Melbourne Marriage Workshop Part 1

Marriage. Now there’s a fail-proof way to fill a room up with young Muslims! In early June, Melbourne was blessed with the presence of Imam Afroz Ali to run Part One of his highly acclaimed 3-part Marriage Workshop series. This exciting 2-day workshop provided a balance of Islamic principles, practical application and sage advice.

The workshop began by considering some practical guidelines on what to seek in a potential spouse and what to expect from marriage. For those who have benefited from Imam Afroz’s classes before, I’m sure you will agree that he is anything but a sugar-coater. We were very quickly introduced to the reality of what marriage entailed, and that considering a potential “significant other” demanded more than a skin-deep appraisal and a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

We were introduced to a quick mental exercise known as the “swing test” – imagine you and your spouse sitting on a swing when you’re 70: Hairless, toothless, and whatever else Allah SWT has gracefully caused to slip away over the years, and be able to honestly look into each other’s eyes and say, “I love you”.

So if not to look for beauty, what are we to search for in a potential spouse? Why, Deen of course! Also, Taqwa and compatibility.

There was a large fiqh component to the weekend, covering the rights and responsibilities of husband and wife and the due process of entering into a marriage contract. The workshop format here provided a fantastic avenue for answering all those sensitive questions and pressing concerns on the minds of participants. Myths surrounding nikah, engagements, mahr, rights, ill-conduct and divorce were tackled and dispelled.

If any of our heads still remained in the clouds after all that, Imam Afroz ensured that our feet were firmly on the ground for the final homerun. He posed the question to us: “How can you know what you are looking for, if you don’t know who you are?” Or more importantly: “How can you expect things from a spouse, without acknowledging what you have to give?”

It can be easy to mentally construct the perfect partner, who will not only complete our life but will amiably put up with all our shortcomings as well! There’s no need to discuss the impossibility of such a situation. We cannot expect to seek perfection in another, but rather we should be striving to attain perfection within ourselves. Becoming aware of our many shortcomings, and taking steps to correct them where possible, is an important part of an individual’s spiritual journey.This will be the subject of Marriage Workshop Part 2.

All things considered, those matters that may have once seemed so important, such as beauty, an expensive mahr and fancy wedding parties, pale in comparison to the ultimate goal of reaching a station of Ihsan with Allah SWT, and sharing that journey with a life partner.

Meeting Bishop Kevin Manning

Assalamu alaykum

On Saturday I attended an Interfaith gathering especially prepared for Bishop Kevin Manning, as he’s retiring. I think I heard of his name before but I never met him; it was like "whatever…just another priest, doing priestly work…" But on Saturday I got to find out that he was very much involved in interfaith and a very big advocate for Muslims. Whenever the media spoke ill of us, he’d be amongst the first out there, gathering people and telling them that is not true and what Islam truly is. I was really impressed and surprised at the same time, because I knew that a lot of Christians know what Islam teaches, but to go out of ones way to defend a religion other then your own is really something!

He made me realize that interfaith is something that is really, really necessary. And not for us to come together and compare the religions as the Bishop said, but for us to get to know each other, each others beliefs, and build trust - the key point. I always thought that I could see benefit in this, since I attended a few interfaith functions, but I couldn’t put my finger on it, and that’s what it was – trust.

So even though we have differences in belief, this is not what should be dividing us at all as the Bishop said, not at all; it is the trust at human level that binds us.

And what’s the use of the trust? Well if I don’t trust you how would you expect me to believe anything you say, and to believe you, and that you are who you say you are. So trust is the power that gets people to be on your side, so when others speak ill of you, he/she will be standing by you.

So in the case of Bishop Manning he trusts that Islam does not teach Muslims certain things that the media likes to pick on, because he studied Islam and met Muslims who proved that they are good people; and the Bishop has people who have trust in him as the leader of their community and when he spreads the word of who Muslims really are, they listen to him; and those people will mention to someone else, and/or teach their children what they’ve been taught …and so on and so on.

Interfaith works! No doubt!

Just wanted to share that with everyone because as Imam Afroz and the Bishop talked, my eyes teared up at what wonderful things he had to say about Islam…[remember, coming from a Christian!]. Allah works in amazing ways =)

Human Nature - Introduction to the Human Psyche

This course is without a doubt the best course I have enrolled for since becoming a casual slash part time student of the Al-Ghazzali Centre. Imam Afroz started the course by building the right environment for the students starting with the basics of anatomy, DNA, neurons in the brain... then gradually moving towards more deeper understanding of the Insaan (Human Being).

It took us 4 to 6 weeks just to build the right framework necessary to understand the 'fitrah', preceeded by the different states of the nafs gradually progressing towards other aspects of the human being. The more the course progress the better I have been able to understand human nature and more importantly myself. SubhanAllah! This is partially because the course involves constant interaction between Imam Afroz and us students. Often more is learnt and understood from the discussion between the students and the teacher. Never have I encountered such a though probing, mind challenging course. It constantly triggers contemplation and self reflection in better understanding oneself.

Definitely a course I recommend for those wanting to further understand themselves.

Imam Afroz Ali's Website

Assalaam Alaikum and Peace be upon you all,

Imam Afroz Ali - Website

For those who aren't aware, Imam Afroz has his own website.... it has loads of interesting articles there, as well as links to other AGC initiatives.

It is updated regularly, when he finds time out of his busy schedule.

Insha'allah you can take the time to read some of these articles, and resources.

Imam Afroz Ali - Website

Mizaan Living

Assalamu alaykum
Below is a video I put together of one of the Mizaan walks and the rest is some of the other activities Mizaan does mashAllah =)

The next Mizaan walk is this saturday 12th June 2010. For more info and to register go to
Mizaan Living - Coastal Walk - Spit to Manly