Issue 206 - January 2023

Religious Communities Advisory Council for NSW

The NSW Government has established a new Religious Communities Advisory Council in order to strengthen the engagement with the state’s multicultural and multi-faith communities.

Following a competitive, merit-based assessment process, 15 members have been appointed to the new council, which will be led by Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Chair Nick Kaldas.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure welcomed the new members, on Monday 19 November, who will advise on matters relating to religious communities across NSW.

“I want to thank each member for self-nominating themselves and helping the NSW Government strengthen engagement with faith communities,” Mr Coure said.

“While this is the first time a council like this has been created, it’s actually formalising the work and active collaboration that’s been happening between the NSW Liberal-National Government and religious communities for years.”

“We understand when communities and government work closely together, it leads to better outcomes for everyone, and that is exactly what we will achieve for religious communities across the state with this new advisory council.”

The members, who will all serve two-year terms, include:

• Imam Shadi Alsuleiman of the Australian National Imams Council

• Dr Basim Al-Ansari of the Office of the Ayatollah Al-Ansari

• Mr Darren Bark of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies

• Mr Murray Norman of ICCOREIS

• Reverend Father Fadi Nemme of St Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church

• Rt Reverend Dr Michael Stead of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney

• Pdt Ramachandra Athreiya of the Australian Council of Hindu Clergy

• Mr Surinder Jain of the Hindu Council of Australia

• Reverend Heather Joyce Topp of the Buddhist Council of NSW

• Mr Elias Attia of the Islamic Council of NSW

• Reverend David Riethmuller of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and ACT

• Mr Gawaine Powell Davies of the Buddhist Council of NSW

• Very Reverend Father Tadros El-Bakhoumi of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of NSW

• Ms Monica Doumit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney

• Mr Parviz Deamer of the Australian Baha’i Community

The Council’s work is guided by the Multicultural Principles, which are enshrined in the Multicultural NSW Act 2000 as the policy of the State in NSW. The council’s first meeting will be held on Monday 23 January 2023.

Celebrating Muslim high achievers at Sydney Opera House

The 15th Australian Muslim Achievement Awards were held on Sunday 4 December 2022 at the iconic Sydney Opera House with finalists and community leaders flying in from all over Australia to participate in celebrating high achievements within the Muslim community.

Amongst its award winners this year were Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi, Lifetime Achiever of the Year, Senator Fatima Payman, Role Model of the Year, Emeritus Professor Dr Syed Hasan Masood, Professional of the Year and many more in various different categories.

The Australian Muslim Achievement Awards, hosted by Mission of Hope led by Ms Hanan Dover raises the profile of Australian Muslims who serve both the mainstream and Australian Muslim communities excelling in many areas of influence, expertise, and community service.

AMAA is an annual event attended by peak organisations, businesses, individuals and the Muslim community at large celebrating the achievements of finalists and award recipients.

The 15th AMAA 2022 was organised with the event management expertise of Rahaf Ahmed of WhiteFlame and sponsorships provided by Halal Certification Authority, Tender Loving Care and The Tax Factor.

on page 10

ISRA graduates win record number of university medals

The 2022 cohort of graduates from Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC), Charles Sturt University (CSU) in partnership with the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) received their awards at the graduation ceremony held on Saturday 10 December 2022 at Waterview, Sydney Olympic Park.

This was the 10th annual graduation cer-

emony for CISAC with the largest number of graduating students and a record number with medals, four high achievers awarded the Post-Graduate University Medal with high distinction averages while one student was awarded University Medal completing her bachelors degree.

The Postgraduate University Medal recipients included Eden Kabir, Veronika Newton, Asim Razi completing Masters of Classical Arabic and Saba Swan completing Master of Islamic Studies. Jinane Jomaa

received a University Medal completing Bachelor of Islamic Studies.

Additionally Marcel Boulad and Hafsah Khan completed Bachelor of Islamic Studies with Distinction while Rinto Azhar and Nour Kamleh completed Master of Islamic Studies with Distinction.

Mir Sadeq Ansari was the sole awardee this year with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree.

AMUST Media

Zia Ahmad

From left: Imam Alaa Elzokm, Man of the Year and Firdousi Obeidullah, Woman of the Year at the 15th Australian Muslim Achievement Awards held on Sunday 4 December 2022 at the Sydney Opera House.

Zia Ahmad

Construction commences at Macarthur Memorial Park in Varroville

AMUST Media

Construction has commenced this month on a world-class memorial and botanic parkland destination at Varroville in south-west Sydney, providing the people of Campbelltown with a new place to care for loved ones, enjoy, gather and exercise.

Located at 166-176 St Andrews Rd, Varroville, the Macarthur Memorial Park will feature a new botanic parkland with 136,000 burial plots to be established over the next 100 years, partly fulfilling the pressing need for space in Sydney’s rapidly growing and diverse multicultural population.

A recent government report found that if there is no change to existing cremation and grave occupancy rates, cemetery capacity in metropolitan Sydney for Jews and Muslims would be exhausted in the next five years.

CEO of the not-for-profit Catholic Cemeteries + Crematoria, Mr Peter O’Meara said “We are delighted to commence the construction of these new botanic parklands, which will feature facilities for the local community such as lakes, walking tracks and a café, creating a place of peace and reflection for the whole community.”

“We will be adopting a successful overseas model where memorial parklands are now quiet and beautiful places of recreation

for all the family, with groves of trees, lakes and open space. For all intents and purposes they are not cemeteries but beautiful open spaces.”

“We will ensure that the burial plots are discreetly positioned inside bush-lined enclosures and the interment practices and beliefs of all religious and cultural groups are respected, with a state of the art chapel and function centre”, he added.

Chairman of the Muslim Cemeteries Board, Mr Kazi Ali said the lack of burial space has created a real crisis for his community and the new multi-faith cemeteries are long overdue.

“Our cemetery space is close to capacity

Muslim Lawn

and with the Muslim community forecast to continue growing over the coming decades, new cemeteries like the Macarthur Memorial Park are critical.” Mr Ali said.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies also welcomed the start of construction, stating the Jewish community was projected to run out of graves available for purchase in Sydney within a few years, and the new cemetery will provide for our community’s burial needs at least until the end of the century.

The botanic parklands at Varroville will include passive recreation areas, gardens and landscaped walkways accessible to everyone in the community in perpetuity.

Kemps Creek Memorial Park has a dedicated lawn for the Muslim community with peaceful rural vistas.

Human Rights Day: Support for sanctions against violators

Dr Faroque Amin

The Australian government should take serious action against state violators of human rights including Bangladesh, said Senator David Shoebridge and other speakers during a Round-Table Discussion in Sydney organised on Human Rights Day on Saturday 10 December 2022.

The event jointly organised by South Asian Policy Initiative (SAPI) and Global Voice for Humanity (GVH) was held at Lakemba Sports Club where the keynote paper was presented by Dr Mahmudur Rahman, an exiled Bangladeshi journalist, academic, author and the Editor of Amar Desh newspaper.

It was pointed out that sanctions under the Magnitsky Act is one of the best effective tools to prevent human rights violators who oppress people in countries such as Bangladesh, gather vast wealth through corruption and finally find safe havens in Western countries.

At the commencement of the round table discussion, Uncle David Bell, Aboriginal elder and indigenous community leader provided Welcome to the Country, paid respect to the indigenous people of this land and their elders past, present and emerging.

He mentioned that the aboriginal people in this continent faced gross human rights violations for centuries, and it is never too late to remedy that injustice.

In his paper titled “Calling for sanction against human rights abusers”, Dr Mahmudur Rahman provided an account of how the fascist government of Bangladesh has been carrying out extrajudicial murders, enforced

disappearance, torture and mass arrest for more than a decade.

He mentioned that the US Treasury Department sanctioned the Bangladeshi security force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) last year, but the autocratic government didn’t stop their inhumane practices.

Dr Rahman called for more Western countries to impose sanctions on Bangladesh’s authoritarian government to force them to stop such practices.

Senator David Shoebridge said that while the Australian government has imposed sanctions on officials in Iran and Russia on the very day of this event for their human rights violations it needs to take more effective measures against many other autocratic regimes, including Bangladesh.

He mentioned that he is committed to working towards this cause in the federal parliament in the upcoming days.

Zia Ahmad, Editor-in Chief of the Australasian Muslim Times AMUST, said that the sanction imposed by the Australian government under the Magnitsky Act so far against Russian and Iranian officials are ideologically motivated and should be extended to other oppressive regimes.

He specifically called out for sanctions against violators of human rights of Palestinians, Kashmiris and Indian minorities as well as those in Bangladesh under the dictatorial Hasina government.

Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman from Asian Human Rights Commission stated that the worst outcome of human rights abuse in Bangladesh is the denial of justice for the people.

He said that the same RAB sanctioned by the US Treasury Department was trained by the UK security forces as recently as in October 2022, which is a betrayal by the British government of its taxpaying citizens.

Veronica Koman from Amnesty Interna-

Platform to promote unity of the Ummah

tional said that her organisation could only support sanctions regimes they are imposed by several governments together due to Amnesty policy standards. However, Amnesty is aware of the situation in Bangladesh and many other countries and working towards stopping human rights abuses.

She mentioned that the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong has announced on the same day that the government would appoint a Human Rights Ambassador, which indicates that the Australian government is working towards a positive outcome in this regard.

Several other community representatives, human rights activists and media personnel joined the round table conversation. Among them, James Supple from Refugee Action Coalition, Renuga Inpakumar from the Tamil community, Farid Galib from Refugee Advice and Casework Services, Ziad elDaud from Islamic Charity Projects Association, Syed Atiq ul Hassan from Tribune International, Hanif Bismi from 5News Australia, Faruk Ahmed Khan, a prominent Bangladeshi community leader, Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Arif from BNP Australia, Sohel Iqbal and Zakir Alam Lenin from Zia Forum Australia, Habibur Rahman, a human rights activist, Faruk Hossain from Care Bangladesh and Munni Chowdhury Medha,

a Bangladeshi pollical activist talked about human rights situation in various countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Palestine and so on.

All participants agreed that sanctions against regimes violating human rights are an effective tool to stop them and the Western countries need to do much more than what they are doing now.

Rahat Shantonu, a popular singer from Bangladesh, sang a song describing the vast protests in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, organised by the BNP, the largest democratic party in the country.

Shibly Sohail, an academic from Charles Sturt University and the convenor of the South Asian Policy Initiative (SAPI) moderated the round table discussion in a most competent manner.

Mr Abdullah Yusuf Shamim, Editor-in-Chief and Dr Faroque Amin, Editor of Suprovat Sydney and the Treasurer of SAPI, thanked all the participants for their valuable contributions and demonstration of their commitment to the cause of protection of human rights globally.

Dr Faroque Amin works with Suprovat Sydney, a Bengali community newspaper published from Sydney, Australia.

In a meeting held on Thursday 1 December 2022 in Auburn, a steering committee of Australian Muslim Peace Federation (AMPF) was formed with the responsibility of advancing its activities towards achieving its goals and objectives.

Dr Wali Islam was nominated as the coordinator of the committee and given responsibility to facilitate focused activities. Other members of the committee include Ghassan Alassadi, Mohammad Hanif and Asim Raza.

AMPF was formed to provide a platform in order to promote the voice of Muslims irrespective of their nationality, cultural background, and different schools of thought based on the concept of one Ummah.

Its overall goal is to eliminate the sectarianism and face divisive challenges by peaceful means and create opportunities for growth of Muslims as united community.

It also aims to encourage Muslims to be proactive in contributing towards making Australian society tolerant, where its multicultural community may continue to thrive in harmony and strive for greater prosperity and peace.

The organisation endeavours to provide opportunities for all Muslims to gather, enjoy, share views and ideas as well get actively involved in building peace and harmony for community development programs through viable projects.

This will be achieved mainly through propagating peaceful messages of Islam so that the understandings between Muslims and wider Australian society consistently improves and they can work collaboratively and coherently in making Australia a better country.

Every Muslim is most welcome!

For any further information and to become a part of AMPF, please contact Dr Wali Islam (Telephone: +61 4 270 828 Email: islam.wali6@gmail.com).

Allah is the First

Sukoon Quteifan is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Sydney, Australia. She is the creator and the illustrator of “Sukoon Al Quloob - Peace of Hearts”, an Islamic Cartoons

Sukoon Quteifan

“He is the First, and the Last, the Most High and the Most Near, and He has perfect knowledge of all things.” - The Holy Qur’an 57:3.

facebook page. You can follow her on facebook @SukoonQuteifanArt.

AMUST Media

Safeguarding women’s education, rights and freedoms

Education is a pre-requisite to the awareness of individual rights leading to freedom of thought and action in healthy human societies.

Islamic teachings explicitly emphasise the acquisition of knowledge or education for both males and females connecting it with success in the hereafter.

Islamic world-view does not divide knowledge into religious and secular spheres, but develops the idea of wholistic knowledge, knowledge through religious sources, revelations and acquired through human efforts, thinking exploration or experimentation.

Education is a must to lead a successful life in this world by developing es sential skills of communication, interaction, interpretation, critical thinking, earning a living and financial security.

Education is also important for both genders to be aware of one’s own rights and those of others around in family, in society, in a nation-state and globally.

The news coming from Af ghanistan regarding the curtailment of the rights of women is highly concerning especially if the justification given by the Taliban regime is on the basis of some misinterpretation or disinterpretation of Islamic teachings or based on medieval cultural or tribal values.

Education for women in society must be

given top priority and restrictions based on segregation, modest dress and cultural practices are not justified.

Women, just like men have their birthright to acquire knowledge, learn life skills in all areas of human endeavours, live with freedom and negotiate their rights with the opposite gender in marriage, family and society.

Education of women and development of modern skills in communication and everyday living including the option to work leads to prosperity in family, better care of children and utilisation of half of the resources of a society put to good use.

A Woman should have the choice to acquire education at the highest level, chose their profession and engage in the workforce as and when necessary balancing with the rearing of children, sharing the responsibility with their life partner.

Moreover education also prepares women to be aware of their rights in the family and in society free of oppression and exploitation by others hence avoiding domestic violence.

To live with dignity and freedom is again a basic human right equally important for both males and females. Dominance and exploitation of one gender over the other gender is absolutely unjustified.

Again news coming from Iran, the treatment of demonstrators especially women has been of great concern for the interna-

tional community.

What started as an excessive use of force on the enforcement of modest dress code leading to the death of a woman snowballed into an anti-hijab frenzy ending into widespread anti-government movement.

Exploitation of the situation by foreign anti-Iran opposition groups and excessive force by Iranian law enforcement authorities combined to inflame the matter further out of control.

Although Iranian women have made great strides in post-revolution Iran, in education including higher education, employment in all sectors of human activity, their freedoms, safety and rights to expression and peaceful demonstration need to be safeguarded.

Education of girls and women would lead them to advocate for their rights leading to their freedom within family, in society, in state and globally away from their domestic or societal oppression and exploitation.

Readers comments

Re: Anwar Ibrahim Story (December issue #205)

I have to take issue with your suggestion, in the December issue of AMUST, that Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s new PM should reconcile with the Islamic party, (PAS). Sadly PAS is no longer the icon of Islamic solidarity it once was.

At the previous election Anwar was part of a coalition which deposed UMNO, the party which had ruled Malaysia for over 50 years. It was a party mired in fraud and corruption at its most senior level and a party which the old leadership of PAS resolutely refused to be involved with. Sadly the new leadership of PAS, lured by a chance at power combined with a still corrupt UMNO to overthrow Anwar’s government.

Roll on to the most recent election and Anwar successfully assembled a coalition to push UMNO out and become PM. PAS was offered a role in this coalition and refused, not because of any Islamic principles but because the coalition included Malay Chinese and Indians.

The hand of reconciliation was offered and PAS slapped it away. The former leadership of its erstwhile ally, UMNO stands convicted of defrauding the Malaysian people

of billions and current party members are under investigation for even more billions in fraudulent activities. PAS had its chance but chose to make its bed with the bandits.

They are not Islamic as the conditions of

workers has shown very starkly indeed.

Islam came as a mercy to the world, not as an engine of oppression of the poor.

Tribal kingdoms which lach representative and responsible government can never serve as examples of islam.

Tribal kingdoms hated by the UAE and Saudi Arabia create some symnpathetic support but that is not enough to cover their record.

Community

8 - 17

- Hurstville Mosque: $4.8 million raised

- SUMSA: 50th anniversary

- FunFest: Celebrating all abilities

Australia 18 - 20

- Solidarity: Aboriginal & Jewish people - Sydney interfaith service

Lifestyle

21 - 23

- Your brain has a mind of its own

- Safa Aly redefining modest fashion - Worried about the cost of living?

Ummah

- Teacher steps on Muslim students

- My parents arrested for being buddhist

27 - 29

24 - 26 Education

- Authenticity and validity of Qur’an

- Is Hijri calendar relevant to humanity?

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

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Distributers: Abul Fateh Siddiqui, Shujaat Siddiqui, Usaid Khalil, Ibrahim Khalil, Usman Siddiqui, Zahid Alam, Shahab Siddiqui, Mahmoud Jaame, Mateen Abbas, Rashid Idris, Sakinah Ahmad, Anjum Rafiqi, Hasan Fazeel, Dr Quasim, Ismail Hossain, Hanif Bismi, Luqman Landy.

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

Gary Dargan

Re: Celebrating Muslim high achievers at Sydney Opera House MashaAllah!

Congratulations to all the Winners!. Mohammed Feroz Shaikh

Re: The world should show respect to Qatar’s values

The question remains – what are Qatar’s values?

migrant

Bilal Cleland

Federal Youth Steering Committee amplifies young voices

One of the promises of the Labor government during their recent election campaign was to establish a youth steering committee which would inform government decisions impacting young people.

This has fortunately been fulfilled with the establishment of a groundbreaking 2022 Youth Steering Committee, organised by the Department of Education, Minister for Youth and Australian Youth Affairs Coalition.

The committee is made up of 15 young people, aged 12-25 years of age from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences across Australia.

I had the privilege of being selected as one of the committee members through the application process and joined some incredible young people for our first meeting.

The meeting was held in November, in Canberra and gave us the opportunity to plan our goals and purpose, as well as meet with several politicians.

We had the pleasure of meeting Minister Anne Aly, the Minister for Youth and Minister for Early Childhood Education, who plays a major role in the committee’s work.

I met many other inspiring politicians, in-

cluding Senator Fatima Payman and Minister Linda Burney. These are all trailblazers in the Australian parliament, with Fatima being the first Hijab-wearing woman in the Senate and Minister Burney the first Indigenous woman in the House of Representatives.

I also had the privilege of meeting my local member for Reid, Sally Sitou. It was amazing to be able to hear from and interact with these experienced politicians as part of the meeting.

For a long time, there has been little and, at times, next to no government consultation with young people, meaning that decisions regarding young people have been made in their absence.

This committee is crucial in recognising that young people are experts in the experiences and issues they face. It acknowledges that this expertise is valuable and can greatly benefit major institutions like the government.

It also recognises that young people are not a homogenous demographic and appreciates diversity and intersectionality.

“Young people make up more than 15 percent of our population, it’s important we don’t paint them with one brush of being young or disengaged or only caring about one issue,” Dr Anne Aly stated in a press release, illustrating the importance of this diverse representation.

I am optimistic this initiative will establish a norm of youth engagement, with a

sustainable and thorough youth engagement model to be formalised.

It is important this occurs, with so many issues directly or otherwise impacting young people. Just some of these issues include cost of living, education, climate change and mental health. When young people get to have a say in how these issues are addressed, policy and outcomes improve.

I am grateful for the opportunity to con-

tribute to this important space and give back to young people. The committee is very excited to continue working together and to see the benefits to come!

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

Why aren’t Adelaide’s Protestant Christians talking to Muslims?

Greg MacDonald

A recent study exploring the factors affecting Christian-Muslim dialogue in Adelaide highlighted a reluctance among Protestant Christians in Adelaide to engage with Muslims. The study, which involved church leaders and members from the Uniting Church of Australia, highlighted a generalised ‘fear of the unknown’ as a major factor.

All Christians involved in the study admitted to having little or no knowledge of Islam but considered the need for dialogue with Muslims as something very important for society.

However, only those Christians who had a close relationship with a Muslim indicated having participated in a type of interfaith activity with Muslims.

A personal relationship with a Muslim was shown to motivate a curiosity among Christian participants to develop a deeper understanding of Islam.

Christians who merely had a professional relationship with a Muslim, or who had no interaction with Muslims, did not exhibit this level of curiosity.

Christians with no personal relationship to a Muslim were shown to be reluctant to engage in dialogue with Muslims. This reluctance was usually based on particular types of fear.

Often it was just a generalised fear of the unknown, other times it was more specific. For some, it was a fear of rejection based the church’s openness to gay marriage. For others, there was a fear of theological confrontation or a fear of proselytizing.

The study also highlighted some institu-

tional issues inhibiting the church from initiating contact with the Muslim community.

The ever-increasing secularising of Australian society combined with an ageing church membership, was shown to diminish a church’s congregational confidence to engage in non-traditional activities, such as Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Decades of research has shown that activities, such as Christian-Muslim dialogue, is essential for diverse societies such as Australia. This is because these types of intergroup contact reduce prejudice towards minority groups and promote greater inclusivist attitudes within majority groups.

Therefore, promoting activities which enable Christians and Muslims to interact can be seen as an important tool in promoting social inclusion.

In recognition of this, there was a general consensus among Christian participants of the need to engage with the Muslim community. However, the negative factors discussed above, were shown to be inhibiting this exchange from taking place.

In the words of one Christian participant, “Getting interaction going is difficult. People are fearful of Muslims because it’s an unknown and it’s really easy to be afraid of something that you don’t understand.”

What this study demonstrated, was the power of interfaith friendships to inspire curiosity, disrupt stereotyping and build social cohesion. It will require some degree of interaction between Adelaide’s Protestant Christians and the Muslim community to foster those types of friendships.

It is hoped this study will inspire Adelaide’s Christian community to reach out and take those first tentative steps towards friendship.

Greg MacDonald is a PhD candidate with the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education, University of South Australia.

Anhaar Kareem

This committee is crucial in recognising that young people are experts in the experiences and issues they face.

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Focussing on Islamicity rather than ritual practices

Bilal Cleland

The need for deepened Islamic consciousness is brought into perspective when we look at the example of the Prophetic Period and the Righteously Guided Caliphs.

Total focus on such matters as beard length, trouser length, hijab style while social justice, effective and responsible governance and respect for the rights endowed by the Creator on all human beings, get but cursory attention, is a problem.

The theme of social justice in the Gospels, such as the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, was carried from the earlier prophets and culminated in the teachings of the last Prophet Mohammad (s).

Islam demands Social Justice Wealth must be fairly distributed and not hoarded by the rich.

“And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveller - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden yourefrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” (Quran 59:7)

Prophet Muhammad (s) said: “Everyone is a keeper unto every other and responsible for the welfare of all.” [Bukhari Hadith number 893, and Muslim Hadith number 1829]

Upon this foundation the social justice which accompanied the spread of Islam was established.

Umar ibn Al-Khattab (r) the second Caliph, continued the work of Muhammad (s) and the first caliph Abu Bakr (r). Social justice encompassed all people in the society

independent of creed or ethnicity.

He proclaimed: “The weak among you shall be strong with me until their rights have been vindicated, and the strong among you shall be weak with me until, if the Lord wills, I have taken what is due from them…”

He also made it clear the role of the Quran:

“Imbibe the teachings of the Qur’an, then practice what the Qur’an teaches. The Qur’an is not a theory; it is a practical code of life. The Qur’an does not only bring you the message of the hereafter, it also primarily intends to guide you in this life.”

One of the major factors in the rapid spread of Islam was its implementation of social equality and justice.

“Those who merely describe `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (r) as a great conqueror whose conquests exceeded those of Charlemagne and Julius Caesar do not appreciate that Umar (r) tried to spread Islam by captivating human minds through his doctrine of social equality and social justice.” [Khalid B Sayed, Islamonline]

The picture oday from the Islamicity Index

No longer do we find such examples in Muslim majority countries.

The Islamicity Index theorised by Hossein Askari of George Washington University ranking countries on features emphasised in Islamic teaching is based on indicators of Islam according to the Quran and the Life of Muhammad (s).

Countries were ranked on 4 main factors, economy, legal and governance, human and political rights and international relations.

The details of each of the factor can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yw2myamw

Rankings have been published each year till 2021.

The latest detailed index is at: https://tinyurl.com/2p93a2jc

New Zealand was at number 1 overall ranking in 2019 and was still number 1 in 2021. It is followed by Denmark, Ireland, Iceland and Sweden.

Australia is ranked in 2021 at 11, a drop from 10 in 2019.

The highest overall ranking of a Muslim majority country in 2019 was UAE at rank 44, improved to 43 by 2021. Malaysia took the leading position in 2021 with a rank of 39. It had been 33 in 2014.

Qatar at 111 in 2014 had improved markedly. It was ranked at 51 in 2019 then 50 by 2022.

India, home to many millions of Muslims under the BJP, in 2019 ranked 88. This had dropped to 98 by 2021.

The median ranking of Muslim countries was 109 in 2019 and 108 in 2021. Barely noticeable.

Economy

Economy includes many major social justice factors such as equal access to education and health care, economic opportunity and economic freedom, and provision of aid to meet basic human need.

The top ten ranking countries also ranked in the top ten on this, excluding expensive Iceland which was 15. Australia at an over-

all ranking of 11 ranked 14 on this factor, a bit better than Canada on 19.

UAE came in at 17 but Malaysia was at 35. Indonesia at 54 was not as bad as might be expected nor was wealthy Saudi Arabia at 51 but Iran was at 134, worse than Afghanistan at 132.

The median ranking for Muslim majority countries was 96. A small improvement from 102 in 2019.

Post-colonial Muslim Countries

As we can see from this study, the Muslim world faces great problems.

Much wealth has been looted over the past couple of centuries from the Muslim world, especially Africa, which is majority Muslim, as well as the Middle East.

Post-colonial regimes were often installed to look after the interests of the imperial powers, not the inhabitants of the lands.

There is much to be done.

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

Writing news articles based on critical thinking

This article is responding to a young Muslimah AMUST-writer who requested I “provide advice on developing articles useful in urging people to think and build more informed opinions.”

There are strong reasons to encourage Muslims to take-up journalism to present the noble Islamic perspective. Firstly, because Islam represents the shining beacon of truth for all humanity till the end of time.

Secondly, as Islam and Muslims have been the brunt of a well-orchestrated global campaign of misrepresentation and bias, we need to reassert and clarify its universal message.

Guidance is provided by “Strengthening Critical Thinking Skills among Muslim Students” by AbdulKarim (Islam and Civilisational Renewal 2010), Critical Thinking by Bassham (2011) and Newswriter’s Handbook by Stein/Paterno (2006).

Islam is a ‘religion of reason’. Al-Qur’an encourages reason and frequently uses expressions ‘those who use their intellect’ (ya’qiluun), ‘those who think’ (yatafakkaruun), ‘those who understand (yafqahuun)’ (AbdulKarim):

“We revealed a book in which is a message for you: Will you not then use reason (ta’qiluun)?” (Quran 21:10)

“Will they not ponder (yatadabbaruun) on the Qur’an?” (Quran 47:24)

It censures people who don’t think: “The worst of beasts in God’s sight are the deaf and dumb, those who understand not.” (Quran 8:22)

While thinking facilitates the expression of theories, views or policies, critical thinking (CT) evaluates them. CT can identify faulty argumentation and helps develop a position free of contradictions. CT protects against deception. It aims to strengthen certainty (yaqin) of knowledge.

All arguments attempt to provide reasons for thinking some claim is true/real: how things really are. “Critical thinkers [should] recognize that truth is objective, not relative.” (Bowell/Kemp)

Khurshid Ahmad highlighted the need for CT in regeneration of the Ummah. Taqlid or ‘indiscriminate imitation’ is “held to be the single most damaging cause of decline of CT among Muslims.”

CT can identify causes of social decline and prescribe remedies for its regeneration based on Islam. Al-Qur’an refers to itself as a criterion (furqan). Islam teaches what to accept and reject, what is right and true (haqq) or wrong (batil).

Islamic CT uses revealed knowledge as the criterion for differentiating right/wrong and so differs from ‘Western’ CT, which accords with only empirically-verifiable knowledge. (AbdulKarim)

CT insists on evidence before something is accepted as true. Substantiating claims with evidence helps achieve justice. AlQur’an admonishes:

“O you who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm people unwittingly.” (Quran 49:6)

It advises to verify reports and not jump to conclusions driven by a desire, as this can cause injustice. (AbdulKarim)

Suriyakhatun Osman observes, “CT is thinking as clearly as we can, avoiding faulty thinking.” Critical thinkers are analytical, self-confident and inquisitive. “There will be things we perceive to be true that turn out to be untrue.”

One important CT quality is intellectual courage – “the ability to think and voice unpopular thoughts. This is the Path of all Prophets and Reformers.”

CT covers a “range of skills needed to

identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments and truth claims; to … overcome personal preconceptions/biases; to formulate/present convincing reasons in support of conclusions; and make intelligent decisions about what to believe and do.

CT is governed by standards of clarity, precision, accuracy, relevance, consistency, logical correctness and fairness.” Critical thinkers exhibit traits of disciplined thinking: honesty; intellectual humility; open-mindedness; perseverance, love of truth and sensitivity to ways CT can be skewed by egocentrism, cultural centrism, unwarranted assumptions, stereotypes and wishful thinking. (Bassham).

To remove bias, a writer should “Stand firmly for justice, as witness to God, even against yourselves, or parents or kin, and whether it be against the rich or poor.” (4:135)

The Core Process critical thinkers use: First, they address a question/problem; second, they think it through using reasoning elements; third, they reason-out aspects of the issue based on the relevant discipline; fourth, they monitor their reasoning using CT standards.

Understanding requires seeing the whole and parts in perspective.

CT involves analysis, synthesis, evaluation. Analysis breaks things down into its components, such as the reasoning elements (below), and reviews the topic on the basis of each. Synthesis brings reasoning together and helps decide on a course(s) of action. (Nosich)

Christchurch Mosque. New Zealand

Dr Daud Batchelor

Hurstville Mosque: $4.8 million pledged

Thursday 1 December saw well over 1,000 Muslims in attendance at the Highline Venue in Bankstown for a gala night to raise funds for the Hurstville Masjid project.

The four-hour function included a magnificent dinner and some beautiful Islamic recitals and reminders – along with fascinating interviews conducted by the evening’s Masters of Ceremonies, Osman Karolia and Muhammad Khodr.

These included an in-depth chat with champion multi-code sportsmen Hamza Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine, while best friends and practicing Muslims, Oz and Omar, recent winners of Channel Nine’s top-rating home renovations program The Block, were also introduced to the large audience.

Williams and Mundine have both been staunch supporters of the Hurstville Masjid project since its early days, and the pair –who surely rank among Australia’s highest profile reverts to Islam – spoke passionately about their vision for the new mosque, as well as recalling some touching moments from their pasts.

Mundine recollected when still a child himself, he approached but was shunned by a high profile sportsman who at the time was one of his heroes….which is why he vowed early on never to ignore any requests for autographs, selfies or the like from fans during his own illustrious sporting career.

Williams relived the night of the 2015 rugby union World Cup Final in London, when playing in the victorious New Zealand All Blacks side, he gifted his winner’s medallion to a young fan who had invaded the pitch and was being admonished by security guards for his audacious behaviour before the famous footballer came to his aid.

There has never been any question about the generosity of Sydney’s Muslim Community and this was again well and truly vindicated last Thursday evening.

The event wasn’t just a “runaway success” ….it surely broke all records in terms of single-night Muslim fundraisers in Australia when it was revealed that an incredible $4.8 million had been pledged for the Hurstville Masjid project.

Sheikh Dr Kamal Taleb has been the driv-

ing force for this fantastic project from day one and he related some of the tough battles that he and the Hurstville Masjid committee have been through in order for this dream to become a reality.

“It’s been a very tough struggle and it has taken three years just for the Development Application (DA) to be approved,” Sheikh Kamal told AMUST.

“We began the application process prior to COVID-19 which obviously delayed things and initially there were problems with the Council and resistance from local residents.

“We had to outlay $467,000 on studies of acoustics and traffic in order to satisfy our case before the Lands and Environment Court, which we eventually won – Alhamdulillah,” Sheikh Kamal said.

The new Masjid will be built on the site of a run-down aged care facility at 88/90 Botany St, Carlton, a South Sydney suburb, which will be overhauled and transformed into a beautiful mosque and community hub.

“The aged care facility of 52 rooms will basically have its interior ‘gutted’, with many of the walls to come down, while the rear section of the complex will be demolished for parking, as will a neighbouring house which we have also purchased,” Sheikh Kamal revealed.

Sheikh Dr Kamal Taleb gave an in-depth information on the Hurstville Masjid project to AMUST.

“These days, Hurstville is virtually a city in its own right and there are around 20,000 Muslims in the area who will now have access to this new complex which will not only house a wonderful, spacious (2,000 square metre) Masjid but will also be a ‘one stop shop’ for Islamic services and initiatives.”

“I cannot stress how wonderful the local Muslim community has been in terms of financial – and moral – support and in some cases there are businesses and individuals who’ve been behind us for months and even years.”

“They include: Bilal El-Cheikh from Piety Group; Hamza Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine; Rabih Ayoubi from Fresh Poultry; Ahmad Merhi from Living Fresh; the Yasser Nasser family; Amer Affouf from ABS Smash Repairs; Mehdi Dennoui; Ahmad Ibrahim; Scott Mergatroid from Veloce Café; Safwon Abdulrahman from SAF Development; Muhammad Abbas from Action Arbor; Ridwan Mutasalem from Radwan Pharmacy; Bilal and Walid Afyouni from ABW Foods and Saeed Halbouni.”

“Further thanks goes to everyone who took part in the promotional videos from

amongst the elders and the young with specific mention to all the charitable organisations such as MATW, Merciful Group; In Need Of Help; Muslim Global Aid and Sadaqa Welfare.”

“Finally, thank you to everyone else who has helped and supported us from amongst the Sheikhs, Associations, Councillors, donors and all others who have played a hand in making this a successful project – including last Thursday night’s organisers Rahef Ahmed and her team, the presenters and other speakers and reciters, Think Studio for the camera and video footage and of course, Mr Hussin Goss, who is in a class of his own when it comes to charity auctioneers.”

“The prophet Muhammad (s) said: ‘He who does not thank the people does not thank Allah’,” Sheikh Kamal concluded.

Last Sunday night’s coverage of the Hurstville Masjid project on Channel Nine News was fantastic and included some great footage revealing a side of Hamza Sonny Bill Williams which is far removed from the imposing and uncompromising figure we know him to be on the football field and in the boxing ring.

Commenting on the battle to gain DA approval for the Hurstville Masjid project, Williams told reporter Lauren Tomasi: “It has been four years or more in the making and it’s long overdue but thank God, we are here now.”

As for his life as a Muslim, he added: “There are a lot of us out there (Muslims), many in the sporting world and we walk that same walk and have our struggles like everyone else.

“God willing, a lot of goodwill will come out of this Masjid.”

AMUST is delighted that the Hurstville area will finally have a Masjid of this magnitude, which will be the focal point of a massive hub that our community can be justly proud of.

Please watch our various platforms for further updates as this fantastic project progresses in coming months.

Visit the link below to view Channel Nine’s full news item concerning the Hurstville Masjid project including further comments from Hamza Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine. https://tinyurl.com/2s5ffydu

And to donate towards this fantastic cause, please visit:

hurstvillemasjid.com.au/donate-now

Muslim revert sports icons Hamza Sonny Bill Williams (right) and Anthony Mundine (left) at the Hurstville Masjid project fundraiser on Thursday 1 December at the Highline Venue in Bankstown.

Sheikh Dr Kamal Taleb (left), the driving force behind the Hurstville Masjid Project.

Hussin Goss, Muslim community’s expert auctioneer at the Hurstville Masjid Project fundraiser on Thursday 1 December at the Highline Venue in Bankstown.

Oz and Omar, recent winners of Channel Nine’s top-rating home renovations program “The Block”.

Sheikh Abdul Salam Zoud.

Osman Karolia, MC of the event.

ISRA graduates win record number of university medals

Continued from page 1

The graduands were presented to Professor Graham Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and received their awards from Professor John McDonald, Executive Dean Faculty of Arts and Education, both from CSU.

ISRA graduations are a unique combination of intellectual, academic, emotional and spiritual experience held in a dignified yet family-friendly atmosphere where the graduating student is given the opportunity to deliver a short reflection on his/her educational experience.

The formal program was started by the

After Acknowledgement of Country, in order to commence the proceedings, one of the Bachelor of Islamic Studies graduate, Mohamed Younus Mohamed Saheed Ali, recited from the Holy Quran, Sarah Rahman verses 1-28.

A/Prof Mehmet Ozalp, Executive Director of CISAC, CSU delivered the Welcome Address, congratulating the graduating students and their families for support.

Imam Salman Parkar was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, he serves as the Imam of the largest mosque in Western Australia, Masjid Al-Raḥmān, Gosnells.

Imam Salmaan supplemented his previous

religious studies by completing a Bachelor of Islamic Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Islamic Studies at ISRA and is currently writing his Masters Thesis, pursuing a Master of Islamic Studies.

During his address, Imam Salmaan talked about his journey of pursuing Islamic education and shared his valuable experience in providing religious and educational service to the Muslim community in WA.

The graduating students were formally congratulated by Prof Graham Brown who were welcomed with gifts by the ISRA Alumni community.

Prof John McDonald congratulated CISAC staff for disseminating educational excellence to their students and commended their programs that were attracting new students well and above the numbers expected.

There were 58 graduating students, 1 Associate Degree in Islamic Studies, 2 Diploma of Islamic Studies, 20 Bachelor of Islamic Studies, 2 Graduate Certificate in Classical Arabic, 5 Graduate Certificate in Islamic Studies, 3 Graduate Diploma of Classical Arabic, 4 Graduate Diploma of Islamic Studies, 11 Master of Arts (Classical Arabic), 10 Master of Islamic Studies and 1 Doctor of Philosophy.

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

MC Berat Karaca with the entry of the academic procession followed by the national anthem.

Dr Zuleyha Keskin, Course Director based in Melbourne addressed the students to conclude the program by turning towards their families and thanking them for their support.

AMAA 2022: Celebrating Muslim high achievers at Sydney Opera House

Continued from page 1

After a break during COVID-19 pandemic AMAA 2022 was held at Yallamundi Rooms facing the Sydney Harbour at the Sydney Opera House attended by Ministers and politicians, community and business leaders and companions and families of finalists.

The diverse range of nominees, finalists and winners were selected through a strict criterion in each category by panels of judges from across Australia making the 2022 nominations most competitive in the 15year history of the awards.

The formal program at the event was started by the MC, Sara Mansour of the Bankstown Poetry Slam fame, helped by Omar and Oz from The Block with the recitation of Quran by Sheikh Jamal.

Ms Hanan Dover during her welcome address acknowledged the traditional custodians of the land, the first people of Australia as well as the VIP’s present at the vent.

Talking about the highly competitive nature of the awards this year, she said, “we accept nominations from your peers and from the community, and even if the nominations aren’t really flush, our responsibility and mission of hope is to make that nomination as excellent as possible so that it increases your chances among the judges to be voted on.”

She further added, “all the finalists here are special. You’re all winners. It was extremely, extremely competitive. So to get to the stage where you’re a finalist is a testament to your excellence in your particular area of of service, be it, you know, community volunteering, politics, business organisation, we’re really proud of what you actually offer for not only the community, but for your own selves, because we know we’re an Ummah and when someone wins, we all celebrate collectively.”

The winners in each of the award categories were announced and were called to the stage to receive them and at the same time to

say a few words.

The Lifetime Achiever of the Year award was won by Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi AM, the Melbourne based veteran Muslim leader of Pakistani origin who migrated to Australia with his wife in 1961.

He was the first Chairman of the Islamic Council of Victoria in 1962 and was instrumental in setting up in establishing the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies (AFIS) in 1964 and served as the chair for almost 10 years.

The Role Model of the Year award was shared by Senator Fatima Payman Ayah Wehbe while Professional of the Year award was won by Melbourne based Emeritus Professor Dr Syed Hasan Masood.

The audience were also addressed by the Minister for Multiculturalism, Mr Mark Coure, Mr Jihad Dib MP and several other guests.

Zuhr prayer was offered in the outside foyer of the Opera House facing the Sydney Harbour.

AMAA 2022 Winners

Woman of the Year

Firdousi Obeidullah

Man of the Year

Imam Alaa Elzokm

Youth of the Year

Daniya Syed

Professional of the Year

Emeritus Professor Dr Syed Hasan Masood

Role Models of the Year Senator Fatima Payman Ayah Wehbe

Sportsperson of the Year Nagmeldin

Creative Artist of the Year Subhi Alshaik

Volunteer of the Year Osman Rane

People’s Choice of the Year Tagrid Ahmad Community Organisation of the Year Community Care Kitchen

Best New Community Project of the Year Arise Foundation

Business of the Year Hejaz Financial Services

Event of the Year The Eid Show

Media Person/Organisation of the Year One4Kids

Lifetime Achiever of the Year Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi

‘Peter’ Bol

Hejaz Financial Services, Business of the Year.

Community Care Kitchen, Community Organisation of the Year.

Dr Abdul Khaliq Kazi, Lifetime Achiever of the Year.

Ayah Wehbe & Senator Fatima Payman, Role Models of the Year.

Nagmeldin ‘Peter’ Bol, Sportsperson of the Year.

Tagrid Ahmad, People’s Choice of the Year.

Mark Coure, Hanan Dover with guest.

Emeritus Professor Dr Syed Hasan Masood, Professional of the Year.

SUMSA: 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Mehar Ahmad

The 50th Anniversary of the Sydney University Muslim Students Association was celebrated in Sydney on Tuesday 6 December 2022 at Renaissance Westella, Lidcombe, attended by more than 300 current students and alumni including one of the SUMSA founders, Zia Ahmad recounting the immense legacies and contributions to the community over the last five decades.

This year marked formation of SUMSA, what started off as a humble effort by a small group of Muslim students and staff in mid 1972 with the has flourished into an integral part of every Muslim studying at the University of Sydney.

The event provided an opportunity for the current students to hear learn the history by a founding member, share a rich array of accumulated experiences by SUMSA office bearers representing each of the five decades and an opportunity to interact and network with former staff and graduates.

Initially starting with five founding members with gradual increase for Juma congregational prayers to around 50 persons during the first 25 years, SUMSA now attracts around 1500 attendees at Juma with a permanent Musallah established in 2019 with salat and wadu making facilities both for males and females at the campus.

The formal program at events started with the recitation of Quran followed by a Islamic reminder talk by Sheikh Hassan Elsatohi, a regular Khateeb and mentor at Juma prayers held at the University Camperdown main campus.

The current President of SUMSA, Naufal Haider overview of SUMSA describing current services and activities being held at the campus specially highlighting those during O’Week, during Ramadan and daawah programs during the Islamic Awareness Week.

A video documentary ‘SUMSA over the years’ depicting photos of old former students during the 1970’s, events held during subsequent years and activities during recent years were shown at the celebration.

After a short break for dinner, Zia Ahmad, one of SUMSA founding members, the first treasurer and subsequently President, a number of times from 1972 until 2013, when he retired from the University of Sydney, highlighted the early history of SUMSA.

“I have been given 10 minutes to cover half a century since the founding of SUMSA, 40 years while I was at Sydney Uni and almost 10 years since my retirement from there. This is obviously an impossible task. Therefore I will briefly summarise some highlights my views and experiences of SUMSA during the last 5 decades,” Zia said.

Recounting the establishment of SUMSA, he explained, “SUMSA was foremed in May 1972, registered with the University and not the Union to serve Muslim students and staff at the campus with 5 founding members, Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, Founding President, Dr Ha-

mid Sheikh, Secretary, Siddik Sudarsono, Vice President, Zia Ahmad, Treasurer and Hasim Durrani as committee member.

“My father Dr Ahmad was involved during the early stages of the establishment of MSA of US & Canada while pursuing his Master in Engineering degree in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin and he had similar visions for Australia.”

“There was not much activity during the first year where we used to go to offer only Juma prayers in Sydney led by Dr Ahmad at the premises where Surry Hills Mosque exists. Later towards 1973, five times prayers and Juma were established at the Erskinville mosque led by Vice Consul of Turkey who was a qualified Imam.”

“During 1975, SUMSA membership doubled with the increase in Muslim staff and students at the campus. A couple of visiting professors Dr Hassan Bajouda (prestigious King Faisal Award winner in Islamic Studies) and Dr Nasr Rashid arrived from Saudi Arabia to teach in the Department of Semitic Studies. They conducted short courses in Islamic studies and Arabic thereby increasing awareness of Islam at the campus.”

“A unique rotational system for training purposes was adopted where each member had to take turn in acting as the Muazzin, Khateeb and Imam. This tradition continued for the next thirty years in SUMSA where many of Muslims learnt public speaking and sermon preparation as well as confidence to lead prayers.”

“During the late seventies, SUMSA hosted a number of seminars and conventions

on local, regional as well as national level. It hosted annual convention of AFMSA in 1977 and a national seminar on Islamic Resurgence in 1979 where Anwar Ibrahim, the current PM of Malaysia was invited as the keynote speaker.”

Zia went on to highlight a couple of significant events from each of the five decade since the establishment of SUMSa and its further growth and achievements over the long years.

Another SUMSA Alumni during the early 2000 and a former President, Uthman Badar, an accomplished Khateeb and public speaker talked about his experiences at the campus specially awareness of Islam, student activism and daawah activities at the campus.

After a break for Maghreb prayers the closing address was given by Sheikh Ahmad Abdo, a well known Imam, marriage celebrant, public speaker and chaplain with NSw police.

Sheikh Abdo acknowledged the initiatives taken by early Muslim pioneers in establishing SUMSA and other community and daawah organisations specially late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad who passed away earlier this year and was able to attend SUMSA’s 40th Anniversary (2012) as well as 45th Anniversary (2017) at LMA Hall in Lakemba.

The former program closed with gifts to speakers and dua by Sheikh Abdo followed by Isha prayers.

Zia Ahmad.

Uthman Badar.

Sheikh Ahmad Abdo.

Sheikh Hassan Elsatohi.

SUMSA alumni at the event.

FunFest 2022: Celebrating all abilities

Mehar Ahmad

Seena Inc organised its yearly event, Accessibility FunFest 2022 to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in Sydney on Saturday 3 December at Cuckoo Park, Plough & Harrow East, Western Sydney Parklands at Abbotsbury with this year’s theme being “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”.

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is held yearly on 3 December after it was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.

The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Accessibility FunFest is held for people with disabilities, their families, carers, support workers or whoever wishes to join to participate in all accessibility games, activities, fashion parade, henna, face painting, park rides and free lunch.

Accessibility FunFest 2022 was supported by Multicultural NSW and AMUST and had almost 100 people registered, most of them turning up to enjoy a bright sunny day at an accessible venue and plenty of parking.

Mrs Mehar Ahmad, Seena President welcomed and thanked everyone all partici-

pants, community leaders and politicians for Joining the event to celebrate IDPD saying, “Today is the actual Day of the international Day of people with disabilities and we are here to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities.”

“Our message is that we are one and we all belong. This is a day to celebrate and have fun, to promote accessibility and inclusivity and we are sure that the future is going to be accessible for everyone where we need to focus on people’s disabilities and at the same time we must celebrate their abilities as well,” she announced.

It was a beautiful day and people enjoyed

the sunshine and the natural surroundings at the park.

There was entertainment for everyone. At the henna stall, people loved to decorate their hands with beautiful patterns by the talented artist.

Mostly children were attracted to the face painting stall where the face painting artists were very creative and they adorned children’s face with butterfly, Spiderman or whatever children wanted their face to be painted as.

There was a colouring/drawing stall where people coloured using stencils or played games such as connect four etc.

Some people who were in the park enjoying their own BBQ with their families who instantly joined the FunFest and were warmly welcomed.

There was scrumptious lunch provided and also catered for vegetarians as well. Bread rolls, roast chicken, chick peas curry hummus, tortilla and salad were included.

The free lunch for everybody was followed by musical performance by Zaffet Afraah with their drumming and everyone throughly enjoyed dancing to the drum beat.

People who wore on the wheelchair got up with the support of their support worker and danced to the drumbeat. It was an ecstatic moment seeing smiles on everyone’s faces

To wrap up the event a cake, with Happy IDPD written on it was cut to celebrate International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

There was a lot of positive feedback from the participant and request to include some sorts of rides for the participants, such dodgem car or other rides where disabled people can also have fun on the various rides that are suitable for them.

The feedback and advise will be incorporated for FunFest 2023 next year.

The FunFest indeed proved to be an extremely inclusive event participated by a diverse range of people from different cultural backgrounds, ages, faiths, abilities and interests who were all catered for very well.

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

Minarah Hall of Fame: 20th Anniversary celebrations

Saireen Hussain

Minarah College celebrated, in full excitement and flair, 20 years of service to the Muslim community in South-West Sydney at a dinner function held on Thursday 8 December 2022 at Eden Venues, Edensor Park where outstanding contributions of four pioneers were recognised by inducting them to the Minarah Hall of Fame.

Minarah College is an independent Islamic co-educational school catering for students from Kindergarten to Year 12, located adjacent to the Green Valley Mosque, that was established in January 2002 by the Muslim League of NSW Inc.

The Chairman, Mr Mohammed Yakub welcomed more than 300 guests and paid tribute to the Muslim League of NSW, members of the community, teachers, students and volunteers who have contributed to the growth and progress of the school.

“Minarah will build on the success achieved to become the coveted Muslim school in New South Wales,” he said.

The Principal of Minarah, Mr Jay Halai, while describing recent accomplishments at Minarah, told the gathering that he owes deep gratitude to the previous and current parents, students and teachers for their efforts, often under trying circumstances.

“Thanks to their contribution Minarah is being transformed into a dynamic and technologically advanced place of learning. Schooling is all about character building,” said Mr Halai.

“In Minarah no one is left behind,” he fur-

ther reiterated.

The formal program at the event was MC’d by Faraz Aboo and Eman Ghareeb and commenced with recitation of Quran by Maulana Tanzeel Haider followed by Call to Country by Diana El Safadi.

After the national anthem Mr Imam Ali, Deputy Chairman of the School Board elaborated on the purpose of the school, its achievements and acknowledgement of team efforts.

The keynote speech was delivered by Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman, President of ANIC who congratulated and commended Minarah for its great progress during the last 20 years giving examples of many other great achievements of the Muslim community in NSW as well as that of UMA.

History of the Minarah College was related by Mrs Samina Ali and recent accomplishments in Islamiat were listed by Ms Labiba Soueid.

The event included handing of awards, slide shows, Nasheeds, Maghreb prayer and dinner closing with dua by Mr Mohammed Ali.

Although the School was founded in 2002 as Green Valley Islamic College by the Muslim League of NSW, the aspirations and ambitions of its founders go well back in history to 1879 when the first batch of Indian workers arrived in Fiji under the infamous indenture system to work in sugar cane plantations.

Known as girmityas, the migrants endured great hardship in Fiji, living in harsh conditions. But their patience, perseverance and faith enabled them to overcome adversity.

When the security of their descendants was threatened, many left Fiji in the aftermath of the 1987 Military Coup; some came to Australia and settled in South-West Sydney.

But well before this date moves were afoot to build a Mosque in Green Valley by a group of pioneers numbering 20-30 believers. This network morphed into the Islamic Society of Liverpool in 1984.

The main objective was to bring together Fiji Muslims living in Sydney for their spiritual needs and to involve them in Islamic activities.

The three trustees of the Association were Muhammad Ali, Mohamed Eqbal Sahaaly and Amjad Mehboob. The organisation was incorporated under the Associations ACT as The Muslim League of NSW Inc in 1999.

The emergence of the mosque played a catalytical role in the development of the school which started with 42 students in two demountables. Struggling with limited resources, two pioneering staff, Mr Shamsher Ali as Principal and Jameel un-Nisa Gani as the class teacher, applied themselves to the challenges with great determination and energy.

Thanks to their mighty contribution the school has blossomed to 1156 students and 90 staff by 2022. The 20-year history of the school has been captured in an 8-minute video – Blossom.

The school, which was rebranded as Minarah in 2022, prides in taking a holistic approach to education. It recently introduced Deep Learning to develop students in areas of Creativity, Communication, Collabora-

tion, Citizenship, Critical Thinking, and building students’ Character.

Minarah is gaining momentum, in leaps and bounds around technology and delivery of learning in high tech classrooms and pedagogies to include ICT based lessons.

Minarah’s progress has been recognised by several renowned awards, including “The Educator – 2022 5 Star Innovative School Award” and the “Microsoft Surface Lighthouse School Award”.

Students of Minarah College will be dressed in new school uniform, that will further enhance the reputation of quality that the College currently exhibits in all its dealings.

Minarah Hall of Fame was inaugurated at the 20th Anniversary function where outstanding contributions of four individuals were recognised and their positive legacy for Islamic community of Green Valley recorded for future generations.

Late Haji Ameer Hussain and Late Molvi Shafiq were inducted to the Minarah Hall of Fame for their tireless work in the establishment of the Green Valley Mosque while Mr Shamsher Ali and Late Mrs Gani were inducted for their pioneering, selfless work in setting up the school.

The life histories of these great community workers can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/fjc8hckw.

Minarah continues to build exemplary Australian citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

Al Faisal College graduation ceremony

Shayyan Ali

Al Faisal College has recently been acknowledged as one of the leading educational institutions with campuses across Sydney including Auburn, Liverpool, Campbelltown and newly developing schools in areas such as Lakemba.

On Wednesday 9 November 2022, Campbelltown and Liverpool had a joint graduation ceremony for year 12 in the newly developed Liverpool campus’ multi-purpose hall.

The MCs started the ceremony, followed by the entry of the 2022 graduates from Liverpool and Campbelltown. The principal from both schools gave an address and all the high achievers from various classes were rewarded with prizes and certificates for their hard efforts and achievements.

The principal invited Mr Shayan Ali and

Wareesha Sarwar, school captions to address everyone attending. All graduates took a group photo and were given their graduation certification.

Later, a cake-cutting ceremony commenced with all the guests and students from each campus having their own cake and group photos. At the end of the ceremony, a delicious dinner was served for the students, their parents and the guests.

A group photo was taken with the students and honoured guests including Mr Shafique khan, Miss Sidra, Miss Janifa and many oth-

ers to celebrate a great year and a fantastic experience in high school.

The last 12 years were an excellent experience for students, and this graduation celebrated the amazing years of the student’s schooling life.

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/.

Saireen Hussain is the Deputy Principal –Teaching and Learning (Secondary) at Minarah College.

Minarah College Principal Mr Jay Halai (left), with the School Board of Directors Mr Imam Ali, Deputy Chairman, Mr Mohammed Faheem Shah, Mr Mohammed Yakub, Chairman, Mr Sirtaj Hussain, Secretary, Mr Shayum Rahim and Mr Faizal Ajmat, Treasurer.

Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman.

Sydney marks Bangladesh Victory Day Celebration

Sydney South Shapla Shaluk Lions club, the only Bangladeshi Lions Club in Australia, celebrated the “51st Bangladesh Victory Day” with a 2022 year ending dinner in Sydney on Monday 19 December at Parravilla Function Centre in Parramatta.

It was a spectacular gathering attended by guests from various ethnic communities and professions, “freedom fighters of Bangladeshi liberation war of 1971” living in Sydney, dignitaries from various social welfare organizations, politicians, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, journalists, and delegates from Lion districts & Shapla Shaluk Lions Club members.

Hon Clr Dona Davis, Lord mayor of the City of Parramatta attended the event as the chief guest and Hon Clr Sameer Pandey, the Deputy Lord Mayor of the city of Parramatta as the special guest. The event was presided over by Shapla Shaluk Lions Club President Dr Moinul Islam.

The Masters of Ceremony were Dr Farzana and Amir Mustavi.

The event formally started at 7 pm when the guests took their seats on the stage. Australian and Bangladeshi National Anthems were played & everyone stood up in respect. This was followed by an Acknowledgment of County, with Mrs Narelle Holden of the “Aniwan” tribeperforming an Aboriginal Welcome Song. Soon after that, the guests stood for a one-minute silence in respect in honour of the martyrs of the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War.

The welcome address was presented by Lion Dr Masud Parvez, executive member of Shapla Shaluk Lions Club. He greeted the guests and briefly spoke about the history of origin of the club and the meaning of the club’s name – Shapla Shaluk.

The Secretary’s report was presented by Lion Elius Chowdhury, the secretary of the

club who highlighted different projects undertaken by the club.

A full financial report was then presented by Lion Saiful Hoque, CPA & JP, treasurer of the Shapla Shaluk Lions Club explaining the fund raiser status, financials of different projects and the audit process of the club.

During her speech, chief guest Hon Lord Mayor Clr Donna Davis thanked the Lions club for inviting her and praised the club for all the great projects undertaken over the years, describing how Lions International are contributing significantly to the good of humanity through them.

She aligned this with the good things she has done for Parramatta and its citizens during her Mayorship, and gave assurance that these efforts will continue.

Special guest Hon Deputy Lord Mayor Clr Sameer Pandey stated that the City of Parramatta is one of the best cities in Australia due to its exemplar multiculturalism and said that he intends to continue supporting the multiculturalism in our community.

Lion Vin Pan, the District Governor, congratulated the Shapla Shaluk Lions Club for all the projects it has undertaken. He assured that the 2015N district will continue to support the Lions Club.

Mr Vaikom Sundar Rajeev, Principal of Rudra Legal Corporation (Criminal & commercial Lawyers), the legal associate and sponsor of Shapla Shaluk Lions Club, spoke afterwards. In his speech, he congratulated the

Club’s efforts towards charitable causes & asserted his continued support for good causes.

Lion Dr Moinul Islam, President of the club and the chairperson of the event thanked and praised the guests for their attendance and appealed for their ongoing support for the Lions club.

He acknowledged the honorable mayor and deputy mayor for their continued support for the club, and emphasised how all humans are the same in their respect and dignity, regardless of ethnicity, complexion, gender, and religion.

Lion Dr Moinul explained the different projects undertaken by the club over the last 9 years, which include:

• Financial & medical support for socially disadvantaged patients

• Food for Hunger

• Fight for sight

• Flood victim support

• Shelter for the homeless

• Antidomestic violence campaign

• Multifaith, multicultural Iftar Parties

• Repatriation of socially disadvantaged deceased individuals in Australia (across the states)

Lion Dr Moinul highlighted his dream towards establishing a nursing home for elders of Bangladesi origin in Sydney, the first of its kind, and emphasised how it will positively affect the welfare Bangladeshi Community.

He lauded the efforts of the Bangladeshi community to help crowdsource funds for

Shapla Shaluk projects while highlighting that a much bigger difference can be made with the help of governmental funding and mentioned that while many non-profit organizations receive financial support from “local, state or federal government” levels, Shapla ShalukLions Club has never received any such funding.

Finally, Lion Dr Moinul praised the freedom fighters and highlighted their sacrifices towards liberating Bangladesh while stressing his belief that people who cannot respect their ancestors cannot respect themselves and promised that the Shapla Shaluk Lions Club will always uphold the respect and dignity of Bangladeshi freedom fighters.

The Shapla Shaluk Lions Club then formally received the respected “freedom fighters, the heroes of Bangladeshi liberation war” with special gifts and mementos.

Honourable Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor handed over the gifts. Lion district Governor Vin Pan also presented his Lion pin, bannerette, and other gifts to the freedom fighters on behalf of the district.

The Governor also handed over “District Governor’s Award” to the Club President Dr Moinul Islam, and a special governors pin.The Lions club President then handed over special memento to the honourable Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor on behalf of the club.

During the event, the club raised some funds to support autistic children through a newly formed organization. The event concluded with a delicious traditional dinner followed by music.

The legendary Bangladeshi singer Mr Apel Mahmood (freedom fighter) sang “Bangladeshi Liberation war time songs” that reminded Bangladeshi audience of war time memory. Other singers who performed were Mr Vijay Jogia, Dr Nazmun Nahar & Zaina Hoque (child singer). Special dance by Farzan (Child dancer).

Amir Mustavi is a medical student at the University of Sydney, Editor of Lion magazine and a member of Leo club, Youth project of Shapla Shaluk Lions Club. He is based in Sydney.

Amir Mustavi

From left: Clr Sameer Pandey Dpt Mayor, Lion Dr Moinul Islam Shapla Shaluk Lions Club President,Clr Dona Davir Honorable Lord Mayor City Of Parramatta, Lion Vin Pang Governor District 201 N5 & Dr Sunil , President United Indian Association.

Sydney graduation ceremony for Arabic learners

by the LMA’s Arabic learning colleges are also invaluable.

Saturday 17 December saw an estimated 500 guests in attendance at the Graduation Ceremony for high-achieving students who participated in the Lebanese Muslim Association’s Arabic learning colleges during 2022.

The special ceremony was facilitated by the LMA board to recognise high-achieving young people within the Muslim community and was held in the function hall of the Association’s premises at Lakemba in Sydney.

“This is the first time in many years that the LMA has held this kind of graduation ceremony and there has never been a response like this before,” director Mohammed Daher enthused.

“The current board decided to reintroduce the concept in 2022 and to say the least, we were delighted with the outcome….it was a very successful event.”

The LMA conducts Arabic learning courses across six campuses within the Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool Local Government Areas (Belmore Boys High School; Belmore Public School; Punchbowl Public School; Sefton High School; Prestons Public School and Mount Pritchard Public School).

Arabic was the language chosen by Allah when He revealed Islam’s sacred scripture, the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (s) over 23 years through the archangel Jibril (a).

It is important for every Muslim to learn to Arabic, in order to be able to fully understand and practice on the guidance from Allah.

Additionally, if a student is interested in studying or working in a field where fluent Arabic is required, courses such as those run

And furthermore, by studying the language which may be spoken in the home (in this case Arabic), the student’s understanding of general language use is enhanced and can assist them in their study of further languages, such as but not limited to English.

LMA Chief Program Officer Bronwyn Hadife said that the overwhelming response from families who came along to support the high achievers had vindicated the board’s decision to reintroduce the ceremony, with a reinvigorated format.

“We were anticipating a healthy roll-up of proud parents and other relatives and friends on the day to celebrate the achievements of the students but these numbers have far exceeded our expectations,” she said.

She further added, “In addition to the students and their families, the LMA board would also like to thank the school principals and teachers whom we also hosted for their hard work and enthusiasm, along with our Imams for their support and all of our volunteers.”

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

LMA kicks goal with FIFA World Cup final night

An estimated 1.5 billion people around the globe tuned into television sets and various other devices for the recent World Cup Final from Qatar between Argentina and France.

And with the World Cup Final coinciding with the first day of the school holidays in Sydney, the Lebanese Muslim Association decided to do something a bit different for the kids.

The LMA has always had a huge focus on our youth, who of course are the future of our community, and the organisation’s Lakemba Mosque Youth initiative does a fantastic job in facilitating activities for young people throughout the year.

Hence the programming of a FIFA World Cup Final Night event for boys aged 15 years or older and held overnight in the newly refurbished underground area of Lakemba Mosque.

A massive gathering of teenage boys and a sprinkling of dads enjoyed a packed 10hour program featuring some highly entertaining guest speakers; a FIFA 23 video game tournament; amazing Broaster Chicken dinners and of course, the World Cup Final live from Lusail (just north of Doha) on two giant TV screens.

These major highlights were supplemented by other activities including some ‘scratch’ futsal games, table tennis, and regular visits by the teens to the slushie, popcorn and fairy floss machines….well, it is school holidays after all!

The atmosphere during the World Cup Fi-

nal itself was tremendous with almost raucous cheering from the boys for both teams.

Of course, nothing beats the mood and feeling of being around Australia’s most famous mosque – Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib –and the downstairs program, which ‘kicked off ‘after Magreb prayers, was appropriately suspended for the gathering to move upstairs for both Isha and Fajr.

Earlier in the night, special guest speakers Sheikh Rameh Zaoud and the world renown ‘Diet Doctor’ Moodi Dennaoui kept the young audience captivated.

Both Moodi and Sheikh Rameh are wonderful friends of the LMA and Lakemba Mosque Youth and their support is always greatly appreciated.

The LMA also wishes to acknowledge the

fantastic support of event sponsors Broaster Chicken Australia; Burgers On Broadway Regents Park and Meals By Moodi, as well as the many volunteers and helpers including Salim Allouche and Mahmoud Sabaayon, who made the journey from Othman Bin Affan Mosque at Cabramatta to assist.

FIFA World Cup Final night was the LMA’s third major event in the space of seven weeks, following on from the success of National Mosque Open Day at Lakemba Mosque and the LMA Career Expo – and was also held just 24 hours after around 500 guests attended the organisation’s Arabic Speaking Colleges Graduation Ceremony.

To say the least, it has been an exceptionally busy – and very successful – year for the LMA, which also in 2022 acquired

complexes at Bankstown and Greenacre that will both be used to assist and care for the most vulnerable in our community.

Also in 2022, the LMA board of directors signed off on a major upgrade for Lakemba Mosque and its grounds as well as the LMA Islamic Funeral Services and the LMA services building.

The infrastructure repairs and upgrades are needed to support the capacity and delivery of the LMA’s services to the Muslim and broader community.

The year of 2022 saw the LMA celebrate its 60th anniversary after being founded back in 1962 and with the New Year now upon us, there is every reason to believe that 2023 will be the most exciting – and the busiest – year in the Association’s long history.

John Mahoney

John Mahoney

Community event supports Canterbury hospital

Human Appeal Australia in conjunction with Sydney Muslim Cyclists organised a community event including a charity ride followed by a free sausage sizzle at Canterbury Hospital on Sunday 4 December 2022.

It was a designated campaign to support the local Canterbury Hospital, with proceeds generated going to enhance the services provided in the maternity ward within the hospital.

Almost 100 cyclists joined by Clr Bilal El-Hayek, Deputy Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown peddled from Canterbury Hospital to Brighton or Cronulla and back to Canterbury Hospital for a community gathering including gourmet sausage

giveaways.

Also

Mr Al-Jamal presented a cheque of $75,000 to Mr Morris

help the hospital

the Birthing Unit

enhance the services provided to the local community.

Human Appeal Australia would like to thank all involved and is reaching out to our community to donate generously to help us to support the hospital. The raised funds will help Canterbury Hospital operate at its best and will affect not only expectant

Campbelltown multicultural badminton tournament

Bilal & Shafqat Ali with Shahaan Shaukat https://www.facebook.com/ watch/?v=556288442699391.

The PN Sports Community organised Campbelltown’s Multicultural Badminton Tournament at A1 Badminton Centre on Friday Night 23 December 2022 where eight teams participated in the competition which went for almost five hours.

The winners of the competition were Nijal & Vilson while runner-ups were Ammar & Usman.

Watch the replay of the final match here https://fb.watch/hDGCxUjcHq/.

This tournament was a great showcase of teamwork and multiculturalism in Australia, an initiative of PakOz Campbelltown Chapter and fully managed by PN Sports led by Bilal Mir.

The A1 Badminton team, including Mahmud, Syed and Zahed, ensured proper facilities not only the courts but also space to conduct the prize distribution ceremony.

Listen to a short Interview of Br

Young Innovators Australia’s club members provided technical support in the setup of the competition page as well as live streaming of the final match on social media including Facebook and YouTube.

The event was Sponsored by SaqCh+Partners Chartered Accountants.

The players and community were invited to bring their children as a way of engaging them in a healthy sporting environment while introducing them to the sport of badminton.

The competition started with a Robin Round format where each team was given the opportunity to play against 7 other teams that went for 3½ hours. After the initial rounds, the top 4 teams moved forward to the semi-finals.

The finals were streamed online followed by the Prize distribution ceremony.

Trophies were awarded to first and second-place teams while all other participating teams were given gift bags sponsored by the PakOz Team. All volunteers were acknowledged and awarded too with a deli-

cious serving of biryani.

On behalf of the PakOz Team, Shafqat Ali thanked Br Bilal Mir, Asif Butt and Ayyaz from PN Sport for organising the event and praised Mahmood, Syed and Zahed from A1 Badminton Centre for their support and help.

He appreciated Gulzar, Shayyan, Ayaan, Sharmeen and Shahzeen from the Young Innovators Club for volunteering their time and effort for the competition and thanked all the participants for their excellent efforts during the tournament and for bringing

along their families.

Special thanks were offered to Shahaan Shaukat for his efforts in the finals’ commentary and for taking care of the photos throughout the evening.

The event concluded with lots of smiles, prizes and promises to once again join hands in repeating this experience, all enraptured in a final group photo.

Sharmeen Ali is a High School Student and is a part of the organisation called Young Innovators Network.

Sharmeen Ali

Alsu Kurlow

sizzle organised by Lighthouse Community Services and Jannah Express. The day also included information stalls, amazing family activities like henna, face painting and toy

showing their support on the day were Canterbury MP Sophie Cotsis, Mayor Khal Asfour, Councillors Bilal El-Hayek,

Rachelle Harika and Khodr Saleh, Human Appeal Director Bashar Al-Jamal, Head of Community Care Amin El-Bureeny, Sydney Muslim Cyclists President Dr Tarek Sari, Canterbury Hospital General Manager Michael Morris, and hospital staff and families.

to

to refurbish

and to

mothers and their babies, but future generations to come.

Alsu Kurlow is the Community Care Events Coordinator for Human Appeal Australia.

Sydney Muslim Cyclists; Clr Bilal El-Hayek, Canterbury Hospital GM Mr Morris; Ms Sophie Cotsis, MP; HAA Director Basha Al-Jamal, Amin ElBureeny & Gandhi Sindyan, Community Liaison Officer at Campsie Police Area Command 2022.

Dr Tarek Sari; Canterbury Hospital General Manager Mr Michael Morris; Gandhi Sindyan, Community Liaison Officer at Campsie Police Area Command.

Human Appeal Australia with Sydney Muslim Cyclists fundraising event for Canterbury Hospital 2022.

Clr Bilal-El-Hayek

Canterbury-Bankstown Furat Sultan.

Ms Sophie Cotsis, MP, Member for Canterbury.

Rounded Rose Made Into Layers Of Red

Fazlul Huq

Garden bed held by the side of extended driveway in front of the house beyond the culde-sac was seen to have in place diverse flowering plants.

Including roses made in white and blue, red and pink, purple and orange, gardenia and agapanthus, geranium and hydrangeas, gardenia and pink bell succulent, aloe Vera and cultured grass.

But then came bush vines, weeds and grass that multiplied in no time determined to suffocate many of the flowering plants.

About five weeks ago the garden was given thorough clean of the body and mind to have in place only the rose plants left. And now the garden bed is found to have dressed with roses colored in red and white, and so much more.

As the red rose in full bloom rounded in shape is found to have layer upon layer of petals made in red upon red.

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

Networking and health advice at IFEW Presentation Dinner

The Islamic Foundation for Education and Welfare (IFEW) hosted its 19th Presentation Dinner in Sydney on Sunday 11 December 2022 at Dar-ul-Islam in Bonnyrigg bringing together its members and invited community leaders.

IFEW Presentation Dinners are organised to develop mutual understanding between IFEW) Australian MEFF Consortium, organisers of the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair and Seena Incorporated, publishers of AMUST with community leaders in Sydney, with short presentations followed by a dinner in a family atmosphere.

IFEW has been one of the pioneers in establishing daawah, education and welfare activities for the last 40 years in Sydney. Two of its offshoot activities are MEFF festival and AMUST multimedia newspaper.

A number of IFEW members, part of a large extended family led by late Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad OAM have been associated with Islamic activities and multicultural community work in Australia and particularly in Sydney for half a century having

founded many community organisations and working in fields of education, daawah, publications, family organisation, student, youth and women’s activities.

This year invited guests included Ms Tu Lee, lawyer, Labor politician and community leader accompanied by her colleague Mr Harry Ly, lawyer, Ms Shaffaq Jaffery, President and colleagues from AusPak Women’s

Association (APWA), Mr Nabeel Ansari, Managing Director, Noble Clinical Rehabilitation, and Mr Hanif Bismi, President, MEFF.

The formal program was started of by Mr Zohair Ahmad, IFEW President giving a history of IFEW with the development of the extended family through display of photos and milestones in achievements of IFEW for the last 40 years.

Ms Le together with Mr Ly talked about their various projects and advocacy work in Western Sydney and their close collaboration with Seena and AMUST.

Mr Ansari, an exercise physiologist did a presentation on ‘Exercise Therapy for a Better Quality of Life” and addressed a number of questions from the audience in enhancing physical and mental health.

Mr Hanif Bismi talked about his long association with IFEW members and appreciated their long track record in providing valuable services to the community. He invited all to enthusiastically work for a much bigger and better MEFF in 2023.

Ms Jaffery gave a brief description of activities and services provided by APWA and networking with like minded organisations including IFEW.

Mrs Mehar Ahmad talked about unique projects undertaken by Seena Inc throughout the year including Women’s Retreat, Accessible FunFest, Grandparents Day and its highly successful project AMUST now in its 9th year of production.

The formal program ended with dua by Mr Usaid Khalil followed by a family dinner hosted by Mrs Yasmeen Ahmad and family.

Children recognised with Islamic learning certificates

ages (ranging 8-12 yo) from the surrounding localities became part of “Fun & Learn” activities in Marsden Park Masjid.

During a ceremony held on Thursday 1 December 2022 at Marsden Park Masjid children were awarded with completion certificates for completing ‘Fun & Learn’ activities in the presence of their parents and community leaders.

Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM) Riverstone chapter has been conducting weekly kid’s “Fun & Learn” activities for the past one year with active kid’s participation at the mosque.

IFAM as an Islamic community organisation running various activities which intends to cater the Islamic learning needs of all genders and ages specially giving our kids Islamic education so they have a better understanding of their religion, can perform their duties and Islam becomes key part of their lives at an early age.

It is also seen that Islamic education for

kids becomes imperative in countries like Australia where kids have very limited options of studying Islam.

These activities are designed in a way that kids have more involvement in sports as well besides Education. Sports activities includ soccer, cricket, table tennis for 8 years plus and few indoor sports for smaller kids.

The Sports and Fun activities have also

been observed to increase Kids enthusiasm and zeal which helps in making them more fond of joining such classes.

Various Local brothers have been volunteering themselves for this noble cause and betterment of our young ones like Brother Zeeshan Asad, Brother Umair Nazim and Brother Waqas Kidwai.

In this year around 30 kids of different

The Islamic curriculum was designed so that kids become more familiar with basic Islamic Information like Pillars of Islam, Articles of Faith, Important Islamic events and their importance etc.

Kids were also told about the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s), his teachings and details of his companions.

Kids were made aware of Islamic manners like cleanliness, doing Ablution, reciting supplications before eating or drinking and Islamic greetings.

At the event few kids gave their power point presentation to show their understanding and interest about certain topics like Hajj and Fasting.

The event concluded with kid’s feast that included juices, cakes and pastries.

IFAM needs to be commended for this initiative and thanks to the volunteers who have been working tirelessly for this great cause.

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

Usman Malik

Zia Ahmad

Ms Tu Le and Mr Harry Ly.

Mr Nabeel Ansari.

Mr Hanif Bismi.

Ms Shaffaq Jaffery.

China threat goaded Australia to accelerate bolstering AUKUS

Kazi Haq

The alleged China threat is driving Australian policymakers to embolden AUKUS because of China’s intransigence mindset to assuage relationships with Australia.

The Chinese unilateral decision to discontinue importing some goods from Australia and stop communications with counterparts since the beginning of Covid-19 pushed the relationship between the two countries to rock bottom.

The AUKUS, a security pact among three countries – Australia, the UK and the United States, was created in September 2021 amidst the perceived China threat in the Indo-Pacific region.

Since then, the US endeavour to strengthen AUKUS has continued, which has led Australia to rescind the $ 90bn diesel-electric submarine deal with France. Instead, Australia decided to move towards acquiring nuclear-powered submarines allegedly from the United States through the AUKUS agreement.

On 29 November 2022, US Navy’s most formidable Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi aboard 135 crew-member, arrived at HMAS Stirling Naval Base near Rockingham after routine operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The primary purpose of the visit is to study the joint interoperability training exercise with the Royal Australian Navy. The AUKUS team members and Australian Naval personnel had the chance to visit Australia’s future dream submarine.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operates six Collins-class submarines, Australian-built diesel-electric submarines, which are due to retire between 2026-2030. But the possibility of getting Australia’s most coveted nuclear-powered submarine would take about 10 to 15 years. So, Australia desperately needs to counter the underwater threat vacuum that would be created due to the phaseout of old submarines.

As such, it is in active consideration that both the United States and Australia are looking for possibilities to operate US submarines from the Australian base on mutually agreed principles. If so, it needs to acquire the capability of interoperability between two countries so that it can be slowly and easily integrated into Royal Navy Australia.

Despite Australia’s new initiative to improve relationships with China, China updated its previous 12-point demand to 4-point demand to Australia as a precondition to normalizing the relationship. This provocative demand puts Australia in an awkward situation, which appears intimidating for Australia to comply with. The Chinese stubbornness subtly pushed Australia to look for more reinforced AUKUS.

On 9 December 2022, in a ‘two-plus-two’ annual meeting between Japan and Australia, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles sent a clear signal to AUKUS partners that Australia would like Japan to be included in the AUKUS pact, declaring that security ties between Tokyo and Canberra were becoming “indispensable”, according to ABC News.

Both countries are also looking for prospects to carry out more complex and sophisticated defence exercises, including potentially rotating Japanese F-35 fighter jets in Australia in the future.

The United States is already maintaining a formidable force in Darwin. Amidst the China threat, the United States is also planning to deploy its deadliest nuclear bomber, B52, and its Virginia Class submarine in suitable locations in Australia. Australia (Western Australia/Northern Territory) is becoming a strategic military hub for allied and partner countries.

It looks like the China threat is making Australia a crucial ally of the United States in fulfilling the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

AUKUS has become the central element of IPS, where Australia’s passionate efforts accelerate to achieve the AUKUS objectives. Moreover, the mistrust among the Quad partnership allowed the AUKUS partnership to grow to counter China’s influence in the region. China has condemned

the AUKUS, saying it would invite nuclear proliferation in the region.

When AUKUS is gaining pace in the Indo-Pacific region, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia on 8 December 2022 to improve economic ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as reflected in the article written by President Xi, apparently promoting Pax Sinica. Although this visit looks like “nothing matters more than oil”, the AUKUS cannot afford to ignore oil-reach Arab countries, especially when the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created an oil crisis worldwide.

It appears that the steady but aggressive entrenching of the US-led alliance in the Indo-Pacific compelled China to make friends with like-minded countries in the Middle East to counter the United States, or it could be seen as vice-versa. China also kept pursuing to make economic and security pacts with Pacific nations. So the competition kept rising in the region, and no one knows where it ends.

However, China toned down from previous demand and invited Australia to hold the sixth Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, on 21 December 2022, where, both foreign ministers seem to have found a suitable solution to untie the three-year impasse.

It is least expected that the improved diplomatic relation between the two countries may not diminish the China threat but Australia may have the opportunity to place the AUKUS as a fantastic R&D (research & development) platform of future technology rather than labelling the forum only to counter China’s threat.

The new initiative may reduce the gap between the two countries, but China’s malign attitude towards Australia would surely compel Australia to make some lasting decisions in the coming days that would not be in favour of China.

Although the ice is expected to melt, the growing competition would not permit AUKUS activities to wean. However, people would welcome AUKUS if it is considered a prospect to cooperate in R&D as a technological enhancement rather than drawing Australia into a US-China unjust competition.

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.

Sydney Aboriginal and Jewish communities come together in solidarity!

Gadigal woman of the Eora Nation from La Perouse.

It was quite fitting in the lead up to the 2022 UN Day Against Genocide and the UN Day of Human Rights, that members of the Jewish community joined in appropriate events of solidarity with our First Nations Peoples to commemorate the brave action of Aboriginal leader, William Cooper, who on 6 December 1938, delivered a letter to the German Consulate in Melbourne, condemning the cruel persecution of the Jewish people in Germany.

Saturday 10 December 2022 was the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The theme was Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All.

An Aboriginal group of family members of the late William Cooper, then marched in solidarity with their Jewish friends from the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern to Carriageworks and then to the Newtown Synagogue. Amongst the family marchers was a Yorta Yorta man from Central Coast NSW, Michael McDonogh, Bruce Shillingsworth Jnr, and Aunty Taressa, a

Along the way a moving Jewish Acknowledgement to Country was recited by Rabbi Mendel Kastel of Together For Humanity, and then Alan O’Brien, great, great, great, grandson of William Cooper – played a powerful musical piece on the didj.

Everyone then walked on to the Newtown Synagogue, where they were warmly welcomed by Rabbi Eli Feldman, Chief Minister of Newtown Synagogue, together with his wife Rebbetzin Elke Feldman, and a gathering of the Synagogue community.

Once inside the synagogue the Friday evening Sabbath prayers and songs began. The Jewish and Aboriginal women enjoyed the candle lighting ceremony.

Rabbi Feldman said, “It is an honour and privilege to host members of the indigenous community to our Shul. It is particularly moving to welcome descendants of William Cooper, who in 1938 was a lone voice in the wilderness standing up for the Jewish people when very few others would. We will always appreciate William Cooper’s genuine care and friendship.”

He further added: “The Indigenous community stood with us in our most difficult times. The Jewish community are proud to stand with the Indigenous communities in their struggle to right the wrongs of history and ensure recognition, justice and equality

for First Nations peoples in this country.”

His sermon was followed by a traditional Sabbath dinner prepared by the volunteer Synagogue cooking crew. It was an evening of riveting story sharing, kicked off by Mr Eddy Neumann, the son of Holocaust survivors, and an Anti-Discrimination, Indigenous Law and Native Title Lawyer.

He shared his long history of standing up for the rights of our Indigenous people. He also shared that he was the Foundation Secretary of the (ALS) Aboriginal Legal Service Council in NSW – this was a voluntary group of leading QC’s and Professors at Sydney University involved with the 1967 referendum who worked to defend the rights of Aboriginal people.

Mr Neumann’s work was gratefully acknowledged by an emotional story sharing from Aunty Teressa, followed by powerful

and inspiring stories from Michael McDonogh, Aunty Barbara McDonogh, and Bruce Shillingsworth.

Abe Schwarz, a Melbourne co-organiser, together with Tanya Fox and Ben-Zion Weiss for the evening, said “I was overjoyed to see various elements within the First Nations, Jewish and other communities walk together in the spirit of Solidarity and Mutual Respect.”

As one of the marchers, the writer of this article is proud to point out that the Magen David Adom ambulance service in Israel has as its members both Jews and Arabs who together save lives on a daily basis. Maybe Sydney will follow suite . . . .

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

Philip Feinstein

Group of Aboriginal and Jewish marchers.

Photo by John Janson-Moore D.C.A.

Sydney Interfaith Remembrance Service

Jo Davenport

Catholic Cemeteries + Crematoria (CCC) held their Christmas Interfaith Remembrance Service on Sunday 18 December 2022 at St Mary’s Cathedral with the largest attendance post-COVID filling the cathedral to remember the special people in our lives who have departed.

The uplifting annual event commemorates family and friends who are no longer with us and features beautiful hymns and carols sung by a live choir. This years’ service included the opportunity for all attendees to light a remembrance candle at the front of the cathedral to celebrate the life of a loved one.

Lighting a candle is something humans have done for centuries to remember those who have died. It is a simple and easy way to feel peace and connection. The candle tribute continued, as the interior lights were dimmed and Silent Night was sung. Attendees lit the electronic candles they received and recited the names of those they had come to remember, while reflecting on personal memories.

The service was led by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sydney, the Most Reverend Terry Brady with readers from different faith backgrounds. At the conclusion of the service, the attendees moved outside to Cathedral Square to view the stunning light show that is a part of Christmas at the Cathedral festival.

The Dean of the Cathedral and CCC staff were delighted to welcome the Hon Mark Coure MP, Minister for Multiculturalism and Chris Zinn, Chair of the CCC Stakeholder

Engagement Council amongst many other guests.

The event was also attended by Muslim Community leaders Mr Kazi Ali, Chairman of the Muslim Cemeteries Board and Mrs Ali as well as Mr Zia Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief of AMUST and Mrs Mehar Ahmad, President of Seena Incorporated.

“Both of my parents passed away earlier this year around the age of 90 and it was indeed an opportunity to remember them and celebrate their life during this Interfaith Remembrance Service,” Zia said.

He further added, “I wish to thank the hosts for providing Muslims worshippers with the facility to offer their Maghreb (sunset) prayer on time within the Church during the proceedings of the service.”

The service is one of the unique events that CCC holds that brings together the multi-cultural communities it serves. In the spirit of interfaith collaboration, CCC has created strong and respectful alliances with many multi-faith groups including the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous communities.

This moving service of remembrance and hope also provides help to those who may be struggling during the holiday period and is an integral part of CCC’s spiritual heart of care and compassion for all in the community.

Lauren Hardgrove, COO noted “The Remembrance Service is always well received by those who attend, who appreciate being able to honour those who still hold a place in their hearts, from whatever background they may come from.

Jo Davenport is the Marketing Manager at Catholic Cemeteries + Crematoria and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Fun Friday night volunteer program with Brothers In Need

snooker, ping pong...and a genuine Street Fighter game!

Brothers in Need: Friday night volunteer program - it’s not all hard work, it’s fun and games too!

Brothers in Need, a Muslim not-for-profit organisation which distributes food to the needy, would not be able to carry out its work without its solid base of volunteers. One very fun part of being a male volunteer is the Friday night volunteer program at the Brothers in Need centre.

“There always seems to be such great food....the pizza arrived at the centre a bit early one Friday evening and it smelled so nice...! It was hard to resist sneaking a piece...”, says Dahlia, a Brothers in Need staff member.

Thanks to Rashays Punchbowl for providing the tasty food for Friday nights.

Not only is there great food and dessert – there are games too! Classic ones such as

As part of a recent partnership, Microsoft ANZ recently donated an Xbox gaming console, which has proven to be quite popular.

Dahlia further added, “I think that it’s a really great way for the guys to get together and have a laugh and a good time at the end of the week. It’s a good place for the youth to gather too. There’s also a BBQ once a month and the guys really enjoy that too. The whole thing is a great idea.”

To become a volunteer, please complete the registration form found at: brothersinneed.org.au/volunteer

Further details about the initiatives 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/Mentor at Alfirdaus College and a registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association.

APWA Interfaith Christmas Festival

Sharmeen Ali

An interfaith Christmas festival was held on Sunday 18 December 2022 at the Auburn Town Hall organised by AusPak Women’s Association bringing together Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh Communities to celebrate peace, unity and friendship during the festive season.

“Although we all come from different tribes, nations or cultures, we can still have wonderful friendships,” Father Dave, an Anglican priest and a guest speaker at the event, observed.

He further added, “Friendships shouldn’t

be governed by religion.”

The festively decorated stage was encircled by various kinds of stalls including food, sweets, clothing, novelty and art-andcraft alongside henna and face painting stalls as we as a children’s toy stall beside a traditional Pakistani trinket stall.

There was constant activity going on the stage, including games, singing, dancing and speeches by guests calling upon everyone to join upfront and interact with each other.

The highly successful event was organised by the APWA team led by President Shafaq Jaafari.

Dean Mousad

Male volunteers enjoy the Xbox gaming console as well as old-school games such as snooker during the Friday night volunteer program at the Brothers in Need centre.

Most Reverend Terry Brady flanked by Mr Kazi Ali & Mrs Ali (left) and Mrs Mehar Ahmad & Zia Ahmad (right).

Filial Piety Family Forum: Four families recognised

AMUST Media

The 2022 Filial Piety Family Forum promoting stability and harmony within the extended family was held on Sunday 27 November at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with four families recognised for their contribution to their community and society.

The theme of the forum was “Honour and Respect in the Extended Family.” and more than 70 people attended the program in person while over 30 participants joined by Zoom from Australia and overseas.

The forum, sponsored by the Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace (CPFWP) Australia, was co-organised by the Auburn Asian Welfare Centre (AAWC), the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP).

The aim of the forum was to highlight the significance of filial piety as the universal family value and the pillar in the extended family relationship.

The practice of filial piety promotes stability and harmony within the family, society, and nation where the virtue of filial piety transcends culture, nationality, and religion.

The program commenced with a prayer

from Very Reverend Silouan Vea from the Ecumenical Orthodox-Catholic Mission.

Four-time mayor of Auburn, Emeritus Mayor Le Lam, delivered the welcoming remarks.

Mayor Le Lam is also the chairperson of the Auburn Asian Welfare Centre (ASWC) that aims to help all peoples of Asian backgrounds to achieve successful settlement and a quality of life in Australia.

During the forum session, three presentations were given from the Aboriginal, Chinese and Greek perspectives.

Mr Michael Jarrett, an Aboriginal language teacher from the department of education living in Nambucca Heads, NSW highlighted the importance of kinship among the Aboriginal people.

Professor Shirley Chan who teaches Chinese Studies, Languages and Cultures at the Macquarie University shared that family is where we find true happiness and peace.

Mr John Adamedes, an Australian-Greek, shared the characteristics of the Greek family tradition and values comparing it with the contemporary living in Australia.

2022 Model Filial Piety Family Awards:

The highlight of the program was the presentation of the 2022 Model Filial Piety Family Awards to four families who em-

body filial piety and live together in the extended family.

These four families have made significant contributions to their community and society:The four awardees are listed in the following:

1. Michael Jarrett (Father) Amanda Leigh Jarrett (Daughter)

2. Thuta ChitSwe and Wah Wah Aung

3. Ziaul Ahmad and Mehar Ahmad

4. Qing Hui Huang Family

The awards were presented by Mr Soon Teck Lim, president of CPFWP Australia.

Each of these families gave beautiful testimonies of their lives which highlighted how they live to honour and respect their parents in the extended families.

The heart of filial piety to the parents have been passed on from generation to generation. As parents sacrifice for their children, the children grow and learn to make sacrifice back to their parents.

Mr Yutaka Yamada, UPF Oceania Chair, delivered the heartfelt closing remarks through a video message.

The program also included musical performances from the youth and congratulatory remarks from Dr Geoff Lee, Member for Parramatta and well wishes from members of the local community.

The program ended with a lucky draw and refreshment.

Melbourne to Sydney humanitarian ride Raising awareness of refugee crisis in Greece

Aishah Jacobs

In the loving memory of our beloved aunty Kevser Sezer, our cousins Meltem Zenbil and Mustafa Said Zenbil from Suleyman Kaya, Tugce Nur Debre & our daughter Suzanne Kaya. Narrated by Suleyman Kaya.

Every year millions of people are forcibly displaced worldwide and end up in refugee camps. Unfortunately, many of them cannot even make it to the camp sites, as their lives come to an end during this painful journey. Kevser, Meltem and Mustafa were only a few of them. Their lives tragically ending with their boat capsizing in Greece urged us to take action for humanity.

We have been working on a charity project since last year with Advocates for Dignity; cycling from Melbourne to Sydney. After hundreds of km in training rides, I finally set out on this long ride from Keysborough on 17 September 2022.

My wife and my daughter followed me with a car throughout this journey, which took us 9 days, and 1038 km to reach Sydney Opera House on 25 September 2022.

Our main aim was to raise awareness, and attract attention to the refugee crisis in Greece through this fundraising campaign.

Cycling is not only a sport if you are able to look at it with an eye of wisdom. This ride was more than physical training for us, it was an inner journey of feeling for others.

I could summarize my experience on the road in just 3 words: Hard, Dangerous and Uncertain all the way.

I guess, it is just a glimpse of what the people of no state go through in their lives every day, until they find freedom and peace of mind, and these may be the two most important things that one looks for in life.

During the ride, I tried to reflect on what it feels like to change your life, to end up with nothing and have to start from scratch. I guess, pain has different forms. The pain that we feel from a physical activity is temporary. But the one that is mental has long term affects. No one should be subject to the

latter and nothing in this world is more valuable than a single human being’s life.

We have experienced that common problems of humanity resonate in the hearts of people regardless of their nation, religion, or backgrounds. We met some amazing people in Paynesville and Orbost.

After listening to our cause, Patsy, Coralie, and her husband donated generously to our fundraiser. We were also upgraded from

powered camping sites to cabins without any issues when it was raining.

The road talks to you in its own language. It has pits and peaks. It gives you pain and then rewards. “For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” (Quran 94: 5-6)

That’s what life is all about, ups and downs. Difficulties are part of our lives. They’re easy if shared.

We are grateful to all who supported this

ride financially and spiritually. Thanks to the Advocates for Dignity and Australian Relief Organisation, we were able to collect 8000+ AUD dollars to be transferred to the needy refugee families in Greece.

If you would like to support this cause, we still accept donations. Please use this link: https://gofund.me/07e94534 or Search Melbourne to Sydney humanitarian ride in https://www.gofundme.com.

Your brain has a mind of its own

Princess R Lakshman

Let us explore the MIND (which is NOT your brain, by the way) and how the mind is responsible for our thoughts, words, and actions.

The brain is an organ whereas the mind is invisible and complex in nature. It is the part of the self which is ghaib, unseen.

It is commonly believed that the human mind works on two levels – the conscious and the sub-conscious.

The conscious mind is responsible for your awareness – for example, right now you may be aware that you are reading this column, or the soft or hard surface you may be sitting on, or the environment you are in.

The subconscious mind is the storage area. It is a reservoir of every single sensory body experience. It holds 100% of everything and acts as a vast ocean of information for the conscious mind to tap into and access.

The subconscious mind is also where perceptions and beliefs are formed. For example, when a child is bullied for being overweight, that child will most likely have a perception that his/her weight defines his/ her abilities in life.

This perception may cause the child to avoid trying a new sport at school because

he/she is embarrassed about being overweight and feeling unworthy. This may lead the child to engage in repetitive, negative self-talk: “I am fat, therefore I’m not good enough.”

Of course, this is a completely false perception but the child is not aware that it is false because the child is not aware that he/ she can actually transform the negative perception into a positive one.

It is the child’s physical body that is overweight not the child’s wholistic self. The child has unlimited potential to do any activity he/she puts the mind to. However, the subconscious mind has formulated a negative perception hence the negative self-talk and poor self-esteem.

As adults, our thought patterns, self-talk and behavioural patterns are very much influenced by how we perceived ourselves in childhood.

Pause for a moment and reflect on your own behaviours, thought patterns, and selftalk…can you connect the dots and trace them back to your child self?

Use this week to make a note of what your common thoughts and patterns are, for example, are you afraid of the dark? Are you fearful of crowds? Do you feel uncomfortable when someone gives you a compliment? Do you get angry when someone jokes about your physical appearance? Do you find pleasure in mocking others or being sarcastic? Do you feel insecure about yourself when you see other people’s accom-

Multicultural Music and Food Festival in Minto

plishments?

Have a Feelings Journal to record these daily observations. Pay particular attention to your self-talk and visuals that recur in your mind…for example, what movie do you play in the cinema of your mind? Are you a villain, victim, or victor? Are you kind in how you perceive yourself and others?

Remember, when you are kind and caring to self then you are able to be kind and caring to all of Allah’s creation.

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

How Safa Aly is redefining modest fashion

Megan Chambers

nects like-bodied women from across the globe so they can find and shop fashion that fits.

The Australian Multicultural Relations Allies organised a Multicultural Music and Food Festival on Saturday 3 December at Coronation Park in Minto, South Western Sydney.

From 11 am onwards, there were many performances throughout the day from children and adults sharing the wonders of all cultures through their traditional songs, dances and poetry.

“Campbelltown is home to one of the most diverse and multicultural communities in South West Sydney,” said Mayor George Greiss.

The free entry welcomed all in the community to immerse themselves in a multi-

tude of cultures by interacting and learning with other members of the community who presented their cultures in unique colours and flavours, bridging a gap of understanding between themselves.

This could only be enjoyed through the diverse cultural clothing, accessory, trinket and food stalls lined along the sides, both leading to the ever-awarding stage.

Mr George Greiss, Mayor of Campbelltown was present with other counsellors like Masood Khalil for a ceremony celebrating the hard workers in the community where many worthy locals were appreciated for their outstanding efforts in business, community services, education, children’s development and so much more.

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

Meet Safa Aly, a modest fashion stylist and contributor to the fashion app, Mys Tyler.

At a young age, Safa fell in love with fashion. She enjoyed making clothes and accessories for her dolls and at the age of 10 started designing and sewing clothes for a play that she directed with the children in her family.

Since then, Safa has always kept her finger on the pulse when it comes to fashion and is always looking for the latest designs and trends. After years of styling herself, other veiled women began to ask her for help, which prompted Safa to do a styling course.

She wanted to be able to create her dream outfits and have more freedom around what she wore, which has led her to her work to day as both a designer and styl ist. Safa says, “I am a proud Muslim veiled woman and I love helping other veiled women find confident in themselves through fashion.”

Safa is redefining modest fashion and helping others con nect to clothes that fit their lifestyles. She also does this through a fashion app called Mys Tyler. Safa is a contributor to the app, which con

Mys Tyler recently conducted a study into representation in the fashion industry and found that nearly 10% of respondents felt underrepresented by the fashion industry due to their ethnicity.

Safa is helping to create change through her personal work and as an ambassador at Mys Tyler where she shares her favourite outfits so that other women can be inspired by her looks.

“The Mys Tyler app helps me engage with other women like me from diverse walks of life and we can share style inspiration and shop each other’s looks directly through the app,” says Safa.

Safa’s personal style inspiration comes from following the international fashion weeks, social media, and fashion bloggers. Her focus in life is to help others feel empowered and inspired daily.

“I filter my love of fashion and style into my work as a designer and stylist helping other veiled women find the right clothes for them. My goal is to make veiled women feel empowered in stylish pieces.”

You can follow Safa’s journey on Instagram via @ safaalyofficial_ or download the Mys Tyler app to see her latest fashion posts.

Megan Chambers is a PR Professional and the founder of Olive PR.

Shafqat Ali

From Fuwa’ad to Qalb: Anxiety to Peace

Are your kidneys leaking?

Do you know that early detection and treatment can not only reverse leaking kidneys, but it can also prevent permanent damage to the kidneys.

One in 7 adults are unaware they have kidney disease as people with CKD (chronic kidney disease) can live for years without knowing since it does not always have the most clearly defined symptoms.

If leaking kidneys left untreated, they continue to deteriorate and may result in kidney failure.

Why are kidneys called Vital Organs?

Kidneys are a pair of fist size organs present in the lower abdomen (tummy) on either side of spine. They are important as they perform the vital functions in our body such as:

Filters the blood and removes wastes and extra fluid, helps in the production of RBC, keeps bones strong, and works to maintain right amount of minerals in the body.

Who is at risk?

Aisha Mohsin would have revealed everything about him”. (Quran-28:10)

Accepting a new reality after what seems like an irrevocable loss is hard and what’s even harder is imagining a future that would bring happiness.

This post is an attempt to remind first to me and then to anyone else, that no matter what the magnitude of loss you’ve suffered, God will guide you through the path of acceptance.

A heart once inflamed and brewing with anxiety (Fuwa’ad) will regain its peaceful normal state again (Qalb) – but with patience and faith!

Void is an interesting word, I find it quite intriguing. It connotes a complete and utter sense of emptiness – a loss of what was or could have been. An emotion so alien with missing identity. It is silence but of deafening nature. It is being disconnected and further rendered unable to form connections as though all has been unlearnt.

At some point or another, we have all felt this powerful emotion that in and of itself lacks any emotion whatsoever but is powerful enough to water down all other emotions. In fact, drives them out of the heart space until literally nothing is left.

I am inclined to reflect on the state of a sacred heart. One that is recorded in chapter 28 verse 10 of the glorious Quran. The heart of the mother of the great Prophet Moses or Musa (a) who had been inspired by God to let go of her infant Musa ie to place him in a basket and cast it away into the river Nile.

It was divinely planned for the safety of the future messenger Musa (a) who could’ve gotten killed by the wrongdoer King Pharaoh. How God planned Pharaoh’s house to be Musa’s sanctuary is another astonishing turn of events.

At this point, the commentary in the Quran depicts how her heart feels totally empty. The chances of never seeing Musa (a) again are ever so high and the probability of losing him to death must have felt eminent. Also, she doesn’t have a plan as such. In doing so all she has is faith tinted with fear.

And it makes sense – the gaping, terrifying parting from who or what is most precious can shake the faith of a believer. But the most heart-warming part of the verse is where God states that, “Moses’ mother felt a void in her heart, If We had not strengthened it to make her one of those who believe, she

Imagining the scenario above brings to mind a state of emotional devastation that would perhaps make one forget to blink. A reality so harsh that would momentarily confiscate the breath. In those moments laced with desperation and fear when nothing and no one could have possibly provided the solace she had hoped for, the desolated heart was then held together by the loving Hand of God.

Symbolically speaking, as though the immaterial self was bursting at the seams stitch by stitch and God tied it back together into a perfect neat finish.

In the fabric of life, so many threads get pulled out in ways often rugged and more often than not, in timings that are uncalculated. But for a believer, there is solace in knowing that the fiber of life in 3D is connected to our Beloved God in the 5D. We are never truly alone for “He is with you wherever you are.” (Quran 57:4)

Whatever God chooses to take away be it partially or fully, temporarily or for good – it is to be replaced by what is better for us. And as much as we would wish to retain our object of affection, it is essential for the restoration of faith and inner peace to let go and surrender because His plan will prevail.

Believers place their faith in the eternal promise of His loving providence. God returned Musa (a) into the loving embrace of his mum but she remained steadfast and did not let fear overpower her faith.

Truth is, He will test us with what and whom we love the most for a reason you and I may not be able to fully comprehend. What is required of the believers is to trust radical ly and endure with patience otherwise there will be no way out of a sad state of mind that will eventually compromise a healthy perspective on life.

May we all, in every moment of existence, live to obey The One who has bestowed life with all its vulnerabilities only to see who gets to sustain the bigger purpose. May we be given hearts that are grateful for all that is and the way it is.

And lastly, may we be unashamed for our human weaknesses that are more alike than different irrespective of our religious be liefs.

Seeker of inspiration in the ordinary, Aisha is a Melbourne-based registered teacher of religion who loves to connect with people and help them live happier.

Email: aishah.mohsin@gmail.com

People with high Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellites, those who have a family history of kidney disease and people over 60 years of age are likely to get kidney damage.

How to know if your kidneys are leaking?

Here is a checklist of symptoms of kidney disease:

Tiredness, trouble concentrating, insomnia (trouble sleeping), dry itchy skin, frequency of urine, blood in urine, urine is foamy, puffiness around the eyes, swollen ankles and feet, poor appetite (due to buildup of toxins) and muscle cramps as the levels of calcium are low.

Tips To Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

• Keep active and fit

• Control your Blood Sugar

• Monitor Blood Pressure if persistently high take medication regularly prescribed by your doctor

• Maintain ideal body weight through diet and exercise

• Drink plenty of fluids 1.5 to 2 liters water /day

• Do not smoke as it damages the blood vessels

• Limit the over-the-counter medication

• Have your kidney function tested if you are at high risk

• Avoid adding extra salt to your diet since it has sodium that elevates your Blood Pressure rapidly

• Avoid taking natural supplements without approval from your doctor as the herbs contain acids

• Avoid overtraining in the gymnasium

Diet – Avoid consumption of too much processed food as it is loaded with sodium and potassium, and it increases extra calories

Foods that protect Kidneys: Blueberries, Cabbage, Garlic, Olive oil, Cranberries, Red grapes, Pineapple, Bell peppers, Cauliflower, Apples, Salmon and skinless chicken breast.

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

The Meeting

Dr Reginald Naulty

In the soul`s deepest recesses there is a meeting like winds passing and beholding each other in mutual rapture.

“You are here at last,” breathes the soul in welcome, “you have come.”

There is no need for questions, presence surpasses explanations, the one sought is found. The soul is now ready for the confounded, the querulous, the doubters, and the interested polite: it will show what ingenuity and metaphor can devise.

Dr Reginald Naulty, originally from Adelaide, has taught at Charles Sturt University and has been a prolific writer since 1972.

Dr Ghazala Kirmani

Worried about the rising cost of living?

“Mum, when do you get paid again? I need to pay for camp.” I hesitate to answer. My next pay day is in 3 days, but with the rent and accumulating bills, most of my pay is already gone. Especially in current times, it’s hard to face tomorrow.

The cost of living is steadily rising in Australia and around the world. Australia has seen innumerable crises – bushfires, COVID-19, droughts, and floods – which have impacted on our overall quality of life and financial stability.

To make matters worse, the continual rising prices of basic expenses like petrol and groceries has put a strain on every household in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the quarterly and annual increases are the largest since the introduction of the GST more than 20 years ago.

While this inflation has had an adverse effect on all families, it has been debilitating for others; hitting low-income households the hardest, since they must spend a larger portion of their budget on the most basic of necessities.

People whose household’s income lies below the relevant poverty line are unlikely to reach a generally acceptable minimum standard of living unless they have access to other resources such as substantial savings. They are likely to miss out on essentials that

ports indicating low life satisfaction and a reduction in wellbeing, including increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Given the heavier burden to earn sufficiently to feed our families, it is not surprising that we are feeling more stressed and overwhelmed.

Having the responsibility of being the head of the family has never been so taxing, as it gets harder and harder to make ends meet and keep the family happy. These demands put a strain on married couples, often causing marital discord and pushing relationships to breaking point.

For single-parent households, this burden is carried alone, exacerbated by the guilt and helplessness resulting from being unable to purchase toys or new clothes for their children, or spending on items relating to selfcare.

This is a problem affecting all of us. A problem that we don’t need to face individually. Financial struggle shouldn’t be a source of shame or embarrassment. Emotional and mental strain doesn’t need to be carried alone.

National Zakat Foundation has the resources and personnel, ready to assist families in need, during these difficult times. They have programs tailored to alleviate different issues and to cater for families and individuals with different needs.

All you have to do is let them know. Together, we can face tomorrow. National Zakat Foundation 1300663729 or www.nzf.org.au

As-Sunnah Foundation: For the Ummah, with the Sunnah

than a million subscribers. Their contents are widespread among all classes of Bengali-speaking Muslims.

With the three motives of education, service, and Dawah, all connected to Islamic values, As-Sunnah Foundation became one of the most prominent Islamic organizations for Bangla speakers of all ages through various social media platforms.

It was established by the renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmadullah in 2017. He is the current chairman of the foundation.

According to its website, “This organization, following the footsteps of Prophet (s) is working towards service to the community, social work…through various programs.

The foundation is working its best toward building an ideal welfare society. As-Sunnah Foundation aims to build a Quran and Sunnah-based social and personal life and spread accurate Islamic knowledge among people”.

Some of their notable works and campaigns in the past and present include Qurbani for all, Iftaar distribution, the Seerat competition, Warm clothes distribution, the Plantation program, etc.

It is also working hard in creating Islamic videos as its Dawah works. As-Sunnah Foundation’s youtube channel has hit more

Sheikh Ahmadullah was born in the year 1981, in the district of Lakshipur. After studying in various qawmi madrasahs, he was admitted to Bangladesh’s most prestigious and largest qawmi madrasah, Darul Uloom Hathajari.

He obtained second in the combined merit list of dawra hadith(Masters) in 2001before completing the ifta (Islamic Jurisprudence) from Darul Uloom Khulna.

After completing his student life, he worked as a teacher and in 2009, he worked at an Islamic Centre in Saudi Arabia. Currently, Sheikh Ahmadullah is working as the chairman of the Foundation and also as a khatib in a local masjid.

Ongoing and Future projects

The foundation has recently started a sub-institute named “As-Sunnah Foundation Skill Development Institute” to educate and develop different skills among local Imams.

They have successfully organised workshops on Dawah, accounting management, and garments. According to Sheikh Ahmadullah, they hold a project to build the

As-Sunnah complex, a mosque that will be a religious, social, and community center for Muslims of all ages and statuses.

As a part of its Education goal, the foundation launched a madrasah, named “Madrasatus Sunnah” . Its vision is to shape the next generation as proper Muslims with traditional Islamic knowledge and etiquette; to prepare them for the changing world by introducing them to modern education.

Some of the foundation’s notable future projects are higher Islamic education and

research center, Islamic knowledge courses of different levels and establishing Islamic schools, college, and university.

Also they plan to establish scholarships for the poor, professional training center, Dawah training courses, libraries, ifta (jurisprudence) center, and many more.

Kazi Abdullah, a Bangladeshi teen. Eager to share the stories of Muslims throughout the community.

Kazi Abdulllah

As-Sunnah complex model.

most people take for granted such as decent and secure housing.

Moreover, people are at greater risk of mental illnesses. There is an increase in re-

AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM

Anwar Ibrahim: The new Prime Minister of Malaysia

Anwar was a contender for Prime ministership twice, but his mentor turned opponent, Mahathir, imprisoned him both times, assassinated his character, and tried to oust him from Malaysian politics.

But Anwar’s popularity forced his opponents to clear him off corruption charges and sodomy. Now, as the leader of a coalition that won 82 out of 220 seats in the country’s parliament, Anwar Ibrahim is the ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The Malaysian called its former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, an Iron Man. However, Anwar Ibrahim proved his steel nerves and stamina to survive against all odds.

Moreover, he remained connected with his people during those 25 years when his opponents had written his political obituary several times.

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories, divided between two regions, with 11 states and two federal territories in Peninsular Malaysia and the other two states and one national part in East Malaysia.

The country’s population was 32,447,385 in 2020, making it the 42nd most populated country. People within the 15–64 age group constitute 69.5 percent of the total population; the 0–14 age group corresponds to 24.5 percent, while senior citizens aged 65 years or older make up 6.0 percent.

Malaysian citizens, with 69.7 percent are considered Bumiputera. The largest group of Bumiputera are Malays Muslims, who practice Malay customs and culture. However, Bumiputera also includes the non-Malay indigenous groups of Sabah and Sarawak, such as Dayaks (Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu),

Kadazan-Dusun, Melanau, Bajau, and others. Non-Malay Bumiputeras make up more than half of Sarawak’s population and over two-thirds of Sabah’s population.

Two other non-Bumiputera local ethnic groups are 22.5 percent Chinese and 6.8 percent Indians. The local Chinese are dominant in the business.

The new Prime Minister has four immediate priorities.

1. Form a national unity government to prove his majority in the parliament

2. To fight corruption plaguing Malaysian politics for decades.

3. To pursue economic policies ensuring the growth of all.

4. To maintain a balance between pluralism and the identity of over 70 percent of its Muslim population.

If given time and opportunity, Anwar Ibrahim has the ability and skills to provide the country with a new identity based on development, tolerance, and multiculturalism. However, his immediate task is to emerge unscathed from the Malaysian political maze.

Here is the breakdown of Malaysian political parties. Anwar Ibrahim is the leader of Pakatan Harapan (PH), with 82 seats. The alliance consists of five parties, including Democratic Action Party (DAP): 40, People’s Justice Party (PKR): 31, Amanah: 8, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO): 2 and MUDA: 1.

Muhyiddin Yassin leads Perikatan Nasional (PN), with 73 seats. It includes Pan-Islamic Party (PAS): 49, Bersatu: 24.

Barisan Nasional has 30 seats, with United Malays National Organization (UMNO): at 26, Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA): at 2, and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC): at 1.

The coalition of Sarawak Parties (GPS) has 22 seats. Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu: 14, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS): 5, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP): 2, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP): 1.

Sabah

Who will support Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition, and at what cost? These two questions will test his ability to lead the country.

After his victory, Anwar Ibrahim said: “We will never compromise on good governance. The anti-corruption drive, judicial independence, and the welfare of ordinary Malaysians will remain our priorities. ”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Anwar and said Americans looked forward to deepening the two nations’ friendship and cooperation based on

shared democratic principles and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“We remain committed to working with Malaysia to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” Blinken said in a statement.

Anwar has proved that he stands for a pluralistic vision of Islam for a just and fair society.

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

Facing religious persecution

Farid Ahmed

In every age, some people misunderstand the divine teachings of religion, or they hate it, and they want to eliminate it with force, violence, and persecution.

They think that they can suffocate the faithful followers by their evil forces, and they can blow out the light of faith. The history tells us that persecution can kill some faithful, but it cannot kill the faith.

Instead, the religion spreads more into the hearts of others. It is an absolute truth about Islam. Every messenger of Allah and his followers received brutal resistance, yet the advancement of religious teaching continued.

We should look at two verses in the Holy Quran, one regarding the persecutions, and another about the continuous spreading of the light of religion, for our reminder.

“And they persecuted them (The believ-

ers) for no reason other than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise.” [Quran 85:1]

“Their intention is to darken Allah’s Light (by bellowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (Brightening) His Light.” [Quran 61:8]

As Muslims, we are not exempted from the persecutions here and there. The question is, what is the best way to face the persecutions? Should we hate for hate, fight for fight, kill for kill, anger for anger, cruelty for cruelty, and offer violence for violence?

Or there is another way, a peaceful way? What was the most regular practices of Allah’s Messengers when they faced persecutions? Did they try to win hearts, guide the misguided, made effort to offer understanding to remove misunderstanding etc?

Should we give up our moral high ground of love, kindness, and compassion towards humans due to some of their lowly actions against us?

Most particularly, what was the policy and practices of Prophet Muhammad (s) towards the enemies in Mecca, who killed and per-

secuted many of his holy companions, and even tortured him, and attempted to kill him?

What is Allah’s prescription about it in most cases? Again, we should look at a verse in the Holy Quran, for our reminder.

“And good deeds and evil deeds cannot be equal. (So) face (evil) with what is best (fairness, kindness, forgiveness etc). Then, verily, he (the one) between whom and you, was hatred, will become like close friends.” [Quran 41:34]

Allah’s Light will grow continuously to remove darkness, but we are tested if we are dedicated to being part of this evolution with patience or not.

Prophet Mohammad (s) began his peace

message through the faith alone, faced all the abuses, blasphemy, torture, and persecutions, but always held on the high moral qualities and as a result, hearts were won, hatred was turned into friendship, the peace message did spread faster with the best actions.

Today, we need to follow our role model, Rahmatullil A’alameen (Mercy for the words) Muhammad (s) in facing the persecutions to turn the violence into peace.

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

Dr Aslam Abdullah

People’s Alliance (GRS) has six seats. Sabah Bersatu: 4, Sabah Star: 1, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah: 1. Independents have six seats. Warisan: 4, Malaysian Nation Party: 1, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM): 1, and Independent: 2.

Every messenger of Allah and his followers received brutal resistance, yet the advancement of religious teaching continued. “

Teacher steps on Muslim student’s hand while they were praying

By praying we are creating a sense of connection with God.

A teacher at Franklin Academy in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA was fired after a TikTok video went viral, for showing a teacher disrupting Muslim students while praying.

The video showcases three Muslim students peacefully praying when a teacher walks in questioning what the boys are doing.

The teacher inconsiderately starts walking through the praying boys, blowing her whistle and stepping on some of their hands in the process.

Uttering ‘Hold on, this is my office and y’all doing this magic?’ the teacher said. Referring to the boys praying as ‘magic’. The teacher continued to say, ‘I believe in Jesus, so I’m interrupting the floor.’

Towards the end of the video, the teacher can be heard asking another person, ‘Who told them to come in here?’

The students continued praying during the whole incident, keeping calm. Despite the teacher’s attempts to interrupt the students while praying.

The video has surpassed 8.3 million views, many were quick to point out the

atrocious behavior of the teacher.

The school, Franklin Academy later released a statement saying that the school does ‘not tolerate discriminatory behavior’. It was later known that the teacher was fired.

The students were partaking in the Islamic ritual called Salah, which is an important aspect for all Muslims. It is a voluntary act; Muslims pray 5 times a day to show thank-

fulness and gratitude towards their Creator and submit to Him in peace and tranquility.

It is not a crime for students to pray at school, it is their right to peacefully practice their faith.

To prevent acts like this from reoccurring, schools should be educated on why Muslim students choose to pray during school hours and what are the benefits of doing so.

There are many schools in the world that are teaching students to create a connection with God or being mindful and appreciative of all the blessings.

There are many positives to Salah, as it reduces stress and anxiety, making the person feel calmer, increasing gratitude, empathy, appreciation and contentment.

These qualities help improve emotional health and pave a vital role in character building.

Not only does it improve psychological aspects, but Salah also assists with physiological health too, as it has been reported that a person’s heart rate and blood pressure decrease during Salah, and it helps regulate breathing.

By students praying at school, it creates a positive atmosphere for them thereby they could be a better student, less distractful and improve focus in their academic subjects.

It is important for the Muslim organisations to build positive relationships with secondary schools to educate teachers on benefits of Salah on Muslim students and how this may help in their character building and improve academic achievements.

Sadia Shareef is a high school student based in Townsville, QLD. She is passionate about writing topics that affect our society & humanity.

Kashmir Files: Vulgar and Propagandist

Dr Aslam Abdullah

They would not make a fictional movie about millions of Dalits killed because of their perceived lower ranks in the Hindu religious hierarchy. They would not dare document the murder of over 100,000 Muslims in Jammu during the 1947 partition trauma.

They would not even make a movie about the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 at the hands of Hindu extremists protected by the authorities. But, the upper castes of India would produce a fictional drama centered around the Kashmiri Hindu Pundits (upper caste Brahmans), allegedly leading to an imaginary genocide.

The film, supported by India’s Hindu fascists and upper castes, proved a commercial success. Promoted by the heirs of Hitler in India, the film received all the exemptions that a government can give its favorites.

The film was propaganda and aimed to mobilize Hindu sentiments against Islam, Muslims, and the majority population of Kashmir, disregarding all the facts.

It ignored the ground reality and did not mention that India’s occupying forces, the RSS and its operative, allegedly killed over 100,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1947. Furthermore, it did not acknowledge the torture and imprisonment of Kashmiri youth by the Indian army in thousands.

It refused to recognize the rape of Kashmiri women by the Hindu army and para-military officials. Yet, the Brahman backers and promoters were eager to make a movie about the Kashmiri Pundits’ exit that the ruling party allegedly engineered to gar-

ner support among its Hindu voters.

The Jury at the 53rd International Film Festival of India held in Goa in November 2022 acknowledged that, and filmmaker Nadav Lapid, speaking on their behalf, called it a vulgar and propaganda film unfit for representation at the competition section.

India’s fascists were angry at these comments. So they approached the Israeli government, whose ambassador distanced his country from them, and even apologized.

But, of course, one cannot expect anything else from Israel that itself is an occu-

pier denier of human rights to the original inhabitants of Palestine. Nevertheless, Lapid did not retreat from his comments and doubled down on his criticism.

What is clear is that India’s ruling elites comprising less than 5 percent Brahmans are behind most anti-Islam and anti-Muslim campaigns in India and abroad. They spread hatred through the temples they control and the RSS, run by them.

They dream of a Greater India, destroying Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and going upto Malaysia,

Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and parts of China.

It’s a group of people that believes in the supremacy of India’s Upper castes, whose origin they attribute to the mouth, chest, and abdomen of a deity.

The Kashmiri Files was an attempt to win sympathy for this racist group responsible for the inhumanity of millions of people described as Shudras, Dalits, and untouchables.

Sadia Shareef

My parents were arrested for being Buddhist

more than 10 hours a day.

My father is a quiet man, he is very kind. My mother is more outgoing, she loves children and has a very beautiful voice.

I am an 11th grade student studying music in New York. Before I came here, I lived with my parents in China. My parents Chen Yang (52 years old) and Cao Zhimin (47 years old), who are from Changsha City, Hunan province, were arrested on 27 October 2020, for practicing the Buddhist qigong meditation practice, Falun Gong.

They were arrested for practicing their religion, which is a religion that teaches people to be good, to be a better person to family and to society. According to the website, 9 people were arrested that night.

I don’t know anything about their conditions now. It’s been two years, and I haven’t been able to contact them for more than a year.

I don’t know how they are doing and I’m wondering what happened to them, and where they are. If they are in a detention center,

I want to know what happened to them, how they were treated and why they couldn’t be released home.

Since my mother has been gone, I also don’t know the situation of my grandparents and how their lives will be impacted, how much it will affect them, and whether they will be harassed.

My father is a computer engineer. He was also arrested back in 1999 and sentenced to four years in prison and tortured, including being shocked with electric batons and beaten until one of his teeth was knocked out.

My mother is an English tutor. She was also arrested back in 1999 and given a threeyear term and forced to do slave labor for

I remember when I was 5 years old, my mother and I were taken by plain clothed police when she was taking me to kindergarten. At least 5 unidentified men dragged us both into an unmarked sedan and took us to a Brainwashing Center in Changsha City.

My extended family have also been unable to reach my parents at the detention centre since 26 October 2020. Lawyers hired by our family were pressured by their law firms and local Human Justice bureaus to withdraw from the case and were prevented from visiting the Liuyang Police Department and the Liuyang Procuratorate.

My father’s location is currently unknown. My mother is currently supposed to be detained in Changsha City Fourth (Women’s) Detention Center but we can’t verify that she is still there.

I hope people can help me, sign a petition together, or write some letters to China, calling for Chinese government to release my parents.

Here is a video of me speaking about my situation to try and raise awareness and get help. instagram.com/p/CXUvkhHLOeu/

The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), China Aid and supporting organizations are asking for your help to raise awareness of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China and mobilize a global movement to end this transplant abuse.

Take the pledge: endtransplantabuse.org/pledge

An Arab reply to Natanyahu’s new government

Rabbi Allen Maller

Netanyahu’s new government has pledged to prioritize settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, extend massive subsidies to his ultra-Orthodox allies and push for sweeping reform of the judicial system that could endanger the country’s democratic institutions.

The plans have sparked an unprecedented uproar from across Israeli society, including the military, LGBTQ rights groups, the business community and the Israeli Arab community.

There were many people in the Israeli Arab community who thought that it did not matter if Netanyahu became Prime Minister or not; because all the Israeli parties are no good, but the head of the Arab Muslim political party Ra’am replied that the other Arab parties were responsible for helping bring down the previous government.

The very diverse, very fragile coalition that had toppled Netanyahu collapsed in June, and Netanyahu and his ultra nationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies secured a parliamentary majority in November’s election.

Ra’am’s head, Mansour Abbas, questioned the purpose of the Hadash-Ta’al alliance and its ‘dogmatic’ approach to politics, arguing it does not help Arabs.

“I don’t understand what their purpose is in the Knesset,” Abbas told the Ynet news outlet hours before incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to have his far-right religious coalition approved by the Knesset.

Ra’am, an Islamist party, had joined the previous government, providing it with key seats needed to achieve a majority and using that as leverage to secure commitments for significant state funding for the Arab community.

Elections were called after outgoing prime minister Yair Lapid’s government lost its parliamentary majority in the face of systematic pressure from Likud and opposition parties, including the Hadash and Ta’al parties, then part of the Joint List alliance of Arab parties.

The incoming coalition, led by Netanyahu’s Likud, won 64 out of 120-seat Knesset in the November elections and is set to be the most right-wing government in Israel’s history.

“Because of Tibi and Odeh we missed a historical opportunity,” Abbas said, referring to Ta’al leader MK Ahmad Tibi and

Hadash leader MK Ayman Odeh.

Abbas criticized the two other parties, saying “their members don’t believe in my approach. They have a dogmatic approach, they don’t want to change.” Abbas’s Ra’am was the first Arab party to join a governing coalition.

“For a whole year Odeh and Tibi cooperated with the Likud and the Religious Zionism [parties] to bring down the previous government, and what did they gain?” he asked.“Instead of upgrading our status as an Arab society in the State of Israel, we missed a historic opportunity.”

In the past, Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al and the hardline Arab party Balad ran on a united slate called the Joint List. Ra’am left the alliance ahead of the March 2021 elections and subsequently joined the government, while the rest of the Joint List stayed in the opposition.

Balad then split off before the recent November elections, leaving the remaining two parties to form the Hadash-Ta’al alliance. Ra’am also ran its own slate and the three other parties failed to sign a vote-sharing deal. On election day, Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al each won five seats while Balad failed to clear the threshold for entry into the Knesset. Balad, Abbas said, “just burned votes.”

Mansour Abbas said that the incoming government, which includes three far-right Ultra-Orthodox religious parties, has raised concern in the Arab community.

“There is fear, frustration and mistrust in the government and its policies among the Arab community,” he said. “There is no Arab or Druze representative in the government to reflect things from this community, the government cannot ignore [the Arab community].”

I think that in 2023 the Israeli Arab community will find out if it does, or if it does not matter, if Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister because all the Israeli parties are no good.

I myself think some parties are much better than others.

Allen S Maller is an ordained Reform Rabbi who retired in 2006 after 39 years as the Rabbi 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.

Grace Chen

END TRANSPLANT ABUSE IN CHINA

These testimonies are the stories of Uyghurs and Falun Gong Practitioners affected by the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to commit genocide against them and other minorities. Their families and friends are at risk of forced organ harvesting. Many have pledged to never source an organ from China if they ever needed one.

Grace holding a picture of her mother who was arrested, along with Grace’s father, for practising the Buddhist qigong meditation practice, Falun Gong.

Mansour Abbas

The authenticity and validity of the Qur’an

Maryam Razi

The Qur’an has come as a revelation to humankind. It is a Book that humans have no choice but to accept and obey.

For this reason, the authenticity and validity of the Qur’an need to be well-established and understood.

There are wo means to do this is by understanding the I’jaz (miraculousness) of the Qur’an and recognising instances of rebuking of the Prophet (s) in the Qur’an.

1. I’jaz (miraculousness) of the Qur’an

The i’jaz (miraculousness) of the Qur’an shows the power of the Qur’an, which demonstrates that the Qur’an cannot be the word of a human being but of a superior being, God.

The miraculous facets within the Qur’an discuss undiscovered knowledge of the natural world, prediction/ knowledge of the future, lost knowledge of the past, literary, inimitability, laws, and its impact on humankind.

The undiscovered understanding of the world in regards to the embryo development mentioned in the Qur’an 1,400 years ago before science had progressed shows the knowledge of the Creator.

In contrast, science centuries later describes the development of the embryo.

This signifies that the Qur’an cannot be authored by an illiterate Prophet (s) who knows the unknown, but a supreme being who is the Creator must know about its development.

To examine it from a literary perspective, the Qur’an has been falsely accused of being authored by Prophet Muhammad (s).

Throughout history, creating an outstanding piece of an academic document requires multiple reviewing of the work until it has reached its version. However, the Qur’an was not edited or reviewed for over 23 years.

When the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet (s), it was at random locations and different audiences, and he would say the

verses that were revealed to him without any editing or changes.

It was narrated that Aishah (r), the wife of the Prophet (s), said: “Al-Harith bin Hisham (r) asked the Messenger of Allah (s): ‘How does the Revelation come to you?’ He said: ‘Like the ringing of a bell, and when it departs I remember what he (the Angel) said, and this is the hardest on me…’” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 933).

This hadith shows the severity of the revelation of the Qur’an; in that state, he could not alter it because of its heaviness. On the other hand, a literary analysis of any surah in the Qur’an shows the eloquence of the word choices.

The literary style of the Qur’an is inimitable and emphasises subjects in the Qur’an in a unique literary manner that is not seen in any other texts. This validates the Qur’an to be the true Word of God and not a product of any human being, not even a prophet.

2. Rebuking of the Prophet (s)

The rebuking of Prophet Muhammad (s) highlights the authenticity and authority of the Qur’an, which removes any false claims regarding him being the author of

Information session on Microsoft Teams

the Qur’an. A well-dignified person in history would want to be recognised as a respectable and influential man in society and historical documents.

“He frowned and turned away… came to him the blind man [interrupting]…what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad] …he might be purified…” ( Qur’an 80: 1-4).

This verse from the Qur’an highlights a vital story where a blind man came to ask about Islam, but Muhammad (s) turned away as he was preaching about Islam to the elites of Quraysh. The Qur’an admonishes the Prophet’s actions that were committed against a blind man. This story illuminates a vast disconnection between the authorship of the Qur’an and the Prophet (s) regarding character portrayal.

Furthermore, the Qur’an goes on to threaten Muhammad (s) with punishment if he did not convey the message or change it, and no one will be able to save him from this threat.

“Had the Messenger made up something in Our Name, We would have seized him by his right hand, then severed his aorta” (Qur’an 64: 44-46).

Hence, through these examples, it would not make sense if an author degraded themselves within the book for many people to recite for generations. Keeping such verses in the Qur’an shows the authenticity of the Qur’an and proves that Muhammad (s) is not the author of the Holy book.

Some others accuse the Prophet (s) of being the author of the Qur’an to gain power and wealth that is absolutely false. The Prophet’s (s) biography and Sunnah show that he was the opposite.

The Prophet (s) lost his wealth as he continued to deliver the message, gave up all worldly desires to spread the word of God, and many of the Prophet’s (s) companions were witnesses of his harsh lifestyle and that of his his family.

Hence, the rebuking of the Prophet (s) removes any false allegations about the Prophet (s) regarding the authorship and the authenticity of the Qur’an and validates the Qur’an for its authenticity.

This discussion provides valid and authentic evidences from the Qur’an and the Hadith and proves that the Qur’an is authentic and is the Word of Allah and rejects any association of the Prophet (s) being the author.

Through the i’jaz of the Qur’an, it denotes that the authorship of the Qur’an cannot be attributed to a human being but to a more knowledgeable super being. The rebuking of the prophet Muhammad signifies that he cannot be the author of the Qur’an, which emphasises the authority and the authenticity of the Qur’an.

Maryam Razi is a 2nd year Bachelor of Secondary Education Student at Charles Darwin University based in Darwin. She works part-time at United Muslims of Northern Territory (UMNT) as a Nisaa Project Assistant under the project for domestic violence. Her passion is to empower women from the CALD communities to be resilient and be stakeholders in their communities. Hence she actively promotes women’s empowerment through the domestic violence campaign.

Jesus Christ: Highly honour in this world and the

Dr Yahya Jahangiri

Christmas, as everyone knows, commemorates the birth of Jesus (a) and is a major religious celebration for Christians around the world.

But what many people don’t know is that Jesus (a) is an important figure in Islam.

hereafter

they refer to Jesus by name.

Muslims believe that Jesus (a) performed miracles: The Qur’an discusses several of Jesus’s (a) miracles, including giving sight to the blind, healing lepers, raising the dead, and breathing life into clay birds.

The story of Jesus’s birth as told in the Qur’an is also the story of his first miracle, when he spoke as an infant in the cradle.

Shahzeen Ali

The principal of a local school, Shafqat was asked to present an explanation of how to use Microsoft teams. Though it was on short notice, he did try his best to finish this task.

On Friday 2 December, Shafqat made his way to the school and requested me to accompany him to the venue.

We thought there wouldn’t be many people attending but there was a large crowd of 41 teachers including the principal of the school eager to learn.

Shafqat then went ahead with the presentation with all the teachers well engaged during the session.

Towards the end of the session Kahoot

quiz based on the presentation tested the participants in absorbing the information given that was highly enjoyable.

Surprisingly, even though I was doing my own work on the side and wasn’t paying much attention, I ended up getting second place on the quiz!

There was a photo session followed by lunch in the library.

This experience was good for me because I had just recently graduated from Year 6 and I would most likely be taught by a few of the high school teachers there.

Shahzeen Ali is a mentor at the Young Innovators Network where she teaches kids various topics. She is based in Sydney, Australia.

Muslims believe that Jesus Christ (called “Isa al-Masih” in Arabic) was a prominent prophet of God and was born to a virgin Mary (a). They also believe he will return to Earth before the Day of Judgment to restore justice.

The only chapter in the Qur’an named for a female figure is about Mary (called “Maryam” in Arabic). In fact, Mary (a) is the only woman to be mentioned by name in the entire Qur’an.

Mary (a) is mentioned more times in the Qur’an than in the en tire New Testament of the Bible. An entire chapter, Surah 19, is dedicated to her.

Just as they do with all the other prophets, including Mohammed (s), devout Muslims recite “peace be upon him” after every time

According to what we found, there are 37 verses that cover many of the different abilities that Allah gave Jesus (a), as well as what people thought about him, his attributes, and his history regarding the period he lived in.

Quran calls Jesus) as a sign ‘Ayah’ and a mercy (Qur’an, 19:21). He is entited by the holy book of qQuran as the word ‘Kalimah’ and highly honoured ‘Wajeeh’ (Qur’an, 3:45):

Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. (Qur’an, 3:45).

Dr Yahya Jahangiri is an Islamic Scholar and Researcher based in Iran.

Imam Ahmed Skaka: Australia’s great Muslim leader

Prof Dr Mohammad Ilyas

“Only two worship in Mosque now”; “Last but one”; “… and soon only the Mosque itself will stand to remind the curious that once Allah was worshiped within the boundaries of Adelaide” were the newspaper headings in 1940’s

It was all about Adelaide City Mosque formerly known as the Afghan Chapel, the oldest permanent mosque in Australia built in 1888–1889 by Afghan cameleers, with its four distinctive minarets added in 1903.

After some 70 years of dedicated service, as the cameleers died, or those out of job returned to their country, the mosque became decrepit. Deep pain felt by the fast vanishing Afghans must have turned into fervent prayers as visualized by Poet Faiz:

(Gulon men rang bhare …): Filling the flowers with colours, let the breeze of early spring blow; Oh, come at last [the breeze]! so the affairs of the garden may flourish.

‘In the darkest hour there was the faint ray of a new dawn – Muslim migrants from Europe led by Ahmed Skaka established the Islamic Society of South Australia… reading of the Qur’an was heard again in the mosque’ (Australian Minaret).

“Things were so bad that everyone would have thought that after the last Afghan dies, Islam will die in Adelaide…”, told Imam Skaka, the Imam of the Adelaide Mosque, to the author back in 1976.

From a distinguished family, charismatic, Ahmed Skaka had studied theology to become Imam in famous Gazi Husrev Bey Medresa in Sarajevo then enlisted in the

Yugoslav Army before being imprisoned by the Nazis in Bosnia

He migrated to Australia on General Stewart 1950 initially landing in Melbourne.

After moving to Adelaide from Melbourne, he came to know of the existence of the mosque found the mosque where the congregation consisted of only two or three aged Afghans.

Imam Skaka organized Muslim community anew in Adelaide, became its Imam and then served the society as voluntary Imam for over 30 years.

Hadji Mullah Mairbain, retiring to Adelaide after leading camel teams on the Australian Overland Telegraph Line becoming a respected spiritual leader, led the initiative to build the Adelaide Mosque, initially called the Afghan Chapel by Australians.

The mosque (plot) was mortgaged (perhaps for the construction of Mosque building). The mortgagee sold the property (see

this author’s Islam’s Struggle in Early Australia 1976) but merchant Abdul Wade of Quetta origin , most famous cameleer in Bourke, NSW (with 400 camels and 60 drivers), purchased the property later and willed it as a mosque.

Gool Mahomet, donated money for mosque, served as Charismatic since 1940 CE, died in 1950. Then, Ahmed Skaka became full time resident voluntary caretaker Imam. He worked for the living. There were only 2-3 Afghans including caretaker Izet Khan but seven people attended the Eid prayers 1951.

The First most religiously educated Imam and First Muslim marriage celebrant in post1950 Australia, Skaka Revived the almost defunct Mosque and cemented the Muslim community.

He Performed wedding ceremonies, organized Islamic classes for children and adults, visited Muslim communities across

Australia, contributed to broad community building and interfaith understanding, help found Australian Federation of Islamic Societies and Australian Minaret, and Performed Hajj 1976.

His also contributed to revival of modern Islamic Astronomy.

We could say that in the second half 20th century Adelaide, Imam Ahmed Skaka stands out as a great Muslim leader, as articulated by Australia’s former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Muslim organisations should consider to recognise Imam Skaka publicly through naming an Australian national Muslim award after him.

Prof Ilyas taught physics at Adelaide University, in Malaysia revived modern global Islamic Astronomy, published numerous books, recognized in Noble Peace Prize 2007 to IPCC .

Writing news articles based on critical thinking

Continued from page 7

Good reasoning is drawing conclusions based on reasons, giving due weight to: implications of those conclusions, assumptions used, accuracy of the reasons, and standards.

When we reason, 10 elements exist: (1) Purpose (intention, desired outcome) (2) Question at Issue (problem, topic) (3) Context (4) Viewpoint (5) Assumptions (background, what is given) (6) Implications/ Consequences (7) Information (8) Concepts (9) Conclusions/Interpretations (10) Alternatives.

Arguments and premises. Logical arguments are used to suggest the truth or elucidate a faulty claim. They are composed of propositions (theses/premises) that can be true (or false) and serve as grounds for accepting the argument.

In CT, an argument is a claim defended with reasons. Arguments comprise premises and a conclusion. Premises are statements offered as evidence/reasons why we should accept a statement/conclusion.

Deductive arguments claim to provide logical grounds demonstrating their conclusions must be true. An example is my AMUST #202 article: “Beyond Deception: Seeking truth and justice for 9/11.”

An Inductive argument argues from specific observations to a general conclusion, ie the way opposite to a deductive argument. Inductive arguments claim their conclusions are likely true. (Bassham)

In evaluating an inductive conclusion ask: Are the premises true? Is the sample observed large enough and representative?

Science seeks to describe, explain and predict occurrences in the natural world by observation/experiment. Science is the most reliable method for discovering empirically-verifiable truths.

But science cannot answer many important questions about meaning and value. Western science is notably weak/deficient

in rejecting the existence of unseen realms (al-ghayb) undetected by physical senses (Sheldrake).

Evaluating arguments and truth claims often utilizes empirical or sense data/perceptions.

Islam recognizes a higher form of perception – the heart (fu’ad/qalb), including intuition (ilham). While ‘the unseen’ cannot be observed by the senses, it can be intuitively perceived by the ‘heart.’

A good argument is one that satisfies CT standards. To refute an argument we should show the premises do not support the conclusion or that the reasoning is bad.

Intellectual resources for an article include an author’s background knowledge, critical concepts and logical arguments. Use libraries and internet search engines to find the best information available. Human sources can often provide quick answers to questions and in-depth knowledge.

Evaluating sources means asking questions about the information you uncover. Separate facts from opinions. Ask “Who is the publisher or sponsor?” “What is the author’s bias/purpose?” “What is the agenda behind this?” “What do those creating this know or don’t know?” “What else might I need to know?” “Is the reasoning on display good?”

Extracting principles/generalizing involves discarding what is unimportant.

Writing an Article involves the following: Identify the Topic. It should be timely, relevant, with good data available on the issue. Research the Topic. Know yourself, your audience and your topic well. Conduct research to ground your article in reliable facts. Include statistics, quotes by wellknown people, definitions, anecdotes. Identify sources, especially if involving wellknown personalities or in crediting others’ work. Test multiple hypotheses on some matters; seek the Truth that best fits the

facts; then strengthen it with more evidence. Preparing the Article. The article structure involves identifying the main points, formulating a thesis statement, then constructing a logical Outline. An Outline often contains: Lead (1-2 paragraphs), which sums up the story focus; orients readers by telling them something surprising; entices them to continue reading.

Impact (1 paragraph) answers how this will affect the reader. Reaction/Response (1 paragraph). Cosmic quote sums up story’s focus (1 paragraph). Background (1 paragraph). Explication of lead, including facts, quotes, and anecdotes supporting the story’s focus. Concluding statement, with suggested action(s) to address the issue. (Stein/Paterno)

I Google search and use my library to read widely around the topic taking in differing perspectives. I need to fully understand the matter to develop approaches/solutions.

I underline important paragraphs, lines, points; transfer excerpts to a single Word document, then categorise and sort the material into subject headings for my article. I add my comments to stress relationships of this material to the article topic.

Start focusing on your topic so you cover the issue within the word limit. If writing an argument, provide a statement of your central claim and organize your material so your readers recognize your premises. Defend your central claim. Identify any weak points, then strengthen them or change one’s original proposition.

Convey a strong link/authority related to your subject, even using a first-person voice if your personal story resonates. When crafting it, ask yourself what’s new, fresh, timely. Your success in an argument is measured by how well you defend your claim and how fair, accurate, honest you are in presenting your case. Strive to present the most rational evenhanded presentation.

Writing the Article. Present yourself as humane and generous. Preserve meaning but prune ruthlessly. Use simple clear language. Say what you mean. Choose active over passive voice.

Craft transitions using a few words or sentence to link related ideas. In controversial areas ensure evidence you provide is from public sources to minimise personal statements. Reference significant sourced information. Avoid loaded words; a well-crafted story allows facts speak for themselves.

Generally write in the third person using a conversational tone, as if you’re addressing someone you know well. Don’t lecture or antagonize them. Write so ideally, you have buy-in/acceptance from a majority of readers. Identify what people need to do to address the issue.

Be opinionated but back your argument with evidence. Try to foresee and answer readers’ reactions/objections. Think of the outcomes from your article, including how it may restrict you personally or cause litigation.

After you write your article, re-read it and update as needed to improve clarity. Be certain you defended your premises and any assumptions on which your argument is based. Before you publish your final draft, seek advice from someone who might alert you to shortcomings.

Through your sincere writing efforts, may God Almighty engender public enlightenment and beneficial outcomes for the Ummah and humanity-at-large.

Dr Daud Batchelor, holds an MA in Islamic and Other Civilisations and a Diploma in Islamic Studies from the International Islamic University Malaysia, PhD from University of Malaya, MSc from the University of London.

Muslim community in South Australia, 1980s.

With leap second fixed, is Hijri calendar relevant to humanity?

Dr Mohammed Naushaduddin

Humans have been time-keeping since millennia: initially for harvest, then rituals, and finally for commerce.

The first reported civilisation to keep written time were the Sumer (today’s Iraq) who introduced the Sexagesimal System (with number 60 as its base). The modern clock still keeps this system, despite decimalisation attempts by the French revolutionaries’ in 1790s.

On 18 November 2022, the time-keepers of the world decided to ditch leap seconds till 2100 CE (AD) because these leap seconds are inherently unpredictable, and trying to fix them causes disruption in the digital systems – the most modern technology to run human affairs.

In this age of high-precision time-keeping, is Hijri Calendar relevant to our times? I believe so, to remember counsels from the past.

Lunisolar Calendar

Lunisolar calendars were common to all ancient cultures of the world: Chinese, Buddhist, and pagan worlds of Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Indian Subcontinent. They used it to track not only seasons and harvests, but also keep tabs on the stars, the sun and the planets – an important element in their worship and beliefs.

The Lunar calendar used the ‘new-moon’ (Hilaal in Arabic) to start a new month. A year was composed of 354 days or 12 months, its divisions based on sexagesimal system.

In Lunisolar system, a month was added to a year (called intercalary month) every two or three years to synchronise the lunar calendar to the seasons.

Julian (Solar)

calendar

BCE 46 (BC) : Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, changed lunisolar calendar to a Solar Calendar by fixing January as the first month and abolishing the intercalary month. A day was added to every few months and, a day was added after a couple of years (leap year) to compensate for intercalary month.

When the Romans became the dominant Mediterranean power, the Julian Calendar spread with it. It was used not only for religious festivals but also to collect yearly tributes from vassals and seasonal taxes from the peasants.

Persian calendar

226-41 CE: The Sassanid king, Ardsheer, instituted the solar calendar based on a fixed 30-day, 12-month calendar. After the 12th month, five more days were added and the intercalary month was discarded.

Though the Persian calendar was easy to follow, it created confusion and divisions amongst the Zartosht (Zoroastrian) religious requirements. This contributed to the slow decline of this religion.

In the 10th century, the Persian calendar was improved by Malik Shah – the sultan of Seljuk Sultanate. Though this Jalaali calendar was never implemented, the idea of preserving Persian identity will persist in the coming centuries.

Indian Subcontinent Calendars

Indian and Buddhist calendars are lunisolar calendars, just like the Greeks.

More than thirty calendars exist today, based on regions and practices – with differences in the beginning of the days, the start of the month, day of the new year, and naming of years. The age of these various calendars can range from year 5000 BCE to year 500 CE.

Since 1952, under the patronage of Indian government, an attempt is going on for a standardised calendar. Yet we have no agreement on a ‘Hindu’ calendar. Under the current Hindutva government, this attempt at

unification will likely pick up acceleration.

Buddhist calendar, used in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, is uniform except in naming the years, which has their national variance.

Logging the Years

The Arabs logged the years based on major events. Abraha’s [the governor of Yemen, then a province of the Kingdom of Aksum (now, Ethiopia)] unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Ka’ba was named ‘Year of the Elephant’; the Prophet was born in this same year.

The more civilised Chinese, Romans and Zartosht associated their ‘year’ with the rein of their kings. A new cycle of year began with the ascension of a new king. The Indian Subcontinent had a very diverse system (each sub-culture has its own method) of naming years.

Jewish Calendar

The scholarship of Jerusalem and Babylon (in Iraq) factions competed for the hearts and minds of the Jewish people and its diaspora for almost a thousand years. The controversies of Jewish Calendar were no different –the ancient society trying to make sense of new rules (imposed by Roman empire/Julian Calendar).

In the 12th century, Musa ibn Maymum (Moses Maimonides, 1135-1204 CE) codified the Jewish Calendar. He was a court physician of Salah-addin Ayyubi in Egypt. The calendar remains inherently complicated, needing the direction of priests – according to the sect one is following.

The State of Israel has secularised and democratised the calendar, though issues persist: there remains a belief that the world is some 6,000 year old, according the calculations of its ancient sages.

Christian Calendar

As Christianity began replacing the pagan Romans, from 284 CE, the new rulers dropped 1st of January (of pagan significance) as the start of their new year. Instead, the birth of Jesus (25th December) or Mary (around 25th March) was used as the starting day of the year – until 16th century Renaissance.

For naming years, the Christians followed (after 284 CE) the Roman culture of naming the year after the reign of kings.

In 6th century, the start of Christian Era was referred to the year of birth of Jesus. This introduced the concept of writing the equivalent of Ante Christum (or Before Christ/BCE) and Anno Domini (AD, the Year of our Lord (CE)). Despite official patronage by various European kings, it took another 1000 years for the whole of Catholic world to accept this method of dating years.

1582 CE: An Italian fixed the leap year of the Julian Calendar, and standardised it. Soon, it was sanctioned by Pope Gregory (the representative of God for Catholic Christians) during the height of Catholic and Protestant wars in Europe. ‘Gregorian calendar’ was born.

The Protestant Christians, suspicious of Catholic Church, took time (Germany in 1700; Britain in 1752) to accept the Gregorian Calendar. Their acceptance was based on secular credentials, rather than religious dogma.

The Orthodox Christians still use the ‘Era of Martyrs’ calendar, based on Julian Calendar but starting from 284 CE when Christianity took over the pagan religion in Europe. The communist takeover in 1918 introduced Gregorian calendar in their societies for secular purposes.

Revolutionary Calendar

In 1792, having killed their king, the French revolutionaries reigned supreme in France. Now they went after the king’s protector and benefactor – the Catholic Church.

Not only did they want to erase all Christian practices, they wanted to standardise and

democratise all aspects of human life. They introduced decimal system in the sphere of time-keeping, akin to reforms in other measurable domains (like weight, volume, etc).

Their problem: the calendar was nationalistic, pinned to local seasons and festivities.

By 1806, contradictions crept in. Under the pressures of European war, the emperor of the new republic made a deal with the Catholic church and abandoned the Republican Calendar. Gregorian calendar has not seen any significant challenge since.

In 1918, the atheists radicals tried to uproot Orthodox Christianity from the Russian Empire. Despite their extreme stance against all religions, they adopted the Gregorian calendar based on its universality and ease of application.

In 1873, Japan adopted Gregorian calendar as its national calendar; so did Korea in 1896 and China in 1949. They had used ancient Chinese lunisolar calendar for centuries.

Many now log their years as Common Era (CE) instead of AD, and BCE instead of BC.

Hijri Calendar

Some peculiarities stand out straight away, compared to many nation’s struggle with simple task of time-keeping.

Consensus

By 638, with the rapid spread of Islam, Muslim world became multicultural with multiple calendars. It was in this milieu, Khaalif Umar adopted the ‘Year of Emigration (Hijrah)’ as the first year of Muslim calendar: the Hijri calendar was born.

Since that time, Muslims have agreed to keep this date as the start of their year despite numerous fiqhi and political differences. The most likely reason: it was free of opinions of the priestly class, where opinions can be inherently divergent, even divisive.

Democratic empowerment

One narration is that the Prophet Mohammad (s), in his lifetime, did away with intercalary months when pagan Makkans manipulated the calendar to wage war in the forbidden months (Dhu al-Qadah to Rajab).

Unlike Julian calendar, Hijri calendar was local and observation based – doing away with priests lording over the lay population. Now any local can site the Hilaal, and keep time for the rituals.

Banish superstitions

With only 355 days a year and 10-12 days short of a solar calendar, the Hijri calendar drifted with the seasons, affectively obliterating the pagan festivals of spring, harvest and fertility.

It was a radical idea that aimed at banishing superstitions and ignorance of agri-festivals, empowering the populace vis-a-vis manipulations of the priestly class, and democratising time-keeping – all symbolic of rational monotheism.

Effect of modernity

Persian nationalism

The work of Omar Khayyam introduced to us what is called ‘Hijri-Solar calendar’. In 1079, given the strong Persian identity of his subjects and trade with greater Persian region, the ruler of Seljuk Sultanate – Jalaal-Uddin Malik Shah – standardised the old Persian calendar, like fixing the 1st day of Nowruz (1st day of spring) as the New Year.

The origin of the calendar was pinned to Hijrah. Known as Jalaali calendar in Muslim world, it was never really implemented.

In 1925, Iranian nationalism – promoted by the British army via the new Pahlavi dynasty – revived the Jalaali calendar and standardised it further. In the north, the Persians had lost Central Asia to the Soviet communists in 1918, who introduced the Gregorian calendar in their region.

In 1976, this nationalism rose to its peak. The Shah of Iran changed the origins of Iranian calendar to the reign of an ancient Persian/ Zoroastrian emperor. Replacing Muhammad (s) with Cyrus was an arrogant move.

By 1979, the Shah and his regime was annihilated by Islamic revolution in Iran. Soon, the Hijri-Solar calendar was welcomed back. Today, Gregorian calendar is used for commerce, and Hijri calendar for the rituals in Iran and Afghanistan area.

Turkish nationalism

For trade purposes, since 1677, the Ottoman Khilaafat used Julian calendar which was used by the Orthodox Christians. Otherwise Hijri calendar was in use, as in other parts of Muslim world.

In 1840, a time when Europe was in the midst of revolutionary/atheist civil unrest, Ottoman Khilaafat began secular reforms. Now, Julian and Hijri dates were used with other traditional calendars in their official records.

By 1917, having lost their empire and facing likely colonisation during World War-1, the army officers of the Young Turks movement (led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha) began shedding their Islamic heritage and practice. Soon enough they changed their calendar to align with the rest of the world.

By 1926, the use of AH (After Hijri) was abandoned from all Turkish official dates.

Turkish Muslims continued to follow Hijri calendar for religious purposes.

Post-colonial era

By the end of World War-2, the rest of the Muslim world was under colonial domination. Gregorian calendar was imposed by the colonising traders, and Muslims got used to it. Post colonisation, this calendar was not abandoned.

As the Muslim world is getting integrated into the wider globe, solar calendar has become a standard method of storing personal dates, official reports and all kinds of transactions.

So, is Hijri Calendar relevant today?

Muslims are not the chosen people; no one is (Quran, Al-Anfal/8:53; Ar-Ra’d/13:11). The criteria of success in Islam is the work and values that Allah/God wants from us. Many religions point to this concept too. The work of religions is to empower humanity, and resolve conflicts that science may not be able to. Islam remains a beacon of this concept of progress.

In these era of high precision in time-keeping, Hijri calendar remains relevant as a reminder to

• Shun superstitions, and look for evidence in daily activities of life

• Democratise knowledge, so that the authority serves the humanity

• Avoid conflict, by using tools (like science) which leads to consensus

Thus, Muslims hope to keep this tradition alive due to its simplicity and wisdom:

• The origins of the calendar to the Prophet Mohammad (s) is easy and non-controversial

• Days are aligned with solar calendar; so no problems with day to day activities

• Origins of months is controversial today, mostly due to advent of modernity and evolving opinions of various local regional/religious leaders. As scientific practice becomes a norm in Muslim Fiqh, a solution is available the next dawn. The job of the religion is to resolve conflicts, birth peace, and avoid inflicting misery.

Despite the challenges, the Hijri calendar reminds us and inspires us to do better.

Dr Mohammed Naushaduddin is a General Practitioner in South West Sydney, Australia.

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After a lot of commitment, dedication, early mornings, sleepless nights and hard work, Zaid is the first student to complete the Quran in our Hifz Excellence Program and we are incredibly proud of him. It is only through the blessings of Allah that we are here to witness this today. Zaid has been working tirelessly under the guidance of his teachers, Muallimah Ola and Muallimah Fatima and the Hifz Program Coordinator Muallimah Mariam to balance both high achievement academically as well as in his Hifz.

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It is often said that Australia has an ageing population and this is indeed a fact owing to increased life expectancy. Not all families have the mechanisms nor the resources in place to take care of their ageing relatives in the family home and aged care may be the only option, especially as the elderly person may have a number of health issues.

Many aged care residents receive very few visitors, if any, and at Brothers In Need, we do our utmost to visit as many aged care residents as possible. Such visits can bring a smile back to the face of an elderly person and make them feel special, especially those experiencing loneliness and in need of some companionship, a warm hug and a friendly chat.

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Rally held in support of the Uyghur people

ated and will be with them throughout their stuggle.

On Thursday, the 1st of December, a rally in support of the Uyghur peoples was held in front of the State Library, Melbourne organised by the Ughyur Association of Victoria.

The ICV would like to reiterate its support for the Uyghur community in their fight for justice and freedom to practice their faith and culture without oppression or prosecution.

Brother Mohamed Mohideen, Acting President of the ICV stated that the ICV stands with the Ughyur community in their fight for justice and freedom to practice their faith and culture without prosecution.

As Muslims of Victoria we stand in solidarity with the Australian Ughyur community who have family and friends incarcer-

We also ask the Government of Australia to raise the issue with the the Chinese government and offer more refugee spots for families of Australian Ughyur community.

At the event were also present survivors of the concentration camp, who shared first hand the horrors that go on within the walls of Uyghur concentration camps which included rape, forced sterilisation,etc., on Uyghur female members.

The rally and these stories serve as a harsh reminder of the longstanding oppression and genocide of the Uyghur people that continues to take place to this day, and a reminder that the Australian government needs to raise these issues further and provide more refugee support for the families of the Australian Uyghur community.

Islamic Council of Victoria