In our summer 2010/2011 issue:
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*Fruitful summer holidays for our school children *What do Aussie Mossies really think?
*WikiLeaks political earthquake *Welcoming Hijrah year 1432 *WA: Perth Mosque certifies wine as halal *SA: Muslims Condemn Santa Sackings
E FRE Monthly - Independent
Issue # 26 & 27, December 2010/January 2011
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WA: Premier Barnett attends Eid prayer
NSW: Aysha Noureddine forced to sleep in van after stillbirth
A mother was forced to sleep in a van with her children hours after giving birth to a stillborn baby because the Department of Housing forgot to book a motel. A care worker “forgot” to book accommodation for grief-stricken Aysha Noureddine, 27, who suffered complications during the traumatic birth three weeks ago. She was discharged from Auburn Hospital in Sydney’s west at night and - after discovering no accommodation had been booked - slept in her eightseater van with three of her five
children. The young mother had earlier called the Chullora Sleep Express motel, for which she contributed money for a room, but after being discharged was told no room had been paid for. After learning of her plight, NSW Housing Minister Frank Terenzini this week ordered his department to find the young mother a home. She was offered a contract for a fourbedroom townhouse in Punchbowl earlier last week. Ms Noureddine was pregnant when she was abandoned by her husband earlier this year and was evicted from private
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Tarek Chamkhi Perth
Hundreds of believers gathered in Kings Park for Eid al-Adha prayers on the 15th of December 2010. This Eid saw the first attendance at Eid prayer by a Premier, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett. Crescent Times met the Premier for a short interview and began by thanking him for his decision to attend Eid prayers and share the joy of Eid with Western Australian Muslims. In answer to Crescent Times’ question about his motivation to attend, Colin Barnett replied “They (the Daawa Centre of Western Australia) invited me and I
accepted the invitation and here I am.” The Premier explained “I think the local Islamic community is a diverse community from all around the world. Some are born here and others have migrated, many are professionals who play an important role in our society.” The Premier added that the local Muslim community is well integrated into the broader Western Australian community. Many attending the prayer rushed to take photos, shake hands and exchange greetings with the Premier who shared Saudi coffee and sweets with members of the Muslim community before leaving to join a sitting of Photo : Crescent Times. Parliament.
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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Sydney: Lebanese Muslim Association Eid prayer at Lakemba Mosque:
Dandan says: no longer they will take our vote for granted!
In a fiery speech at Lakemba mosque on Eid al-Adha in front of a large crowd of worshippers, the president of the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), Samir Dandan said that “our community is in desperate need of political engagement, an engagement that does not silence us or take our vote for granted! ” He added that “As a community, we certainly have our faults – not least is our desperate need to overcome the internal disputes that divide our community”. He pointed out that the Muslim community has had to confront a number of serious issues in the past months where elected representatives in the New South Wales Parliament and local government have turned their backs on the community for basic political point scoring. He added that the Australian Muslim community does not yet appreciate the power of its vote. And it has certainly become apparent that our elected representatives do not appreciate our vote or our concerns. “The LMA plans to lead the Muslim community down a path of political participation for the long-term betterment of our community. We hope to provide political empowerment through relevant educational programs that will focus on the value of our vote based on democratic principles and Australian citizenship. The vote of the Muslim community cannot be taken for granted” Samir Dandan
said.
“Are those we elect as local representatives committed and able to represent our electorates, which are home to Australia’s most prominent mosques and its largest Muslim population? It is a failure on our part to not have a formulated opinion on who represents us in the State and Federal parliaments and the Lebanese Muslim Association will lead the way to achieving greater political awareness for our communities.” He also mentioned the case of the Roselands mosque. The Roselands mosque was purchased as an existing place of worship, with the intention of providing for Muslims of that locality and reducing traffic density at Lakemba mosque. It has ended up as a mosque with limited use for three prayers a day, three days a week. “A New Development Code is being considered by our local council, where restrictions will be imposed on the number of worshippers, frequency of services, size of the facility which will also include unfeasible parking requirements. Regrettably I feel that those with political
power do not fully understand the message that is sent to the Australian Muslim community when they seek to limit when a Muslim can enter a place of worship or how often it is used.” “Instead of giving away your vote so predictably, let’s engage with our political leaders and find out what they plan to do for US!” Samir Dandan exhorted the gathering. The message that has come through very clearly from our elected members of Parliament is that safe Labor seats like Auburn, Canterbury, Liverpool and Lakemba are not seats the Labor Party need worry about. “My message is very clear – complacency at the March 2011 election will be met with surprise. What is already apparent is that there is no such thing as a safe seat in the 2011 election. The vote cast by the community at the next election will be considered and reflective of the constant silencing of our community” Dandan concluded.
WA: Perth Mosque certifies wine as halal
Crescent Times has received letters from our readers protesting about a Beef Stroganoff product which is available Australia wide that contains 4% white wine and has been certified halal by the Perth Mosque. In response to an enquiry, Malcolm Jones, the Quality Assurance Manager for the manufacturer Vesco foods, replied that: “White wine is added to the beef stroganoff, however during the cooking process, all the alcohol is evaporated off.” As most Muslims know, this is not the case and the resulting product will remain impure and haram even after the evaporation process. Crescent Times has attempted to contact Ayub Khan, the Perth mosque halal certifier, over the last 4 months but he
has not responded to any of our contacts. The manufacturer is clearly relying on advice from the certifier and is not to blame for this certification error. Readers with concerns are urged to contact the Perth mosque to request further details about the halal status of this item or to contact the company to express their concerns. Mr. Ayub Khan Perth Mosque Incorporated 26 Carnarvon Crescent, Mount Lawley, WA, 6050. Telephone: (08) 9444 3648 Facsimile: (08) 9443 1157 Vesco Foods Malcolm Jones Quality Assurance Manager Ph (08) 9273-6184 Mb 0437 887 262
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Page 3
La Trobe University (Melbourne) in collaboration with Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance (Dubai) is delivering an accredited intensive course tackling the contemporary forms of Islamic finance.
Important dates Applications close 10 January 2011
The course aims to introduce participants to the important building blocks of Islamic Finance, which has now grown to be a 1.4 trillion-dollar global industry.
Course duration 15 January – 28 February 2011
The course will comprise of up-to-date practical knowledge designed to conform to the internationally acclaimed AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) standards.
Course Director Dr Ishaq Bhatti
Course content The course will cover the key principles underlying Islamic finance: Modes of Islamic finance such as Islamic leasing (Ijarah); Islamic Investment (Mudarabah); Cost- Plus Financing (Murabaha); Partnerships (Musharakah); Islamic Forward Selling and Manufacturing Contracts (Salam and Istisna’), and; Islamic Securitisation (Sukuk). Other topics include: Global Development of Islamic Finance; Challenges for Islamic Financial Providers; Opportunities in Australia (Government policies and tax reforms); Islamic Capital Markets; Islamic Insurance (Takaful) and Islamic Banking Products.
Register now http://www.latrobe.edu.au/lawman/ifpd or email course coordinator Mr Almir Colan at A.Colan@latrobe.edu.au
CRICOS Provider 00115M TANK 7996
The Islamic Finance Professional Development (IFPD) course
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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The Islamic new year and the significance of Muharram Hafiz Abdullah Muhammad* Use of the Lunar Calendar
The Islamic Calendar is based on the lunar calendar consisting of 354-355 days annually and is 10-11 days shorter than the western solar calendar. The lunar month is based on the time it takes the moon to complete a single orbit around the earth and it is just over 29.5 days. There are many advantages to the lunar calendar. For example, the various dates in the Islamic calendar such as Ramadan and Hajj rotate every year and are not fixed like the solar year. People, therefore, will perform acts of worship in various climatic conditions and in different length of hours in submission to the will of Allah where human imagination plays no part. The new moon marks the beginning of each new lunar month and it is easy for people to see the new moon and know that a new month has begun. This probably explains why most ancient civilisations such as the Babylonians, the Jews, the Greeks and the Egyptians in the Middle East, the Aztecs and the Incas of the West, and the Hindus and the Chinese of the East used this system. I n t e r e s t i n g l y, the English word ‘month’ is derived from the word ‘moon’. The Islamic New Year 1432 AH began on Tuesday 7 December 2010.
Origin and Significance of the Hijri Calendar
The Islamic calendar was started by the second Caliph Umar in 16 AH/637 CE [AlTabari: Tarikh Al- Rusul 5/22 & Ibn Sa‘d: Tabaqat AlKubra 3/281]. The event of the hijrah, the migration of the Prophet Mohammed(saw) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, was chosen to begin the Islamic calendar because it was the first major sacrifice made by the whole ummah for the preservation of Islam in its formative period. Ibn Hajar, in his Fath Al-Bari, records that the Caliph Umar is reported to have remarked: “The hijrah has separated truth from falsehood, therefore, let it become the epoch of the era”. The hijrah year reminds Muslims every year of the sacrifices made by the first Muslims and should prepare them to do the same. The constant use of the hijri calendar for acts of worship and as a frame of reference to major historical events will help Muslims keep links with their roots and further enhance their knowledge of their religion and history.
Months of the Islamic Calendar
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The 10th day of Muharram, known as Yawm Al-Ashura, is the most significant day of this month. This year, it falls on Thursday 16 December 2010. The Prophet (saw) said: “Fasting on the Day of Ashura is an expiation of sins for the previous year”. Many events are attributed to this date such as that the Prophet Adam was born and his repentance was accepted on this day, the Prophet Abraham was saved from the fire, the Prophet Ishmael was delivered from the sacrifice, the Prophet Joseph was reunited with his father, the Prophet Job was cured of his illness and the Prophet Solomon was ordained as king. However, such assertions are not always backed by accurate historical evidences [Abdulhaqq Dehlawi: Ma Thabata bis Sunnah p.254]. Ibn Abbas relates that when Prophet Mohammed (saw) migrated to Medina, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. When asked for the reason of their fasting, they replied that it was the day when Allah saved the Prophet Moses and the children of Israel from their enemies. Prophet Moses (pbuh) fasted to thank almighty Allah and they fasted in emulation of him. So the Prophet (saw) said “We have more of a right to Moses than you” and so he ordered the Muslims to fast on that day [Bukhari & Muslim]. Ibn Al-Qayyim, in his Zad Al-Ma‘ad, explains that the underlying wisdom behind the fast of Ashura is to stress the affinity between the prophets who all came from Allah. This is also one instance where the sharia given to Mohammed (SAW) preserved an earlier practice, though abrogating its obligation. However, in order not to follow the Jews, the Prophet encouraged Muslims by saying: “Observe the fast of Ashura and differ from the Jews by fasting a day before it or after it” [Bayhaqi: Sunan Al-Kubra 4/287]. The Prophet’s younger grandson Imam Husayn was tragically martyred on 10th Muharram 61 AH/680 CE on the Ashura day. The heroic martyrdom of Imam Husayn demonstrates to Muslims the need to uphold truth and justice and to fight against tyranny and evil and they should be prepared to give their lives in a similar cause if the need arises. Such situations are all too common in our own times when Muslims are being persecuted for their faith in many parts of the world.
Significance of the Hijrah for Muslims
Muharram
*Hafiz Abdullah Muhammad LLB (Hons), PGCE, MA Taken from Hafiz Abdullah Muhammad’s book “The Best of Times: Virtues and Significance of Important Days, Nights, Months & Festivals in Islam” (IPCI, 2002) which is available for free or can be read online at www.quranstudygroup.org
This is the first month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four Sacred Months (al-Ashhur al- Hurum). It is
based on Traditional Principles of Harmony & Symmetry
Yawm Al-Ashura
Determining Islamic Dates
Islamic dates are determined by the actual visibility of the moon as the Prophet(saw) said: “Fast by seeing it (the moon) and end the fast by seeing it” [Bukhari & Muslim]. Muslim scholars have interpreted this Prophetic saying in two different ways. Some scholars, such as Al- Shafi’i, have held the view that each location has its own sighting of the moon (Ikhtilaf al-Mutali‘) [Sayyid Sabiq: Fiqhus Sunnah 3/112]. But most scholars from the other Schools of Law have taken the words “fast by seeing it” (sumu li ru’yatihi) as a general command to all Muslims and not individual sectors of the community. Hence they regard the sighting of the moon in one region as valid for people of another region, provided the news of sighting the moon reaches them through authentic means [Ibn Taymiyyah: Majmu‘ah Fatawa 5/111].
Contemporary Islamic Art
recommended to fast during this month as there is a hadith which says: “The best fast, after Ramadan, is in the month of Muharram” [Muslim]. This may be an indirect reference to Ashura and not to Muharram in general because, according to Sayyidah Aishah, the Prophet (saw) fasted most in Sha‘ban after Ramadan [Bukhari & Muslim].
Muharram heralds the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The hijrah of the Prophet Mohammed (saw) and his companions from Mecca to Medina was much more than a simple migration. It was a turning point in the history of Islam. It was a revolution and complete transformation of society. The muhajirun (emigrants) of Mecca gave up their family, property and homeland for the sake of religion and the ansar (helpers) of Medina welcomed them with great hospitality. Thus a unique brotherhood was created between them, hitherto unknown in human history. By highlighting the hijrah, Muslims will re-affirm their need to be in a state where they can practice their religion and make the necessary sacrifices to achieve that aim, including emigration. Hijrah also has a deep spiritual significance where Muslims commit themselves to leave the state of disbelief (kufr) and sin to enter that of Islam and piety. That is why the Prophet (saw) said: “The best emigrant is the one who leaves what Allah has forbidden” [Bukhari] Although the practical usage of the Islamic calendar is increasingly diminishing, nevertheless the foundation of many acts of worship such as zakat, sawm and hajj revolve around this calendar and it is one of the hallmarks of Islam that differentiates Muslims from other communities. Undoubtedly, there is a great need for Muslims to reaffirm their cultural heritage by using the Islamic calendar on a regular basis and not just during Ramadan and Eid.
There are twelve months in the Islamic calendar as the Quran says: “Surely the number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve, in accordance with His decree from the day He created the heavens and the earth, out of which four are sacred” (9:36). These twelve months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi‘ al-Awwal, Rabi‘ al-Thani, Jumada al-Ula, Jumada alUkhra, Rajab, Sha‘ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul Qa‘dah and Dhul Hijjah. The four Sacred Months (al-Ashhur alHurum) are Rajab, Dhul Qa‘dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram [Bukhari]. The sanctity of these months was also accepted in the Pre-Islamic era when fighting was forbidden.
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Notes from a Stranger AISHA STACEY, QLD
Jesus in the 21st Century
One thing that Muslims and Christians can easily agree upon is that Jesus is one of history’s most noble characters. His morals, manners, and way of living were beyond reproach. Jesus, the man Muslims call Isa, is certainly a role model worth emulating. Throughout our lives, certain celebrations or events bring the life and times of Jesus more closely to mind. For Christians one of these festivals is Christmas. Christmas has these days become a festive time when many people gain nothing except credit card debt and a bulging waistline. At this time of year, around the world the sounds of Christmas carols and cash registers fill the air and one is forced to contemplate the question: what would Jesus think of the materialism that characterises this new century? Muslims do not escape this need for reflection just because they do not celebrate Christmas. Sadly the days leading up to Eid are also becoming shopping festivals and Eid itself is sometimes little more than an excuse to party. One of the most recognised Christian stories from the life of Jesus is the incident in the temple. Jesus entered the temple and was dismayed and angered that his father’s house had been turned into “den of thieves”. The temple courtyard had become a currency exchange and market. The Bible tells us that Jesus overturned tables and drove the money changers out. At that time, money changers held a powerful position in society. The temple was not only the religious centre it was also the treasury and exchanging money was a source of revenue. Without too much effort it is possible to see that life in the Holy Land 2000 years ago was not dissimilar to our own. The people were concerned with money, consumerism and the life of this world. They found enjoyment and excitement in accumulating possessions and displaying their wealth at the expense of the poor and needy. Religious feasts had become hedonistic parties and spiritualism was abandoned in favour of riches and assets. If Jesus were alive today, what would he think of 21st century consumerism? What would he say if he could see millions of people, men women, and children, unable to fill their bellies on a daily basis? Would he want to shake us out of our complacency? Would he ask us to put spirituality back into our lives by worshipping God in the way He deserves to be worshipped? According to both Christianity and Islam, Jesus led a very simple life. He was a true representation of what Islam calls ‘zuhd’ or in English, asceticism. We are told that Jesus used to walk barefoot, and he took no house or adornment, or goods or clothes or provision except for his day’s food - he was an ascetic in this world, longing for the next world and eager for the worship of God. Jesus said, “He who seeks after the world is like one who drinks sea water, the more he drinks the more his thirst increases, until it kills him”. Does this sound like a man who would approve of lavish celebrations organised in the name of God but devoid of true worship and devotion. During this festive season, it would be wise for those who love Jesus to think about the example he set and endeavour to emulate his love for God and eagerness to be away from the materialism of this deceptive world. * Aisha Stacey is a QLD based writer and journalist.
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Page 5
Islamic Finance Heads Down Under:
Australia launches Sadiq Bux: a true Aussie gem its first Islamic Zarrin S Siddiqui* finance e-learning program
Crescent Times Melbourne
How do you bring global Islamic finance to the far corners of the world? Ethica Institute in Dubai and La Trobe University in Australia have solved this problem. The leader in Islamic finance training and certification, Ethica, has announced the launch of a new Islamic finance for-credit course at one of Australia’s leading universities. This will be the first time in the world that a 100% online course in Islamic finance is offered as part of an on-campus course. Enrollment for the Islamic Finance Professional Development (IFPD) course is now open and online classes begin on January 15, 2011. The international education industry is Australia’s largest services export, contributing over 550,000 students and $12 billion annually to the country’s economy. Moreover, the Australian government actively began promoting Islamic finance in recent years by exploring tax neutrality for sharia compliant products. La Trobe University’s Associate Professor Ishaq Bhatti said, “With Ethica, our Islamic finance program now extends far beyond our physical campuses. For the first time ever, we now tap into the tremendous demand for Islamic finance education from students all over the world.” This year, La Trobe’s Islamic finance program won numerous awards including the prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Award for Excellence. Ethica’s managing director, Atif Khan said, “Interactive e-learning
is the best way to address Australia’s growing demand for certified Islamic finance graduates. La Trobe is already a pioneer in the field with one of the world’s only Masters programs in Islamic banking and finance. Now with an e-learning component, they can grow their campus across the globe.” Earlier this year Mashreq Bank rolled out Ethica’s e-learning program across its entire Islamic banking network. Dow Jones affiliate Zawya.com and the New York based Banker’s Academy also signed on with Ethica recently. Enrollment for the Islamic Finance Professional Development (IFPD) course is now open on a first-come, first served basis with online classes beginning on January 15, 2011. For more information, visit http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ lawman/ifpd or contact Almir Colan at A.Colan@latrobe.edu.au About La Trobe’s Master of Islamic Banking and Finance (MIBF) Program: Recipient of the prestigious ALTC 2010 Award, La Trobe’s Islamic finance program is the first universitylevel Islamic finance program in Australia. About Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance: In 2010, Ethica (http:// www.EthicaInstitute.com/) was chosen by more professionals for Islamic finance certification than any other organisation in the world. The Dubai-based institute was nomnated for “Best Islamic Finance Training Institution” in 2009 and 2010 by Islamic Business and Finance Magazine. Ethica’s clients include banks, universities, and professionals in over 20 countries
The month of November has been a very sad one for the Australian Pakistani community as they lost one of their father figures., Mr. Sadiq Bux a Muslim Australian of Pakistani descent who had gained widespread respect for his contribution as a valuable member of Australian society. He had been a valued and responsible member of the Australian community for more than six decades. He established the Pakistan Australian Association soon after Pakistan emerged on the world map. This organisation was soon transformed into the Australian Asian Association where he served in several capacities and assisted a large number of emerging communities from different
AL-HIDAYAH ISLAMIC SCHOOL (Primary)
Position vacant Receptionist / Administrative Officer The school is seeking the services of a responsible person able to take up the full time duties of Receptionist/ Administrative Officer and Assistant to the School Office Manager commencing Tuesday the 4th of January 2011. Applications are invited from persons who are Australian residents who can demonstrate general computer competency including MS Word and MS Excel. Punctuality and an ability to deal confidently and
ethnic backgrounds to form networks with mainstream organisations. At the same time through initiating different projects he also promoted understanding of different cultures and religions among Australians and played an important role in making it ‘one home for all’ as he defined Australia. He had played an active role in a number of initiatives that have seen Perth grow as a wonderful city. Northbridge, a living example of diverse Australia, owes its success to people like Mr. Sadiq Bux who are part of its history. He was involved in the establishment of Khyber Kafe, a part of Northbridge history which marked the beginning of Indian food in Western Australia. Mr. Bux’s contribution towards maintenance of the Perth Mosque in William Street, co-founded by his
courteously with people are essential for this position. Some previous experience would be an advantage but not mandatory as on the job training can be provided. Prospective candidates should be aware that it is the basis of the school’s operation that: The Islamic nature of the school takes precedence over all other considerations. If you believe you have the necessary capabilities and can commit yourself to a highly professional organisation that is contributing positively to the advancement of our community, please forward your resume by mail to The Principal, Al-Hidayah Islamic School, PO Box 761, Victoria Park WA 6979, or by email to ahschool@iinet.net.au Applications close Friday the 17th of December 2010 www.islamicschool.com.au
grandfather, was immense. This mosque is now part of Australian heritage and still attracts the largest crowds at any Muslim event. He continued to work within the Pakistani community throughout his life and has been a role model for the generations that have settled here and has practically demonstrated to them how we can successfully settle in a country, preserving our own beliefs and values as well as integrating into a broad based cultural framework. As a proud graduate of the University of Western Australia he was also instrumental in forming a trust through the Hacket Foundation to receive donations and provide funds to support the research project Pakistani/Australian identities across generations – Bux Family Case Study at the Centre for Muslim States and Societies at The University of Western Australia. The project will investigate the involvement of the Bux family in business, property development, education, trade and community organisations. In summary he provided a valuable service to the community in the area of multiculturalism by promoting integration of communities to help make Australia a country people dream of living in, a place that Sadiq Bux called his home by choice. As an acknowledgment of his service, the Pakistan Association of Western Australia nominated him for the Multicultural Community Service Award in 2009.
* Zarrin Siddiqui is an assistant Professor, UWA and Secretary of the Ethnic Communities Council of WA
Islamic School of Canberra:
New animal welfare and environmental programs
The President of Muslims Australia and Board Chairman of The Islamic School of Canberra, Mr Ikebal Patel has expressed excitement at the school’s plans to form an Animal Welfare Club. Mr Patel said “The aim of the club will be to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote responsibility towards the welfare of animals. The Club will involve the school community and the local Weston Creek community.” Mr Patel further stated “The members of the Club will work closely with organisations and departments that are concerned with the welfare of animals. The ACT Department of Education and Training will be consulted and informed about the Club’s activities.” Mr Patel said “In addition to educating the members of the community the Club aims to offer learning opportunities for all students at our school about animal welfare through programs offered by specially qualified people in this area”. Mr Patel stated that a Gardening and Humanities Section will also be introduced utilising the excellent facilities that the school acquired as part of the move to the new Weston, former CIT, campus.
Contributors DECEMBER 2010/Jan 2011: Umar Abdullah - Kamariah Ahmed - Rashad Ali - Shayma Alshakshir - Nasya Bahfen - Paul J Balles - Tarek Chamkhi - Jamal Daoud - Linda Delgado - Janine Evans - William Fisher - Hyder Gulam - Shaazlah Hafreth - Aisha Hamdan - Tariq Hussain - Yasser Khan - Yasir Mahmud - Joanne McKeown - Debora McNichol - Abdullah Muhammad - Ikebal Patel - Judy NelsonEldawy - Ana Nguyen - Yvonne Ridley - Zarrin S Siddiqui - Aisha Stacey - Monique Toohey - Harun Yahya - Irfan Yusuf PUBLISHER: Crescent Press Pty Ltd
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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Information sheet on the National Security Information Act 2010
Muslim Legal Network Melbourne
Enhanced police powers to investigate 3.We remain concerned at the over-complicated in the politics of other states (following this laws and processes and note that the potential argument to its logical conclusion this means terrorism
On Monday 15 November, Labor and the Coalition voted together in the Senate to pass legislation to amend the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004. This legislation implements a package of reforms to Australia’s national security legislation announced by the then Rudd Government in August 2009.
The changes provide police with a power to enter premises without a warrant in emergency circumstances relating to a terrorism offence where there is material that may pose a risk to the health or safety of the public. The amendment has also modified the existing general search warrant provisions in the Crimes Act to provide more time for law enforcement officers to re-enter premises under a search warrant in emergency situations. The time available for law enforcement officers to re-enter premises under a search warrant can now be extended to 12 hours.
Summary of the main points:
Detention
What is it?
• police have gained new powers to enter premises without a search warrant in emergency terror situations where there is material that may pose a risk to the health or safety of the public. • the time available for police to re-enter premises under a search warrant has been extended from one hour to 12 hours in emergencies. • the legislation disregards a seven-day detention limit for someone arrested on suspicion of terrorism. This means that if necessary to preserve or obtain evidence or to complete the investigation into the offence or into another serious Commonwealth offence, a Magistrate may extend the seven-day detention limit. • there is also a presumption against bail, and an expansion of the “urging violence” offence so that it applies to individuals and groups who incite violence on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality or political opinion.
The main points in full: Treason and sedition (urging violence)
The name of the sedition offences in the Criminal Code has been changed to ‘urging violence’. The urging violence offence has been expanded to include urging force or violence on the basis of ‘ethnic’ or ‘national’ origin. The offence will also be expanded so that it applies to the urging of force or violence against an individual, not just a group, and covers the urging of force or violence, even where the use of the force or violence does not threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth.
The maximum seven day limit on the detention period may be disregarded when a person has been arrested for a terrorism offence. The detention of a person for more than 8 days is very draconian, and means that a person can be in custody for an indeterminate period.
Bail provisions for terrorism offences
The bail provisions relating to terrorism and serious national security offences in the Crimes Act will now include a specific right of appeal for both the prosecution and the defendant against a decision to grant or refuse bail.
Charter of the United Nations Act 1945
The amendments have also made changes to the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 for listing a person, entity, asset or class of assets and to provide for the regular review of listings under the Charter Act.
Our concerns: 1.We remain concerned about the everwidening circle of terrorism laws, which has no foreseeable end in sight. We still do not understand why there is a separate body of law to deal with terrorist offences, when the ordinary criminal laws of the various States and Territories already deal with the results of these offences? Why is there a need for this specialist body of law to deal with terrorism offences when it is self-evident that the ordinary criminal laws cover the field?
2.We remain concerned that no evidence is posited regarding how the existing laws are failing in some way - particularly in view of recent arrests in Melbourne in 2009 - so there is a lack of clear reasoning why the following are being enacted: Terrorist organisation listings • new emergency powers to enter and The terrorist organisation listings provisions search premises without a warrant; have been amended to extend the duration of • extension of time to re-enter premises listings from two to three years. from 1 hour to 12 hours; and • detention of a person for more 8 days.
LINK TO PROPHET MOHAMMED SAW
The Anti-Hadith MovementPart I Kamariah Ahmad* In this era of globalisation where Muslims can be found residing in non-Muslim countries, many struggle to resolve the Western concept of the nation-state with a longing for unity of the Islamic community and the possibility of implementing and practicing sharia and the Islamic way of life. Colonialism and modernity has produced modern Muslims who launch attacks on the sunnah of the Prophet, including people such as Rashad Khalifah and many others who claim that they are in the best position to explain the
Quran. In order to succeed in colonisation, the coloniser has to cast modernity as superior to the existing order and convince the colonised that ‘tradition’ is rigid and does not contribute to progress or have the ability to adapt to the new world order. In Muslim life the Quran holds the highest authority and the authority of Prophet (saw) comes after the Quran. Allah in many verses of the Quran has appointed the Prophet to be the expounder of the Quran. (16:44) In the Prophet’s last sermon on the plain of Arafat in the month of Zulhijjah in the tenth year of hijrah, he said among other things:
upshot of this is the alienation of the people from the law. In addition, we note that the terrorism laws are resource intensive in terms of policing and funding and these resources are better spent on improving community relationships and building community.
that Nelson Mandela and the ANC would have been banned terrorist organisations, as would be Aung Sung Su Ki). If a person cannot associate with a terrorist organisation for fear of prosecution, this means that the Australian Government will lose a vital source of human intelligence and also miss an opportunity to 4.The recent terrorism trials and bail dialogue with terrorist entities, thus minimising applications expose the failure of Australian any efforts for global peace. society particularly with regards to education, rights and community services for affected 10. In the recent proscription of Al-Shabab, we communities. The angst expressed by those are of the view that the Federal Government convicted of terrorist offences and those has misunderstood the basics of Somalian tribal accused of such offences centres on the lack society and culture. When an Australian of of opportunities and discrimination within Somali descent visits Somalia, in regions where Australian society and the unbalanced approach Al-Shabab is predominant, given that Somalia of Australian foreign policy. is a failed state, it is more than likely that that person’s relatives and friends are members of 5.We note the definition of terrorism offences Al-Shabab for reasons of tribal affiliations and lacks sufficient clarity which is a major concern security. Applying the law as it stands, that given the severe penalties for a terrorist act. In person would be guilty of an offence by merely particular, we are concerned that the current associating with family members, which is terrorism laws are not clear and are not in plain ridiculous in the extreme. English. We are concerned that many ‘new’ Australians will fail to understand these laws, 11.The MLN is still very concerned with the which is in fact a failure of government to explain exploitation and abuse by law enforcement these laws. Laws that have no connection to officers of members of the Muslim community. or fail to resonate with the community are bad Examples of abuse that we catalogued with laws, such as laws which are overly complicated regard to the Somali community in Melbourne and difficult to understand. are as follows: • presumably Federal policing/ 6.We note that for a vast majority of Australians, intelligence agents constantly harassing they will not meet with the communities/ people without warrants, and not people who are affected by these legislative disclosing the nature of the questioning; changes or the suite of terrorist laws per se. We • presumably policing/intelligence agents stress that these laws undermine social cohesion asking the same questions time and time and target particular vulnerable communities, again, at all hours of the day, arranging thus creating further alienation and friction. meetings and not turning up; • presumably policing/intelligence agents 7.What marks us Australians out as a beacon purporting to act on a warrant which is of liberal democracy is a tolerance of others not provided; and sticking up for the ‘battler’ and the • presumably policing/intelligence agents disadvantaged. The harsh nature of the legislative telling people that cannot speak to changes only diminishes the perception of anyone, or else they will be charged, Australia as that beacon, both throughout the without providing a warrant; Australian and global community. The hallmark • presumably policing/intelligence agents of a democratic government is not how it caters telling the man of the house that his wife for the majority but rather how it protects is required for questioning - again with its minorities, their rights and liberties. The no warrant being provided. changes fail in this regard and lack balance, and can only ultimately lead to greater community 12. To this date, the MLN’s request to meet with frustration. Australian Government (namely Intelligence gathering such as ASIO) have been ignored. The 8.The legislative changes do not deal with the MLN is very disappointed that functionaries of root causes of terrorism. The laws only seek to the Australian Intelligence agencies do not seek punish and their application will only create to work with the community. disharmony within Australian society. A copy of the source material can be found 9.We believe that by banning terrorist here: http://tinyurl.com/2bnk4na organisations, the Federal Government loses an important avenue to negotiate peaceful * Muslim Legal Network | 66-68 Jeffcott Street outcomes, and becomes unnecessarily involved West Melbourne Victoria Australia 3003 “follow the Quran and follow my way (sunnah)” This call was made to the Arabs in his struggle to convert them and following his repeated calls for them to abandon the traditions of their forefathers. The message of the Quran has been contextualised and incorporated into everyday Muslim life by the example of the Prophet. His sunnah and the hadith ensure the continuity of Islam. The Prophet further reminded his listeners “No new faith or prophet will come after me and no new faith will be born. Beware of satan. He has despaired of leading you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.” He ended his sermon with: “And those who listen to me shall pass on my words better than those who listen to me directly.” Can we confirm that this statement by our beloved Prophet is well received 1,431 years after his departure?
For the love of the Quran and the love of the Prophet Mohammed, Muslims have taken great pains in transmitting and preserving the hadith. As for the preservation of the Quran, Allah Himself has promised to protect the divinity of His words, such as through the miraculous ability of the hafiz – those who memorise the holy verses word by word. Hence, no matter how many Qurans are destroyed, the holy verses live in the hearts of those who memorise it, to be reprinted again. Part II of this article in the next edition of Crescent Times will discuss some of the arguments of the anti-hadith movement. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Rashad_Khalifa * Kamariah Ahmad is a Singapore based author and commentator. She is a frequent contributor to CT.
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
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Summer holidays are here - have no fear! Shaazlah Hafreth CT editor, QLD Yes it’s good to have the kids back at home 24/7. No more nagging about unfinished homework, piles of impossibly grimy laundry to sort out, running about to fulfill your role as parent of the week - all the petty issues that keep you slaving after your kids for most of the year can finally be shelved and locked up for a good six weeks. That’s when you realise there’s a whole month and a half ahead of you, yawning out its empty agenda and suddenly you wish you could crawl back into bed and speed up time so that you wouldn’t have to spend a month cooped up in the house with your kids breathing down your neck. So what should and should not be done to tone down the kids’ energy during the long weeks that stretch ahead? The TV is indeed a major magnet, come dismal rainy days or long holidays. To add cream to the cake, during the holidays, TV channels seem to spew out a medley of alluring kids programs in a never ending sequence. Though it might seem like a break for some families, you wouldn’t want to let a good part of your child’s summer vacation get wasted on some vacuous cartoon repartee. “My kids love craft.” says Sarah Mehmet, a mother of three, whose oldest son goes to school. “I keep plenty of supplies to keep them amused. Yes, it’s messy, but it keeps them busy, stimulated, learning and away from the TV.” Craft is very rewarding and time consuming (for the kids at least!) and all you need to do is just step in with an idea and a demonstration and let their imagination take over from there. A variety of websites like www.craftbits.com and www. crafts.lovetoknow.com can help get you started. Also checking your local library’s activity times could get you and the kids geared up for an educational and fun trip away from your crayonstreaked dining table, for a while.
Islamic centers in Brisbane like AMYN Centre and Sisters’ House have scheduled activities every week during the course of the month for kids and adults alike. On the Gold Coast, the park opposite Southport’s Australia Fair has done a few refurbishments and now boasts a bigger area where kids of all ages can enjoy swimming biking and other sports, from dawn till dusk, and is a good place to arrange play dates, get-togethers or just relax with a book while your kids tire themselves silly on the new playground. The younger ones will love a “Day out with Thomas 2011”, at the Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich where they can meet the popular characters of the story and have a day filed with entertainment, interactive games and activities. It is free with admission to the museum and takes place from the 26th of December till the 30th of January. For the animal lovers out there, the Animal Welfare League has interesting programs especially for the school holidays. These include learning about and cuddling guinea pigs, cats and other ‘furry friends.’ For more information visit www.awlqld.com.au and check out the school holiday programs available to suit your time. There are many ways to spice up an uneventful day and putting a touch of deen in your activities does add some extra sparkle. For example, getting the younger ones to glitter in a calligraphy of ‘Allah’ or ‘Mohammed’ (pbuh) to hang up in their rooms, or organising a surah competition for your kids and their friends….the list is endless. So, six weeks of restless, impatient and overly energetic children? Bring it on! Shaazlah Hafreth is Queensland editor of Crescent Times. With experience as a primary school teacher, she is also a mother, an avid reader and blogger, co-host of the website www. infomuslim.com and is currently writing her first novel.
SA: Muslims condemn Santa sackings
Janine Evans CT editor, Adelaide
South Australian Muslims have spoken out against the actions by some schools and kindergartens to forgo traditional Christmas celebrations this year in an act of misconceived ‘inclusion for minorities’. This act, which comes from a desire to include, fuels the perceived divide that exists between mainstream Australia and Australian Muslims which is especially apparent during the festive season. Acts such as banning Santa or changing the words of Christmas carols may be inclusive in the short term but do not address the real experiences of children who need to learn that diversity is to be respected not pushed under the rug. While the Montessori Marvels Preschool in Greenvale, Victoria, acts out of goodwill they are completely unaware of the division this simple act creates. This time of year always brings the same complaints by the wider community that ‘the Muslims won’t let us have Christmas’. I have not met one Muslim in South Australia that holds this view. We as a minority, and as the Quran instructs us, understand the importance of respecting the many and varied faiths and cultures we live with. “…and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other, not that you may despise each other.” (49:13) Good intentioned people believe they will make minorities feel more welcome by policies of only celebrating events in which all can be involved. This cannot be further from the truth. It only serves those in our society who are against diversity and fuels the flames of Islamaphobia gripping the world by suggesting we cannot ‘fit in’. But to ‘fit in’ does not mean to abandon
traditions and customs but to share them with those around you, thus enriching ourselves and the lives of those around us. This is what has always made Australia great. In a bid to heal wounds and bring understanding SA Muslims and other faith groups have commissioned a multifaith/multicultural holiday season message. The YouTube video shows children from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds coming together to celebrate each other’s beliefs and traditions, ending with a Christmas and new year greeting. Sponsored widely by various members of the SA Community, including local government, multicultural community groups, small business and religious organisations, this video brings together Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Aboriginal and a variety of ethnic groups to stand together in celebration of the holiday season and in doing so demonstrates respect for each other’s beliefs and traditions. Santa is an Australian tradition and to ban this for some children for fear of excluding others does not respect diversity. Instead it tries to make us all into one homogenous group all celebrating in the same way – this is not the face of Australia, we need to embrace our differences and in doing so celebrate the things that unite us. To view the youtube video http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=uelPd4gruAE
* Janine Evans is the Crescent Times editor in South Australia. She is a community actvist an author and a mum. She could be contacted on: janine@crescenttimes. com.au
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Page 7
Nurse’s Notes:
Sleeping secrets and requirements Judy Nelson-Eldawy* Sleep is not something many of us think about until we start having problems with it. The exact amount of sleep needed for good health varies with age and one’s personal constitution. According to the American National Sleep Foundation, sleep requirement guidelines in a 24 hour period are as follows:
Age
Sleep Requirement
1-2 months 3-11 months 1-3 years 3-5 years 5-12 years 11-17 years Adult
10.5 to 18 hours 9-12 hours with 1 - 4 naps 30 min - 2 hour long 12-14 hours 11-13 hours 10-11 hours 8.5-9.25 hours 6-9 hours
Various studies have shown that more than nine hours or less than five hours of sleep in a 24 hour cycle can lead to adverse effect on one’s health. Sleep patterns are affected by our circadian rhythms, a homeostatic mechanism involving hormone production and body temperature triggered by light. Human sleep studies found that even a single night of sleep deprivation impaired memory and problem solving abilities and decreased physical performance. Over time,an increase in stress related disorders were observed, such as stomach ulcers, constipation, mood disorders like depression and heart disease. The immune system can weaken and levels of beneficial antioxidants decrease. Studies have shown accelerated tumor growth up to three times faster in sleep deprived lab animals Sleep deprivation interferes with growth hormone production in the pituitary gland during deep sleep, causing premature aging, and interferes with metabolism and hormone production similar to what happens in the early stages of diabetes. Weight gain due to a decrease in leptin, a hormone which tells the body it feels full, and an increase in ghrelin production, which triggers hunger, has been documented. One study of chronic insomniacs showed that these people have a three times greater risk of dying from any cause than people whose sleep patterns fell into optimal ranges. There are many causes of sleep disturbances and different ways of handling them. Some causes are physical, such as pets, spouses or kids in the bed; stealing covers, snoring or using one as a pillow. If you can’t kick them out of your bed, try finding a different place to sleep and hope they don’t migrate. If your spouse snores, try one of the over the counter snore aids. Environmental irritants such as lights, noise or being too hot or cold can come into play. These are relatively easily fixed. Light blocking drapes or eye shades can be very helpful. Make your room as dark as possible as even luminescent dials or night lights can stimulate the pineal
Islamic School of Canberra: Vacancies
The academic performance of the Islamic School of Canberra is among the best within the ACT. The school follows the standard curriculum of the ACT. However, Arabic and Islamic studies form an integral part of the overall school program. Currently, it is a K-6 primary school and is starting Year 7 in 2011. The school enrolment has been increasing rapidly over the last two years. As a result of increasing student numbers, the school requires the following additional teachers in 2011: - Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers to teach
gland, making sleep hard to get. Studies have shown that optimal sleeping temperature is between 15.5 and 20 degrees Celsius. Wearing socks can help sleep as the body temperature drops and extremities feel it first. Ear plugs or white noise machines can help muffle sounds of neighbors, planes, trains or automobiles. Other sleep thieves are physical pain, emotional distress or undiagnosed conditions such as gastro-esophageal reflux disorder. Sometimes the only symptom of this condition is a chronic cough or disturbed sleep. Menopause, perimenopause, excessive weight and allergies can also disrupt sleep patterns. Prescription medicines like steroids, opioids and beta blockers, herbal stimulants like ginseng and guarana or vitamins like B6 and B12, which cause vivid dreams can disrupt sleep. Consult your physician for a physical exam and have him/her review all medication for hidden culprits. Chronic pain can benefit from biofeedback and relaxation techniques as can emotional distress. Caffeine can last up to 14 hours in the body, so it is best consumed early in the day and in moderation. More than 4 cups a day can interfere with a trip to dreamland. Alcohol and nicotine also cause sleep problems. Nicotine is a stimulant and while alcohol initially causes drowsiness; it keeps the body from entering into the deeper stages of sleep where the body does its healing. Sometimes there is no one cause of sleeplessness, it just is. Establishing a bedtime routine can be beneficial here. While a light snack of herbal tea, milk or crackers can be slumber inducing, avoid heavy meals several hours before retiring. Mild to moderate daily exercise can promote sleep but exercising right before bed can be too stimulating. Engage in restful activity, such as needlework, light reading or a series of relaxation techniques, meditation or prayer 30 minutes to an hour prior to sleep. A warm bath or shower is a good way to relax as is aromatherapy. Use of lavender, cedarwood, frankincense and sandalwood promote calm and decrease mental fatigue. Western Australian sandalwood is lovely and is preferred as the Indian variety is close to becoming endangered due to illegal harvesting. Use these oils in compresses, in a carrier oil for massage, in bath water or in a diffuser. Sachets slipped into pillows or scent misted over bed linens is a nice way to utilise lavender. If these methods fail, there are herbal supplements such as melatonin, wild lettuce, hops, chamomile, valerian and L-theanine. Consult a qualified medical professional for appropriate dosages and to avoid any adverse interaction with prescribed medication. *Judy Nelson-Eldawy is an American Muslim wife and mother who lives most of the year in Egypt. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and over 20 years experience in the fields of psych/mental health, medical/surgical and home health nursing. She advocates a holistic approach to health and the use of alternative therapies in conjunction with more conventional Western treatment modalities.
K – 7 classes The applicants must have appropriate qualifications in the above subject areas. Preference will be given to individuals who are registered to teach in Australian schools and satisfy child protection legislation. Individuals who are currently not registered to teach in Australia may also apply. Written applications close on Friday 24 December 2010. All applications should be addressed to: Mr Ikebal Patel President of AFIC and Chairman of School Board on: president@afic.com.au
Page 8
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
PLANET IRF
IRFAN YUSUF*
How to make a Shaykh’s sides split A traditionally trained Islamic scholar visited Sydney in September 2005 for a “Deen Intensive”, a funky way of saying that he had 30 ignoramuses like me sitting around him trying to learn something about their religious heritage. The scholar was named Naeem Abdul Wali, though his American parents christened him Gary Edwards. For the purposes of this article, I’ll call him Gazza. So Gazza needs somewhere to perform his evening prayers and to rest. Alf, a young Turkish Aussie who lived on a farm was hosting Gazza that evening. Alf and I go back perhaps 10 years. Alf had spent much of his youth as a Buddhist, before being brought back to Islam by his Aussie Sri Lankan wife who happened to have converted from Buddhism to Islam. Alf took Gazza along to an old mansion in Auburn that once served as an x-ray and pathology lab but was now a hospice run by the followers of the Sufi order associated with the late Shaykh Muhammad Zahid Bursawi (also known as Mehmed Zahid Kotku). Some years before, the hospice was located a few streets down. In 2001, I lived in the hospice for around 6 months. Alf and I met up for coffee one day and decided that one of us should run for Parliament. It was the post-September 11 period, and we were sick of getting all jittery and nervous and defensive. I was already thinking of throwing my hat into the ring for the Liberals in Reid, a federal seat that took in the Turkish heartland of Auburn. Alf encouraged me and promised to assist “whenever I could”. In Alf ’s case, “whenever I could” basically meant full-time around-theclock assistance. I have never seen anyone work so single-mindedly on a project. Alf was as convinced as I was that it was good for both of us for me to run. He insisted that we make a serious go of it. At the time, I was living and running a little law practise from the hospice. Believe it or not, the hospice ended up being on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. My opponent was sitting member Laurie Ferguson, then Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs. My old mate Ross Cameron (then Federal MP for Parramatta) warned me about Laurie. “Irfan, Laurie may look like a dill, but seriously he is no dill. Watch your back. Laurie likes to play hard. He’s a lovely guy socially, but politically he is an animal!” Ross warned. And within a few days, I found out what he meant. I got a call from a Sydney Morning Herald journalist Pilita Clark who said Laurie had made a complaint about my not living in the electorate and telling fibs to the Australian Electoral Commission about where I lived. She asked me whether Laurie was telling the truth. My response to the journo was simple. “Come and have a look for yourself.” 45 minutes later, she rang me again to tell me she was on her way. Alf and I quickly got the place as tidied up as we could without having a vacuum cleaner or even a broom. Pilita was accompanied by a cameraman who seemed to enjoy the exotic surrounds
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of a very European bookshop. I posed for the camera in a variety of spots, including lounging like a beached whale on my mattress. The next day, 24 October 2001, that image greeted readers of the Sydney Morning Herald. Months later, Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan was to describe the event as one of the highlights of the campaign. He cornered me at a Party meeting and politely remarked: “F**ing marvellous, Yusuf! You really showed those pr*cks, didn’t you! Absolutely f***ing marvellous.” Here are some classic excerpts from the article that put the sufi hospice on the front page of the election campaign … “There is a thin rubber mattress on the floor. A red sleeping bag. A phone cord trailing across the drab carpet. A gym bag half-full of clothes, an outside toilet, no fridge, no chair and no table. But this murky space at the back of a tiny Islamic book shop in downtown Auburn is home, insists Irfan Yusuf, the Liberal Party’s somewhat unconventional candidate for the western Sydney seat of Reid. “Here it is,” he says, gesturing about the gloom. “I live here.” Mr Yusuf ’s Labor opponent, the longtime member for Reid, Laurie Ferguson, is not so sure, however, and neither is the Australian Electoral Commission … Lounging on his mattress, he challenged Mr Ferguson to come down and check things out for himself. “Laurie can come here any time, day or night. Just get him to ring me on the mobile first, because I’m usually at Mustafa’s [the nearby kebab shop]. I’d be happy to introduce him to the Yusuf residence. And after that, we’ll go over and have a look at his bedroom.” Acknowledging his rudimentary surroundings, Mr Yusuf said: “I’m a bachelor.” “Obviously when the better half comes along, she will be insisting on some improvements.” . … Mr Yusuf said: “At the end of the day, what counts is how you relate to the people you are claiming to represent.” “The guy’s obviously desperate,” he said of Mr Ferguson, who won just under 72 per cent of the vote in the last federal election in 1998, making Reid one of the safest Labor seats in the country.” Later, my old friend Emine, a waitress at Mustafas, told me how proud she was of me after reading the article. “It shows you are just an ordinary guy, just like all the other ordinary people in Auburn.” But the proudest people of all were my Naqshbandi brethren. They felt their 5 seconds of fame for many weeks as the incident was widely reported in the local and overseas Turkish press. For the next few weeks, my poster was up across the wire fence that covered at least 5 blocks of a major Auburn street. It was later dubbed “The Great Wall of Irfan”. But now, some 4 years later, Shaykh Gazza and the rest of us were on our guided tour. Abdul (a hospice teacher) showed Gazza an example of the technique being used to teach Arabic letters to the Sufi novices. But Gaz seemed more interested in what was on the back of the white plastic sheets. He turned one around and then looked in my general direction. He then showed me what he was looking at. There was my mugshot surrounded by green and black lettering and a Liberal Party logo. “We put these to good use. There is a whole pallet of them in the other room,” Abdul said after we completed the night prayers. Gary looked at me and Alf. We looked back and him and at Abdul. Within a few seconds, we were rolling on the floor in hysterics, laughing till our sides nearly split. *Irfan Yusuf is a Melbourne based lawyer and author. He is the current online Political Editor of Crescent Times.
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Paid Parental Leave Scheme: employer obligations
Yasir Mahmud* The Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme which is funded by the Australian Government commenced operation from the 1st October 2010. The scheme covers primary caregivers of children who are born or adopted on or after 1 January 2011. This article provides information and tools to assist employers, HR managers and payroll officers with their obligations in respect to the scheme. The scheme provides a government funded entitlement for payments for up to 18 weeks at the weekly federal minimum wage (which at 1 July 2010 is $570 based upon $15/hour multiplied by 38). The legislation is not an entitlement to be absent from work. It is designed to complement existing leave entitlements, for example, the unpaid parental leave provision of the National Employment Standards under the Fair Work Act 2009. The legislation is designed to provide monetary compensation for being absent from work following the birth or adoption of a child. It is to be paid in addition to any other obligations that employers have to their employees. This means that employers are expected to provide the 18 weeks paid parental leave at the Federal minimum wage in addition to other parental leave schemes already in place at the workplace.
Who is eligible?
The primary carer is whichever parent has taken time off to care for the child. This can be either parent and both can claim for some portion of the 18 weeks. However, the primary carer will claim the majority if not all of the entitlement. A third party may be able to claim in some circumstances where both parents are unable to care for the child and the third party has had to take leave from their employment. Eligibility is determined by a work test: 1. The primary carer must have worked at least ten of the thirteen months preceding the birth or adoption without any breaks of more than eight weeks; 2. The primary carer must have worked at least 330 hours during that period. an income test: 3. The income test requires that the worker has earned less than $150,000 (indexed) in the previous financial year. And a residency test: 4. The carer must be living in Australia and be a resident or an Australian citizen on the date of birth or adoption. Eligibility criteria is not just confined to full and parttime employees; casual employees, contractors and the self employed are also eligible The scheme will also be extended to include workers who resign or finish a contract. However, in these cases, the payments will be administered by the Family Assistance Office (FAO) instead of the employer.
What do employers need to do now?
Initially, there is very little that employers need to do. The paid parental leave scheme will be administered by the Family Assistance Office FAO. Employers do not need to contact the FAO if an employee wishes to apply for the payments. Employees need to contact the FAO directly. The FAO assesses eligibility, it is not the employers responsibility. Prospective parents can lodge their claim 3 months prior to the expected date of birth or adoption. Hence the first claims can be lodged from 1 October 2010. Furthermore, until July 2011, the employer’s responsibility to administer the payments will be voluntary. The employer can choose whether to pay the employee directly or leave it to the Family Assistance Office (FAO) to administer. However, prior to implementation, employers should
review their payroll systems and ensure that parental leave policies and procedures are updated to reflect requirements under the new PPL scheme. After July 2011, the employer will be responsible for making the payment directly to the employee. Employers are under no obligation to make payments to the employee until they have received the funds from the FAO. The following items need to be complied with in order to fulfill obligations under the scheme. This may require some changes to payroll systems. •ensure that bank account details and pay cycle are provided to the FAO; •ensure that the parental leave payment is made for the PPL period and provided in accordance with the normal pay period and that any PAYE tax withholding obligations are observed (PPL is subject to PAYE tax). These need to be included in an annual tax statement; •payments need to be recorded in a pay slip and given to employees; •keep written financial records of receipt of PPL funds received from the FAO and of the Parental Leave Pay provided to the employee. Employers should note that PPL is not a period of paid leave for the purposes of the NES. Therefore, leave does not accrue during this time unless the employee is taking some other form of paid leave at the same time as receiving PPL. In addition, employers are not required to make superannuation contributions with respect to PPL pay. Employers need to advise the FAO of the following: • if and when the employee returns to work before or during their PPL period; • if and when the employee resigns; • if bank account details or the employee’s pay cycle changes or; • if an incorrect amount of PPL funds are paid by FAO or if you are unable to provide Parental Leave Pay to your employee. In addition, if the organisation is ceasing, merging or being sold the FAO needs to be informed. Any unpaid PPL entitlements need to be returned to the FAO.
Is the primary carer permitted to undertake any paid work?
PPL payments cease once an employee returns to paid work other than for a permissible purpose. A permissible purpose is a ‘keeping in touch’ day’. Employees are allowed up to 10 ‘keeping in touch’ days. Such work will be performed upon mutual agreement by both the employer and employee. It will be counted towards service and attract employment provisions such as annual leave accrual and is for the purpose of keeping in touch or facilitating a return to work. These could include meetings, planning days and training. Work is paid by the employer if it is one hour or more on a day. ‘Keeping in touch’ days cannot be within 14 days of the birth/adoption. They are not considered a return to work for the purposes of the PPL scheme. Amendments to the NES are proposed to ensure that ‘keeping in touch’ days do not effect the parental leave entitlement under the NES provisions. This information is a summary only, additional details can be found on the websites of Centrelink, FACS and the Taxpayers Association. *Yasir Mahmud holds MA Telecom, BA Elect Eng. Dip of Interpreting and Dip Elec. He is Senior Employment Consultant as well as Manager at ACSO. He was Australian Muslim Role Model of the Year in 2009, and he is The National Australian Employment Consultant of The year in 2010. His areas of expertise iare employment, settlement,education, community and welfare services as well as engineering in his major field.
Pope wants Turkey kept out of EU
The pope is responsible for the Vatican’s growing hostility towards Turkey joining the EU, previously secret cables sent from the US embassy to the Holy See in Rome claim. In 2004 Cardinal Ratzinger, the future pope, spoke out against letting a Muslim state join, although at the time the Vatican was formally neutral on the question. The cable released by WikiLeaks shows that Ratzinger was the leading voice behind the Holy See’s unsuccessful drive to secure a reference to Europe’s “Christian roots” in the EU constitution. The US diplomat noted that Ratzinger “clearly understands that allowing a Muslim country into the EU would further weaken his case for Europe’s
Christian foundations”. The cables reveal the American government lobbying within Rome and Ankara for Turkish EU membership. “We hope a senior department official can visit the Holy See and encourage them to do more to push a positive message on Turkey and integration,” concluded the 2006 cable. But by 2009, the American ambassador was briefing in advance of President Barack Obama’s visit, that “the Holy See’s position now is that as a non-EU member the Vatican has no role in promoting or vetoing Turkey’s membership. The Vatican might prefer to see Turkey develop a special relationship short of membership with the EU.”
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
“Don’t DIS My ABILITY” Campaign Ana Nguyen* and Crescent Times staff International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD) is designated by the United Nations as a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements, contributions and abilities of people with a disability and is celebrated on December 3 each year. In NSW, International Day of People with a Disability is celebrated throughout November and December with the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign, proudly supported by the NSW Government and Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW. Up to 150 events are held throughout metropolitan and regional NSW. Don’t DIS my ABILITY is about changing misconceptions surrounding disability and creating an environment that encourages participation in careers, leisure pursuits and social activities. Ambassadors are selected as role models to support this campaign from the arts, sports and business arenas. This year, the United Nations theme for International Day of People with a Disability is “Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond”, which aims to further ensure the full and effective participation of persons with disability in all aspects of societal life and development. The NSW Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose, said the campaign celebrated the contribution and skills of people with a disability in NSW. “Don’t DIS my ABILITY, which is now in its seventh year, recognises the achievements of the 1.4 million people in NSW who have a disability,” Mr Primrose said. “People with a disability have the same rights as everyone else to full participation in all aspects of community life, including careers, leisure and social activities.
“This campaign builds awareness of that message and helps to break down some of the barriers that people with a disability may encounter. “It also challenges people’s perceptions about disability through events, publications and other media.” The official campaign publication Made You Look, to be distributed throughout November includes thought provoking articles designed to appeal to a wide audience. This year, the faces of Made You Look are The First Flight Crew, an eight-piece hip hop outfit from Western Sydney who all identify as having a disability. The First Flight Crew were supported by Accessible Arts NSW. A member of The First Flight Crew, Ana Nguyen, told Crescent Times what participation in the campaign means to her: “It’s been a great honour to be part of this campaign, thanks to those who have offered me this opportunity which is one of the most amazing things that I have
been given in this life. “ “I was grateful for the opportunity to participate as I will do whatever it takes to educate and challenge people on all things based on disability. I will be educating all my brothers and sisters on this issue that still exists today” “I am going to do educate the media too because disability issues are completely hidden in the media’s eyes” “I am doing all my best to help all our brothers and sisters who are going through the same thing, we’re the same as you are and we’re facing the same situations.” “The unfair treatment, the hatred and everything that we all have had against us needs to stop. It needs to stop right now before it gets worse. Stop the hate! Stop the unfair treatment and give us a chance! I have to say that this is highly immoral and people should all stop treating us like animals and start treating us with respect.” Ana Nguyen has been the face of the Don’t Dis My Ability in 2010 with the First Flight Crew. She is a singer, rapper, songwriter, political activist. She is also a member of the First Flight Crew. Currently she is working on her first debut album and her very first atuobiography book all solely written by her. You can reach her on http://www.facebook.com/ananguyenmusic Photo: Ana (second from left) and some of the crew at the launch of the 2010 Dont DIS myABILITY Campaign.
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Welcoming 1432 Hijrah Kamariah Ahmad
A suggestion for what we can do in future to remember our beloved Prophet Mohammed’s (saw) struggle to establish Islam as a way of life in the early days - 1,431 years ago. This year we planned a hijrah walk to welcome 1432 Hijrah which fell on 6th December 2010. On 3rd December I gathered seven of our youth and proposed this idea in a simple meeting. The plan was as follows - that we assemble for asr prayer at a mosque and after that we will walk a distance of about five kilometers to reach another mosque before magrib where we will make dua for the passing of 1431 Hijrah, wait to do magrib prayer and after that make dua for welcoming the new year. Being secularised and modernised, as a minority group there are not many reminders through the media for Muslim youth to remember the coming of the Islamic new year. The Gregorian New Year 2011 celebrations are widely promoted as this is also the Christian New Year. In 2008, my visit to Saudi Arabia awakened my realisation of the reality of the Prophet’s migration as I travelled on the Hijrah Highway from Mecca to Medina sitting comfortably in an air-conditioned bus. It brought about the recognition of the hardship of the journey and migration of Prophet Mohammed and the early Muslims which started the Islamic Hijrah calendar. Our beloved Prophet Mohammed (saw) and the early Muslims struggled hard to make Islam easy for us. As for our plan for a hijrah walk, we received many calls from parents who wanted to join in the walk. Alhamdulillah.
* Kamariah Ahmad is a Singapore based author and commentator. She is a frequent contributor to CT.
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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Plan now to survive the summer school holidays! Dreading the “I’m Bored-There’s Nothing to Do!”
Linda D. Delgado* When I was a kid, many years ago, actually over half a century ago, I couldn’t wait for the holidays or days off from school for summer or winter breaks. The closer it got to that first day of ‘freedom’ from teachers, lessons and the daily routine of school, the higher my anticipation and excitement grew. I would imagine all the things I was going to do and I spent considerable time daydreaming when I should have been concentrating for all those annoying tests that were the bitterness that must be swallowed first. The world is very different today compared with the time I was a child anticipating those carefree days, but what hasn’t changed much is that wonderful feeling of anticipation children have for the longedfor freedom from the structure and order of school and lessons. What most children, myself included, always seemed to forget was how soon the first days of ‘freedom’ passed and without realising it, the creep of boredom invaded our time. Most kids back then and now would never admit to themselves or their parents that they missed some of that structure and routine that filled their time and kept them busy. When kids are approaching that boredom phase, it is time for parents to don their ‘sneaky hats’. Parents need to do some unobtrusive intervention at this point. Ya know, the thing we parents do where we let our kids think the idea we have for something fun to do is their idea! Back when I was a child, all the neighborhood kids left the house in the morning, showed up briefly at home for lunch time, and came home just as it was getting dark when we heard our Mums calling us to come inside … the end to another fun day. As kids, we used the neighborhood street to play games like: Kick the Can, Red Light-Green light, Hide ‘n Seek, and Stab the Queen or King (no calls to Homeland Security or FBI needed folks). Girls played Jump Rope, Hop Scotch, played with paper dolls - designing clothes and dressing the dolls and roller skated on the footpaths. Boys flew kites or paper/cardboard airplanes, had marble shooting contests, played with dump trucks and construction type toys pretending to build sky rises, built forts and played ‘Army’ or Cowboys and Indians. Anyone recall playing ‘Walk the Dog’ with a Yo-Yo? For days when it’s too hot to be outdoors or it’s raining, the old standby of board games never fails to engage a child when a parent joins the fun: Monopoly, Pick-Up Sticks, and Scrabble are a couple of my old favorites. For Scrabble we played a different version. I called it ‘Beat the Board’. The object was for all players to work together to use up every letter creating words and everyone ended up a winner! Building something with Tinker Toys, yes, they are still sold and are a wonderful way to engage the creativity of a child of any age and improve on the motor skills of little ones. I still love building with them. Another way to spend those indoors days is by spending time reading favorite books. Mums can pick for their children, or even better, help them choose from the library. Reading creative and imaginative Islamic fiction books can transport a child to a foreign land and or different place in time where their imaginations will soar. Today our children live in a time of fast moving events and have become used to more ‘instant’ gratification when they spend their ‘free’ time. With modern electronic technology in games and toys and the wide-usage of the internet at school and home, it may not be so easy to engage our children in slower-paced, but beneficial and fun activities that stretch their skills and imaginations. One really huge challenge for parents is to stay constantly aware of the interests of their children. What they like, how they spend their time, knowing what skills they have, and being prepared with this knowledge will help parents help their children fill that boredom void. I looked on the internet for some creative and fun activities for children to do on their own and activities that will require some initial participation of a parent or the parent remaining actively involved throughout the activity. Because there is limited space for this article, I have divided some activities you might consider into two categories: science and art, and included a brief description with the Internet link to a fuller description and the ‘how-to’ directions needed to launch the activity. An activity does not have to require spending lots of money. As a parent your major expense will be your time. I also recommend that you talk with your children about the ‘good-ol-days’ of your childhood. Describe some of the fun activities you used to do and offer to show your children how to have fun engaging in some of those long-ago fun activities. You might be surprised when you take a little time to ‘surf ’ the internet that some of the activities you used to do are
recreated and possible to do using the Internet and computer. Someone out there is saying as they are reading this, “I don’t have a computer. I don’t have a printer. I don’t have the time to do this stuff.” If you don’t have a computer or internet access, your library does or a friend does, and it takes only a few minutes to ask a favor for them to print the activity directions and give/mail them to you or ask your librarian to help you. About the ‘time’ issue or excuse... it is up to you to make the time and no excuses. Your children have a great need of some of your time so spend it wisely with them.
A Fun and Educational Activity for Teens:
An activity suitable for teen girls or boys interested in building, design, or landscaping is a computer software program that allows older children to build a house, decorate and furnish the rooms and landscape the property surrounding the house. They can ‘re-model’ the house adding rooms or change room decor. They can also calculate how much increased value their house has after they complete improvements: Sims 3 is a computer game (CD) that can be played on a PC or Wii.
Fun Science Projects
Remember to always have fun with your science experiments and don’t worry if your experiments don’t come out as you would expect – some of the
“Since it takes more years than we can count to create real fossils, we can make fun fossil prints using these instructions.” Traditional Paper Bag Doll Have fun creating this charming and inexpensive doll your daughter will treasure for years to come.
Step A: Gathering Needed Doll Materials
• 3 (1 is for a backup) brown paper bags; the size of the bag will determine how small or large you want the doll to be. It is harder to work on a smaller doll than a larger one. Cut a second pattern, same size to use as a pattern for creating the clothes for the doll in Step C. • scissors • thread; a transparent color if you can find this
Canada. We made her clothing as authentic as we could, made braids for her hair from black yarn, and my granddaughter made a ‘turtle necklace’ for her doll once she was created. 2. Trace the shape of a gingerbread man on the brown paper bag. You can make the arms and legs a little longer if you want to sew a seam at mid-arms and knees so the arms and legs will bend. Be sure to draw just a little larger because you will need to have a ½ inch space around the pattern to draw a dash outline on each side of the pattern. This is the line you will use to sew the two paper bag pattern pieces together. 3. Cut out your pattern 4. Have your child draw the face on the doll: eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth or sew the buttons on for the eyes. Have your child draw lines on the hands to show fingers. the feet can be colored as sandals or shoes. Your child can color hair on the doll, both sides, if you are not going to sew the yarn on for hair. Remember to draw lines and color both sides of the pattern for fingers and shoes. 5. Sew the two pieces together except for a section at the top of the head. You will need this opening to stuff the doll. Once stuffed you can finish sewing the pattern closed. 6. Sew the seam lines at the mid arms and knees so the arms and legs will bend.
Step C: Creating Clothes for the Doll
greatest scientific discoveries have been made by mistake. www.kids-science-experiments.com
Floating and Sinking Experiments
Floating Play Dough w w w. k i d s - s c i e n c e - e x p e r i m e n t s . c o m / floatingplaydough.html Surprising Senses - Watch Sound Travel w w w. k i d s - s c i e n c e - e x p e r i m e n t s . c o m / watchsoundtravel.html Curious Colors Experiments “Sunlight does not look as if it has any color, so it is called white light. But sunlight is actually made from lots of different colors.” Making a Rainbow (Dark Room) w w w. k i d s - s c i e n c e - e x p e r i m e n t s . c o m / rainbowsinadarkroom.html A Fun Art Project Larry’s Toon Institute- free lessons in drawing cartoon figures’ animation and much more http://childparenting.about.com/gi/dynamic/ offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=childparenting&cdn=p arenting&tm=1056&gps=199_223_1125_512& f=00&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&st=15&zu=http%3A// www.awn.com/tooninstitute/lessonplan/lesson. htm%23top Funny Bones! Dinosaur Bones Craft http://familycrafts.about.com/od/ dinosaurcrafts/a/Dinosaur-Bones-Craft.htm Directions to help you make a fun dinosaur bones craft using cooked spaghetti noodles. Make Your Own Fossils http://familycrafts.about. com/od/dinosaurcrafts/a/makefossils.htm
or have it. • a needle with large eye; larger size for ease of use by a child and to sew through paper • cotton, old cloth cut in small pieces, or plastic bags (used to stuff the doll) • crayons or colored pencils; for drawing the face or coloring clothes on boy bag dolls • yarn (if you want to sew hair on your doll). You can always color hair on the doll’s head, too. • 2 same-sized buttons if you want to have the eyes sewn on the face of the doll • cloth material: you can use remnants you have on hand or an old piece of clothing you child has out-grown but loved • sewing tape: this is for Dad’s who don’t sew but can easily put clothing cut out for the doll together by using the sewing tape instead of n a needle and thread. Moms and young children can use this, too, but young children will need help using a hot iron to seal the pieces of cloth with the sewing tape.
Step B: Creating the Doll
1. First you and your child will need to do some research to learn the traditional and/or cultural manner of dress for the country where you live. You can use the library to look this up in books or use the internet to do research. Takes notes so you have this ready when you begin the step to create clothing for your doll. My granddaughter and I created an Indian doll. My great grandmother was an Iroquois Indian and member of the Turtle Clan. The Iroquois lands were in what is today the State of New York and also into
This step is very individualised and depends on whether your doll is a girl or boy and on the traditional/cultural dress of the country you live in or chose for your doll. You can make a pattern for a hijab scarf for the girl doll and an abaya. This is very simple to do by using the same size pattern of the doll for the abaya. You can make loose fitting pants and a long tunic. You can create the pattern for the clothing you want to dress the doll in and either use needle and thread to sew the material or use the sewing tape to hold seams together. You can make jewelry for the doll like the necklace we made for or Indian doll. Gloves are not easy to make but rounded mittens with a draw-string to fasten them on the hands works fine. For Muslimahs who cover with a face veil, it is easy to use a piece of cloth fastened to a pipe cleaner with glue and encircle the head of the doll below the eye level. Once you are at this stage it is fun and easy to be creative. Be sure to ask your child for ideas for how to decorate the doll and allow the child to do as much of the craft as the child can. Guide the child rather than doing everything for the child. If you do it all or impose your ideas, overriding the imagination of your child you can expect for your child to quickly lose interest fast. Remember that this is a fun and beneficial project you can do together with your child and the completed doll will be beautiful and treasured by your child even if it is not perfect. *Linda D. Delgado lives with her family in the Southwest USA. She is the Muslim author of the award winning Islamic Rose Books series, publisher-owner of Muslim Writers Publishing, Director of Islamic Writers Alliance Inc., and maintains the Islamic Fiction Books website. She is currently writing a new mystery-detective series for young adults/adults and a youth mystery series as well. www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com www.islamicwritersalliance.net, www.islamicFictionBooks. com, and www.raineywalkerseries.wordpress.com contact: widadld@yahoo.com
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T s i t I
im e t o
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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A warm, caring and safe environment An atmosphere of respect, cooperation and friendship Very dedicated and caring teachers Subject-based educational excursions & camps throughout the year A universal set of moral values and a code of ethics The skills needed for a successful and meaningful future Small class sizes making it easier to individually cater for every needs
students’
An excellent standard of support for students from non-English speaking backgrounds A unique door-to-door bus service which ensures safety of your child Scholarships & bursaries Damla College is offering the following scholarships for Year 11 students based on their Entrance Exam Results.
h Wit
85 – 100 % 80 – 84 % 75 – 79 % 70 – 74 % 65 – 69 % 60 – 64 %
$1800 school fee paid $1800 school fee paid $1800 school fee paid $1800 school fee paid $1800 school fee paid $ 900 school fee paid
+ + + +
$1800 $1200 $600 $300
scholarship scholarship scholarship scholarship
Total $3600 per year Total $3000 per year Total $2400 per year Total $2100 per year Total $1800 per year Total $900 per year
The minimum entrance result is 50 % Scholarships will be paid in 4 equal payments at the end of each term. Scholarships are for 1 school year. It will continue subject to passing all learning Areas. Please contact the school for the entrance exam date.
Location Address : 12 Karri Way, Ferndale WA 6148 Postal Address : PO Box 948, Cannington WA 6107
WA: Islamic Council of WA has a new executive committee: The Islamic Council of Western Australia has elected a new executive
committee. The new ICWA executive committee for 2010-2012 is: President : Sajit Smajic Senior vice president : Madralie bin Bohin Secretary : Edib Zilic Assistant secretary : Khamzah bin Arip Treasurer : Rahim Ghauri P.R.O : Syed Shuib Aljunied Religious adviser : Abdul Jalil Ahmad
Marriage ‘makes men nicer’ Now psychologists have found that this quip bears the hallmark of truth. They found that marriage actively makes men nicer - or at least less likely to indulge in antisocial activities. Psychologists at Michigan State University in the US discovered that those who married tended to have notched up fewer antisocial incidents by the time they were 29 - such as criminal behaviour, being aggressive and binge drinking - than those who remained bachelors. However, the academics argued this could have just been because nicer men tended to be the ones who married But when they looked at how the identical twins behaved over the course of the 12-year study period, they found marriage did have an active effect. Once one twin married, his antisocial behaviour tailed off rapidly. The bad behaviour of his bachelor brother continued unabated. Writing in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, Associate Professor S. Alexandra Burt concluded that married men “are just not as antisocial to begin with. And
when they get married, they get even less antisocial”. The academics followed the men from the age of 17, when almost all were single, to 29, when 60 per cent were married. Commenting on the study, Ryan King, associate professor of law and criminology at Albany University in New York speculated that married men had “more to lose” by behaving badly. He said it also reduced the amount of time men spent hanging out in large groups, which tended to lead to antisocial behaviour more than time with their wife and children. Kate Figes, the author of relationship books including Couples and Life After Children, was more sympathetic. She said: “Marriage, or any committed relationship, is good for us. It socialises us. In marriage, you’ve got someone who is calling you up short, teaching you to be nicer. If you have someone who supports you through thick and thin, you tend to be less brittle.” Source: The Guardian
Tel : 08 9458 3555 Fax : 08 9356 1187
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The Introduction to Psychology Course at Islamic Online University Aisha Hamdan*
on the Islamic perspective to understand humans, their psyche and their nature. The Islamic approach is unique in this field due to its reliance upon revelation and sacred sources for knowledge and understanding. Throughout history, scholars have recognised the importance of spirituality and religion in the explanation of human thought, emotion and behaviour and it is only fairly recently that modern psychology has attempted to separate these elements. The focus in Western psychology over the past 100 years has been on a secular approach to psychology that denies the existence of the soul and that has obvious limitations and contradictions. This perspective has spread throughout various areas of the world, including the Middle East and the Islamic world (although there are still areas and people who adhere to the Islamic perspective and other spiritual approaches). It is time to regain the rich traditional wisdom of Islam and bring the soul back to its proper place in the study of human nature.” As part of my journey, I have also taken the time and effort to write my own book entitled “Psychology from the Islamic Perspective” to be published soon (insha Allah) by International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (http://www.iiphonline. com/); a book that I hope will offer my students and others the opportunity to understand the Islamic viewpoint of psychology with greater ease and satisfaction (during my search, I struggled due to lack of relevant resources in the English language). This book provides the foundation for the organisation and teachings of the Introduction to Psychology course. Teaching online, of course, poses various challenges and dynamics that are not present in traditional teaching methods: loss of direct interaction with students that is often the most rewarding of experiences for instructors, reduction in the ability to gauge the understanding of students and to provide appropriate feedback and technical shortcomings that may impede the process. We accept these deficiencies due to the advantages of reaching large numbers and spreading the teachings of Islam on a global level. We hope that you will join us in this interesting voyage of selfdiscovery; a journey which, of course, continues for each of us until the last breath.
Psychology as a modern discipline is fraught with subjectivity, theorising and sometimes utter confusion. As an enthusiastic student of psychology for many years, I was often bewildered by the lack of clarity, conciseness and comprehensiveness in many of the “Western” theories that I studied. The truth finally became apparent during my personal studies of psychology from the Islamic perspective. This was the theory that I had been searching for so many years: the authentic, unadulterated reality of the nature of our own beings, based upon revelation. Islam offers a coherent, comprehensive and thorough view of what it means to be human. It directs us to our purpose in life and the priorities that we should establish; it describes our inherently spiritual nature, the path of purification and the importance of our relationship with Allah; and it explains how to attain the most essential of goals: Paradise in the hereafter. Now I have the opportunity to share what I have learned about psychology with other knowledge-seeking brothers and sisters through the Islamic Online University (http://www. islamiconlineuniversity.com/) which, this year, has launched the world’s first, tuition-free BA in Islamic Studies degree program. This is a blessing from Allah that I could not have imagined when I first began my journey. The course is unique in that it attempts to combine the knowledge of human nature based upon revelation with that developed through scientific pursuit. Many instances are pointed out in which psychological science has actually confirmed the truth of Allah’s revelation (for example, the influence of religiosity on mental and physical health, the benefit of social relations, positive personality development and so on). It is for this reason that I begin my discussion with the following Quranic verse: “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a witness?” (Fussilat (41):53). Read a portion of the course description in order to discover more about the course: “This courses promises to be one of the most interesting endeavors in your pursuit of knowledge, insha Allah. Combining *Dr. Aisha Hamdan is a Clnical Psychologist, with B. A. in Islamic Studies, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Islamic wisdom with contemporary knowledge, the course focuses
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Australia Wide Community Events: Victoria
YMA 19th National Senior Muslim Youth Camp Date: 11-19 January Location: Rubicon Valley Cost:$380 all inclusive For brothers and sisters age 16 and over. A time to get together, and escape to reality. Come join in t cherish and remember in the happiest moments. Activities including: Horse riding, Kayaking, Night camping. Don’t miss out on this year’s camp! Whether you’ve come before or you’re a first timer! For application forms go to www.yma.org.au. Enrolments close on 20 December 2010. Multifaith Future Leaders Program Date: 21-23 February 2011 Are you a committed member of a faith community - Muslim, Jewish, Christian or from a different faith community? This could be for you. For more details and to apply, contact reception@antidef.org.au or click on the link at www.antidef.org.au
authoritative texts on the subject of erudite Classical Scholars like Imam al-Ghazzali, Imam alHaddad and Shaykh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali. To assist in experiencing an awakening of the heart to the ultimate concern, and to reflect and enjoy a tranquil 5 nights, Retreat 2011 include the following programs offered by honoured international guests: •Daily Tai Chi & Calligraphy with Haji Noor Deen •Nightly Qasidas by the Stars with Sidi Nader Khan and the Singapore Haqqani Ensemble You are invited to 5 nights and 4 days of inspiring knowledge, moving spiritual renditions, noble companionship - join in this journey! Enquiries: Tel: (02) 9708 1539 | info@alghazzali. org
Western Australia
Orphan Fundraiser Quiz Night Sisters Only Event Date: 18 December 2010 Time: 6:30pm Location: Agonis Hall, 2232 Albany Highway, Gosnells Cost: $20 Preston Mosque Paintball Event Interactive quiz, great prizes to be won. Auction. Date: Sunday the 19th of December Refreshments provided. For tickets contact Amal on Time: meet at the mosque at 7:30am 0417110652 or Khadija 0431447132 All proceeds Cost: $80.00 To reserve a place please call Brother Ahmad on to go through Human Appeal International. 0423 445 779. Need to pay in advance to secure booking. Must be over 18 to attend. Limited tickets. Iqra Academy Quran reading and Islamic studies lessons Ticket price includes transport and meal. Date: during the December and January summer It will be an all day event. holidays Location: 1526 Southern River Road, Southern HIYC Jump and Jiggle Fun Night River only 5 to 10 min from Langford, Gosnells, Date: 19 December 2010 Huntingdale, Canningvale Time: 5:30 – 9:30pm Iqra Academy will continue providing quality Location: 7/217 Mickleham Road, Tullamarine Quran reading and Islamic studies lessons to our Cost: $5 per child Fundraiser to repair flood damage to Hume Islamic youth. For more information contact Shaykh Youth Centre. Women and children only, face Burhaan email: mburhaan@hotmail.com, Shk painting, stalls and lots of jump and jiggle fun. Abu Bakr 0434 581 995 or sister Azra 0408 931 Children must wear socks. Hot food and drinks for 076. sale. To book tickets contact Aisha 0430 660 508 or South Australia Safiyya 0416 923 830 Knowledge Retreat 2011 Date: 21st to 26th April 2011 (5 days, 4 nights) Cost: AU$550 per person ($110/night) Location: Rutherford Park Country RetreatVictoria, Australia Attaining nearness to Allah - that is the ultimate concern for the Believer. The fact that this world is either a source of Allah’s Protection or a source of ultimate destruction, and that the Beloved Prophet, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, said, “Your actions alone will not save you”, raises a most important question - how then does one journey to Allah? And, what are the pathways leading to Him alone and is under His Protection? The entire curriculum will be based on the
Islamic Medicine Lecture Date: 24 December 2010 Time: 8:30pm - 10:00pm Location: Adelaide Mosque, 20 Little Gilbert Street, Adelaide, Australia ‘Ayn Academy would like to invite you to a FREE Public Lecture by a Master in Islamic Medicine Sidi Hakim Archuletta. The Lecture will discuss topics such as Prophetic Medicine, Natural Healing, and the connection between Health and Islamic Spirituality. This is a tremendous opportunity
to learn about Islamic Medicine from a true Master, so please come with your family and friends!
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Editorial
Holidays are here!
Salam dear readers, I hope you completed the year 1431 on a good note and that thus far 1432 is treating you well. If not, the good news is that you can always have another go with the end of 2010 and welcome in a brand new year of happiness and success in 2011 insha Allah! This time of the year can be fun, exciting, bewildering and often overwhelming for many people. So many things seem to be happening all at once. Colleagues who are moving on to a new job in the new year are leaving, desks are being tidied and work place festivities are happening almost every day it seems. Those of us not moving on to bigger and better things next year find ourselves casting a wary glance over the empty desks and wondering who, exactly, is going to do all the work now? Sadly, we already know the answer! If you are in a workplace that requires staff to work over the Christmas-New Year break, I encourage you to volunteer to work on Christmas Day if possible. Not only is this a gesture of good will to our colleagues in recognition of this special time of the year for many of them, volunteering to work over the break will also provide the opportunity for you to thank your colleagues for their support and forbearance during the important Islamic events of the year. I am certain that it was totally inconvenient for my colleagues when I started work at 6am in Ramadan and went home at 2pm just when the day was
beginning to get frantic. To their credit however, they put up with that and the occasional lack of recall and attention that goes hand in hand with a completely changed sleep-wake schedule. The least I can do is work over their festive season and facilitate them spending time with their families. Another group of readers that I want to mention are those of us who converted (or reverted depending on your preference) to Islam. The Christmas-New Year period can often be a difficult time for us as we watch others celebrating the times that we used to enjoy with our own families. Some of us may be estranged from family members as a result of our conversion and this makes the time doubly difficult. Often, those who were born Muslim cannot understand the difficulties facing our new brothers and sisters at this time of the year. I guess one way to think about it is to consider what it would be like if you were unable to celebrate Eid with your family ever again - that feeling comes close to what new Muslims feel at this time of the year. Please, if you know someone in this situation, take extra special care of them over the holiday period - include them in your family’s events, greet them at the mosque and show them you care. Happy holidays insha Allah! Dr. Joanne McKeown Editor at large
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Page 13
Aussie Mossies.. that’s what I reckon ..!
Online Political Editor Irfan Yusuf gauges the opinions of three Australian Muslims on a range of topics Want to be a distributor? (07) 5571 7386
H
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ussana has just been launched in Australia, working under it’s parent company Dukkaan Ltd. The concept behind the Hussana brand started in early 2008. After researching the market, we found very few, if any, body care and beauty products were Halal certified. The products that were available were mainly cheap imports from the Middle East, with very poor packaging, not widely available.
The aim of Hussana is to introduce a Halal alternative to the current high street products, many of which contain alcohol and other haram ingredients from different animal parts. None of Hussana’s range contains any alcohol or animal products. The range consists of Shampoo, Conditioner, Body wash, Moisturiser, Cleanser, Face scrub, Lip balm, Baby shampoo, Baby lotion, Baby oil and Baby bath. The range is suitable for use by both males and females.
www.hussana.com.au
Financial crisis or families in crisis? The financial crisis affects no other institution more than families dependent on employment and a secure income. When that employment or source of financial security suddenly disappears, it can leave many families under huge pressure as they fight to pay house loans or rent, food, petrol, medicine and school fees, the list goes on. Financial stress also puts another bank account under pressure and that is the emotional bank account jointly held by spouses or by parent and child. When there is nothing left in this account, credit turns to debt and relationships crack and ultimately breakdown. So what is an emotional bank account? An emotional bank account is sort of like the ‘brownie’ points we each get awarded when we do something nice for another person. For example, a husband buys his wife flowers, there’s a few brownie points. A 4-week-old infant smiles at her parents for the first time, that’s massive in the points department, particularly after many sleepless nights. When I refer to ‘brownie points’ I am talking about a good emotion or feeling good, feeling happy, sometimes over the moon! When another person does something nice for us, we feel good about them and the relationship we hold with them. Your local bakery throws in 2 bread rolls for free, we feel really good about them. Of course the opposite is also true. When spouses stop doing those little things for each, like making each other a cup of tea, saying Hi or AA Hun, how was your day? Or perhaps an email or call or sms to each other whilst at work to quickly say “Love You”, the relationship’s resilience to deal with what are normal annoyances, disagreements and massive arguments diminishes. When we feel really good about our partner or child, we make more excuses for those little annoyances, indeed we have more patience for each other. If the emotional
bank account is running very low, say less than ¼ full, it fills up with ¾ of animosity and resentment and hurt lingers longer. If the relationship is running on a lot less than ¼ full the only thing usually keeping it together are children, familial or cultural expectations, dependency or financial obligations. It loses the status of a marriage or relationship and is downgraded to ‘an arrangement’. We hold emotional bank accounts with everyone we have a relationship with. It is as true for our spouses as it is with our children and stepchildren. So here are a few golden rules: If you put in, don’t expect anything in return, but it is a fabulous investment in your relationship. Couples and parents often ignore the emotional needs of one another out of mindlessness not malice. Keeping an account in your head as to your own contribution to the emotional needs of the other person will serve you well. Be careful not to turn it into a competition, “I did this many things for you this week!” That won’t be helpful. Even during hard times, it is important to continue to strive to do nice things for each other, especially those that cost nothing. Even a smile is charity, remember? Families with good relationships not only do nice things for each other but they notice up to 50% more of the loving gestures of other family members towards them. Lastly, choose your emotional investment wisely. Get input from your spouse or children about the emotional areas that really need attention and you’ll make a profound and lasting impact, or in other words yield a greater return.
DENTAL CARE
Monique Toohey*
Today I talk to three Aussie Mossies. “What on earth is an Aussie Mossie?” I hear some readers ask. Basically I define it as someone born or brought up in Australia who identifies themselves as Muslim for whatever reason. I’ve been trying to promote this term “Aussie Mossie” for some time now. I think it’s a wonderful example of self-deprecating Aussie humour. I didn’t invent the term, by the way. As far as I recall, it was first used as the name of a newsletter published by converts for converts during the 1970’s in Sydney. But what do other Aussie Mossies think of the term? Has my quest to popularise the term been successful? Adam is a scientist of mixed English/ Irish heritage from Sydney who is getting ready to retire. Like all good non-indigenous Australians, his ancestors came by boat. Adam hates being labelled an Aussie Mossie. “Reminds me of this buzzing whining little pests who come to drink your blood as soon as you turn the lights off. Definitely unlike!” Alia grew up in the Illawarra region just south of Sydney. Her parents migrated from Punjab, the bread basket of South Asia. What does Alia think of the term “Aussie Mossie”? “My thoughts are very similar to Gary’s - annoying, blood-sucking ... and very derogatory.” Then there’s Jasmin, a country girl from North Queensland who now runs her own business. She doesn’t seem too fussed either way. She believes Muslims take themselves way too seriously. “I find Muslims to be far too precious - Islam is a robust, dynamic religion and after 1400 years of existence and turbulence the religion has massively grown and continues to grow, and a few words by Hitchens or Hirsi Ali or Rushdie is not going to wound it in any way, so shut the **** up and get on with your life!” Okay, so we have differing views on my chosen terminology. Why, then, do people identify themselves as Muslim? What does it mean to them in the lucky country? Here’s Adam. “It means having to put up with gutless self serving politicians who see Muslims as easy targets when they
* Monique is Managing Director & Senior Consultant Psychologist at Nasihah Consulting – Northern Psychology Clinic in Melbourne. Comments are welcome at monique@nasihahconsulting.com or visit www.nasihahconsulting.com.
Yasser Khan*
want the votes of brainless bigots. It means having to put up with the outright lies of newspaper editors who buy their circulation by writing trash about Muslims. It means facing abuse and ridicule by the resident rednecks in the workplace.” Gee, that’s a bit rough. What does Jasmine think? “Well I don’t have an issue about being labelled or called a Muslim - very loud and proud. I haven’t been subjected to any discrimination at all, certainly not about my religion. Maybe that was because of growing up in a little country town in North Queensland - we were the only Muslim family there so it was a novelty I suppose. Since becoming an adult and an outspoken one, I still have not suffered discrimination due to my religion - maybe it is a Sydney thing, but in Brisbane, whilst there have been pockets of abuse, there has been nothing like Camden - and some very friendly radio announcers and journos and the issue is addressed. I have never compromised my religion or my heritage for my “Australian-ness” - I just do what I do, because that is what I have always done.” Alia isn’t as optimistic. “It seems as if society is going backwards when it comes to knowing or having a perception about Islam and Muslim people. As a child, I do not remember being teased for being a Muslim but my child has been called “ Osama” in the playground! If anyone has ever asked me about my faith and as much as I like to articulate that we are not all terrorists – there is previously an idea and a set depiction about us. “It is as if all hijab clad women are suppressed and all bearded men are extremists. It is assumed that Muslims will not pursue the laws of Australia because they want to implement sharia! We, being Australians of Islamic faith, find our lives not dissimilar to that of Australians of other beliefs yet we as Muslims get singled out for being ‘different’.” We’ll be back next month with a new set of people and a new set of questions. *Irfan Yusuf is a Melbourne based lawyer and author. He is the current online Political Editor of Crescent Times.
Feeling sore?
It’s nice that they usually warn you before popping up. But those tiny tingles and trifling throbs don’t make it any easier to wake up with a cold sore. If you’ve ever had a cold sore on the lip, you know what a menace they can be. Plus, they hurt. To top it off, cold sores, contagious little buggers that they are, spread easily if you share utensils, straws, towels, lipstick and other objects that come in contact with your lips. So avoid cold sore catastrophes by washing your hands often. Be sure to check out some cold sore treatment while you’re at it. Although cold sores can’t be cured, some prescription medication may help reduce the number and severity of outbreaks. Q: Are cold sores curable? A: Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). As it is a viral infection that can remain dormant in the body for many years, there is no cure. However, there are many cold sore treatments to help minimise outbreaks or shorten their duration or minimise the pain of cold sore blisters. Q: Are cold sores the same as canker sores? A: It’s common to mistake cold sores on lips for canker sores and vice versa. Truth is cold sores are different: they appear on the lips and face and are caused by a virus whereas canker sores appear on the inside of the mouth and are not associated with a virus. And unlike cold sores, canker sores are temporary and neither
permanent nor contagious. Q: How do cold sores spread? A: If there are two words that best describe cold sores, contagious and common fit the bill. But your cold sores, contagious as they may be, don’t have to become your loved one’s problem too. With careful attention, the cold sore virus can be contained. Here’s how to spare others: Avoid sharing drinks, cups, utensils, towels, lip gloss (and anything else that touches your mouth). Keep in mind that a cold sore can spread to different parts of your own body too. So it’s also important to wash your hands often and avoid touching an active cold sore and then touching another part of your body — especially your eyes. The treatment for cold sores until recently has been palliative in nature with no one remedy offering total relief. A product called Viroxyn® is available through dentists only. Viroxyn offers a one-dose treatment which stops the virus dead in its tracks. The medicine neutralizes the toxins released from the viral particles. It is the toxins that cause the pain, swelling and tissue destruction during the infection. Viroxyn also stimulates the immune system and provides healing and relief in less than a day.
* Yasser Khan is a general dentist with special interest in cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry. He has been actively involved with various organisations locally and abroad in promoting the awareness and importance of oral hygiene care. He works mainly in Mansfield north east of Melbourne and part time in Pascoe Vale South.
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
WikiLeaks: Israel happy with Rudd’s stance! The latest WikiLeaks cables show that Israel’s ambassador to Australia was happy with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s pro-Israel stance. The leaked US diplomatic cables, published in Fairfax newspapers, indicate Yuval Rotem was pleased with Mr Rudd’s support of Israel and his tough stance against Iran’s nuclear program. Separate diplomatic cables show Australia’s intelligence agencies were worried Israel might launch a unilateral attack on Iran. The Australians expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program could
prompt Israel to launch a military strike and spark a war which would eventually draw in the US and Australia. The cables also indicate Mr Rotem was impressed with Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s handling of Australia’s response to fighting in Gaza while in the role of acting Prime Minister. The Israelis told US officials she was far more supportive than expected. The documents also suggest Mr Rudd’s condemnation of Iran led the Iranian government to make it harder for the Australian officials at the embassy in Tehran to go about their work.
WikiLeaks’ magic mirrors Wikileaks is currently under heavy attack. In order to make it impossible to ever fully remove WikiLeaks from the internet, you will find below a list of mirrors of WikiLeaks’ website and CableGate pages. If you want to add your mirror to the list or for more information, see the Mass Mirroring Wikileaks page at: www.WikiLeaks.ch
Islamic School of Canberra: Vacancies
The academic performance of the Islamic School of Canberra is among the best within the ACT. The school follows the standard curriculum of the ACT. However, Arabic and Islamic studies form an integral part of the overall school program. Currently, it is a K-6 primary school and is starting Year 7 in 2011. The school enrolment has been increasing rapidly over the last two years. As a result of increasing student numbers, the school requires the following additional teachers in 2011:
- Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers to teach K – 7 classes The applicants must have appropriate qualifications in the above subject areas. Preference will be given to individuals who are registered to teach in Australian schools and satisfy child protection legislation. Individuals who are currently not registered to teach in Australia may also apply. Written applications close on Friday 24 December 2010. All applications should be addressed to: Mr Ikebal Patel President of AFIC and Chairman of School Board on: president@afic.com.au
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Perth Lebanese Bakery Quality flat bread and groceries 117 President Street WELSHPOOL, WA
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Cherry Blossom Jewellery Clothing & Gifts
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Page 14
continued from front page:
Aysha Noureddine forced to sleep in van after stillbirth accommodation in Ashcroft after she was unable to pay rent. “I was forced to sleep in the car with my three kids after getting out of theatre after losing my baby. I parked in a car park in Bass Hill,” Ms Noureddine said. “I was scared, I was in pain. I didn’t have any money to get my tablets for the pain.” Her local MP, Local Government Minister Barbara Perry, wrote to Department of Human Services CEO Mike Alan last month. She told him Ms Noureddine had tried to contact the department after she was released from
Auburn Hospital but the office was closed. Her calls to an after-hours homeless hotline went unanswered, Ms Perry said. “Disappointingly, with nowhere to go and no money, Aysha and her three children slept in the [van] for the night,” Ms Perry said in the letter. “Ms Noureddine advises my office that she wishes that this matter is raised to your attention for a thorough investigation in order to ensure that these kinds of errors do not occur again.” Mr Terenzini said the department employee had made an “honest mistake.” Source: Daily Telegraph
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Wholesale & Retail Leading brands including AKER (silk scarves), TEKBIR & ARMAY. Large ranges of scarves and bonnets in all styles and colours. Handbags, jewellery, bridal jewellery, accessories and gifts
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Tarek Chamkhi
Following in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (saw):
The Qard Hassan no interest loan scheme
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), being the peak representative body of Muslim organisations in Victoria, is proud to join the National No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) network and offer the Qard Hassan NILS program to the Muslim community in Victoria. The Islamic Qard Hassan NILS program aims to fulfill the current gap in financial services for low-income earners by providing sharia compliant loans of up to $1000 for the purchase of essential household goods and services. There are no fees, charges or any other costs to the borrower. Loans are considered for items such as white goods (ie fridges and washing machines); household furniture; car repairs and certain educational and medical expenses. Loan repayments are negotiated with the borrower at an affordable fortnightly rate and paid over a period of eighteen months with no interest. Qard Hassan NILS is not, however, a form of emergency relief or welfare. The program aims to provide a hand up - not a hand out. Loans are approved based on the willingness and capacity of the applicant to repay the loan. Therefore, loans are not provided for living expenses such as food and utility bills, rent or bond or debt consolidation. While Muslims may be familiar with the concept of qard hassan or ‘benevolent loans’, the current NILS model was developed thirty years ago by Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service (GSFYS) a community-based organisation that works to raise awareness of the experiences of people on low incomes, of inequitable social structures and financial and social exclusion. GSYFS recognise the importance of providing an equitable model of credit that based on a commitment to upholding individual dignity and respect, with loan payment arrangements based on a person’s capacity to repay. NILS is based on the concept of circular community credit. When a loan is repaid, the funds are then available to benefit others in the community. The community focus of the NILS model ties in seamlessly with the Prophet Mohammed’s (saw) example of giving generously to those in need and to the collective spirit of the Muslim community. The success of the NILS model hinges on its
ability to provide real solutions to essential needs and in empowering people who are experiencing real distress and financial hardship. GSYFS provide a case study of a NILS borrower who had previously been hand washing her clothes for 8 months after her washing machine exploded. She tried to find a loan from banks, stores and rental schemes but they did not believe she would be able to pay them back – ‘They make you feel like you’re a nobody’. Getting a NILS loan to purchase a new washing machine significantly reduced her workload and successfully paying off the NILS loan gave her a sense of achievement – she says, ‘I’m proud of myself. That’s exactly what it’s like, I can do it…When you start paying it, you think, I’m actually paying for something that is mine forever, as long as it lasts.’ Qard Hassan Victoria NILS and its sister programs in South Australia and New South Wales are the first of their kind, run by Muslim agencies and benefitting the Muslim community. Many Australian Muslims, particularly the newly arrived communities, are socially and economically marginalised. The 2001 ABS Census found that 43 per cent of Australian Muslims had a weekly income of less than $200 compared with 27 per cent for all Australians. According to the 2006 Australian census, the age-specific unemployment rates for Australian Muslims were two to four times higher than those of non-Muslim Australians. These indicators point towards economic disadvantage in the Australian Muslim community and highlight the need for a program such as NILS. For the last 4 years, the funds for the NILS programs have come from the National Australia Bank, which has committed over $15 million in loan capital to existing and new NILS programs. The bank also sponsors an annual NILS conference. For more information about this program contact 03 9328 2067, e-mail qardhassan@icv.org.au or visit the ICV website at: http://www.icv.org.au. * Edited by: By Adeeba Hanif , ICV NILS Program Coordinator, Nazeem Hussain , ICV Treasurer, Nadeem Hussain, ICV NILS Committee Member, Hyder Gulam ICV president.
Page 15
East West Once again, my opinion article in last month’s Crescent Times generated a wave of career threatening emails. It seems that raising questions about the validity and usefulness of Islamic schools was too negative and provocative for some readers.Two experienced school administrators took particular offence – perhaps they have the right! However, I am a supporter of incorporating Islam into daily life. I worked at an Islamic school teacher overseas from 2000 to 2002, and I therefore have a reasonable idea about what’s going on behind the curtains too. If my provocative style of writing upset hard working school administrators then I apologise – it was not my intention to upset anyone. However, if we acknowledge the problems within our Islamic schools, or more precisely within some of them, then we should do something about these problems. This does not mean that we should get rid of Islamic schools and allow the secular system to take over our children’s destiny. There is an important philosophical question to be considered: why does this particular thing (islamic schooling) exist in the first place? My religious scholars trained me to ask more dangerous questions than this: does God exist? How? What is the logical evidence for God’s existence. I am not frightened of such theological/philosophical questions. Such questions may help to confirm our
Why does Islamic media exist?
views, stablise our beliefs and more importantly, refresh our approach to what we are doing on a day to day basis. In this regard, I would be happy if I was asked: Why should Islamic media exist? Why did you establish Crescent Times in the first place? Do you think that you are adding something to The Australian, The Age, The West Australian or other major metropolitan newspapers? Why on earth would I be upset with such questions?! Alternatively and sensibly, I should be prepared to answer such questions and appreciate the opportunity to state my position. Ignorance of the role of Islamic media role: This discussion leads me to an incident that occurred this week in Perth. A Perth based imam resigned from his mosque over allegations of misuse of public funds. I received an invitation from a concerned member of the community to attend an apparently public meeting and hear about what had happened. Despite the looming deadline for this edition and my distance from Perth city, I decided to do my duty to avoid or eliminate fitna and contacted the imam. When I contacted him, he refused “to talk to the media”. He confirmed that he had called a community meeting for that night. I stopped my office work and drove for over an hour and a half to attend the planned meeting. When I arrived, the imam ordered me to leave the room
because he was holding a private meeting! His excuse was that there was no room for any media representatives. I was understandably aggravated but I chose not to argue with him or to teach him about the function of the media in Australia. I chose to keep the peace and I left. I said to myself, well journalists are attacked from time to time and even killed in some parts of the world, so whats the problem if I endure the ignorance and misbehaviour of an imam. When I contacted the other party to the dispute who had allegedly threatened the family peace, safety and dignity of the imam, I discovered that the story was not as it seems. It appears that the problem could be remedied if the imam chose to stay with his mosque and continue to be part of its committee. Once again I should remind my readers that I am qualified as an imam, along with my journalism career. Apparently, I know more about sharia, Islamic media and the freedom of the press in this country than this poor imam. However, he should know better than to generate fitna through public meetings that are not public. He should also appreciate the value of freedom of speech in our country and in Crescent Times – if he really has something to say, he is welcome to say it here. His actions to hide the dispute from the public eye serve only to spread suspicion and unrest and should condemned widely. Editor in Chief.
Assange supporters rally in Melbourne Shayma Alshakshir CT editor- Melbourne Hundreds marched in the streets of Melbourne to demonstrate support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange following his arrest in London in relation to allegations of sexual assault. Assange, who is an Australian journalist, publisher and internet activist, published classified details about the involvement of the United States in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assange, through Wikileaks and its five media partners, began publishing secret U.S. diplomatic cables, which lead to an awkward exposure of the under belly of U.S. foreign policy. Protest organisers, Victorian Students For Palestine, called for Australians to stand up and be counted in defence of free speech and democratic rights. “Our government has refused to defend Assange’s basic rights as a citizen, and instead has joined the global campaign to silence him,’’ their statement read. Protest organizer, Vashti Kenway, says the crackdown on WikiLeaks implies a restriction on the freedom of information and suggests that information should be kept in the hands of the few rather than the many. “This protest is an attempt to defend WikiLeaks’ right to release ‘secret’ information about governments and powerful companies across the world. The persecution of WikiLeaks and of Assange, in particular, illustrate the fear that the powerful have, that more of us will know
what is really going on behind the scenes,’’ she said. Ms Kenway points out that Assange and Wikileaks have exposed many of the truths about Israel’s brutality towards
by WikiLeaks and they want to find some way to bring its spokespeople into disrepute. They want to find some way – through legal or extra legal means to stop Julian Assange from revealing what he has
Palestinians. “There have been rather a lot of cables detailing a variety of things about Israel… there has been more documentation revealing the extent of the planning of the war on Gaza and the complicity of the Palestinians Authority in the war,’’ she said. Ms Kenway believes the sexual assault allegations against Assange - which he denies - are politically motivated. “The truth is that the rich and powerful across the world are seriously threatened
discovered. We live in such a topsy-turvy society that the figures who authorised the torture and massacres of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan will likely never QC, Lizzie O’Shea lawyer and Jeff Sparrow, writer, delivered face a day in court - and the person who speeches supporting the Assange case. has tried to reveal this information is Ms Kenway made a final appeal for those in power to stop the languishing in jail,’’ she said. suppression of freedom of speech. Brian Walters, civil liberties lawyer “We call for an end to all attempts to extradite Assange to and Greens member, Harry Van Moorst Sweden or the USA. We call for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to peace and environmental activist, offer full and unambiguous consular support for Assange and for Michael Anderson of the Aboriginal Tent her to condemn those in the U.S. who are calling for Assange’s Embassy, Dean Mighell of the Electrical imprisonment and even assassination,’’ Ms Kenway said. Trades Union along with Julian Burnside * Photo - pro Assange protest in Sydney.
Page 16
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION ANALYSIS: “LIVE YOUR DREAM” WORK FROM HOME
Baillieu promises law, order and Santa Claus
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Nasya Bahfen*
Victorian Election: The winners and the losers!
Jamal Daoud*
The Victorian election of 26 November 2010 came with unexpected results - no opinion poll or political analyst predicted the heavy losses incurred by Labor. Unless serious steps are taken by Labor, it is possible that similar results could be seen in the upcoming March 2011 elections in NSW. Not only did the Liberal party win the unwinnable election against all predictions, they also took out a moral victory. For the first time since the rise of the Greens they put the Greens last on their preference list. By putting Labor ahead of the Greens in their preferences, the Liberal party took the risk that Liberal preferences could flow to Labor candidates, increasing the Labor candidates’ chances of being elected. However, Liberal’s logic was simple and straightforward: if we do not agree with the Greens on important issues such as gay marriage, euthanasia and decriminalisation of illicit drug abuse then we should not preference them even. It is very clear that the biggest loser in the election was the Greens. The Greens vote plummeted from 14.6% in the last Federal election to 10.6%. According to the opinion polls, the Greens were expected to get at least 16% of the vote. It appears that the disappointing performance of the Greens in their Federal coalition with Labor played a major role in the outcome of the Victorian election. This came in spite of the significant time and resources the Greens dedicated to their campaign in the media. The other loser in this election was, of course, the Labor party. There are many reasons behind this loss, including: • Labor’s gradual move towards the centre and centre-right • the Labor government’s inability to find solutions for deteriorating heath and housing services • their long incumbency • the negative impact of other Labor parties, particularly Federal Labor • the tendency of Australian voters to prefer
that state and federal governments be run by opposing parties. The Victorian election results should encourage Labor to rethink their priorities in other states and on a federal level. If they wish to keep power in NSW, Queensland and federally, they should start to take courageous decisions. This does not mean taking courageous decisions on issues that do not concern more than a few Australians - such as same sex marriage or euthanasia - but decisions about finding solutions to crises in housing, health, multiculturalism and energy supplies to name just a few. It is alarming that those on the left of politics are focusing on issues such as same-sex marriage and euthanasia, while society remains deeply socioeconomically unfair. More efforts and resources should be put into fighting against racism, for human rights, for better public services and for better independent Australian foreign policy. If the Victorian election results are repeated in NSW, it is possible that the Liberal party will gain power with less than 9% of the vote going to the Greens. This would mean a maximum of two Greens in the Legislative Council and none in the Lower House. Of course, even a week is a long time in politics and it is still possible for the situation to change quickly. The Labor party and other political forces still have time to change direction and take credible steps to address the issues that matter to voters and restore voters’ confidence – based on past performance however, this does not seem very likely. *Jamal Doud is a Sydney based peace activist, writer and a frequent contributor to Crescent Times.
Photograph: courtesy Roel Loopers of Profile Photography
In a year that produced a hung federal parliament and a drawn Aussie Rules Football grand final, Victorians would probably not have been surprised if their November state election produced an inconclusive result. The election narrowly missed that outcome, turning Victoria instead into a Coalition-held state with Ted Baillieu its forty-sixth Premier (the state’s Liberal and National parties ran as a Coalition for the first time in ten years). Mr Baillieu and the man he defeated at the polls, John Brumby, are the same age and attended the same schools, at the same time (Melbourne Grammar and the University of Melbourne). All four daily newspapers available to Victorians (the capital’s two metropolitan dailies The Age and the Herald Sun, and the two national newspapers The Australian and The Australian Financial Review) had endorsed Mr Brumby, and supported a fourth term for Labor. Mr Brumby had been perceived as a capable and compassionate leader during and following the state’s darkest hours: the Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009. In the aftermath of Black Saturday his – and Labor’s – popularity shot to all time highs. But nearly two years later, voter dissatisfaction over law and order, and public transport including the troubled Myki ticketing system spelled doom for the Victorian ALP. Four of the electorates that fell to the
* Nasya Bahfen lectures in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT. She is currently a visiting scholar at the Centre for Religion and Media at New York University.
WA: Boycott Seacret! Boycott Israel! Ten activists from Friends of Palestine WA staged an action outside the Seacret booth at Carousel shopping centre in Perth on November 27. This action was part of the international “boycott, divestment and sanctions” campaign against Israeli apartheid. Seacret is a cosmetics company that sources its product from the Dead Sea in occupied Palestine. The company is “profiteering from resources in the land stolen by Israel, while Palestinians are denied their traditional sustainable agricultural output and any share of the water resources from the Jordan River or the coastal aquifers” according to a leaflet handed out by the activists. Participants surrounded the Seacret booth with signs including “Seacret breaks international law by profiting from occupation”. The use of minerals from occupied Palestinian land is in clear violation of the fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits The action was spirited and passionate and at all times peaceful. Activists exploitation of resources by an occupying power. One passerby joined the protest and held a banner and many left after 40 minutes. others, including some nearby shopkeepers, gave supportive Above: protest at Carousel Shopping Centre. Photograph courtesy Alex Bainbridge comments as they observed the action.
Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers sponsors La Trobe University Floods in Pakistan top student prize in the Masters The devastating effects of the floods are still obvious over extensive areas of flood affected Pakistan. With winter approaching, in Islamic Banking and Finance humanitarian aid is required to support homeless people in low program. temperatures. A number of organisations and groups have been working in Australia and worldwide to help the victims. The Oxfam concert in Fremantle alone raised more than 15000 dollars in support of the flood survivors. Ongoing efforts are required and there is a great need for more to be done, please come forward and do your bit to support aid organisations to help the families, widows, orphans survive this winter and build a new life. Dr. Zarrin S Siddiqui, Pakistan.
When he’s not worrying about schools (apparently) banning Christmas, Victorian Premier Ted Ballieu will be kept busy in his first term tackling booze, violence and Melbourne’s dismal public transport.
Coalition adjoined the crowded and frequently delayed Frankston train line running from the Melbourne CBD down the south east coast of Port Philip Bay. Before the 2010 state election, all four seats (Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Carrum, and Frankston) were held by Labor. Some violent attacks against international students and extensive media coverage of Melbourne’s spate of alcohol-related crime added to the perception that the Brumby government could not combat the state’s law and order problems. The Victorian Coalition ran a campaign that capitalised on voter sentiment, promising to “fix the problems, build the future”. It also broke the Liberal party tradition of preferencing Labor below the Greens, who ran a similar “this time, I’m voting Green” campaign to their federal counterparts months earlier. Without the Liberal preferences, the Greens had a much more difficult job of securing the four inner city Melbourne seats they had been targeting. Mr Baillieu immediately sought to distance himself from his political rival and school friend Mr Brumby by urging schools not to abandon Christmas because of political correctness (despite no evidence of any school in the state abandoning Christmas at the request of minority groups). The new Premier has conceded that serious issues such as providing safer and more reliable trains, buses and trams will be an uphill battle. Victorians can expect a Baillieu Coalition government to try to tackle the state’s (ahem) deep-seated public transport woes and to implement tougher law enforcement and sentencing.
Pictured right are: Jason Murphy (Marketing Manager - Faculty of Law and Management, La Trobe University), Michael Lanyon (Founding Partner of Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers), Professor Ishaq Bhatti (Director, Islamic Banking and Finance Programme, La Trobe University) and Hyder Gulam FRCNA (Senior Lawyer, Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers).
OPINIONS
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au When we publish opinion articles in Crescent Times, we do not necessarily endorse their content. Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the opinion any of our team members, editors or publishers. However, we are not afraid of opinions. Our role is not to teach a
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particular package of opinions and beliefs to our readers. We do our best to provide space for all schools of thought, personal beliefs and directions of Islamic thought. All are free to submit articles for publication to defend and hold what they see as truth. The Editor In Chief
CENSUS 2011
Ikebal Patel*
for the Muslim community to stand up proudly and be counted and for individual Muslims to do their part by identifying themselves as Muslims on census day. Confidentiality of Household and Individual Information Some Muslims in the previous census, because of their past experience, did not provide accurate information about their ethnicity and more importantly about their religion, which has disadvantaged the greater Muslim community. I have been assured that the information collected is treated by the government with great care and kept strictly confidential and the identifying data is destroyed within weeks of the actual census date. Any doubts about abuse of personal information are completely unfounded as there are strict rules about the handling of the personal household and individual information. Whilst concerns about identifying oneself as a Muslim during the present climate of heightened tensions is understandable, I assure all Muslims that this concern is ill founded, at least when it comes to the census data. There is a lot to be gained by the community ifthe government has a true representation of the Muslim population in the country. The Australian ummah is now at a very pivotal point therefore we cannot afford to ignore the census process. If we look at the results of the recent federal election and the Victorian election, and how close some of the seats were, it is obvious that any minority group could have influenced the outcome of the elections. Whether it is young voters, women, the environment protection lobby groups, particular ethnic groups (as per the ousting of former PM Mr John Howard) or religious groups. My argument is that if Muslims are correctly represented through the census, then they can command more respect and engagement from political parties and all aspiring and sitting politicians. As you would all appreciate, in a democracy, it is a numbers game.
Census 2011 is set down for 9th August 2011.As the Muslims Australia (AFIC) President I urge the Australian Muslim community to participate in the 2011 Census. This will provide accurate evidence of Australia’s population, in particular the Muslim community The 2006 Census data reveals that there are approximately 354,400 Muslims in Australia. However, I, the rest of the leadership of Australian Muslim community, academics, Imams and scholars believe that there were at least 480,000 to 500,000 Australian Muslim citizens at the time. Participation in the Census is essential to provide the correct evidence of the number of Muslims. This will help determine our representation in politics at Federal and State level as well as how government funds are spent in the planning and location of services and allocation of resources for the Muslim community. Equally important, this will also assist businesses and the private sector in their engagement with Australian Muslims. Thus, I cannot stress to you how vitally important it is to fill in the Census form completely and correctly. When you get your census form next year, please answer all questions correctly – remembering to mark ISLAM as your religion and include everyone in your household. Behind all those numbers are real lives and real life stories and when you put them all together you see the pattern emerge which is what is used by government and non-government agencies to plan services and facilities. In a democratic country like Australia, numbers are very important and Muslims need to have their numbers documented officially in order to safeguard our interests. This is a profoundly important issue if Muslims want to be included in *Ikebal Patel is the president of Muslims government planning. It is now time Australia, AFIC.
WikiLeaks lists ‘targets for terror’ A list drawn up by U.S. officials of companies and installations around the world regarded as “critical” to the security of the United States has been published online by controversial website WikiLeaks. The list includes factories, ports, fuel companies, drug manufacturers, undersea cables, pipelines, communication hubs and a host of other “key resources.” A Danish insulin plant, a company making anti-snake venom in Australia and a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo are also included. Its publication was denounced as “irresponsible” by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley, amid fears it could be used as a list of targets by terrorists, Britain’s Times newspaper reported.
The document was drawn up after the State Department asked diplomats in February 2009 to identify “systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States the incapacitation or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.” The cable is marked “secret state ... noforn, not for internet distribution.” “Noforn” means it should not be shown to foreign governments or other non-U.S. interests. The Times reported the story with the headline “WikiLeaks lists ‘targets for terror’ against U.S.” “There are strong and valid reasons information is classified, including critical
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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WikiLeaks and the wicked disinformers
Paul J. Balles* Paul J. Balles debunks false arguments of “national security” expounded by the likes of Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post to bludgeon the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks and argues that, rather than damaging legitimate US national interests, WikiLeaks is exposing matters of legitimate public interest. That Afghanistan is corrupt is not news. Just how corrupt is news. According to a report by Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins of the New York Times, WikiLeaks exposes how, “From hundreds of diplomatic cables, Afghanistan emerges as a looking-glass land where bribery, extortion and embezzlement are the norm and the honest man is a distinct outlier.” The New York Times report reveals how the collection of confidential diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and made available to a number of publications, offers a fresh sense of its pervasive nature, its overwhelming scale and the dispiriting challenge it poses to American officials who have made shoring up support for the Afghan government a cornerstone of America’s counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. Several commentators have complained of the embarrassment engendered by the WikiLeaks exposure. Washington Post commentator Charles Krauthammer claims that WikiLeaks have caused more problems than embarrassment. First, says Krauthammer, “damage to our warfighting capacity... Second, we’ve suffered a major blow to our ability to collect information... Third, this makes us look bad, very bad.” As an example of damage to our war-fighting capacity, Krauthammer says: “This will undoubtedly limit our freedom of action against [Al-Qaeda’s] Yemeni branch.” Translated into reality, that means the CIA will be constrained from going into Yemen at will and assassinating Al-Qaeda suspects on its hit list. But that’s an argument that you might expect from a neo-conservative commentator who pushed for the invasion of Afghanistan and pre-emptive strikes and occupation of Iraq. Krauthammer’s rationale for his second argument reads: “Success in the war on terror depends on being trusted with other countries’ secrets. Who’s going to trust us now?” This displays Krauthammer’s ignorance of the
US classification system. In the US, information is “classified” if it has been assigned one of the three levels: confidential, secret or top secret. If information related to “the war on terror” is vital to others’ trust or US security, it should have been classified top secret. None of the documents released by WikiLeaks were top secret. “By law, information may not be classified merely because it would be embarrassing or to cover illegal activity; information may only be classified to protect national-security objectives.” “Third, this makes us look bad, very bad,” writes Krauthammer. “What’s appalling is the helplessness of a superpower that not only cannot protect its own secrets, but shows the world that if you violate its secrets – massively, wantonly and maliciously – there are no consequences.” If there are consequences that should be imposed, they should fall to the US government. They complained bitterly about how Afghan informants names were included in the WikiLeaks report, thus endangering the informants. However, Australian investigative journalist John Pilger reported that prior to the release of the Afghan War Diaries in July, WikiLeaks contacted the White House in writing, asking that it identify names that might draw reprisals, but received no response. Yet Krauthammer has called the WikiLeaks documents “sabotage” and concludes by saying “I’m not advocating that we bring out of retirement the KGB proxy who, on a London street, killed a Bulgarian dissident.” If that’s not what Krauthammer advocates, why does he even mention such a fate in his hammering of WikiLeaks? Countries and organizations need to protect their valid secrets with the right kind of classification. Laws concerning classifications were not created to allow careless failure to protect legitimate national interests. At the same time, classification should not be used as a shield to inhibit whistle-blowers and to prevent public disclosures of activity that should be exposed. Transparency precludes keeping secrets that should not be secret. *Balles, Paul J. – retired American university professor and freelance writer who has lived in the Middle East for many years. He is a weekly Op-Ed columnist for the Gulf Daily News. Dr Balles is also Editorial Consultant for Red House Marketing and a regular contributor to Bahrain This Month. The article re published with permission from the author.
infrastructure and key resources that are vital to the national the basis of confidentiality of information.” Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a British lawmaker and economic who has served as both defense and security of any foreign secretary, told The Times that country,” Crowley “This is the kind of information terrorists told The Times. are interested in knowing,” added “Julian Assange Rifkind, who now serves as chairman of ( W i k i L e a k s ’s the British parliament’s Intelligence and founder) may be Security Committee. directing his efforts Kristinn Hrafnsson, a WikiLeaks at the United States spokesman, told The Times that the list but he is placing had been made available to 2.5 million the interests of people including military personnel many countries and and private contractors by the U.S. regions at risk. This government, saying this was a “very is irresponsible,” he wide distribution for information added. claimed to be of such high sensitivity.” The U.K. “In terms of security issues, while this government also cable details the strategic importance condemned the of assets across the world, it does publication of not give any information as to their the document. exact locations, security measures, “The leaks and vulnerabilities or any similar factors, their publication though it does reveal the U.S. asked are damaging to its diplomats to report back on these national security matters,” he told the paper. in the United States, Britain * Left: Brad Manning, the USA soldier and elsewhere,” a held responsible for WikiLeaks’ spokesman for the first disclosures about the wars in Prime Minister Afghanistan and Iraq. David Cameron said in a statement, Source: Newspapers and news agencies according to NBC and WikiLeaks website. News. “It is vital that governments are able to operate on
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
HYDER’S CASE OF INTEREST: Dangerous Posting to Facebook & Medical Board of Australia v Jabbar Hyder Gulam* CT legal editor Two very different articles this month. The first is about ‘Dangerous Posting to Facebook’, and the second is about a circumcision operation that went wrong. 1. ‘Dangerous Posting to Facebook’ We all know that you should not only take steps to ensure that you protect your own privacy, but also that of your loved ones not only on Facebook but on any other social media website. However, instead of the usual dire warnings, this article takes a military bent: An internet posting recently identified a grave violation of Israeli military operational security when an Israeli soldier posted details of an upcoming mission on his Facebook page. A planned Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attack in the West Bank was aborted when an Israeli soldier updated his Facebook page with the following posting: “On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, God willing, we come home.” The content of this posting clearly disclosed sensitive information about the planned Israeli military attack, compromising mission security and jeopardising the safety of the military personnel involved. As a consequence of this posting, the soldier concerned was relieved of combat duty and was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment by an Israeli military court. As part of its effort to
educate members of the military about the importance of not disclosing missionsensitive or classified information on social networking sites, the IDF has published posters on military bases. The posters show a mock Facebook page with the images of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. Below their pictures and Facebook “friend requests”, is a slogan which reads: “You think that everyone is your friend?” While the lesson for the military regarding operational security is apparent, not all the people who seek to be your “friend” are actually “friendly”. Your contributions on social networking sites can be used to compile very useful data for use in possible identity theft or by the intelligence gathering agencies. Just like the IDF is taking steps to protect its security, what are you doing to protect yours? SOURCE:http://gizmodo. com/5485797/israeli-raid-cancelledafter-very-stupid-facebook-post 2. Medical Board of Australia v Jabbar (Occupational and Business Regulation) [2010] VCAT 1772 (5 November 2010) The second matter concerns a rather tragic case, which is a matter of public record. The point of recounting this tale is so that the ummah can make informed medical decisions. This case concerned complaint against a doctor in relation to a circumcision procedure on a 26 month old boy (‘patient’) who suffered from Type 1 Diabetes. Subsequent to the procedure the patient did not urinate and was distressed and suffered from a high temperature. He was rushed to hospital and admitted for surgery, where evidence of infection was found and no route for the passage of urine. The patient developed Fournier’s Gangrene (a very serious infection) and suffered severe scarring to his groin and
Prayer Schedule December 2010 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 31
Fajr 3:26 3:26 3:26 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:26 3:26 3:26 3:26 3:27 3:27 3:28 3:28 3:29 3:29 3:30 3:31 3:31 3:32 3:33 3:34 3:34
Sunrise 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:04 5:04 5:04 5:04 5:05 5:05 5:05 5:06 5:06 5:07 5:07 5:08 5:08 5:09 5:09 5:10 5:11 5:11 5:12 5:13
Dhuhr 12:06 12:06 12:07 12:07 12:08 12:08 12:08 12:09 12:09 12:10 12:10 12:11 12:11 12:12 12:12 12:13 12:13 12:14 12:14 12:15 12:15 12:16 12:16 12:17 12:17 12:18 12:18 12:19 12:19 12:19 12:20
Asr 3:47 3:47 3:47 3:48 3:48 3:48 3:49 3:49 3:50 3:50 3:51 3:51 3:51 3:52 3:52 3:53 3:53 3:54 3:54 3:55 3:55 3:56 3:56 3:57 3:57 3:58 3:58 3:59 3:59 4:00 4:00
Maghrib 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:20 7:21 7:21 7:22 7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24 7:24 7:25 7:25 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:26
Isha 8:40 8:41 8:42 8:43 8:44 8:45 8:46 8:47 8:47 8:48 8:49 8:50 8:51 8:52 8:52 8:53 8:54 8:54 8:55 8:55 8:56 8:56 8:57 8:57 8:58 8:58 8:58 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59
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 31
Fajr 3:35 3:36 3:37 3:38 3:39 3:40 3:41 3:42 3:43 3:44 3:45 3:46 3:48 3:49 3:50 3:51 3:52 3:54 3:55 3:56 3:57 3:58 4:00 4:01 4:02 4:03 4:05 4:06 4:07 4:09 4:10
Sunrise 5:13 5:14 5:15 5:16 5:16 5:17 5:18 5:19 5:20 5:20 5:21 5:22 5:23 5:24 5:25 5:26 5:27 5:28 5:28 5:29 5:30 5:31 5:32 5:33 5:34 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:38 5:39 5:40
Dhuhr 12:20 12:21 12:21 12:22 12:22 12:23 12:23 12:24 12:24 12:24 12:25 12:25 12:26 12:26 12:26 12:27 12:27 12:27 12:28 12:28 12:28 12:29 12:29 12:29 12:29 12:30 12:30 12:30 12:30 12:30 12:31
Asr 4:01 4:01 4:02 4:02 4:03 4:03 4:04 4:04 4:05 4:05 4:05 4:06 4:06 4:07 4:07 4:07 4:08 4:08 4:08 4:09 4:09 4:09 4:09 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:11 4:11 4:11
Maghrib 7:26 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:26 7:26 7:26 7:26 7:25 7:25 7:25 7:24 7:24 7:23 7:23 7:22 7:22 7:21 7:20 7:20
Fajr 3:56 3:56 3:55 3:55 3:55 3:55 3:55 3:54 3:54 3:54 3:54 3:54 3:54 3:55 3:55 3:55 3:55 3:56 3:56 3:56 3:57 3:57 3:58 3:58 3:59 4:00 4:00 4:01 4:02 4:03 4:04
Sunrise 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:36 5:36 5:36 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:37 5:38 5:38 5:38 5:38 5:39 5:39 5:40 5:40 5:41 5:41 5:42 5:42 5:43 5:43 5:44 5:45 5:45 5:46
Dhuhr 12:44 12:45 12:45 12:46 12:46 12:46 12:47 12:47 12:48 12:48 12:49 12:49 12:50 12:50 12:51 12:51 12:52 12:52 12:52 12:53 12:53 12:54 12:54 12:55 12:55 12:56 12:56 12:57 12:57 12:58 12:58
Asr 4:29 4:30 4:30 4:31 4:31 4:31 4:32 4:32 4:33 4:33 4:34 4:34 4:35 4:35 4:35 4:36 4:36 4:37 4:37 4:38 4:38 4:39 4:39 4:40 4:40 4:41 4:41 4:42 4:42 4:43 4:43
Maghrib 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:57 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:00 8:01 8:02 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:04 8:05 8:05 8:06 8:06 8:07 8:07 8:08 8:08 8:08 8:09 8:09 8:09 8:10
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 31
Fajr 4:05 4:05 4:06 4:07 4:08 4:09 4:11 4:12 4:13 4:14 4:15 4:16 4:18 4:19 4:20 4:21 4:23 4:24 4:25 4:27 4:28 4:29 4:31 4:32 4:33 4:35 4:36 4:37 4:39 4:40 4:41
Sunrise 5:47 5:47 5:48 5:49 5:50 5:51 5:51 5:52 5:53 5:54 5:55 5:56 5:57 5:58 5:59 6:00 6:01 6:02 6:02 6:03 6:04 6:05 6:06 6:07 6:08 6:09 6:10 6:11 6:12 6:13 6:14
Dhuhr 12:59 12:59 1:00 1:00 1:01 1:01 1:02 1:02 1:02 1:03 1:03 1:04 1:04 1:04 1:05 1:05 1:06 1:06 1:06 1:06 1:07 1:07 1:07 1:08 1:08 1:08 1:08 1:08 1:09 1:09 1:09
Asr 4:44 4:44 4:45 4:45 4:46 4:46 4:46 4:47 4:47 4:48 4:48 4:48 4:49 4:49 4:50 4:50 4:50 4:50 4:51 4:51 4:51 4:51 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:52 4:53
Maghrib 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:11 8:11 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:10 8:09 8:09 8:09 8:08 8:08 8:08 8:07 8:07 8:06 8:06 8:05 8:05 8:04 8:03 8:03 8:02
USA: Congress set to pass new protections for whistle-blowers
Following the latest release of U.S. secrets on the internet, Congress is poised to pass legislation giving employees in the most sensitive government jobs a way to report corruption, waste and mismanagement without turning to outside groups such as WikiLeaks. President Obama is expected to sign the bill, which is viewed by supporters as a way to discourage illegal leaks of classified information by giving intelligence agency whistle-blowers a means to raise concerns within their organisations. Without protections spelled out in law, whistle-blowers risk being fired or demoted for informing their chains of command about misconduct, according to Tom Devine, legal director at the Government Accountability Project. “Until this law is passed, WikiLeaks will continue to be the safest option for whistle-blowers unwilling to engage in professional suicide,” said Devine, who is coordinating support for the bill from a coalition of more than 60 public interest and advocacy groups. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act would bar workplace reprisals against employees at the CIA and other intelligence agencies who told their superiors about illegal activities, abuses of authority and dangers to public health or safety, according to a draft of the legislation. The bill would also require the director of national intelligence to set up a special review board to resolve cases involving whistle-blowers who believed their security clearances were suspended or revoked as punishment for speaking out. This would be the first time that employees with clearances could dispute an agency’s decision regarding access to classified information. It would also give expanded whistle-blower protections to civil service employees outside the intelligence agencies, including thousands of Transportation Security Administration baggage-screeners and headquarters staff. The rights would extend to employees who challenge the censorship or misrepresentation of federal research. Whistle-blowers outside the intelligence agencies would be able to seek a jury trial in federal court to appeal dismissals or demotions. An earlier version of a House bill would have extended this provision to intelligence employees, but Obama administration officials objected, arguing that classified information would be compromised if these cases were heard outside a classified setting. In a bid to draw attention to the risks whistle-blowers face, Devine’s organisation prepared a report detailing the ordeals of 12 government officials whose employers sought “to enforce secrecy though repression.” Among them is Thomas Drake, a former National Security Agency official who reported “massive fraud, waste and abuse” in surveillance programs to the NSA inspector general’s office. Drake’s reward, according to the report, was an indictment in April under the Espionage Act for allegedly making unauthorised contact with a newspaper reporter after he had exhausted all other means for disclosing the problems he witnessed. Source: washingtonpost.com
Prayer Schedule December 2010 Melbourne, Victoria Isha 9:26 9:27 9:28 9:29 9:31 9:32 9:33 9:34 9:34 9:35 9:36 9:37 9:38 9:39 9:40 9:40 9:41 9:42 9:42 9:43 9:43 9:44 9:44 9:45 9:45 9:45 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46
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 31
Fajr 4:01 4:01 4:00 4:00 3:59 3:59 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:58 3:59 3:59 4:00 4:00 4:01 4:01 4:02 4:03 4:03 4:04 4:05 4:06 4:07
Sunrise 5:52 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:51 5:52 5:52 5:52 5:53 5:53 5:53 5:54 5:54 5:55 5:55 5:56 5:56 5:57 5:58 5:58 5:59 6:00
Dhuhr 1:09 1:10 1:10 1:11 1:11 1:11 1:12 1:12 1:13 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:17 1:17 1:17 1:18 1:18 1:19 1:19 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21 1:22 1:22 1:23 1:23
Asr 5:03 5:03 5:03 5:04 5:04 5:05 5:05 5:06 5:06 5:07 5:07 5:08 5:08 5:09 5:09 5:10 5:10 5:11 5:11 5:12 5:12 5:13 5:13 5:14 5:14 5:15 5:15 5:16 5:16 5:17 5:17
Maghrib 8:27 8:28 8:29 8:30 8:31 8:31 8:32 8:33 8:34 8:35 8:36 8:36 8:37 8:38 8:39 8:39 8:40 8:41 8:41 8:42 8:42 8:43 8:43 8:44 8:44 8:44 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:46 8:46
Prayer Schedule December 2010 Brisbane, Queensland Isha 10:10 10:12 10:13 10:14 10:15 10:16 10:18 10:19 10:20 10:21 10:22 10:23 10:24 10:25 10:25 10:26 10:27 10:28 10:28 10:29 10:29 10:30 10:30 10:31 10:31 10:31 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32
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 31
Prayer Schedule January 2011 Melbourne, Victoria
Prayer Schedule January 2011 Sydney, New South Wales Isha 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:59 8:58 8:58 8:58 8:57 8:57 8:57 8:56 8:56 8:55 8:55 8:54 8:53 8:53 8:52 8:51 8:51 8:50 8:49 8:48 8:47 8:46 8:46
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
abdomen after six operations. It was alleged that the doctor engaged in unprofessional conduct for inappropriately performing a circumcision procedure on the patient in his private clinical rooms, failing to correctly perform the circumcision, failing to appropriately monitor or ensure that a suitably qualified person adequately monitored the patient postoperatively and failing to make appropriate clinical notes. The Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) was concerned about the patient’s age and presence of Type 1 Diabetes. They found that the doctor’s patient selection was poor and that he failed to identify and appreciate the patient’s significant risk factors. The doctor also appeared to fail to take a complete history or record details and to carry out a visual check after the procedure to ensure the penis opening was not obstructed and was clear. In making its determination, the Tribunal took into consideration that the function of a determination is protective not punitive, is for deterrence, and in the public interest. The Tribunal reprimanded the doctor, including suspending his general registration as a medical practitioner for three months, limiting his circumcision practice to infants up to four months of age at his clinic and children from 5 years to 18 years in a hospital or day facility under appropriate conditions and requiring him to undertake remedial education. So, the point of this article is take care when choosing your medical specialist – ask questions about their expertise and seek referral from previous patients if you are unsure and also make sure that you disclose relevant medical information during the consultation. SOURCE: http://www.austlii.edu.au/ au/cases/vic/VCAT/2010/1772.html *Hyder Gulam is the legal editor of CT. He can be contacted at: hyder.gulam@crescenttimes.com.au
Prayer Schedule December2010 Sydney, New South Wales
Prayer Schedule January 2011 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 31
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Isha 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:46 9:45 9:45 9:45 9:44 9:44 9:44 9:43 9:43 9:42 9:41 9:41 9:40 9:39 9:39 9:38 9:37 9:36 9:35 9:34 9:34 9:33 9:32 9:31
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 31
Fajr 4:08 4:09 4:10 4:11 4:12 4:14 4:15 4:16 4:17 4:19 4:20 4:22 4:23 4:24 4:26 4:27 4:29 4:30 4:32 4:33 4:35 4:37 4:38 4:40 4:41 4:43 4:44 4:46 4:48 4:49 4:51
Sunrise 6:01 6:01 6:02 6:03 6:04 6:05 6:06 6:07 6:08 6:09 6:10 6:11 6:12 6:13 6:14 6:15 6:16 6:17 6:18 6:19 6:20 6:21 6:22 6:23 6:25 6:26 6:27 6:28 6:29 6:30 6:31
Dhuhr 1:24 1:24 1:25 1:25 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:28 1:28 1:29 1:29 1:29 1:30 1:30 1:31 1:31 1:31 1:31 1:32 1:32 1:32 1:33 1:33 1:33 1:33 1:33 1:34 1:34 1:34
Asr 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:19 5:19 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:22 5:22 5:22 5:22 5:23 5:23 5:23 5:23 5:23 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24 5:24
Maghrib 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:46 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:45 8:44 8:44 8:43 8:43 8:42 8:42 8:41 8:41 8:40 8:40 8:39 8:38 8:37 8:37 8:36 8:35
Fajr 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:15 3:15 3:16 3:16 3:16 3:17 3:17 3:18 3:18 3:19 3:19 3:20 3:21 3:21 3:21 3:23 3:24
Sunrise 4:44 4:44 4:44 4:44 4:44 4:44 4:44 4:45 4:45 4:45 4:45 4:45 4:45 4:46 4:46 4:47 4:47 4:47 4:48 4:48 4:48 4:49 4:50 4:50 4:51 4:51 4:52 4:52 4:53 4:54 4:54
Dhuhr 11:37 11:38 11:38 11:38 11:39 11:39 11:40 11:40 11:41 11:41 11:41 11:42 11:42 11:42 11:43 11:44 11:44 11:45 11:45 11:46 11:46 11:47 11:47 11:48 11:48 11:49 11:49 11:49 11:50 11:51 11:51
Asr 3:07 3:08 3:08 3:08 3:08 3:08 3:09 3:09 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:11 3:11 3:11 3:12 3:13 3:13 3:14 3:14 3:15 3:15 3:16 3:16 3:17 3:17 3:18 3:18 3:18 3:19 3:20 3:20
Maghrib 6:30 6:30 6:31 6:32 6:33 6:33 6:34 6:35 6:35 6:36 6:37 6:38 6:38 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:41 6:41 6:42 6:42 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:44 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:47
Isha 7:55 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:58 7:58 8:00 8:01 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:04 8:05 8:06 8:07 8:07 8:08 8:08 8:09 8:09 8:10 8:10 8:11 8:11 8:12 8:12 8:12 8:12 8:13 8:13
Prayer Schedule January 2011 Brisbane, Queensland Isha 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:31 10:31 10:31 10:30 10:30 10:29 10:29 10:28 10:28 10:27 10:26 10:26 10:25 10:24 10:23 10:22 10:21 10:20 10:20 10:18 10:17 10:16 10:15 10:14 10:13 10:12 10:10
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 31
Fajr 3:24 3:25 3:26 3:26 3:27 3:29 3:30 3:30 3:31 3:32 3:33 3:33 3:35 3:36 3:37 3:38 3:39 3:40 3:40 3:42 3:44 3:45 3:46 3:47 3:48 3:49 3:49 3:51 3:52 3:53 3:54
Sunrise 4:55 4:56 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:59 4:59 5:00 5:01 5:02 5:02 5:02 5:04 5:05 5:06 5:06 5:07 5:08 5:08 5:09 5:11 5:11 5:12 5:13 5:14 5:15 5:15 5:16 5:17 5:18 5:19
Dhuhr 11:52 11:52 11:53 11:53 11:53 11:54 11:54 11:55 11:55 11:56 11:56 11:56 11:57 11:57 11:58 11:58 11:58 11:59 11:59 11:59 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:01 12:02 12:02
Asr 3:21 3:21 3:22 3:22 3:22 3:24 3:24 3:25 3:25 3:26 3:26 3:26 3:27 3:28 3:28 3:29 3:29 3:29 3:29 3:30 3:31 3:31 3:31 3:32 3:32 3:32 3:32 3:33 3:33 3:34 3:34
Maghrib 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:49 6:49 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:48 6:47 6:47 6:47 6:46 6:46 6:46 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:44 6:43
Isha 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:14 8:14 8:14 8:14 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:13 8:12 8:12 8:12 8:11 8:11 8:11 8:10 8:10 8:09 8:08 8:08 8:07 8:07 8:06 8:05 8:05 8:04
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
The ideal Islamic school
Shaazlah Hafreth*
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
memorised Quran once a week, but other than that we could have been studying in any non denominational school. Our uniforms were contemporary, we studied western music and drama, studied and lunched co-ed and had yoga as our sports meet ‘drill’ one year. Some of us ended up in America celebrating our monthly paychecks with a glass of margarita. And others became alims, muftis or mawlanas. However, the Islamic school I taught in several years later, in Sri Lanka, was established with the aim of following the sunnah of the Prophet, as much as possible. The day did not start until each class teacher prayed two rakat nafl prayer to ask for Allah’s guidance and support throughout the day. Following this was a session where the teacher sat in the midst of her students for about ten minutes and revised with them the hadith they’d learnt so far. Only then would classes commence. The whole day saw us remembering Allah in each and every subject, not only in our twice-a-week subject of Islam. For example, in science, we would proclaim, in addition to stating the obvious, that it was Allah who made it possible for the cow to give milk and if need be, also ask the students if they remembered the supplication recited after drinking milk. The Quran period was a period of Arabic alphabet games and treasure hunts for the first graders, and not just a stiff session of bending over their Qurans. Yet all was not smooth sailing. We did have our share of difficulties. All in all it goes to show how different two Islamic schools can be and how limited we are if we renounce our responsibilities and obligations as parents and teachers. Whether a child goes to a secular school or an Islamic one depends entirely on the parents’ options and opinions. However if we, as parents, do not take on our duty, even the best school will not produce an excellent student.
To be an ideal Muslim one has to secure one’s footing on both the secular and the Islamic rungs of the proverbial ladder of success. Muslim parents today arrive at a crossroads when faced with the difficult choice between enrolling their child in a new Islamic school or a renowned secular one. But then, learning is not exclusive to the school alone. Schooling begins at home, but a child’s friends make or break him too. Without a balance between the two worlds, you can’t expect all-round positive feedback. A good home is one where the parents spend a considerable amount of time with the child. As well as teaching him what is good or bad through day-to day activities, they also show a keen interest in both his curriculum and extracurricular work. A good school is one where there is a fusion of an Islamic curriculum with the country’s syllabus, with a strong disciplinary system that keeps every child in check. Easier said than done though. What is it that exactly differentiates an Islamic school from a non- denominational one? The uniform? An entire period devoted to Islamic studies? The words, ‘Islamic School’ on the building? Also, what defines an Islamic home? Arabic music or cartoons? Posters of Robert Pattinson alongside a bird’s eye view of the city of Mecca? Two BMWs sitting in the driveway? Beauty may be only skin deep but deen goes way, way deeper than that. Islam, as a way of life and not just a book of commandments, does not deserve to be shoved into one hasty period of 45 minutes and then forgotten again once the time elapses. Nor is it worthy of being thought of as a school-only subject where it does not cross the threshold of the child’s home. Islamic schools vary from country to country and from school to school. In UAE, the Islamic school I studied in as *Shaazlah Hafreth is a school teacher and a child right up to my higher secondary Crescent Times’ new QLD editor. level, was only Islamic by name. We had Islam as a subject twice a week and
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Mavi Marmara is returning! On 31st of May 2010, there was a brutal attack in international waters by Israeli soldiers on the humanitarian aid flotilla that set sail as the collective conscience of the world in order to take humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza. After the attack, none of the participants on the Mavi Marmara died with more than 50 being injured, Israel confiscated all the ships of the flotilla. After the release of the Mavi Marmara and its return to Turkey, repairs and maintanance have restored its original condition with no sign of the attack. The Mavi Marmara now is returning to Istanbul! IHH-Humanitarian Relief Foundation is organising a welcome ceremony for the Mavi Marmara on its return to Istanbul on the anniversary of the “Operation Cast Lead” which resulted in the deaths of at least 1500 innocent Palestinian civilians and the wounding of thousands. The service will be held on 26 of December 2010 at Sarayburnu, Istanbul the port from which the Mavi Marmara set sail for Gaza. With this opportunity, the brutal attacks made by Israel on the flotillaand on Gaza will be once again be highlighed and the world will be called to end the siege imposed on Gaza. Wishing to have a world where peace and justice prevail Hüseyin Oruç, Member of the Administrative Board For furhter information: Ph: +90 212 631 2121-245 E-mail: nalandal@ihh.org.tr
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Page 19
Al-Hidayah Islamic School: the fight for survival (part II)
Crescent Times features the history of one of Australia’s most successful Islamic schools
Umar Abdullah * During the weekend before the commencement of operation of the Al-Hidayah Islamic School in January 1994, the founding group once again went through the expressions of interest received from prospective parents to determine how many students could realistically be expected to turn up on the first day. The conclusion was that the minimum 80 students needed to meet the budgeted for shortfall in the first year would at the very least be there. On the first day the actual count was 33. The founding group met that same evening to discuss the ramifications of this immediate set back. Firstly it would double the shortfall and secondly it was obvious that a much greater effort would be required from all concerned. This was seen as a test from Allah swt and all present were determined to press on, trusting in Allah to guide us and help us see it through. The resolve to fight for the survival of this new School was firmly set on the very first day. In the first two years of operation, it was clear that not everyone in our community was on the same page as to what an Islamic school should be or how it should be run. The Prophet Mohammed (saw) has told us that: “In religion there are extremes; Islam is the way in between.” We could see that, so far as our school was concerned, in Islam there were also extremes. What we needed was a way in between. It was decided that all decisions on matters relating to the Islamic nature of the school would be based on the holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed
(saw) and no other source. In this i.e. claiming funding assistance for way, by the end of the second year all students they did not have. Praise be contentious issues had been resolved. to Allah swt, sanity is slowly returning and our community is becoming It was also clear that our presence appreciative of the fact that while both on the Islamic education scene was the state and federal governments do not appreciated by all members of our assist non-government schools, they community and a concerted effort do not provide enough to cover all the was being mounted to “shut us down”. expenses necessary to provide quality When we became aware of this, at a education; parents are expected to time when we were facing extreme contribute to the shortfall by way of financial difficulties, it only hardened school fees. During all its financial difficulties our resolve even more. After 3 years of deficit budgets the and until now, the Al-Hidayah Islamic school had its first break-even year in School has never claimed one cent 1997. From then on the school was in government recurrent funding able to start paying back the funds it assistance to which it was not entitled. had borrowed to keep operating, but Despite its financial hurdles not fast enough. In 1999 the school was and a sometimes external hostile recovering from an enrolment setback environment, the Al-Hidayah Islamic in 1998, created when someone School has been able to, over the years, started a rumour that the school was consistently produce above average shutting down. In addition, there was academic results, and commit to an a particular financial issue looming on Islamic studies program unrivalled the horizon that threatened its future across Australia in terms of time existence. As the deadline approached and investment. The school now has and all avenues had seemingly been an established reputation as a high exhausted, Allah swt sent us someone quality Islamic education institution who understood our situation and throughout the education community, appreciated what we were trying to both here and abroad. It has been achieve and he helped us over this final operating at capacity for a number of years now and has only limited places hurdle. How great is Allah swt. By 2001 the School had overcome in 2011 in some of the upper primary its major debt issues, but it was still classes. In the not too distant future, having to compete in an environment the only way into the Al-Hidayah where, while we expected parents to Islamic school will be through prepay fees in full (100%) and on time, primary. Alhamdulillah, we now have other schools promoted school fees advance enrolments as far ahead as as being virtually optional and were 2015. operating on fee collection rates as low as 10%; when the norm for non- *Umar Abdullah is chair of the school board government schools across Australia is and was a member of the founding group of a fee collection of 90% plus. We all now Al Hidayah School. know how they were able to continue operating under these circumstances;
The need for Islamic schools in majority non-Muslim societies
Umar Abdullah As we are all aware, our community is made up of Muslims of many different ethnic origins. Many of the adult members of our community were born overseas and a significant proportion of them have a tendency to mix and associate with Muslims of their own ethnic background. This is understandable to a degree, but it does tend to cause our community to form into groups with different agendas. This makes it difficult for us to achieve complete harmony and unity on certain issues. While we adult Muslims strive to come to terms with these anomalies, we should consider the future needs of our children. Our children, particularly those who were born here, will naturally over time develop a lesser appreciation of, or attachment to the ethnic origins of their parents. They will grow up mixing with Muslims from all over, sharing a common language with the children they come into contact with, and will eventually substitute the ethnic origins of their parents with a uniquely ‘Australianised’ Islamic identity. The nature of this identity and its worth, will depend very much on the way in which we educate our children and how we direct and supervise their environment and their exposure to unIslamic values and ideas. The future success of our children here does not depend on so called ‘secular’ education and their mixing, associating, working
and competing with non-Muslim Australians. This will happen anyway. True success depends on them growing into confident, pious Muslim adults through having a thorough working knowledge and understanding of their religion and associating and mixing in preference with their Muslim brothers and sisters in an Islamic environment. This Islamic environment should be Islamic in nature twenty four hours a day and does not need to be compromised to get along with and coexist with nonMuslims. To ensure our children will be in such an environment twenty four hours a day, it is absolutely necessary that we, as a community, provide them with access to Islamic educational institutions during those periods when they must be in school. The challenges we face as a Muslim minority living in Australia are not all external. One of the primary challenges faced by all Muslims here is that certain individuals and some mutually exclusive, self serving, minority groups amongst us are corrupting our religion and our community from within with irrelevant ethnic and retro-nationalistic considerations, and worse, with erroneous innovative, ‘modernised’ reinterpretations of Islam. The counter to this lies in all of us, first as individuals, humbly basing our actions and deeds on Islam from pure and uncorrupted original sources only, to make up a cohesive, homogenous law abiding whole, with focus on the common good for this and future generations.
To achieve this objective would not only be of benefit for the Muslims in this country, but would be of benefit to the community at large; part of the solution, not part of the problem. Due to the current diverse make up of the Muslim community, many of whom are recent arrivals in this country, this cannot be done thoroughly in the short term. The reality is that this could take generations; so we need to be getting on with it now. The key is broad based education of our children, which not only comprehensively covers government curriculum studies from the Islamic perspective, but also comprehensively covers instruction in Islam. It should concern us all that we are faced with the possibility that too many of the new generation of Muslims in this country will not have the basic Islamic knowledge they need to differentiate between Islam and extreme alternatives and propositions; particularly when it comes to lifestyle choices. More well run, well resourced, Islamic Schools populated primarily with sincere, dedicated Muslims run in accordance with tenets of Islam, which includes operating within the laws of the land, are the answer. If we are not happy with the way some existing Islamic schools are being run, we should not abandon them but try and get in there and do something about it. If we can’t do that, then we should keep starting new ones until we get the kind of schools we need.
Page 20
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
The Kiki Principle: Debora McNichol*
Don’t be a Victim! Identity thieves and scammers are getting bolder and craftier as they devise more sophisticated methods of separating you from your money. Here are just a few of the more popular scams that are going around these days: The scam: You receive an email from one of your contacts. She is begging for help because she is stranded in a foreign country after her luggage and purse are stolen. She has nowhere else to turn, so she is requesting that you Western Union cash to her so she can get out of that God-forsaken country. What’s going on: Your friend has probably had her email account hacked, and alhamdulillah, is not in physical danger. Any money your send her would go to crooks. What to do: Inform your contact that her email account has been hacked. Suggest she use a better password, and that she inform all her friends that she is, in fact, OK and not about to get eaten by cannibals or black-headed spider monkeys. The scam: You are looking for a job on Craigslist. You find an ad that fits perfectly. The ad says, “Send your resume and salary requirements” to the email address. The website link seems legitimate. What’s going on: That outside website may be legit, but it may not belong to the poster of the Craigslist ad. What to do: Do not send your CV to anyone anywhere unless you are reasonably sure that the recipient is the employer it claims to be. Send an inquiry letter to the website’s contact instead of the Craigslist address. The scam: You receive an SMS from the bank asking you to verify, for security reasons, that you have purchased a $1500 computer, and your account has been suspended. You have purchased no computer. You flip out. What’s going on: No one has used your bank card yet, but these thieves certainly will if you provide them your card information. What to do: Do not respond to this SMS and check your account independently if you have concerns. The scam: You receive an email from a Nigerian banker’s wife, who, after political upheaval, war, cancer, university education, and a child and/or an aunt’s untimely death, wants to share with her trusted friend (that would be you) a portion of her fortune. All you have to do is give her your bank account information. What’s going on: Do I need to spell it out? The scam: You begin receiving an unending barrage of automated calls—so many that you need to change your phone number. What’s going on: Thieves are masking the fact that they are changing your profile information to steal your money. They are tying up your phone with the automated caller in order to prevent your bank or brokerage firm from checking those profile changes with you. By the time you and your bank get in touch, your account is cleaned out. What to do: If you start receiving non-stop automated calls for sexual services, don’t automatically blame your spouse’s Uncle Pete. Instead, start calling
your financial institutions. (That may seem counter intuitive. Do it anyway.) Implement fraud alerts with the credit bureaus, use strong passwords, and check your credit report regularly for suspicious changes. The scam: Work from home for great pay. What’s going on: The scammer takes routing information from the stooge, either by installing malware on his computer or by convincing the stooge to give up the information. Stolen money is deposited into the stooge’s account, then most of it is transferred out to the scammer, who is nowhere within the stooge’s jurisdiction. The stooge may be subject to prosecution (at the least, he will have to disgorge the funds that he has kept), and the scammer simply moves on to the next patsy. What to do: If it looks too good to be true, it is. Stay away from these offers. They’re illegal. Bad. Protect yourself: Internet scams and theft are on the rise. Even a scam that seems obvious to most of us makes money for dishonest people. With so many scams out there, one of them is bound to get us if we do not protect ourselves. Once your money is gone, it ain’t coming back. These scams all involve some type of security breach. The first thing to do is keep your antivirus software up-to-date. The simplest, most straightforward way to steal a password is to use software that creates and tries variations of a user name or email address. For example, the user name “Debora” might generate passwords “orabed” or “1debora” so using those derivations would be foolish. Also, think twice before using the words “Muslim” or “Islam” as they are easily guessable words for those who would love the opportunity to hack into a Muslim’s accounts. Facebook, which we all know and love, is potentially disastrous for the unsuspecting. Be careful whom you friend. Do not put your birth date, birth year, phone number, or any other information that can be used to access any of your accounts. Your mother’s maiden name, your first pet, and the street you lived on as a kid are dangerous pieces of information to leave laying around for anyone to see. Avoid leaving similar sensitive information on other databases. Use separate email addresses for banking, commercial, work, and personal purposes. Keep your phone number off the internet as much as possible. Use a separate computer (inexpensive is OK) only for banking to avoid malware being installed on it. Most importantly, make dua that you and yours stay safe. The best protection is Allah.
* Debora McNichol has written for Crescent Times since its first issue. Debora is an American Muslim lawyer, editor, restaurant manager, and writer, who lives in Virginia and North Carolina, US with her ever-so-patient daughter and husband. She practices business, intellectual property, and criminal law in those states. While not particularly fond of most things emanating from Washington DC, Debora makes a special exception for American football and is an avid Washington Redskins fan. To contact Debora, email her at DebMcNichol@ hotmail.com, but don’t be surprised if she takes a while to respond—there’s a 14 hour time difference and she’s probably sleeping right now.
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Email: info@crescenttimes.com.au
Obama Lawyers Defend “Kill Lists”
William Fisher
Lawyers for the Barack Obama administration argued in front of a federal judge that the U.S. government has authority to kill U.S. citizens whom the executive branch has unilaterally determined pose a threat to national security. That claim came in federal court in Washington, D.C. in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). The two human rights legal advocacy organisations contend that the administration’s so-called “targeted killing authority” violates the constitution and international law. “The full contours of the government’s position would allow the executive unreviewable authority to target and kill any U.S. citizen it deems a suspect of terrorism anywhere,” CCR attorney Pardiss Kebriae told IPS. “As the government would have it, while non-citizens detained at Guantanamo Bay can challenge the deprivation of their liberty by the United States, a U.S. citizen could not challenge an impending deprivation of his life by his own government.” “The Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the government’s claim to an unchecked system of global detention, and the district court should similarly reject the administration’s claim here to an unchecked system of global targeted killing,” she said. The ACLU and the CCR were retained by Nasser Al-Aulaqi to bring a lawsuit in connection with the government’s decision to authorise the targeted killing of his son, Anwar AlAulaqi. The lawsuit asks the court to rule that, “outside the context of armed conflict, the government can carry out the targeted killing of an American citizen only as a last resort to address an imminent threat to life or physical safety.” Anwar Al-Aulaqi was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico and has dual U.S. and Yemeni citizenship. He is a firebrand extremist imam who has been accused by government officials and in the press of using his sermons
and the Internet to recruit jihadists. He is thought to be in hiding in Yemen. The lawsuit also asks the court to “order the government to disclose the legal standard it uses to place U.S. citizens on government kill lists.” “If the constitution means anything, it surely means that the president does not have unreviewable authority to summarily execute any American whom he concludes is an enemy of the state,” said Jameel Jaffer, deputy legal director of the ACLU, who presented arguments in the case. “It’s the government’s responsibility to protect the nation from terrorist attacks, but the courts have a crucial role to play in ensuring that counterterrorism policies are consistent with the constitution.” The government filed a brief in the case in September, claiming that the executive’s targeted killing authority is a “political question” that should not be subject to judicial review. The government also asserted the “state secrets” privilege, contending that the case should be dismissed to avoid the disclosure of sensitive information. On Aug, 30, 2010, the CCR and the ACLU filed suit on behalf of Nasser Al-Aulaqi against President Obama, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon Panetta and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, challenging their decision to authorise the targeted killing of his son as a violation of the U.S. constitution and international law. “Targeting individuals for killing who are suspected of crimes but have not been convicted – without oversight, due process or disclosed standards for being placed on the kill list – also poses the risk that the government will erroneously target the wrong people,” the groups noted. “Since 9/11, the U.S. government has detained thousands men as terrorists, only for courts or the government itself to discover later that the evidence was wrong or unreliable and release them.” The Justice Department declined to comment on the case, which is one of two related lawsuits brought by the ACLU and the CCR. The second is against the U.S. Treasury Department and its Office of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC) challenging the legality and constitutionality of the scheme that requires them to obtain a license in order to file a lawsuit concerning the government’s asserted authority to carry out targeted killings of individuals, including U.S. citizens, far from any battlefield. On Jul. 16, however, the Secretary of the Treasury labeled Anwar al-Aulaqi a “specially designated global terrorist”, which makes it a crime for lawyers to provide representation for his benefit without first seeking a license from OFAC. The CCR and the ACLU sought a license, but after the government’s failure to grant one despite the urgency created by an outstanding authorisation for Al-Aulaqi’s death, the two groups brought suit challenging the licensing scheme as applied to the representation they seek to provide. CCR and the ACLU have not had contact with Anwar Al-Aulaqi. The OFAC requirements generally make it illegal to provide any service, including legal representation, to or for the benefit of an individual designated as a terrorist. A lawyer who provides legal representation for the benefit of such a person without getting special permission is subject to criminal and civil penalties. In their lawsuit, CCR and the ACLU charge that OFAC has exceeded its authority by subjecting uncompensated legal services to a licensing requirement, and that OFAC’s regulations violate the First Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the principle of separation of powers. The lawsuit asks the court to invalidate the regulations and to make clear that lawyers can provide representation for the benefit of designated individuals without first seeking the government’s consent. The OFAC case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Source: ipsnews.net
FBI plant banned by mosque because he was too extreme
The spying game wasn’t all it was cracked up to be for Craig Monteilh, a convicted criminal recruited by the FBI to investigate the march of radical Islam into Southern California. His endless talk of violent “jihad” so alarmed worshippers at the local mosque, that they took out a restraining order against him. Monteilh spent 15 months pretending to be Farouk al-Aziz, a French Syrian in search of his religious roots. He prayed five times a day at the Islamic Centre in Irvine, Orange County, wearing white robes with a camera hidden in a button and carrying a set of car keys that contained a secret listening device. The enthusiastic attempt to catch local Muslims discussing terror campaigns backfired, however, when community leaders went to the police with fears that the suddenly devout young man, who got up to pray at 4am, had become a radical in their midst. The terror case Monteilh had been helping build against Ahmadullah Niazi, the brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden’s bodyguard, collapsed in September, when the bungling informant revealed that his FBI handlers had instructed him to entrap
his potential target and told him that “Islam is a threat to our national security”. Monteilh, who had previously served time in prison for forgery, says he was recruited on his release in 2006 by FBI agents, who he met in doughnut shops and Starbucks outlets. After being given the code name “Oracle”, he was told to root out radicals among the region’s 500,000 practising Muslims. Over the 15 months that he posed as alAziz, Monteilh was paid almost $200,000 to pass secret tape-recordings of his conversations with local worshippers to his handlers. He became a regular at a local gym patronised by young Muslim men. “We started hearing that he was saying weird things,” said Omar Kurdi, a Loyola Law School student who trained there. “He would walk up to one of my friends and say, ‘It’s good that you guys are getting ready for the jihad’.” In May 2007, Monteilh recorded a conversation in which he suggested to Niazi and another young man that they blow up buildings. Niazi appeared to agree with the idea, and the tape was subsequently used as evidence in the terror case against him. However, it now seems that Niazi
had simply been attempting to humour someone he regarded as a dangerous extremist. Indeed, he was so concerned by “al-Aziz’s” attempts to plot an attack that he reported it to community leaders, who passed details to police and took out a restraining order to prevent him from entering the Islamic centre. “Farouk had told them he had access to weapons and that they should blow up a mall,” Hussam Ayloush executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said. “They were convinced this man was a terrorist.” Soon after the restraining order was obtained, in June 2007, the FBI attempted to cut their ties to Monteilh. Several months later, the former agent was arrested and imprisoned on a separate theft charge. In January this year, after being released, Monteilh sued the FBI, alleging that the bureau conspired to have him arrested, then allowed his informant status to become known in prison, where he was stabbed. That lawsuit failed in September, prompting him to shop his bizarre story to the media. Source: The Guardian
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Immigration: Ummah and them? Rashad Ali* ‘God forbids you not, with regard those who fight you not for your (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just.’ [60: 8–9] Ibn Jarir stressed that the verse applies to all non-Muslims of all religions, beliefs and sects. He said “Of all views on this point, the most correct is the view of whoever suggests that the meaning (of the verse) is: Allah (Glory to Him, Most High) does not forbid you (Muslims)‚ from dealing kindly, keeping contact with, and being just to them.” Allah (Most Gracious, Most Merciful) generalised by saying “Those who fight you not for (your) faith, nor drive you out of your homes” to include whomsoever this description applies; He (Glory to Him, Most High) does not specify some of them or exclude others. The above seems a simple and plain teaching from the Quran that we as Muslims should be able to relate to our surroundings whether we are within Muslim communities or nonMuslim communities, in societies where there are majority Muslims or in societies where there is more than one kind of religious community. In countries like Australia for example, you would assume that this is an attitude that would help foster relations within wider society. The interaction of two groups demonstrates the need for such an approach by Muslims who live in non Muslim societies. On one hand we have the Islamophobes who believe that whatever they say is the Islamic teaching must be what Muslims believe. On the other hand we have the more extreme elements of the Muslim community who state “yes we do see ourselves as alien to the geo-political West”. They claim that they are part of a political bloc which is inclusive of only Muslims - the Muslim “ummah”, which bases unity on political and ideological principles, giving a single meaning to the term and how it is used - not in its theological, religious or even Islamic meaning. Whilst it is true that a small faction of extreme and perhaps not very religiously literate Muslims, take this attitude, this is not the norm in any way in the classical understanding of Islam, and the various usages of the word ‘ummah’. The ummah is not a simplistic Muslim political bloc in the Quran and hadith. It is used at times to mean the faithful, as in the verse, “You are the best nation”. Sometimes in the political sense it does not imply folk of one religion only, but rather society as a whole, composed of different religions – as in the sunnah description of the Jews and Muslims of Medina as one ummah or nation (ref. the Mithaq or Covenant of Medina). It is on this basis that jurists have explained the special tie that nations and people within a country have to each other. Sheikh al-Islam Syed Husain Ahmed al-Madani explains this point of the relationship with the nation in his book ‘Islam aur Qaumiyat Mutahidda’ (“Composite Nationalism & Islam”). This is why in fiqh terms it has always been the case that certain countries and empires can have treaties of peace with others whilst other countries/ empires ruled over by Muslims don’t – this is a historic fact and a reality of sharia – (see Sheikh Afifi al-Akiti’s fatwa refuting suicide bombing where he states this). In Muslim belief, everyone from
the time of the Prophet till the day of judgment is the ummah of Mohammed. Ibn Hajar explained in the Fath al-Bari that some (the ummah of istijabah) have accepted the Prophet’s invitation to Islam. Others are still being called and hence they are the Ummah of dawah. In classical fiqh terms, if you lived in a land then your relationship with the rulers of that land meant that even if that land was at war with the Muslim empires you took no part and it was in fact forbidden to do so. In fact this was the case if you had a treaty with that country and others did not – as alluded to in the Quran itself. Al-Sarkhasi elaborated further and explained that if any country which gave Muslims safety to live and practice their religion was attacked, then the Muslims living within that country should join the military ranks and fight to defend such a country. The example of Ja’far bin Abi Talib, who according to the Mujtahid Imam, fought alongside, and gave support to the Negus of Abyssinia is cited in support of this conclusion. There is a further extension of this related to defining the land as a homeland for Islam. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami gave the fatwa that any land or empire where Muslims could practice their faith belonged to Dar al-Islam and therefore if it was attacked by rebels or foreigners, the Muslim majority countries/empires were obliged to fight to defend it. Today, scholars like Mufti Juda’I and Sheikh Ibn Bayyah have taken the view that we live in an unprecedented situation, where in the “western” world we are given citizenship rights, we are not subjects of the king or caliph as our predecessors were, we are citizens who can all participate in shaping the governance and laws and rules of our society. This is a new ‘reality’ or anchor (‘manat’) for legal understanding where there exists religious freedom and political rights; respecting difference and religious rights. This means we interact with it accordingly – we have a social contract in a political and religious sense. Our loyalty is to fulfilling such contracts. Allah says in the Quran, (5:1) – “fulfill your undertakings (and obligations)”. In this sense we are a part of this society and the ‘ummah’, and we have responsibilities here and now which are our primary responsibilities. This is so, whilst not forgetting that we are a part of humanity, to whom we have responsibility also, as the Prophet said to the companions in a mass-transmitted authentic narration as mentioned by Najm al-Din Haythami, “You do not have faith till you have mercy, and you do not have mercy till you have mercy for mankind, each and every one of them (al-nas jami’an).” And yes, within it we do identify with our fellow Muslims, but not as an exclusive brotherhood, as the Prophet included all people within the brotherhood of mankind, as indicated in the hadith: “None of you has faith till he loves for his brother (in the narration of Imam Bukhari in his Tarikh: ‘… loves for mankind’) what he loves for himself.” We are not merely loyal therefore to the countries within which we live but to the people, and to humanity at large. A fealty required by our allegiance to Allah.
*Rashad Ali is a reader of classical Islam and comparative theology and jurisprudence. He writes, comments and discusses issues pertaining to Islam and the Muslim diaspora in the West within mainstream media institutions regularly contributing to BBC Radio 4 ‘Beyond Belief’ and in the written press including the Telegraph, the Guardian, the Observer, The Independent and the Times.
Web: www.crescenttimes.com.au
Tariq Hussain
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
Zamzam water
Centuries ago, Bibi Hajra searched desperately for water in the hills of Sufwa and Murwa to give to her newly born son Ismail. As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of Allah, shaped itself into a well which came to be called zamzam water. In 1971, an Egyptian doctor wrote to the European Press, a letter saying that zamzam water was not fit for drinking purposes. I immediately thought that this was just a form of prejudice against Muslims and arose from his assumption that since the Kaaba was a shallow place (below sea level) and located in the center of the city of Mecca, the wastewater of the city collecting through the drains fell into the well holding the water. Fortunately, the news came to King Faisal’s ears and he set out to disprove the Egyptian doctor’s provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of zamzam water to European laboratories to test the potability (drink ability) of the water. The ministry then also instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plant to carry out this task. It was here that I was employed as a desalting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment. At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like. I went to Mecca and reported to the authorities at the Kaaba explaining my purpose of visit. They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that had supplied millions of gallons of water every year to those performing hajj ever since it came into existence at the time of Ibrahim many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well. I asked the man to
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show me the depth of the well. First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches. He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well. I thought of another idea. The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the zamzam water storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well. After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted, “Alhamdulillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well.” Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well. Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady. After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Kaaba, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Mecca. I was told that these wells were mostly dry. When I reached my office in Jeddah I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the zamzam well could be internally connected to the Red Sea. How was that possible when Mecca is about 75
kilometers away from the sea? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one we analysed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical. The difference between zamzam water and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in zamzam water. This may be why this water refreshes tired hajjis, but more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking. Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false. When this was reported to King Faisal, he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that Allah bestowed as a gift on the faithful coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage. Let me sum up some of the features of zamzam water. This well has never dried up. On the contrary, it has always fulfilled the demand for water. It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. Its potability has been universally recognized as pilgrims from all over the world visit the Kaaba every year for hajj and umrah and there are never any complaints about it. On the contrary, pilgrims always enjoy the water that refreshes them. Water tastes different at different places. Zamzam water’s appeal has always been universal. This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities. Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odor problems. But in the case of the zamzam water, is no sign of biological growth.
reviving ‘slavery’. Who is it that makes these women slaves? It is their brothers, husbands,
to issue visas for foreign domestic helpers is commendable as they view the job as
fathers and the people who are responsible for governing them. They are willing to send their women folk, sisters, wives and mothers to a far-away land to live in houses with other males who are not their ‘mahram’ for a miserly pay. Sadly many of the women who work as house maids return after their two year contract overseas to find their husband has remarried and their children are unkempt. The other maker of slaves is the employer themselves – how can they live their life Islamically when they have woman who are not ‘mahram’ living under the same roof? We have heard of news of the employers and their sons creeping into the slave’s bedroom which adds to the anger and jealousy of the house Mistress resulting in untold abuses. Finally, we have the women who are willing to work as ‘modern day slaves’ open to all forms of abuse. For the sake of money the woman neglects her children and family and exposes herself to danger, trusting strangers, believing they are fellow Muslims. The refusal of the Australian Government
a form of slavery. In many hadith Prophet Mohammed reminded us ‘to free your slaves’. Yet, modern men think they are smarter they reinvent slavery and call themselves good Muslims. Among the many signs of the Last Age, the Prophet has said: “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistresses and masters; that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.” Now we find children and youth dictating terms and threatening their parents – as parents give in to the whims and fancies of their children they then succumb and become slaves to their offspring. As for the ‘barefooted-destitute goat-herds’ – this hadith referred to the Arabs living in the desert who used to be poor, walking barefoot. Now blessed with petroleum dollars and with the power of strong economic growth they rule the earth arrogantly and ignorantly, reinstituting slavery as they go.
Modern Day Slavery
Kamariah Ahmad*
It was the year 2008 when the thought of escaping work pressures in Singapore prompted me to take a flight to Saudi to visit relatives and from there to do umrah – with the intention to relax and sit by the Kaaba. However, at the first stop-over in Riyadh my holiday escape ended before it had begun. I saw large numbers of Indonesian ladies getting off the jumbo, ending their journey in Riyadh; this sent a great shock through me. I described them as “The marching brigades of house maids.” After they alighted at Riyadh airport the plane was left nearly empty; only a handful of us were left to continue the journey to Jeddah. The stewardess confirmed that each day a plane load fly into Saudi and a plane load fly out again bringing hundreds of marching brigades of house maids home after a two year contract. From there I met many teary Indonesian house maids by the Kaaba – each poured out their sorrows, enough to be compiled into a riveting best-seller. Instead of finding happiness in Saudi - they found hell and I found the reality of life - the failures of our fellow Muslims. My heart sank into deep sadness. The weakest form of jihad is to share and tell the truth. There are more than one million Indonesian female workers in Saudi Arabia. Human rights group Amnesty International continues to urge Saudi Arabia and other countries that employ these women to provide greater protection for foreign domestic workers as they face terrible abuse and exploitation. The latest reports of abuse of Indonesian women working as house maids bring to light the actions of modern day Muslims in
*Photo Source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/ Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20101119-248055. html
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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The true Islamic morals Harun Yahya
Some people who say they are acting in the name of religion may misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly. For this reason, it is a mistake to form any idea of that religion from the activities of these people. The best way to understand Islam is through its holy source. The holy source of Islam is the Quran; and the model of morality in the Quran and Islam is completely different from the image of it formed in the minds of some westerners. The Quran is based on the concepts of morality, love, compassion, mercy, humility, self-sacrifice, tolerance and peace. A Muslim who truly lives according to these moral precepts is highly refined, thoughtful, tolerant, trustworthy and accommodating. To those around him he gives love, respect, peace and a sense of the joy of life.
Ghashiyah: 22) To force anyone to believe in a religion or to practice it is against the spirit and essence of Islam because it is necessary that faith be accepted with free will and conscience. Of course, Muslims may urge one another to keep the moral precepts taught in the Quran, but they never use compulsion. In any case, an individual cannot be induced to the practice of religion by offering him a worldly privilege. Let us imagine a completely opposite model of society. For example, a world in which people are forced by law to practice religion. Such a model of society is completely contrary to Islam because faith and worship have value only when they are directed toward God. If there were a system that forced people to believe and worship, people would be religious only out of fear of the system. What is acceptable from the point of view of religion is that religion be practiced in an environment where freedom of conscience is permitted and that it be practiced for the approval of God.
Islam is a religion of peace and well-being The word Islam has the same meaning as “peace” in Arabic. Islam is a religion that came down to offer humanity a life filled with God has made the killing of innocent people peace and well-being in which God’s eternal unlawful mercy and compassion is manifested in the world. God invites all people to accept the moral teachings of the Quran as a model whereby mercy, compassion, tolerance and peace may be experienced in the world. In Surah alBaqara verse 208, this command is given: You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you. As we see in this verse, people may experience well-being only by accepting Islam and living according to the moral teaching of the Quran. God condemns mischief God has commanded humanity to avoid evil; he has forbidden disbelief, immorality, rebellion, cruelty, aggressiveness, murder and bloodshed. Those who do not obey this command of God are walking in the steps of Satan, as it says in the verse above, and have adopted an attitude that God has clearly declared unlawful. Of the many verses that bear on this subject, here are only two: But as for those who break God’s contract after it has been agreed and sever what God has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption in the earth, the curse will be upon them. They will have the Evil Abode. (Surah ar-Ra‘d: 25) Seek the abode of the hereafter with what God has given you, without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as God has been good to you. And do not seek to cause mischief on earth. God does not love mischief makers.’ (Surah al-Qasas: 77) As we can see, God has forbidden every kind of mischievous act in the religion of Islam including terrorism and violence, and condemned those who commit such deeds. A Muslim lends beauty to the world and improves it. Islam defends tolerance and freedom of speech Islam is a religion which fosters freedom of life, ideas and thought. It has forbidden tension and conflict among people, calumny, suspicion and even thinking negative thoughts about another individual. Islam has not only forbidden terror and violence, but also even the slightest imposition of any idea on another human being. There is no compulsion in religion. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest handhold, which will never give way. God is All-Hearing, AllKnowing. (Surah al-Baqara: 256) So remind, you need only to remind. You cannot compel them to believe. (Surah al-
According to the Quran, one of the greatest sins is to kill a human being who has committed no fault. ...If someone kills another person – unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth – it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Surah al-Ma’ida: 32) Those who do not call on any other deity together with God and do not kill anyone God has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment. (Surah alFurqan: 68) As we can see in the verses above, those who kill innocent human beings without a cause are threatened with evil punishment. God has revealed that killing one person is as great a sin as killing all mankind. Anyone who respected the prerogatives of God would not do harm to even one individual, let alone murdering thousands of innocent people. Those who think that they will escape justice and punishment in this world will never escape the account they must give in the presence of God on the last day. So, those believers who know they will give an account to God after their death, will be very careful about respecting the limits God has established.
“urge each other to compassion”. Islam as described in the Quran is a modern, enlightened, progressive religion. A Muslim is above all a person of peace; he is tolerant with a democratic spirit, cultured, enlightened, honest, knowledgeable about art and science and civilised. A Muslim educated in the fine moral teaching of the Quran, approaches everyone with the love that Islam expects. He shows respect for every idea and he values art and aesthetics. He is conciliatory in the face of every event, diminishing tension and restoring amity. In societies composed of individuals such as this, there will be a more developed civilisation, a higher social morality, more joy, happiness, justice, security, abundance and blessings than in the most modern nations of the world today. God has commanded tolerance and forgiveness Surah al-A’raf, verse 199, which says “practice forgiveness”, expresses the concept of forgiveness and tolerance which is one of the basic principles of the religion of Islam. When we look at Islamic history, we can see clearly how Muslims established this important precept of the moral teaching of the Quran in their social life. At every point in their advance, Muslims destroyed unlawful practices and created a free and tolerant environment. In the areas of religion, language and culture, they made it possible for people totally opposite to each other to live under the same roof in freedom and peace, thereby giving to those subject to them the advantages of knowledge, wealth and position. Likewise, one of the most important reasons that the large and widespread Ottoman Empire was able to sustain its existence for so many centuries was that its way of life was directed by the tolerance and understanding brought by Islam. For centuries Muslims have been characterised by their tolerance and compassion. In every period of time they have been the most just and merciful of people. All ethnic groups within this multi-national community freely practiced the religions they had followed for years and enjoyed every opportunity to live in their own cultures and worship in their own way. Indeed, the particular tolerance of Muslims, when practiced as commanded in the Quran, can alone bring peace and wellbeing to the whole world. The Quran refers to this particular kind of tolerance: A good action and a bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. (Surah alFussilat: 34) Conclusion All this shows that the moral teaching offered to humanity by Islam is one that will bring peace, happiness and justice to the world. The barbarism that is happening in the world today under the name of “Islamic Terrorism” is completely removed from the moral teachings of the Quran; it is the work of ignorant, bigoted people, criminals who have nothing to do with religion. The solution which will applied against these individuals and groups who are trying to commit their deeds of savagery under the guise of Islam, will be the instruction of people in the true moral teaching of Islam. In other words, the religion of Islam and the moral teaching of the Quran are not the supporters of terrorism and the terrorists but the remedy by which the world can be saved from the scourge of terrorism.
God commands believers to be compassionate and merciful In this verse, Muslim morality is explained: ...To be one of those who believe and urge each other to steadfastness and urge each other to compassion. Those are the Companions of the Right. (Surah al-Balad: 17-18) As we see in this verse, one of the most important moral precepts that God has sent To purchase the works of Harun Yahya, please visit down to His servants so that they may receive www.bookglobal.net salvation and mercy and attain Paradise, is to
VIC: ICV announces new executive committee
The elections for the ICV, as the peak body for more than 90000 Victorian Muslims, took place on 13 December 2010 at the Annual General Meeting. The new ICV executive committee is as follows: President: Hyder Gulam Vice President: Ramzi Elsayed Secretary: Sherene Hassan Treasurer: Nazeem Hussain Executive Committee Member: Mohamed Nur Executive Committee Member: Craig Dent As the new President of the ICV, Hyder has previously served two years on the ICV executive committee. Sherene Hassan, ICV Secretary and Media Spokesperson stated, “Hyder is one of the most inspiring dedicated individuals I have ever met and I am looking forward to him leading the team. I am confident the new members, Craig and Mohammed will bring a lot to the committee given their exceptional skillbase, corporate and community experience.” Newly elected President of the ICV, Hyder stated: “I am humbled to be elected and thank God and the Muslim community for having faith in me. I am very happy with the composition of the new ICV Executive, which conveys strong stability and balance with many of the preceding Executive staying on, with an infusion of some very good talent.” Past President Ramzi El-sayed stated: “I am delighted to be elected Vice President, and hope to continue and see to fruition some of the projects which I have been personally involved with.”
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Halal investigation
A thorough investigation into the Halal Certification Industry has been long overdue, and I applaud your brave decision to broach a subject which many in our community would be happy to either ignore, or absolve themselves of all liability and responsibility by deflecting blame onto those who work directly in the field. However, we all should realize that this ‘head in the sand’ mentality not only strikes against the core Islamic principle of communal obligation (Fard Kifaayah), but also directly threatens our final destination in the Hereafter. As a young Muslim, one of the earliest hadiths I memorised pertained to the dishevelled man wandering through the desert, raising his hands in supplication to Allah to answer his call, whereupon the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) informs the companions that due to the haram nature of his food, drink and material goods, that his supplication cannot be answered by Allah. And so given that the Prophet (saw) emphasised the importance of consuming halal as a precondition of the acceptance of our supplication and our prayers, it would indeed be a foolish person who denies the importance of having a thorough investigation into the Halal Certification Industry in this country. For too long the certification process has been shrouded in secrecy, and this investigation raises significant issues regarding the lack of transparency. A quick perusal of the website of one of the foremost halal certifying agencies in Australia gives little detail about how the continued validity of certificates is checked in the months after the initial visits that first established certification, yet goes into great detail regarding the cost of certification at every step of the process. At a cost of up to $3000 AUD per certificate, the halal sign may be cheaper to acquire than the Heart Foundation’s Tick, but with the global market with an insatiable appetite for the Halal brand, there is little doubt that there is a lot of money to be made in the halal food market. While allegations of corruption cannot be bandied about without evidence, there are important questions that must be answered pertaining to the revenue raised. Where does the money go? Why aren’t the inspectors independent auditors, instead of salaried staff receiving their pay directly from the halal organisation that hires them? Who are the inspectors, and how can their objectivity be maintained, when the financial incentives of certification are so lucrative? These are questions that need to be asked, and answers must be given. I personally will be sticking to my trusted local Muslim butcher, who hires trustworthy Muslim staff and slaughters at his own abattoir. Until we get more answers from the industry and its regulators, I would implore my fellow brothers and sisters to do the same. It may be less convenient, the price may be a little more, but isn’t the promise of Paradise worth it? Dr Sara Hassan, Melbourne Islamic Hip Hop music I think its great to find someone appealing to the younger generation talking about things we relate to. showing us the music industry isn’t as amazing as we think it is based on actual experience rather than the ‘it’s bad don’t do it’ statements we usually hear. Makes people aware, what we hear is actually true... Safiya Suliman, Melbourne
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Desperate times ahead for Quilliam’s jihad express Yvonne Ridley* We are living in an uncertain world where the most frequent buzzword heard these days in government circles is austerity. So it seems hard times are just around the corner for the many think tanks out there that have grown fat on public funding. One such group is Quilliam which is now trying to pimp its image to attract consultancy work elsewhere. It promotes itself as Britain’s first counterextremism think tank. In their early days jihad proved to be a nice little earner for the group although in truth most of their jihadist credentials wouldn’t past muster in a boy scout’s jamboree. When the group first set up in flash offices in central London with around 18 staff, the Labour Government gave Quilliam £660,000 from the Home Office and £140,000 from the Foreign Office with a further £100k earmarked for 200910. Well one of their newest, and perhaps a tad naive, recruits is a young man called Talal Rajab who jumped on board the so-called jihad express after packing in quite a few years at uni. I did try and Google him to get a sense of who he is but I probably know less about him now than I did before – let’s just say the poor lad is not a headline-maker. I’ve not met him as far as I’m aware; yet he seems to know a great deal about me – oh dear, not another aficionado of the inaccurate Wikipedia. His first big break came when he was given the major role at Quilliam to sit and watch the Islam Channel solidly for three months to produce a report claiming the channel radicalises its viewers … so after 12 weeks of solid viewing one can only imagine the damage it did to him. Did he have counseling afterwards? Following his heroic efforts exposing the channel as promoting or condoning Islamist extremism, violent or otherwise, the self-styled Mary Whitehouse of the Muslim world then decided to focus his attentions on Channel 4, in particular he selected the 4thought.tv series. After weeks of watching this (no wonder Quilliam has had its public funding pulled) he wrote a letter to David Abraham, the Chief Executive of Channel 4 expressing his “deep disappointment” that the channel had given airtime to two prominent Islamist extremists from the Islam4UK group. This all would have passed me by but then Talal Rajab wrote: “The previous Muslim featured in this series, on 9th November 2010,
Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
was Yvonne Ridley, a presenter on Press TV (a I have always propaganda channel for the Iranian regime), believed in God so and an outspoken supporter of many of Islam’s when I embraced most violent and intolerant strands.” Islam it wasn’t a Friends of mine in the media copied me in huge leap from my to his letter and with good reason. Here was Christian faith. some cheeky oik blatantly using my name, out Sadly when I put on of context, in a bid to pimp his credentials to a hijab in 2004 I was bag some consultancy work to justify Quilliam’s called an extremist existence. – despite the fact I In some ways I felt a wee bit sorry for the kid still held exactly the as he revealed himself to be inexperienced when same political views, it comes to the media game which I’ve been working class values and socialist principles I playing for 35 years now. always held dear. He describes I usually one of the TV shrug off all channels I do nonsense bdullah Quilliam, aims to strengthen British this some freelance I Muslim identity which, whilst being faithful to because work for as a the basic tenets of Islam, takes into account a genuinely believe “ p r o p a g a n d a British context and seeks to find harmony between being little people channel”. Well if British and being Muslim. Having said that, Quilliam is like Talal are he knew anything not a religious organisation. Rather, we seek to address irrelevant. about Ofcom issues of citizenship, identity, and belonging, which are But I fear he he would know matters that are currently pertinent to Muslims in the is a victim of that Press TV West. colonialism and is governed by Shaikh William Henry Abdullah Quilliam (1856- for that I’m sorry their rules and 1932) was a native Englishman, a solicitor, from but freedom r e g u l a t i o n s Liverpool, England, who was a Muslim by choice. He and of speech is and if it was a many of his contemporaries embraced Islam voluntarily something I was p r o p a g a n d a and established Britain’s first mosque in Liverpool, born with and channel for now a national heritage site. Quilliam’s community intend to retain the Iranian of nineteenth century Muslims were our forebears in regardless of g o v e r n m e n t British Islam. my faith, class it would have The mass immigration of Muslims from the Indian or convictions been shut down subcontinent, while a welcome development, must not and no one, within weeks of blur our understanding of the history of British Islam. especially the broadcasting. likes of him, is Some academics trace the roots of Muslim presence to Yes, Press TV, the eighth century, citing the Islamic minting of coins going to change like Channel 4, issued by Offa (d.796), King of Mercia (now known as me. ITN, even the the English Midlands). Chaucer in the introduction I am a feminist BBC, and many to his Canterbury Tales 1386 wrote of a ‘doctour of and always other stations physik’ who learned from Muslim sources. In Tudor and have been. I am has on a few Elizabethan times, Muslim influences were palpable in a big admirer occasions fallen literature and trade. Captain John Ward of Kent (http:// of the women foul of Ofcom www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/ward.htm), inspired for who regulations but if example, provides an instructive anecdote of his times. the suffragette it was the sort of However, the first native Muslim community, dedicated movement – a channel he claims to serving fellow Brits on the English mainland, was movement if it it to be it would, as that of Abdullah Quilliam in Liverpool and, later, Lord were in operation I said, have been Headley in Woking.” today, the likes of closed down a Quilliam would long time ago. write off as For his information the channel is state funded radical and extreme for that is exactly how those like the BBC, not state controlled … there is a magnificent females were treated in the past by difference. frightened men who feared change. And how dare he call me an extremist without As I often say, if you are not radicalised you reference to anything? Of course extremism is are not paying attention. I was radicalised on hard to define but I have held the same socialist my mother’s knee, on picket lines in the 70s, views and principles for the last 30 or so years. as a trade unionist in the 80s. And like most of
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What is Quilliam?
the working class I don’t take kindly to having some self-appointed moral guardian voicing their disapproval. The days of the Boss class are over Talal. But what really got my dander up was the closing line of his letter to the head of Channel 4. It read: “We at Quilliam are happy to work with Channel 4 to ensure that free speech is upheld in a way that does not marginalise and misrepresent British Muslim communities – as we have previously done with a wide variety of other media organisations. We would very much welcome a meeting to discuss these concerns further.” Quilliam has no credibility in the Muslim community – they are as out of touch with reality as an ageing uncle at a Saturday concert. And there we have it – Quilliam is, like everyone else, feeling the pinch in these austere times. In their desperation to put a few crumbs on the table they are trying to get more funding from the likes of Channel 4 by using and abusing Muslims. David Abraham has ignored the Quilliam letter so far which could be why the wet-behindthe-ears Talal has now sent the letter out to everyone on Quilliam’s mailing list ranging from right-wing EDL supporting blogs to eminent politicians and journalists. The sad thing is young Talal has much to learn about the media industry – for if he had done his homework he would have realised that of all the broadcasts from More4thought, mine is one of the most viewed. If he had ever bothered to go to my website, read my articles, go to my Facebook account or turn up to any of my meetings he would find out that I am certainly not on the fringes, that I have many supporters in the Muslim and non Muslim communities both in the UK and across the world. Furthermore, if he intends to write about me again, I would seriously advise him to make himself culturally aware of the working class Geordie lass. The first shot is free, Pet – annoy me again and you will forget all about radical Islam and wish you’d read up on feisty Northerners. In fact maybe Quilliam should extend its Think Tank to Toon Army territory! I am happy to advise … for a fee of course. *British journalist Yvonne Ridley is the European President of the International Muslim Women’s Union
The assaults on the Old World civilisations of the Indigenous peoples
The Canadian Charger*
Globalisation’s modern era really began with Columbus in 1492 - the year he inaugurated a new world order, that continues to this day, with the constant invention and reinvention of the Americas as a promised land for immigrants and their descendants - according to Dr. Anthony Hall, Globalisation Studies professor at the University of Lethbridge. Speaking recently at the launch of his epic book Earth Into Property: Colonisation, Decolonisation and Capitalism, which follows Dr. Hall’s critically acclaimed work The American Empire and the Fourth World, he told the gathering at Ben McNally’s Bookstore, in downtown Toronto, that there is another side to the American dream. “The other side of the invention of America as a New World has been the military, legal, cultural and psychological assaults on the Old World civilisations of the Indigenous peoples. Together these processes form a core component in the genesis of global capitalism.” When we are able to see through the myth of global capitalism as a wonder that is lifting the world’s poor out of poverty, Dr. Hall said we see the commodification and privatisation of such massive portions of the earth’s natural resources – a process which dominates our very lives. “Never before have all the world’s nations, peoples and cultures been pressed into the mould of a single political economy, a single worldwide market. How has the globalisation of this economic monoculture affected our democratic rights and responsibilities when all the world’s peoples live or die based on their ability to survive in a single regime of capitalist interaction? Where is the democratic choice in this all-
encompassing system?” While the larger framework of Dr. Hall’s book is global, he puts North American history at the centre of his narrative, explaining how encounters between Indigenous peoples and Anglo-American builders of European national corporate empires, explains much about the character of Canada and the United States today. He said that in breaking from the British Empire, the Americans established an identity as Indian fighters, while the founders of Canada – America’s then conservative opponents, who wished to remain within the British Empire– sought to win the loyalty of Indians based on principles of alliance, consent, the rule of law and treaty federalism, laid out in the Royal Proclamation of 1763 – the constitutional instrument that formed the basis of British imperial Canada. “Like the instruments of law that advanced the abolition of slavery, the prohibition of genocide and the universality of human rights, the Royal Proclamation figures centrally in the history of international law. In Canada, the Royal Proclamation is still working its way into the body politic in our constitutional recognition and affirmation of Aboriginal and treaty rights. This affirmation in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, is being expressed, for instance, in the negotiation of 50 or so Crown-Aboriginal treaties presently being hammered out with the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia.” Dr Hall said America’s core ideal of conquest has implications today, in the justifications and course of the 9/11 wars, which are directed primarily against the Indigenous peoples of Eurasia.
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“The process of fighting, removing and eliminating Indians in the transcontinental expansion of the United States helped establish patterns re-enacted to this day in the ailing superpower’s military resource grabs, masked as civilisation’s ascent over the terror of Aboriginal savagery.” In contrast, the Royal Proclamation of 1763, is based primarily on the advice of William Johnson, whom Dr. Hall sees, along with Molly Brant and Tecumseh, as instrumental founders of Canada, and fountainheads of Indigenous Conservatism – the school of polity-building epitomised by the best of William Johnson’s policies. Moreover, Dr. Hall said Canada’s multicultural policies have deep roots in the Red Tory tradition of Indigenous Conservatism, which is a very different brand of conservatism from that of the Harper government and the Tea Party movement in the United States. In looking to the future, Dr. Hall said he would like to see a preemption of the 9/11 wars through a consolidation of a system of global security based on the consent of the governed and on the equitable and fair enforcement of the rule of law, as expressed especially in the treaty federalism of the international community. “I would like to see a globalised renaissance of Canada’s Red Tory tradition as part of a transition to the ecological conservatism implicit in the biocultural diversity of the Fourth World.” The Fourth World is a term introduced in 1974 by the Shuswap sage George Manuel in his effort to explain the underlying philosophies of the Non-Aligned Movement and the World Council of Indigenous Peoples. *Source: The Canadian Charger website
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Issue # 26, December 2010/January 2011
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Instant family: Eid anywhere - different and the same Nasya Bahfen New York, USA Even without your existing family and friends, you can celebrate with Muslims you barely know. Eid al-Adha this year was one of the hardest I’ve ever experienced. As one of the two major Muslim holidays, it is meant to be a time shared with family and friends as we recall the devotion and selflessness of prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and celebrate with those of us blessed enough to be in Mecca for the pilgrimage. This year, with my parents holidaying in Jakarta, one sister and her family in Yogyakarta (near the unpredictable Mount Merapi volcano), another sister in Melbourne and my brother working on Christmas Island, I could only make du’as, SMSs and Skype calls for my farflung family from the other side of the world. Since I returned to a full time lecturing position at my alma mater, RMIT, I would play a little spot-the-hijabi game, and keep a running daily tally of the number of women in headscarves I would see that day on campus and in the part of the Melbourne CBD where the university is located. The highest tally so far is 17, but most days it hovers around the 11 to 12 mark.
Here in New York, it’s much lower – one or two, usually on the NYU campus where I’m spending the Australian summer as a visiting scholar; more if there’s an NYU Islamic Center event that day and I go. One of the best things about being away on Eid from the people and places you know is that the basics are the same – the number of takbirs during the prayer might differ, and the type of food (bagels, in this case) but overall the drill is familiar. You make wudhu, you don your best clothes, you head to where Eid prayer is being held, you listen to the khutbah, you eat. And “Muslim time”? E v e n T H A T is the same. So I headed towards t h e campus nice and e a r l y, and on exiting the subway station a woman in a headscarf approached me. She was a Bengali-American, a PhD student from Columbia, and together with her husband wasn’t sure where the Eid prayer was being held. Happily, even though I’d
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been in the city for a total of five days, I was able to help them having already visited the NYU Islamic Center. The wife was to be the first of several new friends I made in the city. The prayer was led by an earnest young NYU student in glasses and beard, who kept his khutbah short, sweet and relevant. In a very Noo Yawk accent, he recapped the reasons for celebrating Eid al-Adha, reminding the congregation about the tests they faced as Muslims in the US and urging them to recall the enormity of the trials faced by Abraham and the rewards he received, including a string of descendants from his son the prophet Isaac that read like a who’s who of the glitterati of Islam, Christianity and Judaism (the prophets Jacob, Jonas, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Zachariah, John the Baptist, and Jesus), and from his son the prophet Ishmael, the greatest messenger in Islam in prophet Mohammed. In the style of Eid celebrations everywhere, feasting followed the khutbah in the university’s Islamic Center (which is currently the basement of a church on West 4th Avenue near Washington Square – NYU is building a multi-
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