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

The Role Of Palestine with Imam Afroz and Antony Loewenstein

As to what follows, I begin with the greeting words of paradise

As Sallam Wa Alaikum (Peace be with you)


On Monday night I had the privilege to attend a program which is usually what you would call a "hot" topic.

Indeed it was.
Antony Loewenstein for those who don't know him is an Atheist Jew who lives in Sydney.

He is a fantastic writer. One of his books I want to highlight on the Israel/Palestine conflict is: My Israel Question

There was a great turn out at the programme, it was a full house!

Antony was being interviewed by Imam Afroz . A very unique style I must add.

It’s not every day you see a Muslim interviewing a Jew. But Wait...

It was great! The crowd loved it. Especially when Antony and Imam shook hands I think that sent everyone a message that we can work together.

Antony is very outspoken I truly do admire him for that (I also recommend to buy his book you will not be disappointed)

He spoke on his trip to Israel and to Gaza as well as the West Bank.
The experiences he faced while he was there and how he was treated.
WHAT AN EYE OPENER!

The facts are that Israel will continue to build settlements on Palestine Land and we are looking at apartheid exactly what happend in South Africa is what will happen to the Arabs, because Stats show that Arabs will outnumber Israel in the future.

I can tell you now, what Antony is doing isn’t easy but I can assure you he has my support all the way 110%

Now if your thinking this talk was to get Palestine back... hmm you must be dreaming, as if that’s going to happen anytime soon


It was more about how we should work together. At the end of the day, we are Human. Muslim, Jew, Christian whatever you maybe we’re living on a planet called earth and we have to work together.

Ill be honest and please don’t take this the wrong way, before I was ignorant, In my mind I hated all Jews and All of Israel. I had another thing coming. Once again Reality Check: Are all Jews bad?

The answer No. I feel so bad for thinking in such a way.

Zionist on the other hand. Well you can call me Anti Zionist (and proud)

Read up on the book and you can see why.

Once again it was great to be with Imam Afroz also. He always knows how to make us smile and we are truly blessed to have him visit us often in Auckland.

I would like to end on a note by Nelson Mandela:

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”.


Jazakllah Khair,


Aashif Sacha

(RMDT)


P.S. Please forgive me if I said anything to offend anyone. And please forgive me for my shortcomings.

Prince among Slaves - Next xpresso film night

Prince Among Slaves (A True Story)

XpressO Movie Night

7pm Saturday 19th June
AGC Sydney

(For more info and to register for the event click here)

After enduring the brutal Middle Passage, he eventually ended up in Mississippi at the birth of the U.S. as a nation, where he remained enslaved for almost 40 years. Near providential circumstances finally led to his release, but not his freedom, nor the freedom of his large family. Defying the edict that he return immediately to Africa and still technically a slave, Abdul-Rahman set out on a quest to raise enough money to purchase his family’s freedom.

His quest came to a tragic end, as he was finally forced to leave before he could raise the needed money. He returned to Africa with only his wife, where he continued pressing for the release of his children. Only four months later, he died.

Two of his sons were finally freed with the money he raised, but the others remained in bondage in America. Recently, his African and American descendents were reunited at a reunion on the grounds of the plantation where he was enslaved, finally fulfilling his dream.