1. The Voice of New Muslims: A look inside Australia's Islamic Community
Contributed By Sister Nasirah Cavaney, Victoria.
When I began my study of the Islamic faith I had never met any Muslims. Islam as a religion intrigued me, but I also was a little apprehensive about physically been face to face with an actual Muslim. Just like many Westerners I had viewed Muslims with a little suspicion and was wary about their true intentions. I would like now, to remove the barriers and let you experience through my eyes the Australian Muslim community.
The Islamic community in Australia is made up from many ethnic groups from all the continents on Earth, from the fairest Europeans to the Darkest Africans. In Islam we are taught that no race is superior to another and we treat each other as brothers and sisters, regardless of race. To be truthful I wasn’t even aware there were “blond haired blue eyed Muslims” prior to my entry into Islam. These are Muslims born into Islam not converts. This is meant not as a racist comment but it shows the ignorance I had about Muslims. I am sure this ignorance was not and is not solely mine alone. Another fact that many people don’t realize is that 35% of Muslims in Australia are Australian born. They speak perfect English even with an Australian accent. Many still equate Muslims with Arabs, yet the truth is there are many Christian Arabs, of which 10-15 million lives in the Middle East alone. An Arab by definition is a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding territories. A Muslim by definition is one who submits to God. People should not assume an Arab to be Muslim. Christian Arabs sometimes call themselves ‘The Forgotten Christians’ yet they play an important role in the Middle East. Islam is a universal religion where brotherhood and sisterhood is important. Unity is paramount.
Allah's Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. The piety is here, (and while saying so) he pointed towards his chest thrice. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother Muslim. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith; his blood, his wealth and his honour".
Many people talk of the oppression of women in Islam. Here in Australia the Muslim women I know are far from being oppressed. The Muslim women I have met are intelligent, strong, passionate and caring. The scarf we wear is an act of obedience to God not our husbands. In fact, to be completely truthful, it is more common for the women to push their right to wear it than the other way round. Sadly, some Muslim men in Australia don’t like their wife to be covered. However it is an obligation from God upon every Muslim woman. From a personal point of view, I really love wearing it, it is not a chore to me rather it is an act of faith. Prior to wearing it, I feared the physical heat and the community’s response, but I am thankful to say that neither has bothered me. Many ask, “Are you hot?”. The truth is probably no hotter than anyone else. The scarf has also become a symbol of Islam and I wear it with the knowledge that by wearing it I am showing my faith to others. I truly hope that it puts a human face to the religion.
One of the first things you notice about Muslims is the use of Arabic phrases they continually say; most of these people have no Arab background. I found this to be a little confusing at first. So I shall let you into what these people are actually saying.
Muslims greet each other with Assalaamu Alaikum. This loosely translated into English is “Peace be with you”. Catholics greet each other with this same phrase in Mass (Their church service). The other most common phrase Muslims use is Insha’Allah. This translates to “if God wills”. As an ex-Christian I am very aware that Christians have also been commanded to say these words. In the Bible in James it reads;
13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Muslims use other Arabic phrases too, such as Alhamdulillah (All praise to due to God), Allahu Akbar (God is most great) and Bismillah (In the name of God) – Muslims say the latter before beginning anything such as eating, working etc. In effect, we are called to acknowledge God's sovereignty over life and all its activities.
Other things that may help people understand the Muslim Community:
We do not worship any man; we only worship the one and only God. We do not worship Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) but we do follow his example. The Qur’an states;
Ye have indeed in the Apostle of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God. (Chapter 33 Verse 21)
We do not consume alcohol or even be seated with those who are drinking alcohol. We are strictly forbidden to consume any intoxicants including any non-prescribed drugs.
We do not eat pork products or eat food that has been touched by any pig flesh.
In Islam men and women are not allowed to touch each other unless they are family, hence, we do not shake hands or embrace those of the opposite sex. We are not trying to be rude by not offering our hand.
We do not gamble including purchasing raffle tickets. So when a person sells raffle tickets for charity and we don’t purchase any, it isn’t necessarily because we don’t care about the cause. Charity is an important part of our faith, there are a number of Islamic Aid organizations in Australia such as Muslim Aid Australia which sponsors orphans overseas, gives food aid and helps with water purification for communities in need. They played an important part in the aid effort for the tsunami victims although this wasn’t largely shown in the media. Muslim Aid Australia Inc. is a signatory to the ACFOA (Australian Council for Overseas Aid) code of Conduct which requires high standards of public accountability. They can be found online at www.muslim-aid.org.au
Lastly I would like to say that Muslims are people of faith and of community. We care about Australia and we care about its people.
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2. The Voice of New Muslims
Contributed By Sister Nasirah Cavaney, Victoria.
Christmas is part of Australian culture.
How people view Christmas depends mainly on their personal religious beliefs. To some it is solely a time for presents, time with family, while to others Christmas is a spiritual time, a time to celebrate a great miracle.
The name Jesus Christ is well known to a majority of people on this earth. He is a controversial historical figure. He is known by different names in different languages including, Iesous (Greek), Essa (Arabic), Yeshua (Hebrew) and Eashoa (Aramaic – his mother tongue) and of course Jesus (English). To some he is seen as a false Prophet, to others as God incarnate, many as a great man, and recently he has even been placed in a role as a witch! What is his role if any in Islam and is Christmas celebrated by Muslims?
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother Mary (may Allah be pleased with her) are highly respected and honoured in Islam. The Holy Qur’an informs us that the life of Jesus (pbuh) began as a miracle from God.
And (mention) when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the woman of the worlds. (Qur’an 3:42)
(And mention) when the angels said: "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messaih, Jesus, the son of Mary, distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brough near (to Allah). (Qur’an 3:45)
She said: "O my Lord! How will I have a child when no man has touched me?" (The angel) said: "Such is Allah: He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is. (Qur’an 3:47)
In Islam we acknowledge the virgin birth of Jesus (pbuh) and his great miracles but we do not see him as anything divine. As the Qur’an states;
Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam; He created him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was. (Qur’an 3:59)
In the Bible Jesus (pbuh) is recorded to have said "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me." John 5:30
This is confirmed in the Qur’an also.
(The day) when Allah will say: "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favour upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit (i.e.; the angel Gabriel) and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and (remember) when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay (what was) like the form of a bird, with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind (from birth) and the leper, with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from (killing) you when you came to them with clear proofs, and those who disbelieved among them said, “This is nothing but obvious magic.' (Qur’an 5:110)
So do Muslims celebrate Christmas, the answer is no. Christmas is a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of the Son of God, God incarnate.
So what does this mean for a Convert to Islam? A majority of New Muslims come from a Christian background.
On one hand you don’t want to upset the family or not be part of the family traditions but on the other hand you don’t want to compromise on your new found faith. Family is very important in Islam. One thing I must stress is that it is not meant to be an insult to Christians or to Jesus (pbuh) that Muslims do not celebrate Christmas. According to Islamic scholars a person may spend Christmas with their family as long as they don’t participate in worship of Jesus, or share a meal that has alcohol present or consists of pig products (ham, bacon or pork). It is pretty logical to any follower of Jesus (pbuh) that he was an observant Jew and thus did not partake in pig products himself. In fact ham didn’t become part of Christmas tradition until centuries after Jesus (pbuh) ascended to heaven and it is in fact part of an old pagan custom. We acknowledge the fact that within in all religions sometimes the line between the actual religious practices and people’s traditional customs can become blurred. Islam included. Forced marriages may still take place in certain Islamic communities, but Islam in fact insists on the free consent of both bride and groom. Forced marriages are actually deemed forbidden in Islam.
So do Muslims have their own special celebrations? Yes indeed we do. There are two Eids; Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha at the time of the end of the hajj. Eid means recurring happiness or festivity in Arabic. Each of the Eid days begins with prayer and is spent in alms-giving, visiting friends and relatives, and exchanging greetings and gifts. The spirit of Eid is the spirit of peace and forgiveness, for at these times one should forget all grudges and ill-feeling toward one's fellow men if he has not already done so.
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3. The Status of Women
Contributed By Sister Ayeshah Starkey & Sister Janine Cadd, Western Australia.
While reading this article please hold in mind that the Message of Islam was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) approximately 1400 years ago into a world that held women to be possessions that could be bought and sold and had no legal and few if any moral rights. A Roman wife was described by a historian as “a babe, a minor, a ward, a person incapable of doing or acting anything according to her own individual taste, a person continually under the tutelage and guardianship of her husband.”[1] The rights women were given in Islam were far ahead of other civilisations and in some cases they still are. They are however just to both men and women and suited to maximise the differing qualities of both sexes.
“..The Muslim men and Muslim women who have surrendered,
the believing men and believing women,
the obedient men and obedient women,
the truthful men and truthful women,
the patient men and patient women,
the humble men and humble women,
the charitable men and charitable women,
the fasting men and fasting women,
the men and women who guard their chastity,
men and women who remember Allah often -
for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward”
Qur’an 33:35
This is clear cut evidence from the Qur’an that men and women are equal in the sight of God in terms of their rights and responsibilities. Each person is individually accountable and responsible for their own actions:
“Whoever works righteousness, male or female, while he is a believer, Verily, to him We will give a good life that is good and pure, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they use to do” (Qur’an 16:97).
This is in contrast to Hindu Scriptures which describe a good wife as “a woman whose mind, speech and body are kept in subjection, acquires high renown in this world, and, in the next, the same abode as her husband.”[2] The author of “Scientific Studies of male-female Differences” in the Encyclopaedia Britannica states ‘with respect to personality traits, men are characterized by greater aggressiveness, dominance and achievement motivation, women by greater dependency, a stronger social orientation, and the tendency to be more easily discouraged by failure than men.”[3] Islam as a religion that legislates to optimise our differing characteristics therefore rules in accordance with our natural inclinations; recognising our differences but judging us equally.
A women is no different from a man in her obligations and in some cases is exempted from the duties a man has to perform, for example she is exempt from daily prayers and fasting during her menses and forty days after childbirth, she is also exempted from fasting during pregnancy and while nursing her baby if there is any threat to her or the child’s health. This is clearly a sign of the consideration Islam gives to women and not a sign of a lower status.
A woman in Islam cannot be forced to marry anyone against her will and the Mahr (dowry) that is paid by the prospective husband is her property alone, her parents or guardian have no share in it. The Mahr is a gift to the bride symbolizing love, respect and affection; it is not an actual or symbolic price for the woman. In Mosaic Law as explained by the Encyclopaedia Biblica: “To betroth a wife to oneself meant simply to acquire possession of her by payment of the purchase money; the betrothed is a girl for whom the purchase money has been paid.”[4] Also: “The girl’s consent is unnecessary and the need for it is nowhere suggested in the Law.”[5]
Within marriage Islam has established rules that take into consideration the physiological and psychological make-up of man and women, both have equal rights and claims on each other, except for the one responsibility of leadership. This is natural in any collective life and is consistent with the nature of man.
“… And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them to what is reasonable. But the men have degree over them...” (Qur’an 2:228)
Such a degree is Quiwama (maintenance and protection) which refers to the natural difference between the sexes which entitles the physically weaker sex to protection. It implies no superiority or advantage in the law. The man’s role of leadership does not mean the husband’s dictatorship over his wife. Islam emphasises the importance of taking counsel and mutual agreement in family decisions for example;
“…If they both (husband and wife) desire to wean (the child) through mutual consent and consultation, there is no blame on them….” (Qur’an 2:233).
The Qur’an strongly emphasises and the Prophet (PBUH) recommended the kind treatment of women;
“…But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good…” (Qur’an 4:19).
The Prophet (PBUH) said “the best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family. The most perfect of believers are the best in conduct and the best of you are those who are best to their wives” (Ibn-Hanbal No 7396).
The Muslim woman also has a right to ask for a divorce from her husband whereas in the Encyclopaedia Biblica it states “The woman being man’s property, his right to divorce her follows as a matter of course.”[6] And “In Mosaic Law divorce was a privilege of the husband only…”[7]
Economically Muslim women have the independent right of ownership. She has the legal right to her money, real estate or other properties fully acknowledged. It was not until 1938 that the French law was amended to recognize the eligibility of women to contract and even then a married woman still had to secure her husband’s permission before she could dispense with her private property. In English Common Law: “…all real property which a wife held at the time of a marriage became a possession of her husband. He was entitled to the rent from the land and to any profit which might be made from operating the estate during the joint life of the spouses. As time passes the English courts devised means to forbid a husband’s transferring real property without the consent of his wife, but he still retained the right to manage it and to receive the money which it produced. As to the wife’s personal property, the husband’s power was complete. He had the right to spend it as he saw fit.”[8] Only by the Married Women’s Property Act of 1870, amended in 1882 and 1887 did women achieve the right to won property and to enter contracts on a par with spinsters, widows and divorcees. A Muslim woman has the right to work outside of the home with her husband’s permission and any money that she earns is hers alone and no one can make any claim on it. She does not have to use the money to support the family as this is the responsibility of her husband. This is why a woman’s right in inheritance is half that of a man, the man has to support his wife and family whereas the woman may dispose of the money or keep it as she wishes.
Politically a woman is equal to a man; she may participate in public affairs and be nominated to public office. There is Qur’anic evidence that women participated in serious discussion and argued even with the Prophet (PBUH) himself (Qur’an 58:1-4 and 60:10-12). A woman cannot however be head of state because of the requirements of the position, i.e. to lead the prayer
A final note I would like to make is concerning the hijab (modest dress) of Muslim women which is commonly seen as sign of her oppression by the male members of her family or community. The hijab is an order from God to Muslim women to dress in a way that covers the attractiveness of their bodies.
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known, so as not to be annoyed” (Qur’an 33:59)
By doing this they receive the Pleasure of God and many other benefits such as: being treated as a person and not a body or a sex object, not being molested on the street. To wear the hijab is a liberating experience and certainly not a form of oppression. Both Christian and Jewish women are ordered to dress modestly and cover their hair, many simply choose not to.
[1] Allen, E. A., History of Civilisation, Vol. 3, p.550
[2] Mace, David and Vera, Marriage East and West. Dolphin Books, Doubleday and Co., Inc., N.Y., 1960
