Islam is not a revolution, it's a transformation

Interview with Imam Afroz Ali by Selma Cook

Imam Afroz Ali began the preparatory work for Al-Ghazzali Centre about ten years ago. He is a man with a vision and his intention to develop the centre began when he asked Hamza Yusuf to come to Australia and do some lectures and maybe hold a conference. Hamza Yusuf asked Imam Afroz a fundamental question: "What have you done to prepare people for knowledge?" Imam Afroz recalls: "At first I wasn't thinking to set up a new organization but work with existing ones, thinking they had the necessary skills and infrastructure but I found that they were not sufficient to fulfill my vision."

Imam Afroz underwent study in Mauritania and through his learning he realized that he must be a facilitator for students; not just a role model. The Imam observes: "Because knowledge is incomplete without action, I knew that if I don't help them act, my time is being wasted." He wanted to develop a model with maximum outcomes.

The basic foundation of Al-Ghazzali Centre is facilitating knowledge and helping people act upon the knowledge they gain. He called it the 'knowledge to action model'. On this basis, the centre conducts a variety of courses, lessons and activities and is always involved in community work like visiting the sick, feeding the homeless and cleaning Muslim graveyards.

Holding yearly retreats is part of the centre's facilitation of knowledge and Imam Afroz recognizes there are many people who are seekers of knowledge at a semi-formal or informal level as well as those who are not yet seeking knowledge appropriately or sufficiently. The idea of the retreat is a concept borrowed from Zaytuna Institute's Deen Intensive to help students who are still learning about the significance of spiritual knowledge. Attendees receive practical advice based on practical scholarship, and learn how to make Islam a living part of their lives. Imam Afroz comments: "The main purpose of the retreat is to provide potential students with a stepping stone to take their knowledge seeking seriously and do it in a more structured way."

Those who attended the retreat had one thing in common; they want Islam to be a more significant part of their lives. The Imam explains: "Students are exposed to intensive learning where Fiqh takes on a spiritual perspective and spirituality becomes practical."

The Imam believes this year's retreat is unique: "For the first time we truly hit the mark of 'practical spirituality' by the theme of the retreat (Journey to Allah) and specifically by having nasheed singers and involving local artists to create an atmosphere of spirituality that was visually manifest."

Al-Ghazzali Centre's retreats are based on a rotating system and each affiliated organization creates its own theme but Imam Afroz ensures that the Fiqh is seen from a spiritual perspective and that spiritually takes on practical aspects. How the atmosphere is created is up to each participating organization.

Such retreats uplift the spirits and refine the thinking and behavior of those who attend. This is the affect of having come in contact with the message of Islam which is a proposition of ethics, well-being and care for this planet that we all share. Imam Afroz continues: "We'd like to propose to people that there is a divine Creator, and it is deserving of us to respond to our Creator. We are inviting people to an alternative reality." The modern world is accustomed to an unethical, materialistic consumer-based lifestyle, and the message of Islam transforms that to one which is for higher purposes.

Developing the individual and the community to live an ethical lifestyle begins with awareness and spirituality that is transformed into positive action. The retreat is designed for communal participation and young and old learn together side by side in the true spirit of community. For many people the retreat was a catalyst for change that will spread to many aspects of life.

Al-Ghazzali Centre is based in Sydney, Australia and seeks to make Australia a better place. Imam Afroz makes a significant observation: "Islam is not a revolution, it's a transformation. As people live by the true concepts and model of Islam and make this their framework, any country they are in would be a better place." The Imam continues: "We all seek happiness and well-being and this is the goal of Islam but we must become aware that there is a divine reality; and not just focus on outward actions derived from individual perceptions."

Islam as a whole applies to everyone and it produces community dynamics and cooperation that is without borders. The centre has partnered with the most honorable facilitators of knowledge, SeekersGuidance, not only to build local communities but a regional and global community.

Al-Ghazzali Centre is developing its international community in response to the modern world. Imam Afroz remarks: "People move around and if we don't have a community people will find themselves alone and may be distracted from practicing Islam. In a community the individual has companionship to help him with his personal development. Islam doesn't fear modernity; it's a living solution within the modern context."

Retreats like '2011 Journey to Allah' in Melbourne, Australia are affective and successful because the volunteers are also students of knowledge so they understand the reason why they do this work: they are seeking closeness with Allah the Creator.

Interview by Selma Cook.