The Swinburne Islamic Society has condemned the move as part of a broader effort to restrict their religious freedoms, leaving nearly 400 members to voice their frustrations.

Tabish Rather, president of the Swinburne Islamic Society, described the situation as the culmination of a year of mounting restrictions on the prayer room. He pointed out that security measures, such as requiring swipe card access and installing alarms, have made students feel like they are under surveillance.

“The university doesn’t require swipe access to the student lounge, but they have this security measure for us,” said Rather, a 20-year-old applied mathematics student.

The October 11 incident that led to the closure was a flashpoint, as a disagreement unfolded over who would lead the Friday prayer.

Rather stated that the presence of a university-appointed chaplain was “unnecessary,” and that the chaplain’s attempt to take the microphone from a student leading the prayer upset those who wanted a fellow student to serve as imam.

“As a Muslim community and independent student body, it’s our right to nominate our imam,” he added, emphasizing that the student-led prayers had been conducted without issue for 14 years.

Frustration

Health science master’s student Fatima also shared her frustrations, expressing that the changes made the prayer space feel less welcoming.

“It’s a chill, safe space, especially for us as Hijabi women,” she said. “But now, there’s this added layer of exclusivity, and it feels like anyone from outside Swinburne is scrutinized.”

Fatima also pointed out that recent policies, such as limiting access to the Multi Faith Centre during Ramadan, caused difficulties for those wanting to perform early morning prayers.

The Islamic Society said students have had to pray in the rain or outside the center after restricting access. In a protest following the closure, students gathered in the atrium to pray.

The group’s discontent grew by what they saw as inconsistent enforcement of security measures, leading some to believe that the university’s policies specifically targeted the Muslim community.

Adel Salman, president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, backed the students’ calls for autonomy over their Friday prayers, noting the broader importance of the prayer space for fostering community among international students.

“For many, the prayer area is a place to actually socialize and form a community as well as worship,” he said.

“The university interfering has an impact on their mental and emotional well-being.”

Despite the ongoing protests, Swinburne University has stated that the Multi Faith Centre will remain closed on Fridays until a meeting with the Swinburne Islamic Society occurs to resolve the concerns.

Source: About Islam

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the North Texas Islamic Council (NTIC) joined forces to hold the 61st ISNA Convention in Dallas over Labor Day weekend at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, celebrating the theme of “The Muslim American: Forging Faith & Action.”

“This year’s #ISNA61 held in Dallas, TX was a huge success with over 21,000 attendees,” said convention chair and former ISNA president, Azhar Azeez. “This was an unprecedented and historic convention.”

NTIC president Mujeeb Kazi served as the ISNA convention vice chair and says the 2024 convention broke records with the number of attendees for the event which is normally held in Chicago.

“It is an extraordinary, happy moment, especially for those who live in North Texas,” said Kazi. “We see the ISNA organization as a true representative of Muslim sentiment across the entire spectrum — it’s not just the religious services, it’s not just establishing institutions, it’s about shaping the narrative.”

The four-day event provided numerous parallel sessions covering critical topics to foster dialogue and reflection on faith, health, environmental issues, politics and community building.

Headlining speakers included media critic and journalist Medi Hasan, the first female Muslim military chaplain Saleha Jabeen, African American civil rights leader and academic, Dr. Cornel West among many others.“ISNA is a historic organization, and for 61 years it has been trying to keep alive the best of a great Islamic legacy in the United States,” said West, who is Christian. “So for me to be able to come here in the spirit of humility, to learn and listen as well as speak, and be able to just revel in the humanity of my Muslim brothers and sisters and engage in serious intellectual and religious wrestling is an honor.”

Saleha Jabeen, who is with the air force, has attended the convention for many years and says she “would never want to skip any year for multiple reasons, you get to be around community… mentors and people of different generations, and it just reminds me of what I am supposed to be as an active member of the community.”

CEO of Emgage, a Muslim-led civic action organization, Wa’el Alzayat emphasized the benefit of the convention, “ISNA is such an important annual gathering for Muslim Americans and allies to reconnect, to celebrate our religion, to celebrate each other and to also dedicate ourselves to the betterment of our community, our country and the world.”

One notable session featured esteemed imams who guided attendees on how to translate faith into action while delving into urgent issues, such as the genocide facing Palestinians in Gaza. The former Imam of the Islamic Association of North Texas, Shpendim Nadzaku who spoke on a panel discussing the imam’s role in activating the community, said ISNA’s presence in DFW was significant.

“I think it’s important for us as Muslims, especially within a city as Dallas that has such a high profile role within the politics of the country as a whole,” said Nadzaku, who currently works for the City of Dallas’ Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs department.

The diversity and networking opportunities that the convention afforded were appreciated by Imam Muhammad Abdul-Jami of Masjid Al-Islam, located in downtown Dallas. One of the oldest mosques in the area, it serves a mainly African American congregation.

“We believe that the work we’re doing at Masjid Al-Islam is so important that everyone should know about it and support it on whatever level that they can,” said Abdul-Jami. “I think it’s inspiring for everyone to see and collaborate with Muslims who are doing great things, learning from these sessions and having fun together.”

There were approximately 50 parallel sessions, including a youth-led convention which was managed, organized and led entirely by young leaders. There were also spaces for reverts and multilingual Muslim community members.

The convention also had separate tracks for African American and Hispanic Muslims, with 300 complimentary badges, complimentary booths and sessions for Islam in Spanish and Masjid Al Islam. 35% of event speakers were from these communities.

ISNA is one of the largest Muslim nonprofit umbrella organizations in North America, dedicated to fostering the development of the community, interfaith relations, civic engagement and a better understanding of Islam. ISNA provides platforms for community development, leadership training and promotes understanding through events like the annual convention.

NTIC is committed to fostering unity, collaboration and advocacy among Muslims in North Texas. NTIC works towards addressing the spiritual, social and civic needs of its communities through educational programs, community engagement, interfaith relationships and collaborative initiatives.

NTIC President Kazi and Convention Chair, Azeez, both said the event’s success was a testament to the hard work of hundreds of volunteers and staff who had been planning it for almost a year and they thanked attendees, speakers and participating Masjids for making this convention an outstanding success.

Source: Medium.com

Journal of Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings

Vol. 1, Issue 3, Winter 2024

Editor in Chief: Dr. Mohammad Reza Aram

Publisher: Imam Mobin Research Center

Frequency: Semi-annual

ISSN: 2981-1309

Imam Mobin International Research Center has launched the Journal of Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings in English, suitable for the international audience, and in order to spread the teachings, culture and lifestyle of the Ahl al-Bayt (as), deepen the teachings of the infallible imams (as), and develop the sciences of the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt (as). This journal follows the COPE guidelines in terms of ethics.

Third issue of the Journal has been released. The titles of the articles published in this issue are as follows:

1. Various Forms of Specific Designation (Tanṣīṣ) of Amīr al-Muʾminīn Imam ʿAlī (as) in the Words of the Prophet (pbuh)

2. Allah’s Days from a Religious Perspective of Qur’ān and Ḥadīth (Indicators and Examples) and its Role in Giving Meaning of Human Life

3. Qur’an on Mahdiism

4. Principles and Methods of Education From the Perspective of Qur’an and Ahl al-Bayt (as)

5. Analytical Study of the Concept of Imamate in Verse 124 of Surah Bagharah

6. Role of Prayer in Establishing Family Foundations and Dealing with Social Disasters, Based on the Teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (as)

Download the journal for free HERE.

More information on: Journal of Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings

The largest mosque in Belgium’s Wallonia region has just opened its doors after more than a decade of construction.

The Kanuni Sultan Süleyman mosque is situated in Liège, and was funded entirely by its worshippers, received no subsidies from the Belgian government or donations from abroad. The full cost of construction came to some €4.5 million.

Covering an impressive 1,300 square meters, this contemporary white complex features a 450-square metre mosque crowned with a dome, albeit without minarets. The mosque can welcome up to 600 worshippers.

Mehmet Aydogdu, Liège’s representative of Culture and Interculturalism, described the vision behind the mosque’s design, “Our idea was not to make architecture related to Central Anatolia, the Middle East or North Africa. It was to reach universality – therefore a ‘Belgitude’”.

Built on a former coal site which has seen many generations of Turkish miners pass by, forged by a 1964 agreement allowing Turkish labor migration to Belgium.

Imam Ertugrul Yilmaz, was born and bread in Wallonia before pursuing his higher education in Turkey, said, “It’s with great pride for me to come back, to be an imam, because I grew up with them. I know them, they know me. We can work together.

“We would like to welcome everyone, do activities together, show that we live together, that we are also Belgian, that we are part of this community.”

Beyond its role as a place of worship, the mosque complex includes a cultural centre accessible to all, hosting a variety of events such as conferences, educational programs, and communal activities, further promoting dialogue and understanding among diverse communities.

Source: Euronews