$6 million of Zakat El-Fitr revenue expected: a Ramadan stimulus package to ignite the joy of Muslims down under on Eid Day page 5
E E R F Monthly - Independent
Issue N 11 September 2009
www.crescenttimes.com.au
The chaos of Halal food in our Hospitals:
a wake up call
Perth Tarek Chamkhi During my stay in hospital over the last 4 weeks, I have struggled to obtain decent nutrition to assist in healing my broken bones. After the first few days of my hospital stay,
when the shock and confusion started to wear off, I started to doubt the halal status of the food and I tried to investigate. I received contradictory responses from the staff. Some of them even tried to convince me that all the meat was halal, including the pork!
Apparently they have no idea what “halal� actually means. One staff member came from kitchen and tried to convince me that their sub contracted kitchen is certified by the Halal Certification Authority, Australia. She showed me a photocopy of their certificate from this
continued page: 3
Crescent Times Office shocked by accident close to home:
insight into car safety seats and new regulations details page7
WA police: Ramadan message for the Muslim community details page 4
Above: the remains of the vehicle following the roll over accident in rural WA. Photo: Michael McKeown Right: above Safiyah Chamkhi, below Zakareya Chamkhi who both survived the accident.
EDITORIAL: editor@crescenttimes.com.au VIC BUREAU: nasya.bahfen@crescenttimes.com.au NSW BUREAU: nsw@crescenttimes.com.au
GENERAL ENQUIRIES: MAIL ADDRESS: PO Box 628 Mirrabooka WA 6941 info@crescenttimes.com.au 0414 155 366 PHONE: ADVERTS: sales@crescenttimes.com.au
Page 2
Little Birdie
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
MUSLIMS URGED TO LEARN FROM THE CRUSADES Melbourne bureau Nasya Bahfen
A
fter a short holiday, once again this little birdie has been out and about seeing and hearing interesting things around our Muslim community. The first thing to mention is the car accident experienced by the editor, two of his friends and two of his children. Everyone escaped with minor injuries except the editor who fractured his spine. He remains in hospital and - although I tried to valiantly step in to the role of editor in chief - his wife was promoted from production editor to editor in chief for this edition and I was once again consigned to a tiny column on page 2! Or perhaps not. The next item of interest is a photo received here at the CT office showing that the newspaper has ventured out of Australia! Being a newspaper of good taste and cosmopolitan interest, of course the first international sighting had to be in Paris! If any of our readers would like to send in their sightings (perhaps on your next overseas trip?) then little birdie would be very happy to print them for you (and send you a 12
month subscription to the newspaper)! Finally, a sister needs help to interpret this dream, email little birdie your interpretation for publication next month: “I went into a type of shop the man in the shop kinda dressed in long pants long sleeved shirt n waistcoat sort of like in 1930s and before, He had 3 Qurans, 1st one was hard cover very new and beautiful, the 2nd Quran was also hard cover but a little older not been used though, but also not as beautiful, and the 3rd was a really old Quran it looked like if you got a stack of a4 papers and bent them into a book, the pages a little muffled and it was quite old and looked as if it had been used before, the man started to hand the newset most beautiful one to me but he took it back ,and then he flipped through the 2nd one breifly, then he said here take this one, this is yours, it was the oldest one, and only soft bound paper, i was a little disapointed that i didnt get the 1st one, he didnt say anything but he gave me a memory of one that i also have at home ,(it was like a flashback in my mind), I took the old one and the dream ended.”:
O
rganisers of a two day event on the Crusades say there are lessons for today’s Muslims in the battles for Jerusalem that began a thousand years ago. “The Crusades Through Muslim Eyes” will take place at the University of Melbourne, on the 25th and 26th of September – the weekend following Eid ul Fitr. Presented by Islamic Legacy, the lecture and multimedia presentation will include a 3D rendering of key battles fought by Muslim leaders such as Salahuddin. Islamic Legacy member Musa Cerantonio said although the Crusades began in the Middle East in the 11th century, the themes from the religious military campaigns fought by Christians and Muslims are relevant to Australian Muslims of the 21st century. “What happened recently between Palestine and Israel caused Palestine to become a big talking point among Muslims in Melbourne,” Mr Cerantonio said. “People were sort of saying what’s the
answer to this problem that we have? And as always the answer is in our history. It’s the legacy our forefathers left which we’re picking up today and which we can hopefully benefit from.” Organisers say the sources for the event come from noted Muslim historians of the era. Mr Cerantonio says the event’s goal is for Muslims to learn about the event from a Muslim perspective, although non-Muslims are encouraged to attend. “We’re presenting things for Muslims to teach them lessons about our own history, but at the same time non-Muslims are more than welcome to come. They have come along to our presentations and they’ve even enjoyed it,” he said. He adds that Islamic Legacy is hoping their next lecture and multimedia event will look at Al Andalus and Islamic Spain, or the Moguls and Islam in India. Visit www.islamiclegacy.org for more information on “The Crusades Through Muslim Eyes”
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Halal food
Page 3
Food in our Hospitals: a call to stop the choas
Amanda Charmand Mazumder*
Ramadan Mubarak to all. As unfortunate as it may be, staying in hospital is often an inevitable fate. A common negative theme about being admitted into hospital is ‘oh my God, the food’. Depending on which hospital in Australia you stay at, the unpleasantness of the food varies. But that is not the issue at hand (although most think it should be). The fact of the matter is, why aren’t hospitals catering to Muslim needs? When you’re stuck in hospital, a good meal is something you crave for and an essential need to promote and aid the body’s healing process. Family frequently bring in meals for their loved one, but if it has a pungent aroma, the staff begin to look at you in strange ways. Also, staff may discourage families bringing in meals as it is difficult to monitor the intake of their patients. Hospital food varies from hospital to hospital. Private hospitals are said to have better meals, whereas public hospitals are known for the bad food they serve. But regardless of whether the food is bad or good, is it halal? The answer is most likely no. Most hospitals on admission will ask which type of diet suits your needs, be it a low-glucose diet for diabetics, a no-peanut diet for those with allergies, or a
no-pork diet for muslims. It is well known that Muslims don’t consume pork, but what about the non-halal slaughtered chicken, beef and lamb etc? They are still being served as part of the ‘halal’ diet in hospitals. The educated Muslim would opt for a vegetarian diet, which also excludes fish. This is the safest option with regard to eating halal only, but if you are not a strict vegetarian, who else can live without meat for a long-stay in hospital? Even gravy on the beloved mashed potato poses the nonhalal question. Some hospitals in the Sydney South West Area Health Service (Eastern Zone) have the ‘halal’ option in the diet system on the hospital’s intranet, but it is unknown to me whether it is legitimate. Either way, it is not good enough. There are Muslims all over Australia being admitted into hospital only to find out that they cannot enjoy meat until they get out of hospital. Protein (found in meat) is a vital part of a hospital diet. Medically, it has been proved to accelerate wound healing, boost the immune system and prevent muscle wasting. So why can’t hospitals provide a halal menu to Muslims? Hospital staff are taught principles of beneficence and non-maleficence ‘above all, do no harm’, though by not providing patients with a sufficient meal that they can benefit from, isn’t that doing harm and slowing down a patient’s recovery? Being in hospital is already a dark and stressful time without the headache of worrying about food. * Amanda Charmand Mazumder is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, previously working in Sydney South West Area Health Service (Bankstown and Liverpool Hospitals). Now temporarily living in Bangladesh. She is passionate about medicine, nursing, health and psychiatry.
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continued from front page organisation but did not allow me to really read or investigate it properly. Apparently I caused a great deal of chaos and confusion by asking these questions. After showing me their certificate, they continued to offer me meal options containing pork, ham, chicken in wine, bacon in almost every breakfast. I completely lost my appetite; since then I have been left with mostly inedible vegetarian meals, and few times a week I have been lucky with some nice fish meals. It is obvious that the halal status of the food in the Royal Perth Hospital, requires an extensive investigation. There are many question marks over it’s halal status: is this catering provider really currently certified by the Halal Certification Authority, Australia? Does this body supervise and check on them on a regular basis? Are there any techniques or procedures to avoid contamination between the halal chicken, turkey, red meat (lamb, beef) and the pork products? Is thre any check on using other haram products in cooking such as wine, gelatin and so on? Is there any eductaion of staff about what is considered halal? So, to whom it may concern: Halal Certification Authority Australia, AFIC, ICWA, and all other religious and community leaders, who may help investigate this matter: we need to ensure that the thousands of Muslim men, women and children who are admitted to Australian hospitals have proper access to halal foods without any concerns or doubt. The last thing a vulnerable patient should suffer from is anxiety over whether his food is halal or haram. Emergency measures are irrelevant when we could manage to ensure that every single Muslim patient across the country can eat halal food in any hospital. Government legislation is strict to ensure that each individual is aware of the contents of the food they are consuming but the problem still comes back to our disorganised halal certification industry. There is extensive chaos, division, back biting, mistrust between organisations and obviously poor supervision
on the ground, despite the fact that some of the halal certification providers are better than others. As editor I invite all our readers across the country to have their say in an open and responsible way. I promise to publish your views, concerns and information provided to sort out this complicated annoying issue, with the condition not to defame or insult any one. Please contribute to make pressure on halal certification providers across the country to organise sort of summit, to meet together to have a united protocol of conduct and halal certifiying procedures, to be published as a HALAL CHARTER for all Australian Muslims. Enough is enough! One of the worst offences is to allow someone who is already sick and vulnerable to be deprived of adequate nutrition because of this horrible chaos in our hospitals! May Allah forgive them and guide all of them to the right path. Ameen.
Comment from ICWA
Crescent Times contacted Imam Abdul Jalil Ahmed, from ICWA (Islamic Council of Western Australia) to investigate the issue of halal food in Western Australian hospitals. Mr. Abdul Jalil said that:”We have tried many times to solve the problem of halal food in WA hospitals. But the problem is the catering was contracted to a private company, which does not allow us to be involved. For your information any company certified by ElMouelhy, (Halal Certification Authority) has been told not to allow ICWA to go there at all. This exactly what happened with regard to Steggles chicken”. Mr. Abdul Jalil added that because El-Mouelhy’s company’s name is very big, that is “Halal Certification Authority Australia,” this makes people think that it is the biggest halal authority, and leads them to trust this company more than other community based organisations such as ICWA or AFIC. Mr Abdul Jalil revealed that on several occasions he has requested co-operation from Mr El-Mouelhy, offering to accompany him
Page 4
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE
Ramadan and Eid Message
I
and the Western Australia Police recognise the month of Ramadan for Muslims in Australia and throughout the world as the embarking on a journey of spiritual upliftment, social cohesion and reflecting on the needs of those who are less fortunate. I understand the Quran teaches compassion, obedience and tolerance amongst each other and society. For this auspicious occasion I wish the Muslim community in Australia and Western Australia a prosperous month of fasting filled with spiritual growth, enhancement of good will, health and happiness. The Western Australia Police will continue to work on having a very healthy and progressive relationship with the Muslim community in
Western Australia. I am encouraged by leaders’ and Imams’ preparedness to work together with us to maintain well being and harmony in the community. It is always pleasing to see how the Muslims living in Australia have blended in with the community and enjoy happiness and prosperity within the society. Australia has welcomed many cultures and religions from all over the world and benefited as a result. This is recognised as a great strength to our society. I extend my best wishes to the Muslim community for a joyous Eid at the end of Ramadan. Karl O’Callaghan, The Western Australian Police Commissioner.
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Community
Page 5
Zakat Al Fitr(charity of the end of Ramadan):
Friday Prayer Leaders wanted to visit prisons 6M dollars stimulus pakage Melbourne bureau Nasya Bahfen
The Islamic Council of Victoria Chaplaincy Service is calling for mature brothers to be trained as khateeb (Friday prayer leaders) in prisons in Victoria.
T
he state’s Department of Justice runs a Muslim Chaplaincy Program, which is coordinated by the ICV (although the Department of Justice screens applicants and makes the final decision on all matters related to prisons and their activities in Victoria). According to Corrections Victoria, Muslims represent six per cent of the prison population of more than four thousand people in the state’s jails. “The number of Muslims in the adult criminal justice system in Victoria is approaching three hundred prisoners, including seven women, in thirteen prisons,” said senior prison chaplain and program coordinator Aziz Cooper. The UN Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners and Related Recommendations state that ‘access to a qualified representative of any religion shall not be refused to any prisoner.’
In addition, the Victorian Corrections Act 1986 says every prisoner has the right to practice a religion of his or her choice, to associate with other prisoners in practicing religion subject to security regulations, and to “possess such articles as are necessary for the practice of that religion”. The Muslim Chaplaincy Program began in 1994 with just 3 Muslim men visiting prisons on the weekends, a few times a month. Mr Cooper said committing to being a khateeb for prisoners is neither hard nor timeconsuming. “It is not a difficult task to give a Khutbah, with full training provided by qualified Sheikhs from the Board of Imams,” he said. “The frequency of participation depends on availability but the ICV is looking at ideally once per month or every second month.” He said each two hour jumaah (Friday prayer) session will be in a supervised prison environment, “allowing time for prayer and a cup of tea with the prisoners.” Muslim men interested in becoming a khateeb for Victorian Muslim prisoners can contact Mr Cooper through the Islamic Council of Victoria.
WA: Langford Islamic College
Adam Parker*
I
n 2004 Langford Islamic College commenced its humble beginnings with 40 students. Current enrolment is 350 students. This includes students from Kindergarten to Year 11. Enrolments will include Year 12 in 2010. According to the principla of the school, Mr Kevin King, “This growth is a result of having proved ourselves worthy of the responsibility with the guidance of Allah (SWT) to provide an academic and religious education of the highest quality.” Langford Islamic College is unique. In the relatively short time that they have been operating, they have been encouraged by their increasing enrolments as well as the positive comments coming from the parents and the community in general. “ We take heart from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (Inc.) who have supported us throughout our development”, Mr Kevin King, the Principal of the school is quoted as saying. Being under the auspices of AFIC makes Langford Islamic College a truly community based school, since elections are regularly conducted and
new committees elected. The President of the AFIC, Ikebal Patel is quoted as saying “We (AFIC) are proud of our educational facilities offered at Langford Islamic College in Perth which has Kindergarten up to Year 11 facilities. Parents, teachers and the community are working hard to cater for the growing needs of the local children.” The staff, both Muslim and non-Muslim are dedicated, enthusiastic, appropriately qualified, professional and above all show a willingness and a diligence to work in harmony. This all goes towards developing an environment which is caring and which provides valuable and exciting learning experiences and equips the young Muslim for life in Australia. Parents who are interested in enrolling their children at Langford Islamic College may contact the principal, confident in the knowledge that, whilst fees are both very reasonable and affordable, education is of the highest standard: * Adam Parker is a Perth based community social activist and writer.
P
lease send community events, news and announcements to Crescent Times for publication free of charge to email:
news@crescenttimes.com.au For advertising please download our media kit : www.crescenttimes.com.au or request your copy by SMS to: 0414 155 366
for our disadvanteged poor and needy
Perth- Crescent Times
If all Australian Muslims adhere to the practice of Islam, regarding fasting Ramadan and paying their zakat at the end of fasting (for every single Muslim regardless of his age, sex and health) around 6 million dollars will be given in zakat at the end of this year’s fasting season. The fitrah (the particular zakat or charity) to be given before Eid day, to secure the acceptance of the Ramadan fasting is between $8 and $12 on average, the estimated cost of one meal. The Australian Muslim community, estimated at around half a million
members, is urged to pay their family’s fitrah before the start of Eid day prayer. Imams and mosque commitees assist the community each year to collect this charity and redistribute it to local poor Muslims or send it overseas to poor countries through a recognised Australian charity organisation such as Muslim Aid Australia or Human Appeal International. Any Muslim who is uncertain about the amount that should be given, should contact their local imam for further assistance.
Ruling: Zakat Al Fitr, the amount and the time
Z
akat al Fitr is an obligatory charity on every Muslim at the end of the month of Ramadan. Ibn `Umar said: “The Prophet, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, enjoined the payment of one Sa’a of dates or one Sa’a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.” (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim) The purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting. It also helps the poor and the needy. Ibn Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, enjoined Zakat al-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.” (Related by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.) The Amount of Zakat al-Fitr As the first hadeeth indicated, the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is one Sa’a. Sa’a is a volume measure corresponding approximately to the volume of 5 lb of good wheat. The material of the Zakat can be either dates, barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods. Abu Saeed said: “We used to give for Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of every child, aged person, free
man or slave during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, one Sa’a of food, or one Sa’a of dried yogurt, or one Sa’a of barley, or one Sa’a of dates, or one Sa’a of raisins.” (Related by alBukhari and Muslim.) The Time for Zakat al-Fitr Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of Ramadhan. There are two times to pay Zakat al-Fitr. Either one or two days before Eid as ‘Umar used to do, or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer. Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, ordered them to pay Zakat al-Fitr before they go out to perform the Eid prayer. If Zakat alFitr is paid after the Eid prayer, it will only be considered as regular charity. The Prophet, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, said: “If one pays Zakat al-Fitr before the Salat, it is considered an accepted Zakat, if he pays it after the Salat, it is considered an ordinary charity.” (Related by Abu Dawud.) Zakat al-Fitr is to be given to the same eight categories or people as in the other types of Zakat. Some scholars say that the poor and the needy are the most deserving ones since the Prophet, sallaallahu `alayhe wa sallam, said that it had “...the purpose of providing food for the needy.”
Opinion
Page 6
Editorial: Terror suspects are innocent until proven otherwise Generally speaking, our community members and leaders appreciate the new attitude of the Labor government in dealing with Australian Muslims, unlike the Howard government which no doubt increased Islamophobia, hatred and media stereotyping against nearly half millions of it’s citizens. The latest terror raids and preparation of revised anti terror laws, indicate that the current government has the capacity to play the same dirty game of playing the “Muslim card” to gain votes at the next election. It is apparent that the political advisers surrounding the federal government, find it effective to gain votes by focussing on “the enemy within” in to show how tough they can be against such “threats”. Fear of terrorism is a standard type of tactic used in the last two elections, as is the practice of stereotyping local Muslims or those around the world. We refuse as a community to be used as a punching bag. We agree with some wise voices from community leaders, such as Mr. Simon Overland the Victorian Police Commissioner, that the Muslim community should be treated fairly as part of the wider community without discrimination. We expect police from other states , state and federal government politicians to work hard towards emphasising this truth in the arena of public opinion through their daily media statements when it comes to issues touching Aussie Muslims. Equally, the sweeping terror laws should be reviewed wisely before they are passed through parliament to ensure that security measures to protect all of us, Muslims and non Muslims, rather than being a further hidden inquisition leaving some members of our community living in permanent fear because of their religious beliefs or practices. To treat Muslims well, based on respect, valuing their contributions to this country from times before the European settlement period through inland pioneers cameleers to the present day, is the best way to avoid any potential marginalisation. We call on all Australians to treat the five most recent terrorist suspects as innocent till the august court either finds them guilty or clears them of the charges. Providing such a basic civil right may be just the beginning of a new era of reconciliation within the Australian community.
Insults reveal a profound truth Aisha Stacey*
O
n August 24, the Telegraph.co.uk published a short piece entitled Insults are better taken lying down. Apparently, research shows, “that those who took personal insults while upright exhibited brain activity linked to attacking, but this urge disappeared when they took the same insults lying down”. Any Muslim reading this would immediately think of Prophet Muhammad advising his followers to lie down when they became angry. In a tradition related to us from Imam Ahmad, we learn that the companion Abu Dharr was involved in an altercation at a watering trough. In the midst of the argument, Abu Dharr sat down, and then he lay down. Some one asked him why, and he replied, “The Messenger of God advised us, if one of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down so his anger will go away, if it does not go away, let him lie down”. Al Khattabi, renowned Islamic scholar of the 10th century C.E., commented, “One who is standing is in a position to strike and destroy, while the one who is sitting is less likely to do that, and the one who is lying down can do neither”. Now, in the 21st century, scientists at the Texas A&M University have made this awesome discovery by conducting extensive
research into insults and body position. Muslims, however, know with certainty that the advice given to them by Prophet Muhammad was correct, and appropriate. When Muslims read about such discoveries, they smile enigmatically and go about their daily lives secure in the knowledge that Islam is a way of life, not merely a religion. On the other hand, converts to Islam react in a slightly different way. For many, their journey to Islam has been a series of epiphanies and revelations. Converts, or reverts, as many like to be called, often tell amazing stories of discovering the truth of Islam. Therefore, small articles in dusty journals or snippets of information in the health, science, or technology sections of newspapers and magazines reinforce their feelings of discovering a great universal truth. Reading a newspaper article takes on a whole new meaning when it confirms a profound reality. For Muslims, worship is life and life is worship. Knowing how to please God is a profound reality in itself. This is the month of Ramadan and God ordered Muslims to fast. It was prescribed for them as it was prescribed for those preceding them. (Quran 2:183) In this month, spiritual batteries are being recharged and Muslims all over the world are reaping the benefits of decreasing their food intake and increasing their worship and generosity. At the same time scientists across the globe,
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
On Broken Vases & Driving Licenses PLANET IRF:
Irfan Yusuf*
F
or many religiously-inclined Aussie Muslims of my generation, Islam was like this beautiful vase we hoped to adorn our spiritual living rooms with. Our elders convinced us that the vase existed, and we believed them. But their vase seemed totally foreign to us. Their vase had the same shape as the ones they had back in their home countries and that seemed totally out of place. They’d often accompany these with instruction manuals on how to use the vase, but these were generally written in a language we couldn’t read or quite understand. The manuals we could understand all told us that the vase was broken and needed to be repaired. They identified numerous culprits behind the breaking of the vase – kuffar (unbelievers), colonialists, missionaries, orientalists, Muslims who studied orientalists, Muslim rulers responsible for adopting the ways of neo-colonialism, Muslim rulers who were in fact munafiqun (hypocrites, people who claimed to follow Islam but who secretly believed in something that wasn’t Islam). Some of these manuals also blamed our ills on those who wanted to limit the role Islam played in society by ensuring it only applied to our personal lives and who wanted to separate what happens in the mosque from what happens outside. The manuals argued that the most dangerous people were those who claimed Islam had nothing really to say about politics. I believed these manuals because I had heard the same message at my Christian school from theocrats like Francis Schaeffer who convinced me that keeping God out of politics and social institutions would lead to disaster in the same way it had led to disaster in previous historical “secular humanist” experiments. I became convinced that our job as Muslim youth wasn’t so much to recreate or adapt the shape of the shards of this broken vase. Rather, our job was to simply put the shards back are studying the benefits of fasting; in mice and rats, in monkeys, and in humans, and the benefits become increasingly obvious. An article on Serendip (Bryn Mawr College website) states that the most apparent benefit to fasting is a sense of rejuvenation and a longer life expectancy. This comes about due to a slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved immune system, and an increased production of hormones. Every day, in a myriad of ways, the truth of Islam becomes visible and palpable. Those born to Islam accept this universal truth with
together. If this process was done properly, the shards would fit neatly back together just like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Islamic work was about understanding what the vase originally looked like historically back in the Arabian peninsular in the 7th century and during the small occasions in history when it was relatively close to perfection. Various post-colonial Islamic movements such as the Jamaat-i-Islami of South Asia and the Ikhwan al-Muslimeen of the Arab world claimed to have a near-monopoly on understanding exactly how this vase looked and how the pieces fitted back together. Today, many groups representing so-called “traditional Islam” (TI) are making similar claims. I respect the traditional and classical method of Islamic learning. But I have little respect for those who claim to represent TI and yet who themselves flout its methodology. I have even less respect for self-proclaimed “imams” and “sidis” who attack the knowledge of other imams but are offended when their public claims about their own knowledge is publicly questioned. I once asked Na’eem Abdul Wali, an American scholar trained in Turkey, about so-called imams who refuse to show their qualifications when asked. He asked me what a police officer would think if he pulled you over on the highway and asked if you had a license. You said that you had one but you refused to show him. Would you seriously expect the officer to believe you had a license? I grew up reading books of Pakistani writer Syed Maududi. He was a learned man, but was completely self-taught. And as the leader of a political party, he also had a political agenda. Still, I don’t think I was terribly harmed by that stuff. But there were local charlatans claiming to represent Maududi’s message who could have harmed me. Many young Muslims studying under various forms of TI will also benefit from the knowledge of their teachers. Heck, we’re all trying to put the shards back together. But in doing so, we should remember that not every instruction manual or indeed every instructor can understand the shape of each and every piece. And we should always be wary of frauds and charlatans. * Irfan Yusuf is a Sydney based lawyer, a writer and columnist. He is the opinion editor of Crescent Times.
grace and elegance, while converts to Islam grasp each new revelation with a twinkling of the eye reminiscent of a child opening an Eid gift. Islam does not need scientific discoveries to confirm its legitimacy. However, modern discoveries add to the sense of wonder that accompanies real submission to God. *Aisha Stacey is an Australian convert to Islam. She spent from 2003 until 2007 working as a writer / researcher / da’eh at the Fanar Islamic Cultural Centre in Doha Qatar. Aisha recently returned to Australia, and completed her Bachelor of Arts, specialising in Terrorism, Security, and Counterterrorism. Aisha writes a weekly column for www.islamreligion.com
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Family
Page 7
Child Car Restraints - Keeping our children safe Perth Bureau Joanne McKeown*
cannot be overstated. In particular the adult seat belts, that protected the adult occupants from being thrown from the vehicle and perhaps fatally injured, and the children’s car safety seats. The one year old infant in the car did not suffer any significant injury. He was seated in the centre of the vehicle in the back seat in an age appropriate child safety seat that had been correctly fitted. The two year old who was seated in the back seat on the passenger side in a correctly fitted child safety seat sustained a black eye from the side wing of the
A
Australian Snappy Immigration Services
nyone who has ever had visitors staying from interstate or overseas will be familiar with the idea of a quiet Sunday drive in the local area, showing visitors the natural beauty of the Australian countryside. And so it was that Tarek Chamkhi, the editor in chief of Crescent Times, set off with his international visitors and his two young children to view the country near his home in Western Australia. This Sunday drive did not proceed according to plan however, a roll over accident occurred following which all passengers were taken to the local hospital by ambulance. Two occupants of the vehicle were flown by helicopter to the Royal Perth Hospital with suspected spinal injuries and a third was taken by road ambulance to the same hospital with injuries to his right arm and shoulder. The international visitors were both discharged from hospital later that night having been cleared of major injury. The two children, aged 1 and 2 years, did not require hospital treatment and were discharged from the local hospital the same day. Tarek Chamkhi remains in hospital with a spinal fracture. Following the accident, it is obvious that the importance of vehicle safety equipment
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Email: exclusivestyle@bigpond.com.au
weight of infant 9kg. - children up to the age of 4 years must be in a toddler restraint with a built in harness. Weight of child between 8 - 18 or 26 kg depending on the design of the restraint. Children less than 4 years of age must not travel in the front passenger seat. - children aged 4 to 7 must be in a booster seat. Weight 14 to 26 kg depending on the style and design of the restraint. Eye level must be lower than the back of the restraint. Children
Above: the remains of the 4WD vehicle following the roll over accident on a country road in WA
between 4 and 7 must not travel in the front passenger seat unless all of the rear seat positions are occupied by children under the age of 4 years. All child restraints must be correctly anchored to the vehicle using an Australian standard anchorage system. Several surveys by both Kidsafe and the RACV have identified that 60 to 70% of child car restraints are incorrectly fitted. Incorrect fitting of child safety seats has been identified as the major risk factor for injury to children involved in road crashes. Given the high percentage of incorrectly fitted seats and the consequent reduction in their effectiveness, it is important that the fitting be checked by a recognised installer prior to use. The RACV and RAC WA provide this service as do some child accident prevention organisations such Kidsafe in WA. These organisations can also provide assistance in selecting the correct safety seat for your child’s age and weight. There are a range of styles and designs of child car restraints on the market but the most imporatnt factors are selecting the correct seat for the weight and age of the child and then ensuring that it is correctly fitted prior to use. Accidents occur unexpectedly - plan ahead and protect your children. * Joanne McKeown is a senior medical doctor and the production editor of Crescent Times.
safety seat but was otherwise physically unharmed. Many Australian Muslims have lived in and visited countries where there is little or no emphasis on child safety in vehicles. Stories of children sitting on the driver’s lap or climbing around the car totally unrestrained are well known and frequently observed when travelling in these countries. Child car restraints are often unheard of and rarely available or fitted in family cars. The accident detailled above emphasises the importance of child car restraints in protecting children from injury in case of serious accident. The legislation governing the use of child car restraints in Australia is currently changing to make the type of restraint appropriate for the child’s age clear. In 2010 WA legislation will change to require that: - children 6 months of age and under must be in a rearward facing child restraint or capsule. Maximum
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PUBLISHER: Crescent Press Pty Ltd MONTHLY - MODERATE - INDEPENDENT
EDITORIAL TEAM: EDITOR IN CHIEF: Tarek Chamkhi: editor@crescenttimes.com.au PRODUCTION EDITOR: Joanne McKeown: editor2@crescenttimes.com.au MELBOURNE EDITOR: Nasya Bahfen: nasya.bahfen@crescenttimes.com.au OPINION EDITOR: Irfan Yusuf: opinion@crescenttimes.com.au
Contributors in this issue: Zabrina A. Bakar - Shayma Alshakshir - Tarek Chamkhi - Jamal Daoud- Foezullah Dewan - Linda Delgado - Hanan Dover - Amanda Charmand Mazumder - Joanne McKeown - Debora McNichol - Aisha Stacey - Simon Overland - Irfan Yusuf
Page 8
East - West
Community
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Australia wide Community Events: NSW CHAND RAAT EID FESTIVAL 2009
Crescent Times financial status When we started Crescent Times almost one year ago, it seemed it was just a sort of gambling and childish game to start a newspaper within the Muslim community. Many just laughed at our efforts. Others tried with good (or not so good) intentions to discourage us. Others - sadly not a majority yet - have been supportive and still believe in our efforts to establish an Islamic media outlet for our orphan like community. We always believed that an Islamic publication was an urgent matter and that idea has become concrete month after month. When we started it was absolutely from scratch. We did not have huge savings in the bank, or get any loan. Our family income was the only resource we had to spend on Crescent Times, in addition to some payment and training through the NEIS program I attended. To run a newspaper is not easy! At times we have been left in real hardship to pay outstanding bills, either for the newspaper or our household. I have worked to encourage Muslim businesses to advertise as part of our collective responsibility to support Islamic media. Many times were confronted by selfish attitudes where there was no place to prioritise such a community project or work towards a publication serving the entire Muslim community without sectarian or racial barriers. Indeed many shoppers and Muslim businesses have tried to classify the newspaper under a particular religious sect or school. Some criticise us of bizarre things such as publishing “too many photos of ladies” (!!!) or for publishing well respected but controversial writers as such as Irfan Yusuf. I doubt that such comments have come from any real effort to read the paper from cover to cover to find out what is all about. When I approached the head of AFIC(Australian Federation of Islamic Councils), a few weeks ago to offer them an opportunity to advertise and support the newspaper, I thought it was absolutely legitimate to request from the biggest Islamic body in this country financial support - not through plain charity but through advertising for their schools and halal certification business. Ikebak Patel promised me in plain English to advertise and support the newspaper, in return for my offer to highlight their news, and support them as the umbrella organisation of our Muslim community. The agreement didn’t last long and after a once off advert with Crescent Times, he decided to stop as the result of some “concerns”. Well, what are your concerns Mr. Patel? No answer has been forthcoming. He is a very busy man. If any of our readers, community leaders or imams, have the ability to reach Mr. Patel then ask him to reconsider his decision. This will be of great benefit for our first Islamic national newspaper to continue serving our community. To prove we do not have closed minds or bad temper we have published in this issue an article about an AFIC school, WA Langford Islamic College. We are determined to remain open even to those who injure us or criticise our efforts. I promise that Crescent Times will do it’s best to remain an independent newspaper, without bias to any sect, body, organisation or advertiser in this country as that is the perfect way to deliver an honest responsible message, as well as remain free of the influence of any one who is still affected in his soul by a totalitarian censorship media attitude brought from their original home lands. Having said that, I still believe that many more Muslim businesses will support the newspaper once they hear about it or read it. Crescent Times is our Amana (collective trusted project) which still needs support. Is obvious that the Chamkhi family alone is not strong enough to resource such a giant initiative! Alhumdulilah. Tarek Chamkhi Editor in Chief
Date: Saturday 19 September Time: 6.00pm to midnight Location: Whitlam Leisure Centre, Memorial Avenue, Liverpool NSW Chand Raat Eid Festival is marking its11th year with a spectacular event. It is being held on Saturday, the 19th of September, 2009, at Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool, NSW (Australia). The Carnival starts 6.00pm and ends midnight. Chand Raat, which means night of the moon, is a celebration of the ending of Ramadan and the start of Eid-ul-Fitr. Since the Islamic Calendar is lunar, Eid ul-Fitr is on the first of Shawwal - the tenth month of the Islamic year. Since this custom is dependent on the sighting of the moon, it can often happen on different days in different parts of the world. Chand Raat Eid Festival is an open festival-style, entry-free, carnival where variety of stalls, children rides and entertainment are arranged. As this year it is being held on Saturday evening, we are expecting an even greater turnout compared to previous years. Hon Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services and Ms Wendy Waller, the Mayor of Liverpool City Council will be the respected guests of the occasion along with many other community representatives. We would like to thank our sponsors, stall-holders, supporters, Liverpool Council, Whitlam Leisure Centre’s management and the entire multicultural communities of NSW who have been equally contributing and making the event remarkably successful for the last 10 years. The aim of celebrating the Chand Raat Eid Festival is to promote traditional Eid celebrations in multicultural Australia among the younger generation; especially those born and raised in Australia. The festival is an opportunity for families to get together, do Eid shopping and eat delicious foods from a variety of stalls. The community groups and individuals place variety of stalls such as clothes, jewellery, henna, bangles, shoes, food, toys, handicraft and many other traditional items. It also provides the opportunity for many Australians unaware of such festivities to get together and enjoy the various different cultural exhibitions. There are children amusements and rides and multicultural performances on stage. FOR MORE INFORMATION : www.chandraat.net Phone: 02 - 9648 6421 - Mobile: 0412 881 597
Roadmap to Knowledge - the principles of seeking knowledge
Date: 10 and 11 October Time: 8.30am - 7.00pm both days Location: Building BA 01 1 05 (Lecture Theatre 1), University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus, Milperra Cost: $95 Have any of the following Scenarios happened to you? •There are so many courses offered in your town or Institutions that offer courses, but you do not know in what order you need to take the courses? •You wasted years of your life reading the books that are not the best ones in their area, or are too advanced for your stage? •You hear so many different opinions, but you cannot select the most authentic one? •There are so many Scholars out there, but you do not know how to choose one that would give you the maximum results? Chances are that many people have encountered one or more of the scenarios mentioned above. After many years of random seeking of knowledge and listening to lectures, you realize that you are not accomplishing as much as the effort you are putting in. You need someone to save you from this mess and give you a “Roadmap to Knowledge” that details out the whole process for you so that you reach the maximum results in your life and afterlife. Now the time has come! The humble author of this course has researched dozens of books that talk about the methodology and manners of seeking Islamic Knowledge, has interviewed and consulted a large number of prominent scholars, has reviewed lists of books recommended by scholars about seeking knowledge, has listened to nearly all lectures addressing the topic in both languages, and has compiled the information into a “Roadmap to Knowledge” course. Moreover, he has spent months in English Islamic Bookstores and Libraries to find out what are the best available books out there written in English. This is the first time that such a list has been made of Islamic Books in English that is comprehensive and is ordered in a step-by-step list. For enrolment go to www.alkauthar.org/index.asp
Letter To A Disciple: Imam al-Ghazzali’s AyyuhalWalad - An 8-week Study Circle
Date: 9th October, 2009 Time: Fridays, 7.30pm-9.30pm Location: Al-Ghazzali Centre Academy, 1021A Canterbury Road (Cnr. Willeroo Street), Lakemba, entry via Willeroo Street Written towards the end of his life, “Letter to a Disciple” was an 11th century composition by the Proof of Islam, the Reviver of Islam,
Imam al-Ghazzali in response to a request by one of his students that the Imam write a concise summary of all his teachings. Literally meaning “O, Son”, the Letter to the Disciple is a deep reflection as advice on acquiring knowledge for spiritual benefit, purifying one’s intention and acting on the basis of the sound knowledge acquired. This Study circle will explore the advice given by Imam al-Ghazzali in context of it applying to us today in the 21st century.
VIC MEN MATTER - a family and community relationships workshop for Muslim men
Date: 3rd October, 2009 Timing: 9:30 to 1:30 ending with Lunch Location: Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria Office. Level 1, 19 Arthurton Road, Northcote Cost: Free The Islamic Women’s Welfare Council of Victoria, a communitybased organisation working with Muslim women, families and children is offering Muslim men a unique opportunity to participate in a workshop, aiming to enhance men’s roles and relationships and to discuss issues relating to Muslim families and communities. Facilitator: Tansel Ali (Trainer and Facilitator) For registration or more information call Asha or Nuzhat on 9481 3000 or email us at silc@islamicwomenswelfare.org.au
WA Multicultural Services Centre of WA - English Language Classes
Date: Friday 24th July – 11 December 2009 Time: 9.30 AM – 12.30 PM Location: 20 View Street, North Perth Cost: $37.05 per student, 20 weeks All clients will be assessed at the start of the delivery and will be given an Individual Learning Plan. Participants will receive certification for each module in which they are competent. To complete these certificates, clients need to complete six modules (Certificate I in Spoken & Written English 6448). This course is to be run over 20 weeks with one three hour session per week. For more information contact: Francis ph 9328 1544, places are limited and early registration is recommended.
Iftar: Muslim Theological College WA
Date: 19 September 2009 Time: 4:45 pm Location: A.I.C ( Thornlie Mosque) 17 Tonbridge Way, Thornlie It gives us great pleasure to invite you and your partner to a community fast-breaking dinner jointly organized by the Muslim Theological Council of Western Australia, The Australian Islamic College and Muslim Youth W.A. Kindly RSVP at: shameemakolia@gmail.com or info@jamiat.com.au
Eid Festival 2009
Date: Sunday 27 September Time:11:00am to5:00pm Location: Centenary Park, Wilson Cost:$20 All Day Pass or $5 Per Ride The organiser of the event is WAMEF (Western Australia Muslim Eid Festival) which is a DAWA project. this project was started 4 years ago. Limited stalls available contact Br Fadel on 9258 4781 or 0422 229 571
‘The Crusades through Muslim eyes’
Date: Saturday 10 October Time: 10:00 AM Location: To be advised Cost: To be advised In the 11th century, almost a thousand years ago, hordes of Christians warriors bearing a red cross stormed into Syria. They journeyed from all parts of Europe, pillaging and slaughtering innocent Muslims along their way. They captured Jerusalem in 1099 leaving no mosque to pray in, nor any Muslim alive. After a hundred years, with the help of Allah, the Muslims struck back... These were The Crusades. Islamic legacy will take you back a thousand years to where it all began. We relive an epic confrontation for the Holy city of Jerusalem in the scorching deserts of the Middle East, between the people of the cross and the Muslims. ‘The Crusades through Muslim eyes’, will be a two night presentation that will draw upon the most notable Muslim historians of the era including Ibn Athir, Usaman, Ibn Qalanisi, Bahaud-deen, and many others. Events will be analysed mainly from the Muslims point of view, avoiding the blatant revisionism the western historians have introduced. This two day presentation will cover in detail the era of the Crusades. Organised by Islamic Legacy. Islamic Legacy is a project that aims to take Muslims on a journey through time, studying the history of Muslims, including the People of the book ( Jews and Christians), from an Islamic as well as a contemporary point of view. The project is a non-profit venture managed by a group of volunteers, most of who have many years of experience in da’wah programs in the West Contact Amjid Muhammad, Contact Email: info@ islamiclegacy.org .
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Multicultural Football Festival - Perth WA
F
ootball West and the State Security Investigation Group, as part of the WA Police, are proud to present the Football with the Fuzz Multicultural Friendship Games, set to happen on October 4th, 2009. The games will feature men’s and women’s teams from diverse ethnic communities within Perth, as well as teams represented by members of the WA Police. Sponsored by Smarter than Smoking, the Multicultural Friendship Games aims to reach out to teenagers and young adults from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and offer a fun day of cultural and sporting exchanges. The first event involving Football West was held in March 2009 and proved a fantastic success, with over 400 players and about 700 spectators from diverse backgrounds covering Afghanistan to Iraq and South Africa to Zimbabwe and many between involved with the games in the spirit of friendship and goodwill. Football West’s program liaison to the Multicultural Friendship games, Gordon Duus, was thrilled with the spectacle and success of the last games and is eagerly anticipating the October 2009 Football with the Fuzz. “The display of so many different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds really showcased what a culturally diverse country and great sporting nation Australia is and will continue to be. Our March 2009 event featured two Qantas Joeys, Milljion Butshiire and Julius Davies, with Davies since moving to Germany to play for Bayern Munich.” “The competitive element of the games was nicely offset by the cosmopolitan music and stalls and cuisine on offer, and we are expecting the event to be bigger and better in October 2009.” Football with the Fuzz will happen on October 4, at Beale Park in Spearwood. For more details on the day or to register a multicultural team, call 9370 7445 or 9370 7446. Football with the Fuzz is proudly supported by Football West.
Sports
Page 9
Ramadan
Page 10
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THANKS
The Chamkhi, McKeown and Jemai families would like to thank all friends, family and members of the Muslim community who assisted those injured in the recent car accident in WA. Thanks also to the Goomalling ambulance and hospital staff as well as medical and nursing staff at Royal Perth Hospital. Special thanks as well to those who provided material and practical assistance, hospital visits and prayers for the safe recovery of all those involved.
Zabrina A. Bakar*
ne day I was admiring a beautiful house near my sister’s place. The design of the house was breathtaking, subhan Allah. Although I don’t have any inkling whatsoever about architectural design, I do love houses, buildings and structures that reflect great creativity and genius. I could not begin to imagine the sheer hard work the designers and architects must have put into the design. Thomas Disch once said, Creativity is the ability to see relationships where none exist. And I totally agree with Mr. Thomas here. This house I was appreciating had a perfect combination of classic, ancient and gothic with a touch of modernity in it, subhan Allah. I chuckled at the thought of my very best effort in designing a house: a square box with a roof and chimney and a few squared windows and one door, with a sun coming up behind it! Got the picture? So, obviously, I truly appreciate the talents of people who can design such a strikingly beautiful house. But then I got curious. Despite its gorgeousness and majestic outlook, the house was empty. I mean, it looked as if it had been left empty for years. The garden was full of weeds growing as tall as a 9 year old, cobwebs were everywhere, the main gate was all rusty and most windows were broken too. It was then my dad told me that the house was empty for a reason. “What’s the reason, dad?” I asked him “Well, it seemed that when the house was being built, the owner refused to follow the advice that it should not be three-storeys high as the ground it was built on was kind of soft. And if he still wanted to do so, he would have to build a stronger foundation for the house and use the right kind of piling as pillars. But he refused to listen and built the house his way anyway. And now, the house is not safe to live in.” “Wow, what a shame and a waste of money!” I couldn’t believe my ears, shaking my head in disbelief. The owner must have lost hundreds of thousands of his hard earned money. Poor him… As I reflected on that incident later in the day, it suddenly dawned upon me the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who once said, “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakah; fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka`bah).” (Al-Bukhari) SubhanAllah! Don’t I see that my beautiful religion too, has pillars and foundations of its own which I should adhere and follow? The pillars that have been identified by my Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about 1429 years ago, and they still hold true until today. And he (peace be upon him) had left us these pillars for one reason- the very soil also known as
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Ramadan: A Pillar of Faith
life that we all stand (live) on is, yes, you’ve got it - soft! Soft as in unstable, risky, dangerous, uneven, unbalanced, uncertain, unsafe and possibly hazardous to our lives. And if we fail to build the right kind of pillars as the foundation to our home (a.k.a. life) here on this earth, we might just end up like that wasted house - beautiful but of no use to anyone! Yikes! Na`udhbillaahi min dhalik! Surely, that is not something that we want to become, you agree? I, for one, truly do not want to be like that wasted house. Nope, I really don’t. Really. Really. Really. In fact, I want to build a ‘house’ that I could live in happily and peacefully; where others could come visit without worrying if the roof is going to fall on them or the floor is going to suck them in. I want to build a place where people could call it a happy home and where others and I can find solace, inshaAllah. And as we all know, for the last few weeks, we have been given a chance to strengthen the current foundation of our houses using one of the mentioned pillars - the pillar of fasting in the great month of Ramadan! He, the Almighty has special instructions for us during this month when He said in one of His Verses, (The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and (He desires) that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be thankful.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185) Yes, that is what we should be doing this month of Ramadan, you agree? Fasting. Thinking about this special month made me excited suddenly. Why shouldn’t I, right? This is literally the only opportunity that I have to strengthen this one pillar as it only comes once a year and it only lasts for 30 days! 30 days? Yes, 30 days, my brothers and sisters. Only for 30 days. We are given about 30 days to do whatever we should do to ensure that this one pillar becomes so strong that it would be able to withstand whatever hurricane, tsunami and turbulence that might come our way for the rest of the year until the next round of ‘piling’ comes- if we live that long, that is! Oops… such is the reality of life, huh? And you know something else? One of the best parts of having Ramadan with us is this, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are put in chains.” (AlBukhari and Muslim) Yup, all the gates of mercy are opened, my friends! Opened! Isn’t that amazing? I began wondering, what is behind those
gates of mercy. Do you wonder too, my brothers and sisters? One thing I believe is that it contains a gazillion times of a gazillion things called mercy that we cannot imagine having, right? Much like what the gates of banks would have what behind it. Yup, you got it. MONEY! And the gates of libraries would have books and the gates of schools would have children inside them, right? Subhan Allah… So, I know that I must plan my Ramadan well this year, inshaAllah as His Gate of Mercy is wide open for me, Ameen… Coincidently, about a week back, I received something from a friend called ‘Ramadan Planner’. It has a 30-day plan where we can insert / change / edit information according to our fancy. And this Ramadan Planner is able to help us plan our recitation of His Book, our remembrance of His Names, our Charity to give away, our obligatory prayers time and supererogatory Prayers like the Tarawih Prayers and many other good deeds we plan to do during this Holy month of Ramadan all charted in this wonderful planner. Nevertheless, I will always remember what Will Rogers once said, Plans get you into things, but you got to work your way out. I surely do! And my dearest brothers and sisters - you know, you have to, too! So, let us all do it together then, you agree? Let us start planning! Ramadan Kareem to everyone *Sis Zabrina also known as Zabrina A. Bakar, is a Life Storyteller, motivational and inspirational writer, speaker and blogger; and author and creator of National Bestseller Islamic motivational book Life Open Secret book series www.LifeOpenSecret. com. She maintains an active blog at www. WisdomThruWords.blogspot.com
AUSSIE MUSLIMS FORUM IFTAR INVITATION MELBOURNE We would like to invite everyone to attend the AussieMuslims.com Iftar insha’Allah. All members and non-members are welcome - feel free to bring your family and friends. Date: Thursday 10th of September Time: Maghrib Location: IISNA - 1/995 Sydney Rd Coburg North Please bring a plate along to share if you are able insha’Allah. The occasion will be segregated. Please contact us if you are able to attend so we know approximate numbers to organise for. For more information please see http://www.aussiemuslims.com/ forums/showthread.php?t=31538
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Education
Page 11
FOCUS: Linda D. Delgado*
What Are Your Children Reading?
I
f your children go to a public school I know what they are reading in their Language Arts reading programs and I know what books they will find in their school library. On the schools’ web sites and for summer reading programs I know what will be listed on the schools’ web sites. Would you be even a little surprised if I told you that if your child was attending one of the over 1,000 Islamic schools in the USA and many hundreds more Islamic schools in other westernised countries your Muslim children will find the same secular authored and published books? No! You aren’t surprised at all because each year you go to school book fairs sponsored by your children’s teachers and school and you buy these secular books for your children to read. And...hey…I checked out many home schooling organization web sites and guess what books are listed as recommended reading books? You got it…more secular fiction books for your kids! Now imagine you are a child, a youth or a teen… just for a moment…stay with me now. Shut your eyes and imagine being a kid again… when you still had the ability to imagine that horses could fly and animals could talk to you. Now imagine opening a fiction book… yes I said the word…fiction… because your children, youth and teens have to read fiction if they expect to pass from one grade level to the next as they grow up. What will you find? Let me tell you what you won’t find…you won’t find book characters that you can identify with. Nope… you will find book characters with names like Susie, Tom, and Johnny. These book characters won’t be dressed in hijab or modest clothing. Their parents won’t look like you either nor will their teachers. The foods they eat, holidays they celebrate, and fun activities they do in the stories...well they won’t be things that are familiar to you or your children! Why? Because these books are written and published by non-Muslims. Most are okay books… nothing really “real” bad in them…but your children can’t identify with them … the stories just aren’t about kids like them. What else won’t you find in these books? Well you won’t find Islam showing the way to problem solve the challenges you as a child are confronted with. Nope…No Islam in these books. I have a sister-friend who is a principal of an Islamic school that is now in its 15th year of operations. This year for the very first time the school sponsored an Islamic book fair…but not without many protests from teachers and parents. Can you imagine that? Muslim parents and teachers preferring secular authored and published books over quality halal Islamic fiction books that are just as creative and imaginative good stories and also include Islam within the covers of the books! I nearly wept
when hearing this. She stuck to her “pencils” and the Islamic book fair was held. Why is this happening? Who is responsible? I will tell you who is responsible... On the front line are the parents. It is their responsibility to know what their children, youth and teens are reading. The parents are buying the books the schools and home schooling associations are recommending. But the schools are equally responsible because they are also accountable for the students left in their care each school day. Don’t get in a flap! Not all secular books are haram. If your child attends a public school your child will have to read some of these secular fiction books. But why isn’t there also a balance? Why aren’t you providing them quality Islamic fiction books as well? Why am I receiving emails from young readers telling me they didn’t know Muslims could write great stories? It’s because their parents and teachers are not exposing them to quality Islamic fiction literature. Just this past week…a day before Ramadan…I received an email from a sister (also a mom) inquiring about editing work (I am a Muslim
publisher of Islamic fiction books). When I asked her if she had edited Islamic fiction she replied that she had never heard of Islamic fiction. Said she didn’t know Muslims even wrote fiction stories! I know that some of you parents do care about what your children, youth and teens are reading because you have been looking for and buying Islamic fiction books. But you my dear sisters and brothers are a minority. But…your children are very fortunate. What can you do to change this situation for your children.. our Muslim children/youth/ teens? The number one step you can take as a parent is to stop patronising book fairs at your school unless the book fair is an Islamic book fair. Tell your school boards, administrators, ParentTeacher Organizations and teachers you want Islamic fiction for your children to read and insist that the school library has many Islamic fiction books available for your children. Home schooling parents… the responsibility sits squarely on your shoulders. Shop for quality
Islamic fiction books. Share information about Islamic fiction books with other home schooling parents, too. Go to this web site and begin to provide your children quality Islamic fiction books to read: www.IslamicFictionBooks.com Our Muslim children are gifts from Allah. They are great blessings He has charged us parents with to care for and guide to adulthood. They are our leaders of tomorrow. We have a duty and a responsibility to them. Bringing them up reading only secular fiction books promoted by ourselves and our schools is not responsible parenting. What are your children reading? I hope it is Islamic fiction stories with the goodness of Islam waiting within the story pages to nourish their minds and spirits. *Linda D. Delgado lives in the USA. She is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Linda is a graduate of the University of Phoenix and retired as a Sergeant in 2000 from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. She is an award winning author and poet and the owner-publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing: www.MuslimWritersPublishing. com. Linda is also the founder of the Islamic Writers Alliance organization and serves as the Financial Officer www. islamicwritersalliance.net
Page 12
Women
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Hijab Banned in New Zealand Court A New Zealand Muslim woman was denied access to a courtroom because the judge refused to let her in with her hijab, the New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday, September 02. “It is disgusting behavior and I should not be treated like this,” hijab-clad Yasmeen Ali said. Ali, from Hastings District in the Hawke’s Bay Region, was denied access on Tuesday to the courtroom in Hastings District Court, where she came to support her brother who was being sentenced. When she first entered the courtroom she was asked to take off her hijab by a court security officer but refused, stating she had to wear one as she was a Muslim. She sat briefly in courtroom’s public gallery before the morning break when she stayed outside for 15 minutes. As she attempted to re-enter, a court security guard blocked her path back and told her that the presiding judge, Judge Geoff Rea, ordered that she has to remove her headscarf first. He told her that barring her was based on a court rule prohibiting the wearing of “hats”. Ali then pointed to a sign on the courtroom door and asked, “It says there that you can’t wear a hat, hoods but where does it say no headscarf?’’ She later asked to see a court official and was taken to Support Services manager, complaining she had been discriminated against.“He said, ‘Oh there is not much I can do sorry’.” The New Zealand government backed the judge’s treatment of the Muslim woman.
Iran’s first female minister since the revolution
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been fighting criticism, however it’s not from Western powers or the U.N. and it’s not to do with allegations of fixed elections or nuclear weapons. It’s from conservative clerics and it involves Ahmadinejad’s decision to nominate three women in his new cabinet. The move has brought condemnation from hardliners within the country’s parliament and assorted cleric factions who have “doubts over the abilities of women when it comes to management.” Iran has not had any female ministers since the 1979 Islamic revolution, but the recent election has seen women’s issues pushed forward, with many female protesters taking to the streets either in support or rallying against
“The presiding judge has jurisdiction over proceedings in the courtroom. The ministry does not comment on judicial decisions,’’ a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said. Ahmadinejad. With 70 percent of the country’s population under 30 years old, Iran has seen its increasingly young and liberal citizens push the limits of what they can do, despite constraints placed by religious hard-liners. Many young Iranians attend University and 65 percent of them are women. President Ahmadinejad has often spoken of women as the heart of Iranian society. He talks of empowering them and makes much of his plan to provide insurance for housewives and share Iran’s oil wealth with poorer families. However, during the election he wasn’t the only one making such promises. Election rival Hossein Mousavi campaigned with his wife, Zhara Rahnavard, Iran’s first top-ranking female university professor and a respected painter. With politicians’ wives not seen campaigning since 1979, Rahnavard’s appearances caused a stir in certain circles, especially when she held her husband’s hand in support as they campaigned. Once the dust from the election settled, not to
mention the month of controversy surrounding the results, it seemed that Ahmadinejad might be sticking to his promises, nominating female ministers to head up the country’s health, social welfare and education ministries. He has been criticised by political moderates who are saying his new term lacks legitimacy. It is the religious clerics that have offered the most resistance though; Grand Ayatollahs Nasser Makarem Shirazi and Lotfollah Safi Golpayghani have stated that they have “doubts about choosing female ministers and want Ahmadinejad to reconsider”. After five days of bitter debate, 18 of Ahmadinejad’s 21 nominees for cabinet were approved by parliament. Only one woman made it through the voting process, Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi. She took the oath of office becoming the first woman minister since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979. Dastjerdi, who is a former member of parliament and a gynecologist by profession, will be Iran’s new health minister. Source: David Phillips, Business Management and VOA news
But a furious Ali, however, plans to lodge a complaint with her incident with New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission. She hopes her case would prevent a repeat occurrence of her mistreatment. “I do not think any other Muslim woman should be treated like this,” she said. Her stance was supported by New Zealand’s biggest opposition party Labour Party ethnic affairs spokesman Chris Carter slammed the judge for his lack of understanding of modern New Zealand’s cultural diversity. “Understanding and respecting different beliefs is an important element in making every Kiwi feel they are a valued and equal citizen of New Zealand.” The south-pacific island country is home to 36,000 Muslims, according to the 2006 census. Islam on line
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Allah tests us intensively
Tarek Chamkhi*
When you read the Quran you may think that this life is all about testing, exams and the struggle to plant the seeds of good deeds but not harvest your reward in this life. You may wait till hereafter. Here are a few of the many verses about testing: (Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to the test?” We have tested those before them, for Allah must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.) [29:2-3] (Allah is not to leave the believers as you are, without distinguishing the bad from the good.) [3:179] (.. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. Allah knows while you do not know.) [2:216] (None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.) [41:35] (We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.) [2:155] (You should know that your money and your children are a test, and that Allah possesses a great recompense.) [8:28] (You will certainly be tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from those who received the scripture, and form idol worshippers, a lot of insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this will prove the strength of your faith.) [3:186] (We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true qualities.) [47:31] (Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he fulfilled them.. ) [2:124] (You (Abraham) have believed the dream.” We thus reward the righteous. That was an exacting test indeed.) [37:105-106] (We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted.) [38:34] (Remember our servant Job: he called upon his Lord, “The devil has afflicted me with hardship and pain.”) [38:41] (Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were tested with hardship and adversity, and were shaken up, until the messenger and those who believed with him said, “Where is Allah’s victory?” Allah’s victory is near.) [2:214]
I
am still in hospital now while writing my pieces for September issue of Crescent Times, after a scary car crash nearly took my life as well as that of my friends and my two babies! Alhamdulilah, that Allah, subhanahu wa taalaa, saved all of us from potential long term disability and from death! I have been seriously tested on at least four occasions over the last 6 or 7 years. Each one of these tests enough to destroy my life, kill me or simply make me collapse. I have been given enough strength from Allah to cope with each of them so far alhamdulillah. I hope I have passed all these tests with high scores insha Allah! In times of difficulty I remember the lady in the time of the prophet (pbuh) asking her husband to divorce her because he never ever get sick or had any sort of testing from his lord Allah and I am excited about my current sickness and hardship. Yay! Allah loves me? Such amazing news! This lady heard the prophet, peace be upon him, saying in the Madinah mosque that “Once Allah loves someone, He starts testing him”. The tests here could means lots of things such as: sickness, death of beloved one, lost of business, friends, support, having accidents, family conflicts, divorce, depression attacking you or a family member, disability, or any sort of fitnah (rumours and back biting) affecting your self, your family or someone you trust. The list could be much longer of course. The poor guy was extremely shocked and surprised by his wife’s demand! He failed to convince her to change her mind because she had decided that she would not stay married to someone who was not tested and therefore in her mind not loved by Allah. So, the husband decided to go out to see the leader of the Muslims, peace be upon him, to discuss with him this matter. Somehow on the way, he fell on the doorstep, hurt him self and somehow started bleeding! His wife was suddenly excited, shouting: Yay! You could stay! I’ve changed my mind now! As Allah tested you then I see he starts loving you! When Allah tests his human creatures, this could be either to remove their sins, or to make them step up the ladder of high profile believers, until they reach the level of the prophets, their companions and the special Muslim people, “The Awliyaa.” In my case, alhamdulilah, I have not committed major sins in my life, such as killing, adultery, disobey parents, false witnessing, ribaa, back biting, stealing, drinking alcohol, gambling and so on but certainly I have committed like others many minor sins in my life, astaghfirullah! We are all imperfect humans. If Allah did not really love me and make me step up the awliyaa ladder, then perhaps my sins are too many to deserve major testing to erase them all over again! Poor me! But I think still I am lucky that Allah is testing me in this life rather than saving punishment for the hereafter. Am I?
* Tarek Chamkhi is qualified in Islamic studies and political science. He is currently publisher and editor in chief of Crescent Times.
Eid el-Fittr
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Ramadan Report 2009 The Kiki principle: Debora McNichol*
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tudies show that girls grow up with self confidence when their fathers spend time with them. I’m often amazed and always grateful that my husband dotes on his daughter like he does, but I worry sometimes that the dear man might go overboard. Take this Ramadan, for example. Laila is having a difficult time finding the motivation to fast. Yes, she’s only eight, but she is not malnourished, she is not underexposed to her deen, insha Allah, and she does have the example of two fasting parents, one of whom is doing her level best not to be cranky this month. So being a concerned parent (and not negligent, as some might allege), I make her fast during school hours by not packing her a lunch. In contrast, Ahmed buys tamarind soda and large bottles of mineral water, chills and pours them in special glasses for her. He encourages her to drink while he contentedly watches, ignoring his own dry mouth and throat. North Carolina has its share of hot summer sun and dehydration is a looming threat to fasting Muslims. Does that stop Ahmed from piling Lulu Bug and her little friends in the Jeep and taking them all to the lake? No, it does not. Does it stop him from taking them all for ice cream and snacks afterwards? No, it does not. (Does it stop him from bringing home smelly lake clothes that have been steeped for hours in Carolina red clay? Unfortunately, no it does not.) Then there’s the toys. The child has more toys than Walmart. I am concerned, and rightfully so, that she cannot appreciate everything she has for the sheer volume. Many of these toys have been buried in bins that haven’t seen the light of day for
a half decade. Others, like clothes she discards so carelessly,, are constantly under my feet or otherwise cluttering my house. So off they go to the Goodwill store under mild protest. Only the protest isn’t from Lulu Bug, it’s from Ahmed. How on earth, I ask myself, can this man be so deferential to this pampered little girl when I know for a fact that I love her more than he does? (This is a story for another time.) The answer is so simple. Ahmed is a very kind, generous-hearted man. He’s particularly kind to his family: to me, his mother, his daughter, his sisters. Ramadan is a time for kindness and charity, and as we say in the States, charity begins at home. What an excellent example for his wife and daughter every day, but most especially this month. So last week, Ahmed called Lulu long distance to brag about his newest acquisition: a brand new laptop for her. Wow, I thought, happy that he was so excited about it, but a bit disappointed that I’d have to tell her that she could not have it. (It has a webcam attached, and besides, I need it more than she does.) “No problem, keep it,” said Ahmed, “Insha Allah I’ll get her another one for Eid.” Alhamdulillah, crisis averted, and he left something in the store to get her for Eid. Which is good, because he bought her another Wii game yesterday. I asked him whether I could share this story with Australia and he said “Sure! Why not?” I told him that I was concerned that some people might think he was too soft. And my husband answered, “When it comes to my daughter, I don’t care what anybody thinks.” Now that’s a real man. *Debora McNichol is a Muslim wife, mother, daughter, business owner, editor, and attorney in the USA. She has a general law practice in Virginia and North Carolina, and especially takes pleasure in discussing intellectual property and business law with willing clients, friends, and neighbors. Debora blogs regularly, discussing Muslim and personal topics, current events, and business-related subjects with passion. www.sawalad.com – Sawa-Lad Editing Services www.mcnichollaw.com – McNichol Law Offices.
S Hanan a k eDover* enah
R
The Joy of Eid ul-Fitr
amadan has come and gone, Eid has dawned upon us, thank you Allah for this blessed day. The arrival of Eid, shows on the smiling faces of men, women and children. The aura of Eid is one of happiness, joy, and festivity. It marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan (the month of fasting) and is specifically called Eid ul-fitr. With the new moon sighted, Eid is awaiting. It is the day of celebration around the world for Muslims to join in thanksgiving activities and rejoicing. Time is spent with family and friends. Sweets are shared and special foods prepared. Children receive gifts or money from their family and they are excited about wearing new clothes. Eid is a joyous time and a day where we thank Almighty Allah for assisting us through the month of fasting and celebrate the true
spirit of humanity by remembering the poor, disadvantaged, needy, and make dua and pray for people in need. Sadaqah ul-fitr is charity given to the poor during this month. Get involved in the family and community spirit of Eid. Share your sweets with your neighbours, have a special meal together with your family, ensure the children are having fun on this day of festivities, and visit your families. Remember, also that there is still pain and suffering around the world, so be humble in your giving, and continue to remember the poor and needy. Don’t forget to attend your local Eid festivals to encourage and enhance community spirit. *Hanan Dover is a forensic psychologist and regular contributor to Crescent Times. You can reach her on hanan.dover@crescenttimes.com.au
National
Page 14
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
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Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Opinion
Page 15
No room for backlash against Muslims Simon Overland* Imagine how you’d feel if a member of your family was a convicted terrorist! Simon Overland Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police writes:
T
his is the reality for one man in Melbourne who has been working with Victoria Police helping us understand how to deal with convicted terrorists and identify ways of helping to minimise the spread of the type of radical views which can ultimately lead to terrorism. Our work is focussed on the causes of radicalisation - what causes these people to become radicalised in the first instance, how to adopt measures to reduce the appeal of the extremist message, and how do we re-integrate convicted terrorists back into the community when they leave prison so that they can lead normal lives? It was a significant step for this man to help us in our work, but goes to the heart of the issue currently before us. The Muslim community themselves are working with us because they understand that vulnerable, isolated and alienated young people are often easily cultivated to engage in criminal activity. Victorians woke a few weeks ago to the news that several young men had been arrested as part of one of the biggest counter-terrorism operations in Australia’s history. While these serious criminal charges are now a matter for the courts to determine, this event has undoubtedly had a significant impact on both the Muslim community, as well as the broader Victorian community. Terrorism hits at the very heart of our community – it is a stark reminder that this is a global issue that can affect us all. I understand that the events have caused people to feel concern and even shock, none more so than amongst our Muslim and Somali
Above: Australian media outlets have claimed that the prayer room above this North Melbourne pool hall was a gathering place for some of the Somali-born men charged on August 4 with offences under Australia’s sweeping anti-terror laws . Photo: Nasya Bahfen, Crescent Times.
communities. Not only do they have to deal with their safety fears. More regrettable is that some members of the community have jumped to the uninformed conclusion that all of those in the Somali and Muslim community have strong links with terrorism. This type of uninformed view must be totally rejected. That is why it is disappointing to hear that there has already been community backlash. We have anecdotal evidence of people shouting abuse at members of the Somali community in the streets, of emails circulating branding local Muslim leaders as terrorists or supporters of terrorist activities and a general heightened mistrust of anyone from those communities. This is not the way we Australians should be dealing with these types of issues. This is not the time to be divisive, to overreact or unfairly lay blame. We should instead be focusing our efforts on cohesiveness. One of our best defences against terrorism is being open, tolerant and inclusive – not to judge all by the actions of a few. These people live in our community, they work in our community and they contribute to our
Islamic Finance Foezullah Dewan*
A
s the world and its cultures become more and more enmeshed through immigration and trade, it is exciting to watch how often one culture takes in aspects of another as its own. One of the most obvious examples of this is food. Take the popularity of hamburgers and Frankfurters in the western world. Both are German foods. So, when a German butcher from Frankfurt thought a sausage resembled his Dachshund dog, the Hot Dog was born. And money is just as susceptible as food to cultural exchange. And, in Australia, very recently, Shari‘ah compliant finance is showing that it, too, is gradually insinuating itself into the financial landscape. Much of the positive regard now being focused on Shari‘ah compliant finance has come from analysis that shows how sturdy this form of lending was in withstanding the Global Financial Crisis. In London and New York share markets are down one third from their
highest levels, but the Dow Jones’s Islamic financials index rose 4.75 per cent in the last September quarter and lost only 7 per cent compared with the previous year. Islamic finance has not only shown that it can tough it out when there is a crisis of confidence, but investors are now starting to realise that it is also well positioned to grow substantially – faster, in fact, than other banking products, at 15 to 20 per cent a year. A recent forecast in the Economist estimated that Islamic assets under management have a worth of $US700 billion ($1000 billion) worldwide, and, according to a Moody’s Investors Service Report, the total value could exceed $4 trillion by 2012. This is very exciting for a system of lending that has been around since the time of the prophet Mohammed, and entered the modern financial world as a small banking experiment in villages of rural Egypt at the start of the 1970s.
community. They add to the vibrancy of our cities and they bring cultural experiences we could all learn from. Importantly, we should all share in the responsibility by respecting and accepting diversity and difference. Not just because it enriches our lives, but because alienation is one of the biggest risks we face, as disengaged, vulnerable people are more likely to develop the type of views which can ultimately lead to terrorism than those who feel that they belong and are part of a community. Sadly, some form of alienation often leads people down the path of a whole range of crimes. People who feel isolated and marginalised are more likely to become involved in all forms of crime and anti-social behaviour, not just acts of terrorism. It is not uncommon for young men to go through a ‘wild’ period in their lives, to act out and make some poor decisions. Vulnerable young people, who may feel a loss of their own identity or culture, are often targeted and cultivated by influential people. In a way, what we are seeing with terrorism is
The Shari’ah system requires the creditor and the lender to share in the profits and losses of any venture and prohibits transactions based on interest and excessive speculation. Both parties involved in a lending transaction must take shares of the risk involved and it is this quality that imbues the system with greater strength, tending, as it does, to reduce excessive lending by doubling the assessment of risk to the two parties involved. Property is where Shari’ah compliant funds have a highly useful application, particularly as this area of the market will undergo a considerable correction following on from the current crisis. Investors who take advantage of undervalued properties can expect good returns through leasing and rental income, but, there are critics who suggest that Islamic finance institutions rely too heavily on property and may be hit badly if the situation worsens and the value plummets. In any case, the hit will be nowhere as hard as the impact of the recent collapse, and with responsible banking, where both the lender and the borrower are risk averse, the prospect of such a hit is unlikely. What’s exciting about recent development related to Shari’ah finance, in Australia, is the opening of a Masters Program on Islamic Banking and Finance at La Trobe University in July this year. Australia’s own Muslim population is quite
the extreme of this. Further social isolation and stereotyping is not going to help this complex issue. We need to engage with the vulnerable to avoid leaving ourselves open to all forms of criminality, including terrorism. We must exercise restraint and understand that whilst these are very serious charges they are in no way reflective of the broader Somali or Muslim community. They are not terrorists. They do not support terrorism. They are peaceful communities, who have integrated well and deserve our respect and understanding. Collectively we need to ensure that this continues to be the case. Islam is not the problem. Social isolation and disengagement stemming, from among other things, racism and negative stereotyping, is the real problem. As I have already mentioned, members of the community themselves are working very closely with Victoria Police to deal with these issues as we head into the future. We will continue to work with them to build social cohesion. The affected communities recognise that this is the only way forward and are willing to work with us. Equally, we need to continue to counter the message being perpetuated by terrorist groups and their supporters at all levels. It’s crucial that everyone in the community works together with us to make this happen. Victoria Police will continue to maintain strong and supportive relationships with the Muslim and Somali community and we will continue to protect the security of all. To these communities, I say that we understand the impact these types of issues have on your community. We have a proud tradition in this country of welcoming people from all backgrounds – lets continue that tradition and embrace the multiculturalism that has provided us such a rich Melbourne culture. * Simon Overland is Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police.
small, but, the Australian Government has been quick to realise that our nation is located in a part of Asia that is heavily populated with Muslims, and, by promoting Islamic finance, it will likely be able to share in the wealth and jobs associated with the growth predicted for Islamic finance. Of course, if it wanted to encourage the spread of Islamic finance even further, the Federal Government should work with the State Governments to make regulatory changes that avoid double taxation or unequal tax treatment for Islamic financial products. The brightest star in Islamic finance in Australia, for the past 18 years, the Muslim Community Co-operative of Australia is this country’s largest Islamic finance institution with around 8,000 members and an annual turnover of more than $200 million that is available to both Muslims and non-Muslims. The Co-operative’s aspirations are high as it hopes to be Australia’s first Islamic bank, a situation former Federal Opposition leader, John Hewson, believes likely in the next five years. Speaking at a recent conference on Islamic Finance Dr Hewson said that he expects Australia not only to have one or more Islamic banks but that it should also emerge as the ‘dominant Islamic Financial centre in the Asia Pacific region.’
continued p18
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International
Afghanistan:
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Taliban’s new Constitution
ABUL — Laying down a code of conduct for its fighters, the Afghan Taliban has issued a book restricting the use of suicide bombings and guiding fighters on how to act with hostages and win hearts and minds of the Afghan people. “A brave son of Islam should not be used for lower and useless targets,” says the book obtained by the Doha-based Aljazeera television on Monday, July 27. The book, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Rules for Mujahideen”, says that Taliban fighters should avoid civilian casualties while launching attacks. “Governors, district chiefs and line commanders and every member of the Mujahideen must do their best to avoid civilian deaths, civilian injuries and damage to civilian property,” says the book. Captives The 13-chapter book also sets rules for Taliban fighters on how to deal with the Westbacked Afghan government. “Every Muslim can invite anyone working for the slave government in Kabul to leave their job, and cut their relationship with this corrupt administration,” it says. “If the person accepts, then with the permission of the provincial and district leadership, a guarantee of safety can be given.” The guideline gives Taliban leader Mullah Omar the full authority to decide on the fate of its captives. “Whenever any official, soldier, contractor or worker of the slave government is captured, these prisoners cannot be attacked or harmed,” says the book. “The decision on whether to seek a prisoner exchange, or to release the prisoner, with a strong guarantee, will be made by the provincial leader.”
“Releasing prisoners in exchange for money is strictly prohibited.”
Day Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr 4:51 6:13 11:56 4:49 6:12 11:55 4:48 6:11 11:55 4:47 6:09 11:55 4:45 6:08 11:54 4:45 6:08 11:54 4:43 6:05 11:54 4:41 6:04 11:53 4:40 6:03 11:53 4:39 6:01 11:53 4:37 6:00 11:52 4:36 5:59 11:52 4:36 5:59 11:52 4:34 5:57 11:52 4:32 5:54 11:51 4:30 5:53 11:51 4:29 5:52 11:50 4:27 5:50 11:50 4:26 5:49 11:50 4:24 5:47 11:49 4:24 5:47 11:49 4:21 5:45 11:48 4:20 5:43 11:48 4:18 5:42 11:48 4:17 5:40 11:47 4:15 5:39 11:47 4:14 5:38 11:47 4:14 5:38 11:47 4:11 5:35 11:46 4:09 5:34 11:46
Turkey:
Discrimination a fact of working life for headscarved women
“If the prisoner is a director, commander or district chief or higher, the decision on whether to harm, kill, release or forgive them is only made by the Imam or deputy Imam.”
For some, though, the prejudice is all too apparent. Last week, Sunday’s Zaman spoke with women who say they have fallen victim to employment discrimination despite their qualifications and experience because they wear the headscarf. They tell stories of adverse working conditions, long hours, little pay and unequal treatment -- all based on the scarf.
On captured foreign troops, the book says the Taliban leader or his deputy has the full authority to decide on his fate. “If a military infidel is captured, the decision on whether to kill, release or exchange the hostage is only to be made by the Imam or deputy Imam.” Unity The Taliban book also bans the formation of new armed groups in the central Asian Muslim country. “Creating a new mujahideen group or battalion is forbidden,” says the book. “If unofficial groups or irregular battalions refuse to join the formal structure they should be disbanded.” “If a governor or leader has in the past had a unit or active group in another province, they should bring it to the attention of the leader of that province. That leader should then take over command of the group.” Taliban commanders have so far had a fair degree of autonomy, often deciding what operations to conduct and how to run the territory that they control. The book also urges Taliban fighters to seek to win the hearts and minds of the local Afghan population. “The Mujahideen have to behave well and show proper treatment to the nation, in order to bring the hearts of civilian Muslims closer to them.” “The mujahideen must avoid discrimination based on tribal roots, language or their geographic background.”
Prayer Schedule September 2009 Sydney, NSW
Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Asr Maghrib 3:10 5:38 3:10 5:38 3:11 5:39 3:11 5:40 3:11 5:40 3:11 5:40 3:12 5:42 3:12 5:42 3:12 5:43 3:13 5:44 3:13 5:44 3:13 5:45 3:13 5:45 3:13 5:46 3:14 5:47 3:14 5:48 3:14 5:48 3:15 5:49 3:15 5:50 3:15 5:50 3:15 5:50 3:15 5:52 3:16 5:53 3:16 5:53 3:16 5:54 3:16 5:55 3:16 5:55 3:16 5:55 3:17 5:57 3:17 5:57
Isha 6:56 6:57 6:57 6:58 6:59 6:59 7:00 7:01 7:01 7:02 7:03 7:03 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:06 7:07 7:08 7:08 7:09 7:09 7:11 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:15 7:16 7:17
Employment difficulties facing Turkish women who wear the headscarf do not end after they are hired, as they face on-the-job discrimination, unequal pay and other forms of prejudice. Ill-intentioned employers looking to hire cheap, exploitable workers who have little legal support available to them need not look beyond Turkey’s borders to find employees, as the domestic employment conditions for women who wear the headscarf can make them among the most desperate of job seekers. While the troubles faced by women who choose to wear headscarf at universities and government workplaces are often subject to public attention, fewer people are aware of the problems they encounter in the private sector, even at firms that ostensibly possess Islamic tendencies. The European Union has expressed concerns over the compromising of gender equality in Turkey via employment discrimination against women who wear headscarves, noting that the Turkish government has not done enough to research the extent of this discrimination.
Prayer Schedule September 2009 Perth, Western Australia
Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Day Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
Fajr Sunrise 5:12 6:33 5:11 6:32 5:10 6:31 5:09 6:30 5:07 6:28 5:06 6:27 5:05 6:26 5:04 6:24 5:02 6:23 5:01 6:22 5:00 6:21 4:58 6:19 4:57 6:18 4:56 6:17 4:54 6:15 4:53 6:14 4:52 6:13 4:50 6:11 4:49 6:10 4:48 6:09 4:46 6:07 4:45 6:06 4:43 6:05 4:42 6:03 4:41 6:02 4:39 6:01 4:38 5:59 4:36 5:58 4:35 5:57 4:34 5:56
Dhuhr 12:17 12:17 12:17 12:16 12:16 12:16 12:15 12:15 12:15 12:14 12:14 12:14 12:13 12:13 12:12 12:12 12:12 12:11 12:11 12:11 12:10 12:10 12:10 12:09 12:09 12:09 12:08 12:08 12:08 12:07
Asr Maghrib 3:33 6:01 3:33 6:01 3:34 6:02 3:34 6:02 3:34 6:03 3:34 6:04 3:35 6:04 3:35 6:05 3:35 6:05 3:35 6:06 3:35 6:07 3:36 6:07 3:36 6:08 3:36 6:08 3:36 6:09 3:36 6:10 3:36 6:10 3:37 6:11 3:37 6:12 3:37 6:12 3:37 6:13 3:37 6:13 3:37 6:14 3:37 6:15 3:38 6:15 3:38 6:16 3:38 6:16 3:38 6:17 3:38 6:18 3:38 6:18
Isha 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:20 7:21 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:28 7:29 7:30 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:32 7:33 7:34 7:35 7:35 7:36
“First and foremost, employers know that you can’t work for the state; you can’t work for most major, big companies. They know this and because they know this, if they’re willing to hire you they will work you as hard as they are able,” says Seçil Yılmaz, an İstanbul psychologist who wears a headscarf. “This makes women who wear headscarves and enter or attempt to enter the workforce an easy target. They are put under immense pressure in multiple ways: the normal pressures of trying to make ends meet, the pressure of the job search with a clear disadvantage and the pressure of being treated as a charity case at a workplace instead of a full-fledged employee.” According to Yılmaz, who runs a private practice, discrimination against women who wear headscarves does not stop with hiring practices. Once successfully finding employment in the private sector, these Muslim women must often make a number of concessions to keep their jobs or else face unemployment, “along with which come the troubles of economic dependence and limited horizons,” she says. Today’s Zaman -Turkey
Prayer Schedule September 2009 Melbourne, Victoria
Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Day Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr 5:15 6:42 12:21 5:13 6:40 12:20 5:12 6:39 12:20 5:10 6:37 12:20 5:09 6:36 12:19 5:09 6:36 12:19 5:06 6:33 12:19 5:04 6:31 12:18 5:03 6:30 12:18 5:01 6:28 12:18 5:00 6:27 12:17 4:58 6:25 12:17 4:58 6:25 12:17 4:56 6:24 12:17 4:53 6:20 12:16 4:52 6:19 12:16 4:50 6:17 12:15 4:48 6:16 12:15 4:47 6:14 12:15 4:45 6:13 12:14 4:45 6:13 12:14 4:42 6:10 12:13 4:40 6:08 12:13 4:38 6:06 12:13 4:37 6:05 12:12 4:35 6:03 12:12 4:33 6:02 12:12 4:33 6:02 12:12 4:30 5:59 12:11 4:28 5:57 12:11
Asr Maghrib 3:31 5:59 3:31 6:00 3:32 6:01 3:32 6:02 3:33 6:03 3:33 6:03 3:34 6:04 3:34 6:05 3:35 6:06 3:35 6:07 3:35 6:08 3:36 6:08 3:36 6:08 3:36 6:09 3:37 6:11 3:37 6:12 3:38 6:13 3:38 6:14 3:39 6:14 3:39 6:15 3:39 6:15 3:40 6:17 3:40 6:18 3:40 6:19 3:41 6:20 3:41 6:20 3:41 6:21 3:41 6:21 3:42 6:23 3:42 6:24
Isha 7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:25 7:27 7:28 7:28 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:31 7:32 7:34 7:34 7:35 7:36 7:37 7:38 7:38 7:40 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:44 7:45 7:45 7:47 7:48
Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Community
Page 17
Muslim Aid Australia: practical achievements Muslim Aid Australia (MAA) was initially founded in 1989 to provide a platform for a Muslim Australian international aid effort; and, which could join hands with fellow Australians and the world community at large, to tackle the persistent and recurring problems of global poverty and suffering, often as a result of natural disasters (flood, earthquake, etc) and human disasters (endemic poverty, civil strife, wars, etc). In 1991, MAA was officially registered in NSW (and then other states) as a charitable organization to serve these goals. MAA is a non-political and non-sectarian aid+development agency, inspired by Islamic values, to serve the neediest abroad irrespective of race, ethnicity, nationality, political affiliation, or creed. Beneficiaries to whom MAA take special interest are the orphaned, refugees and internally displaced people, communities caught in cycles of poverty, and survivors of disasters. Overarching our activities is a striving towards a Peace Agenda, a Sustainability Agenda, and a Civil Society Agenda. In 1997 MAA became a member of Australia’s peak body to Australian based international aid agencies, ie the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). And in 2001, MAA attained ‘OAGDS endorsement’ from the Australian Taxation Office, thereby providing MAA donors tax deductibility for their generous donations. It also affirms the Commonwealth Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting and encouraging public benevolence at an international level, through accountable and transparent
Above: Distribution of relief items to internally displaced people in NWFP Pakistan, June 2009 Photo: Courtesy Muslim Aid Australia
organisations, for which MAA passes the mark. Underscoring MAA’s professional standing as an international NGO, MAA is signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct (1997), as well as to the International Federation of Red Cross/Crescent Societies’ Code of Conduct (2008), and a member of the United Nations Association (Australia). MAA leverages the Muslim Aid International
network, such as which can be described as having ‘directorate offices’ in London (MAUK), Sydney (MAA), Munich (MAG), and now Malaysia (MAM). Further, the Muslim Aid International network includes Field Offices in places as Sudan, Iraq, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lebanon, Bosnia, to name some. MAA also partners with many independent in-country NGOs.
We at MAA realise that we live in exciting and unsettling times, mainly because of the enormous global challenges facing us, not just from a faith-community perspective, but as humanity at large. The global financial crisis, climate change & the environment, food insecurity, festering civil/regional/global conflicts, all contribute to the prevailing sense of being overwhelmed, be it in the local and global communities we live in, or from an MAA viewpoint as a small aid & development INGO. However, as an agency having a faith-basis at its heart, we have no course except to believe and know that no challenge is insurmountable. And, so our work goes on, inshaAllah! And we hope to keep our supporters on board, and to pick-up many more fellow-travellers along the way. Recent initiatives MAA has supported include: a TAFE accredited vocational education program in regional/rural Bangladesh; mangrove protection (and reforestation) project for disaster mitigation and livelihood ecosystem maintenance (Bangladesh); trauma counseling to get children back to school and ‘normalcy’ after military conflict (Gaza/OPT); hundreds of community water-wells (and reservoirs) across Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Sudan; OrphanAid programs in primary education, healthcare, nutritional meals; FoodAid programs in Lebanon, Yemen; and, disaster response to Hadramaut Floods (Yemen), Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar), Cyclone Sidr (Bangladesh), IDPs of the Swat Valley (Pakistan), besieged Gazans (OPT).
US Postal Service reissues Eid stamp
The US Postal Office first issued the Eid stamp on 1 September 2001 and has reissued it every year to date. The design of the stamp was done by renowned Muslim American calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya. Employing traditional methods and instruments to create this design, Zakariya chose a script known in Arabic as “thuluth” and in Turkish as “sulus.” He describes it as “the choice script for a complex composition due to its open proportions and sense of balance.” He used homemade black ink, and his pens were crafted from seasoned reeds from the Near East and Japanese bamboo from Hawaii. The paper was specially prepared with a coating of starch and three coats of alum and egg-white varnish, then burnished with an agate stone and aged for more than a year. Zakariya’s black-and-white design was then colorized by computer. At the launch of the stamp, a spokesman for the US postal service stated: “This is a proud moment for the Postal Service, the Muslim community, and Americans in general as we issue a postage stamp to honor and commemorate two important Islamic celebrations,” said Azeezaly S. Jaffer, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications for the Postal Service. “The Eid stamp will help us highlight the business, educational
and social contributions of the estimated six to seven million Muslims in this country.” Australia Post - take note! Maybe next year?
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Crescent Times is a monthly Muslim community newspaper and as such welcomes contributions of letters, articles and photographs from all members of the community. Contributions sent by email or on computer disk are appreciated; there is no publication charge for articles submitted. The deadline for all contributions is the 25th of the month prior to publication. All contributions and advertising may be sent to: PO Box 628 Mirrabooka WA 6941 or by email to: editor@crescenttimes.com.au INDEMNITY AND WARRANTY Advertisers and/or advertising agencies upon and by lodging material with Crescent Press Pty Ltd for publication in the Crescent Times or authorising or approving of the publication of any material INDEMNIFY Crescent Press Pty Ltd and the Crescent Times against all claims, demands, proceedings, costs, expenses, damages, awards, judgements and any other liability whatsoever wholly or partially arising directly or indirectly in connection with the publication of the material, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing indemnify Crescent Press Pty Ltd and the Crescent Times in relation to defamation, libel, slander of title, infringement of copyright, infringement of trademarks or names of publication titles, unfair competition, breach of trade practices or fair trading legislation, violation of rights of privacy or confidential information or licences or royalty rights or other intellectual property rights AND WARRANT that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any claims against or liabilities to Crescent Press Pty Ltd or the Crescent Times, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that nothing therein is in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 or the Copyright Act 1968 or the Fair Trading Act 1987 or the defamation, consumer protection and sale of goods legislation of the Australian states or territories or infringes the rights of any person. Crescent Press Pty Ltd and the Crescent Times accept no responsibility or liability in relation to any loss due to the failure of an advertisement to appear according to instructions. The positioning or placing of an advertisement is at the discretion of the editor. COPYRIGHT Where no charge is made for the preparation of advertising material, Crescent Press Pty Ltd will remain owner of the copyright in the advertising material. Such advertising material may be reproduced only with the consent of Crescent Press Pty Ltd and upon payment of such fee as Crescent Press Pty Ltd may require. Original works are subject to copyright and shall not be reproduced without authority. HALAL POLICY Crescent Times does not represent or endorse the halal status of our advertisers products, neither the reliability of any of the advertisments, nor the quality of any products, information or other material displayed, consumed or purshased by any member of the public. Every individual shall conduct their own research on matters related to quality of product or its halal status.
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Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Islamic Search Engine M
uslims will be able to surf the internet without the fear of accidentally encountering sinful material after a Dutch company launched the world’s first Islamic search engine. The ImHalal service works like any other search facility until potentially illicit words are entered, when it rates the search from one to three on its risk of generating “haram” or forbidden material. Reza Sardeha, founder of AZS Media Group which runs the search engine, said: “The idea grew up when some friends of mine complained that when they searched on Google or Yahoo once in a while they bumped into sexually explicit content.” About 100,000 separate users have accessed the site during the first 5 days, but this is small fry compared with Mr Sardeha’s ultimate ambition — to become the standard homepage for the world’s online Muslims, who number at least 100 million. Seven months in development, the search is available in 15 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Farsi and Turkish, as well as English. The company expects its largest audience to develop in the Middle East. When a search rates one or two on the haram scale, the user can still decide to take the risk and click through to the results. But a three-rated search yields no results, only the message: “Oops! Your search inquiry has a Haram level of 3 out of 3! I would like to advise you to change your search terms and try again.” Mr Sardeha said: “Before we started this, we got the feeling that a lot of people in the Middle East, a lot of Muslims, really avoided the internet and prevented their children from accessing the internet because they were afraid their children might come into contact with sexually explicit material.” The filter works by examining the user’s search terms and the websites that come up, trawling for a “danger list” of words that may indicate forbidden fruit. On the site, sex-related terms such as “gay”, “lesbian” or simply “sexy” merit a haram level of three.
But “beer” and “pork” only merit one point, while “drugs” earns two. There is no restriction, however, on those interested in “dating” or “wrestling”, nor more abstract concepts generally held to be forbidden in Islam, such as “mortgages”, “suicide” or “magic”. “Hot pants” are also judged to be halal — although Mr Sardeha admits the mechanism needs fine-tuning. “We are a social company — we have a feedback button and every two minutes someone gets in touch,” he said.. “Someone already pointed out the problem with ‘bikini’.” AZS has developed the site in consultation with Islamic scholars, but says it will not be entering into theological disputes over the possible sinfulness of Facebook or rock music. Rather, it is aimed at “the moderate Muslim”. It hopes soon to expand into Islamic widgets such as programmes to generate Koran quotes and prayer times, in which there is already a competitive online trade. Days after launching, the search engine’s founders are engaged in a fierce online debate with bloggers who claim it represents a form of censorship. “It’s the people’s choice — anyone who actually wants explicit content can easily choose another search engine,” Mr Sardeha said. He admits that to compile the haram list, he and his colleagues had to spend a long time collating illicit internet content. “What can you do?” he says. “That’s a fact of life.” Islam On Line
Islamic finance- continued from page15 Western financial arrangements have evolved into the methods of operation that currently exist over a long period of time. It’s important to realise that the system of evolution is a continual one with new arrangements being added all the time. Certainly the pain caused after the recent collapse, particularly in the United States, will see some structural reform introduced to reduce the human suffering that occurs every time the financial system undergoes a cyclical correction.
Of course, Shari’ah compliant finance will not take over from the current banking system, but, as all cultures evolve and absorb aspects from one culture to another, there is every chance that Islamic finance will continue to develop, particularly in this part of the world, into a stable alternative that offers its own brand of benefits. *Foezullah Dewan is a commercial lawyer with Turner Freeman
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Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
Conference
ISLAM A PROMINENT THEME IN MAJOR ASIAN CONFERENCE
Native Matters
Page 19
The shades of grey, the sharpness of black and white
Nasya Bahfen*
Eugenia Flynn*
Above: Muslim women academics register at the International Convention for Asia Scholars in South Korea in August 2009. Photo: Nasya Bahfen, Crescent Times.
Victorian editor of the Crescent Times Nasya Bahfen, in her capacity as an RMIT lecturer, was in South Korea late last month, where she chaired a panel and presented a paper at the largest biennial Asian studies conference in the world.
M
ore than a thousand Asian studies experts attended the International Convention of Asia Scholars in Daejeon, South Korea, around an hour by bullet train from the capital Seoul, with research on Islam in Southeast Asia one of the prominent themes, along with research on China and East Asia. Unsurprisingly, the region’s two main Muslim-majority countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, were the focus of several studies. Eka Srimulyani from the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Banda Aceh presented research on women’s leadership in the pesantren (madrasah or religious school) of Java and Aceh. French academic Delphine Alles from Sciences Po looked at the foreign policy platforms of Indonesian and Malaysian Islamic political parties. My own paper looked at some of the results from my doctoral thesis about the use of the internet by Muslim students in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam discussed the use of Muslim women’s clothing in Brunei for political discussion. The extremes of Malaysian Islam were illustrated by two papers – Mohd Mizan Azlam from New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington presented research on the country’s radical religious elements, while Mohd Farid Bin Mohd Sharif from the University Sains Malaysia looked at the Liberal Muslim movement in his country. Studies on Islamic education by Muslim minorities in the region were also discussed, with Chinese academic Shi Xuegin from Xiamen University presenting research on the madrasah of the Philippines and Thailand, and
Khin Maung Yin from the International Islamic University of Malaysia looking at Muslim schools in Burma/Myanmar. Two Indian academics presented their research on India’s Muslim minority – Pedda Hothur Mohammad from Maulana Azad National Urdu University spoke about the social exclusion of the Muslims in India, while Amit Dey from the University of Calcutta discussed India as a destination for Sufis from Central and West Asia. The conference location, Daejeon, is perhaps best known to outsiders as the place where South Korea toppled Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It hosted a World Expo in 1993. In Daejeon you can find more than two hundred research institutes and one of South Korea’s most prestigious universities, Chungnam National University. The size of the tiny Muslim population in Daejeon is 150, consisting mainly of scientists and students from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Pakistan either working or studying here. A musollah or prayer room serves the community. This is where, following Friday prayers each week, halal meat and food is sold brought in from Seoul (there are no halal restaurants or butchers in Daejeon). The Islamic Center of Daejeon’s webpage is at http://daejeonmosque.googlepages. com * Dr. Nasya Bahfen is a lecturer in Journalism at the school of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Medlbourne, She is also the Victorian editor of Crescent Times.
Would like to contribute in Crescent Times? Easy! please send your contribution by email to: info@crescenttimes.com.au or visit www.crescenttimes. com.au to submit your material. Thanks
Ramadan is a time for reflection on one’s imaan and a large part of this is the giving of charity and the related gratitude for one’s blessings in life. For example, I try to thank Allah every day for my blessings and then I try to give charity every day through the work that I do with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Not because my people are a problem to be fixed, nor because my people are unable to help themselves, but because supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the right thing to do. More than the simple fact that it is the right thing to do, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s struggle for freedom is fundamental to the legitimacy of Muslim residency in Australia. Whilst for many this statement may hit a grey area, for me it is undoubtedly true and cuts to the heart of the matter. Discussing with a friend recently, it is obvious that in Islam we must strive for justice in our lives and enjoin what is right in that regard. However, when this call for justice is placed within an Australian context, there is no real definitive directive
for Muslims to assist in the work towards justice for Indigenous Australians. Defining the grey area until it turns to black and white, I cannot impress enough how important such a directive could potentially be for change within this country. If Muslims are unhappy with Australian levels of discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or race then Muslims must seek to cut to the heart of discrimination, ignorance and racism within Australia. Until the deep-seated racism towards Indigenous Australians is shifted, Muslims can have no hope of peace within Australia and on a larger-scale Australia cannot move forward as a country. It is with this in mind that I ask Muslims, especially now that Ramadan is upon us, to really think about what it means to live in Australia – on stolen land – and what contribution the ummah can make, no matter how small it may seem. It is with these parting words that I wish you all blessed Ramadan; let us all make the most of it this year.
*Eugenia Flynn is an Aboriginal and Chinese woman who lives in Adelaide with her three sisters and father. She loves reading, writing, food, art (especially music and fashion) and politicking. In 2005 Eugenia attended the First Inaugural National Muslim Youth Summit and in 2007 founded the Indigenous Muslim Support Network (IMSN). She has since been involved in building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Muslim community through the IMSN and has begun speaking to Muslim communities, in particular Muslim young people, about their involvement in social justice for Indigenous people.
Book Review: Your Very Own Ramadan Special Zabrina A. Bakar is back and now she is holding an luminous candle to guide you through her journey of Ramadan. Sis Zabrina is excited to share her third book in her ‘Life is an Open Secret’ Islamic Motivational Book Series – one no less special, but so much more spiritual, Life is an Open Secret – Ramadan Special. She will reenlighten your faith with stories that will have your heart pounding and wishing to learn more about the Holy Muslim month. Life is an Open Secret - Ramadan Special carries 25 stories specifically tailored for the month of Ramadan when Muslims worldwide are required to observe the act of fasting from dawn until sunset for a period of one month. This special month brings along with it many benefits and blessings that are sometimes forgotten. Thus, the stories in this book serve as a reminder as to what Ramadan is truly about. All stories are written in a simple, chatty, humorous and witty way that promises to touch your heart, tease your mind, soothe your soul and make you reflect along the way. •If you want to know why Ramadan is important, your curiosity stops here. •If you are curious to know what Ramadan is about, this is the book for you. •If you feel you have lost the essence of Ramadan, this book shall remind you. •If you think fasting is only about not eating and drinking, you need to read this book. •If you dream of becoming a better person this Ramadan, flip the pages of this book. •If you wish to improve spiritually this Ramadan, find them all here within the pages. •If you are seeking for the blessings of Ramadan, this book has secrets to share. •If someone you love needs a reminder of Ramadan, send this book as a gift. Life is an Open Secret – Ramadan Special continues
the tradition of its first two sisters - Life is an Open Secret - Think About It and Life is an Open Secret - You, Me and We which have recently been nominated for the prestigious King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies for 2009, by sharing life secrets in story telling form to inspire individuals to realise and understand the benefits that come during the month of Ramadan. Her latest book Life is An Open Secret - Ramadan Special is now available at www.wisdomthruwords. blgospot.com and many online bookstores.
Fi amani’Allah
Page 20
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Crescent Times, 11th issue, September 2009
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