaee who is a tech guru himself and runs an IT company.

They talked to students and emphasize the importance of learning these skills at that age. Mis Aamina Haq was given the code master award for game programming and Mr Hamza

The programme ended with a great group photo and refreshment was offered to the guests.

Robotics Workshop

Robotics is one of the learning areas where students apply all of the STEM subjects learning and it is normally followed by the coding learning experience. The Robotics workshop kick starts with information on what are robotics and where are their real-life application for participants aged 10+.

This two-day workshop was spread over two different days in two weeks. Students were introduced to the lego EV3 learning ro bots. They had a great hands-on experience that way, learning how to program and try their code in the workshop and working col laboratively as a pair.

On the Young Innovators Facebook page, you can see great videos of young as nineyear-old students trying their robots and over coming different challenges. The workshop concluded with the completion certificates award ceremony, where guest speakers came to see student learning and their achievement as they appreciate their achievements.

Miss Sonali Luthra the principal of Al-Fais al College Minto spoke to the students ac knowledging their learning. Mr Masud Khal il, local councillor of the Campbelltown city council, also acknowledged the efforts of mentors to train these young learners. Mr Faisal Athar, a tech senior cyber security ex pert, spoke highly about the value of learning the skills at this early age.

The program was mentored by a young high school student Mr Usman Dayyan. He also acknowledged Mr Richard Baranski who supported the robotics program and couldn’t make it to the award ceremony. This holiday the Robo master award was given to Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Aamir who stood very well and even he was one of the youngest in the robot show.

The award ceremony as usual concluded with the refreshment and thanks to the par ents, guests, and participants.

Ethical Hacking Workshop

The Ethical Hacking Workshop featured the students enjoying their journey in the ethical hacking workshop and learning hack ing-related skills from a young high school student, Zawiyar Khan. The workshop was the kick-start with the basic introduction to ethical hacking, the differences between nor mal hacking and ethical hacking and the im portance of the skill they were about to learn.

This was a one-day workshop where stu dents came and learned the basic techniques of hacking, special guests were also invited: Mr MP Greg Warren Shadow minister for lo cal government and Mr Masood Chowdhury, Councillor of Campbelltown City Council, highly recommended to students to continue their passions and encouraged them to invest in these special skills.

Mr Asim Saleem (Assistant Director In frastructure Ops Oceana EY NLP Certified Master Coach Accelerated Certified Coach) also came there to include more insight into the world of ethical hacking. Mr Brian Laul (Founder/Director at Oz Funland, VP Festi

val Director and Founder of Good Morning Macarthur) motivated the students rewarding the students with workshop completion cer tificates alongside the other guests.

The workshop ended with taking a group photo and with refreshments for parents, guests, and participants.

Digital Portfolio

It seems with the rise of digital media, the need for paperless material has grown, and participants in the Digital Portfolio Work shop learned how to record all their skills and experiences in one, online place. The work shop provides high school students with a portfolio with easy accessibility for them to gradually record and add their skills through out their working experience.

The two-day workshop concluded in two weeks. In the first session, students were introduced to digital resumes that could be transformed into a presentation for a more visually appealing format. The second ses sion was conducted both online on zoom and face-to-face by Young Innovators Australia’s president Shafqat Ali.

Here, the previous presentation was mod ified into a personalised website, creating a textual, visual and interactive trio formatting for each participant’s portfolios. Mr Saad Younis a Civil Engineer from UNSW and Executive Member of Young Innovators Aus tralia was invited there as a special guest. He talked about the student’s benefits of making a Digital Portfolio and how Digital Portfolios will soon be important in future our social, educational and professional lives.

At last in the award ceremony, he award ed the completion certificates to the students whereby the Best Portfolio Award was given to Mr Sami Ul Haq for his both aesthetic and concise efforts.

The STEM learning workshops are deliv ered by the Young Innovators Club members who volunteer their time to mentor younger children as well as develop their own lead ership skills in STEM Education. With the overwhelming response from parents and students, they want to continue their learning, and Young Innovators Australia is develop ing weekend classes that will begin running soon. At the moment learning opportunities are being offered in Campbelltown, but on line hybrid classes are being offered for chil dren in Australia. To enrol in these programs, please use this link to join us in our exciting new journey.

Shayyan Ali is a youth mentor who helps students in their learning journey through interactive STEM Learning workshops. You can get in touch with him through his website https://sites.google.com/view/shayyanali/.

Saamiya Husain is part of the Western Grammar School Welfare and Islamic Stud

Shayyan Ali

Parents, guests, and participants at the Robotics workshop.

Why do Muslims identity themselves with the Qur’an?

Dr Rashid Raashed

The diversity of the Qur’an’s interest to deal with almost all aspects of human life is the most significant feature of Is lam as way of life. To this aspect of a Muslim’s life, the Qur’an is the princi pal manual.

No other civilisation on earth is nourished and sustained eternally, by such a revealed lifestyle. Approached systematically, almost all practices of life for a Muslim, can be derived from an authentic legal texts of the Qur’an.

The Hadith meaning, words, actions or re instatement of the Prophet, only explains the applied meaning of the Qur’an. To this end, the Qur’an and Hadith work hand-in-hand. This is clearly stated in the verse 16:44 of the Qur’an. As its applied explanation thus, the Hadith is the integral part of the Qur’an.[1] Other than explaining its applied meaning, an authentic Hadith will never contradict the Qur’an. When the Qur’an is approached pro fessionally, scholarly and holistically, there will never be a need to deduce a ruling from a Hadith that is not authentic.

A professional scholar of the Qur’an is the one who can relate the Qur’an in its holistic and applied meaning, to the life and living of the believes, the humanity at large, at all times in all places.

To discover this aspect of the Qur’an, it invited the scholars, “to deeply contemplate” in the provisions of the Qur’an: “Don’t they deeply and factually contemplate in the

meanings of the Qur’an? Had it been from the sources other than God, they would have found in it many contradictions and discrep ancies” [2]

This feature of the Book rewards the prac tice of a true believer to be authentic on the one hand, providing a deep satisfaction in his mind, on the other. Should a practice need validating, the principle behind and the au thenticity thereof can be easily audit trailed.

Where a practice fails to pass through the broader and the flexible sieve of original admissibility, such a practice is taken to be disallowed. To this end, the Qur’an is out standing: “Declare O Prophet! Who prohib ited the benefit from the beauty and the good provisions of life which God produced for his servants?”

[3]

The insti tution of the Khilafah, meaning as a socio-political state-craft, must act as deputy of God on earth, for all citizens under its rule, is a direct theme of the Qur’an[4]. The divine appointment of the Mus lims as a nation: “The best nation on earth provided that your existence is bene ficial to the humanity in general” , provides a great duty statement [5].

By its direct meaning, a Muslim individ ual or a socio-political state must exist for the benefit of all the subjects under its rule regardless of their faith or no faith. This mis sion, or call it a dream of it, has always been driven by the revealed Book.

Living a human life will always be in teresting. However, living a regulated life which is dictated by the revealed and au thentic guidelines and enjoying it at the same time, is bound to be exciting one! The Qur’an is the sole leader of it!

Given its deep-rooted originality in the Qur’an, Muslims will never be deprived of their rights in determining their own politi cal future and rule. Entertaining such a right however, must be dedicated to facilitate the decent living of all fellow humans under this political setting.

Through this notion of ‘a best Muslim na tion existing to benefit the humanity at large’, the absolute ownership of all the creation on earth and the heavens has been linked with the God their Sole Creator.

As their sole Benefactor thus, the Qur’an declared that He will also audit all their actions and affairs: “To God alone belongs all that exist in the heavens and on the Earth. To Him alone alos, all their affairs will be audit trailed” [6] The faith as such makes the believers con duct their lives within the revealed guidelines of the Cre ator. Khilafah as a state-craft, is a divine political institution the root of which is ground ed deep in the Qur’an. It is there fore bound to be part and parcel of the Muslim identity on earth.

Investing genuine effort to es tablish it, will always attract the in

terest of the believers. By the very statement of the Qur’an itself however, this institution must also yield the benefit for the humanity in general. Failing this criterion, will make the political institution itself and the invested efforts to achieve it a total waste [7].

The history of sufferings over centuries, both by Muslims and those scared by their Islamic identity ie the Islamophobia, is the proof that the confrontation is never the way forward. Nor is there a need for it.

The sea of ignorance regarding Islam as a faith, its institutions and the conducts that the Qur’an sanctions towards its ideological ad versaries, lie at the core of this fear and mis understandings.

To alleviate the multitudes of sufferings of the both camps, making an effort, facilitating an all-inclusive, accommodating and genuine understanding of Islam, to those scared from it, would be a very small price to pay.

[1] The Qur’an 16:44.

[2] The Qur’an 04:82.

[3] The Qu’ran 07:32.

[4]. The Qur’an 24:55 & 02:30.

[5]. The Qur’an 03:110

[6] The Qur’an 03:109.

[7]. The Qur’an 03:110.

Dr Rashid Raashed based in Sydney is cur rently the Director of Islamic Financial Ser vices Australia (IFSA). He graduated with speciality in Hadith from Islamic University, Patya, Chittagong, Bangladesh, BA (Hons) in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Tripoli, Libya, MA (Usyd) and PhD (Macquarie Uni) in Is lamic Financial System.

Prophet Muhammad as an Abrahamic Prophet of Tawhid

Rabbi Allen Maller

In every religious com munity, most people think that their own prophet, their holy book, their saints and their re ligious traditions are the truest and the best. This natural human feeling can sometimes lead to an arrogant pride that results in verbal abuse that can lead to physical conflict between believers in different religions.

This arrogant pride in the superiority of one’s own religion should be condemned by all religious leaders. An excellent account of just this kind of condemnation is found in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s), when he was called upon to judge between a Jew and a Muslim in a conflict-laden situation.

Abu Huraira related: Two men, a Muslim and a Jew, verbally abused one another. The Muslim said, “By Him Who gave superiori ty to Muhammad (s) over all the people.” At that, the Jew said, “By Him Who gave supe riority to Moses (a) over all the people.” The Muslim became furious at that and slapped the Jew in the face.

The Jew went to God’s Apostle and in formed him of what had happened between him and the Muslim. God’s Apostle said, “Don’t give me superiority over Moses, for people will fall unconscious on the Day of Resurrection and I will be the first to gain consciousness, and behold Moses (a) will be there holding the side of God’s Throne. I will not know whether Moses (a) has been among those people who have become unconscious and then has regained consciousness before me, or has been among those exempted by God from falling unconscious.” (Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 76, #524)

God’s Messenger is so well known for his sense of justice that a Jew could appeal to him, even in a conflict with a Muslim who has at

tacked this Jew. It is only natural for Jews to think that Moses (a) is the best; and for Mus lims to think that Muhammad (s) is the best.

Prophet Muhammad (s) rebukes the Mus lim, telling him not to claim that Muhammad (s) is superior to Moses (a), because even on the day of Resurrection, Muhammad (s) him self will not know their relative merit, for al though Muhammad (s) will be the first of all the comatose to be revived, Moses (a) will already be there holding the side of God’s throne.

Prophet Muhammad (s) teaches us that claims of religious superiority are wrong, for no human in this world, and perhaps even in the world to come, will know who is the best prophet. Only God knows. Such arrogant comparisons do not help anyone to become a better believer in the one God all mankind should worship, but only polarize believers by inciting partisan fervor.

The miracle of Islam’s birth is that this 14 century-old religion was established by just one Prophet of Tawhid, acting all by him self. Even Prophet Jesus (a) was preceded by Prophet John (a) the Baptist.

Perhaps this is why Natan’el al-Fayyumi, a prominent 12th-century Yemenite rabbi and theologian, wrote in his philosophical treatise Bustan al-Uqul (“Garden of Wisdom”) that God sends prophets to establish religions for other nations, which do not have to conform to the precepts of the Jewish Torah.

Nethan’el explicitly considered Muhammad (s) a true prophet, who was sent from Heaven with a particular message that applies to the Arabs, but not to the Jews. Al-Fayymi’s explic it acceptance of Muhammad (s) as a Prophet of Tawhid for non-Jews throughout the world in general, and all idol-worshiping polytheists in particular, was virtually unknown until re cent times beyond his native Yemen, because Yemen was remote from almost all the other Jewish settlements in the Muslim world.

Some scholars might object that Orthodox Jews like Rabbi Nethan’el of Yemen could not possibly believe Muhammad (s) was a legiti

mate

Just as Muslims believe that there will be no more prophets after Muhammad (s), and Christians believe that there will be no more ‘sons of God’ after Jesus (a), Jews believed Jews would receive no more Jewish prophets until the Messianic Age. But that only applied to Jewish prophets.

There is no statement in rabbinic literature that states that no non-Jewish prophet will ever come. Muhammad’s (s) tribe traced their descent from Abraham (a) and Ishmael (a), so Muhammad (s) is a Abrahamic non-Jewish prophet like Job (a) (Eiyov in Hebrew- Ayyub in Arabic), who has his own book in the Bible, and is considered to be a non-Jew in most, but not all, rabbinical opinions.

There is no reason why a rabbi could not believe that Prophet Muhammad (s) had been sent by Allah as a Prophet of Tawhid and mer cy, to all idol-worshipping polytheists world wide to deliver the book of the Qur’an to them, and to also be a reforming prophet for those groups among the Jews and Christians who needed reforming.

I also believe that Prophet Muhammad (s) was sent to offer another whole Tawhid sacred scripture, confirming the previous ones, to all idol-worshipping polytheists, so they could join a new universal ummah of monotheists.

This book, the Qur’an, also serves as a guide to help both Jews and Christians reform some aspects of the orthodox teachings of their own religion that had developed over the previous five and a half centuries.

As a Reform Rabbi I believe that Jewish spiritual leaders should modify Jewish tra dition as social and historical circumstances change and develop. I also believe we should not make religion difficult for people to prac tice by adding an increasing number of restric tions to the commandments we received at Mount Sinai.

These are lessons that Prophet Muhammad (s) taught 12 centuries before the rise of Re form Judaism in the early 19th century Ger many. Although most Jews today are no longer Orthodox, if the Jews of Muhammad’s (s) time had followed these teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s), Reform Judaism would have started 1,400 years ago.

Allen S Maller is an ordained Reform Rabbi who retired in 2006 after 39 years as the Rab bi of Temple Akiba in Culver City, California. His web site is: www.rabbimaller.com.

Rabbi Maller blogs in the Times of Israel. His book ‘Judaism and Islam as Synergistic Monotheisms: A Reform Rabbi’s Reflections on the Profound Connectedness of Islam and Judaism’ (31 articles previously published by Islamic web sites) is for sale ($15) on Amazon.

prophet because Orthodox Jews believe that prophecy had ended two to three centuries prior to the birth of Jesus.

Social Spotlights

Today (22 Nov 2022), MWA CEO Maha Abdo joined NSW Treasurer @mattkean mp , Minister for Families and Commu nities and Minister for Disability Services @natashamaclarenjones Natasha Ma claren-Jones, the Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence @nataliewardmlc Natalie Ward, and local MP @wendylind saymp Wendy Lindsay, along with An nabelle Daniel of Women’s Community Shelters @womenscommunitysheltersau and Amanda Morgan of Make A Seat Australia @makeaseataustralia_ to an nounce funding that will enable frontline service providers to support up to an ad ditional 2,900 more women and children each year who have escaped domestic abuse and provide them with housing and specialist services.

The NSW Government are funding 39 new refuges that will provide critical sup port services for thousands of domestic violence victim-survivors and this funding represents the largest single capital in vestment in domestic and family violence in the NSW Government’s history where 39 new refuges will be designed in the new Core and Cluster model, an innova tive approach that provides independent living and access to critical services such as counselling, legal assistance and further education on site.

Dalya Ayoub @dalyaayoub

I am the last person to care about the world of sports or FIFA (a corrupt organi sation btw)…but…I was happy last night like millions of Muslims, for Saudi Ara bia’s win over Argentina…

It reminded me of two really important matters:

1. We forget that we are one ummah, despite the different flags they gave us (to divide our hearts)…and for the last century they systematically tried to make us against each other… but they failed and will always fail… as we are ONE um mah, our happiness is ONE, our sadness is ONE… our hope is ONE…and despite our differences the Kalima will forever unite us!

2. We are so hungry for any win (no matter how small in the scheme of things)…if this is how happy all the Ummah felt and celebrated for a win on a field of football; can you imagine our happiness when Palestine is liberated and every Muslim land is free from op pression!

Ya Rab soon… we really miss celebrat ing real victories!

Minarah College had the privilege of being visited by Mufti Menk and Omar Regan.

The Mufti addressed our students, he emphasised the importance of having good character in Islam.

The students’ were reminded to be re silient during tough times and to always remember the teachings of our prophet Muhammad (Pbuh).

The Hollywood Comedian, brother Omar Regan recalled motivational & humourous events that contributed to building his Islamic identity.

Discussions took place & student ques tions were answered. Our students were so inspired!

Students and staff members at Minarah College are very grateful for this visit.

Had a blast teaching the sisters mo saicing. They made some absolutely beautiful pieces, mashaAllah - loads of fun alhumdilullah

In my element...

I’m ever so grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be of service today at Malek Fahd Islamic School Greenacre campus, Sydney. We discussed about practical tips and strategies for nutritional care for children and young adults, and daily self-care and mind wellness strat egies for the whole family. Alhumdolillah today really made my soul smile.

Princess R Lakshman @princessrlakshman

Sonia Hilo

Muslim Women Australia

@muslimwomenaustralia

Minarah College

@MinarahCollegeFB

Muzafar Ali in Adelaide with Monga Khan and little helper.

Peter Drew Arts

@PeterDrewArts

In Pictures: Support for Palestine at FIFA World Cup

World cup fan expresses solidarity with Palestinians by raising the Palestinian flag during Spain and Germany match in Qatar World Cup.

Moroccan football fans have displayed a large “Free Palestine” banner in the Belgium vs Morocco match today. The gesture is in support of the Palestinian cause.

A Japanese fan wears the Palestine badge at the Qatar World Cup.