Volume 19
Issue 3
Message from the President
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Assalamu alaikum!
It is my pleasure to once again communicate to you warm greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha which we will celebrate in a few days in this holy month of Zul Haj. These days are of special significance as the pilgrims from all over the world gather at the holy city of Mecca with reflection, patience and sacrifice and with renewed intent towards total submission to the Will of Allah SWT as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (Sal). May Allah SWT accept all our prayers and duas during this very special occasion. Our best wishes and prayers for the safe return of those brothers and sisters who are performing Haj this year and may Allah SWT provide the opportunities for those who have not been able to fulfil this journey yet.
USMAA has tried very hard from its inception with limited resources to organise social events as best as possible. I can assure you the current committee has been very active and has tried its best to build on the excellent work done previously. I believe that any social grouping/organisation is as successful as its membership participation and support. I am greatly impressed by the level of commitment by the current committee and USMAA membership during the last few functions.
I believe that USMAA as an Organisation has matured enough to move beyond just organising social activities. It is time now to move forward collectively towards helping our younger generation in their education and learning, nurturing talents and also work towards the acquisition of a permanent community centre for USMAA. We have had sub-committees devoted to these areas and in coming months, I invite the community, in addition to regular social events, to also assist the committee in planning and taking practical steps towards realising these objectives.
On behalf of the USMAA Committee and on my own behalf once again I wish you all brothers, sisters and children Eid Mubarak!
Wassalam
Aqa Tokhi
USMAA President
Editor's note
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathahu!
Alhamdulillah. The Editorial Board welcomes you on-board to the inaugural issue of the USMAA newsletter in electronic format.
In keeping in pace with today’s trends of communication, we feel this format would help us to keep in touch with our valuable members, the wider muslim community and friends on a more regular, convenient and interactive way. We hope this newsletter will supplement the information maintained on our website.
We hope to enhance the new format and include information on current community news, announcements, and reports of events together with pictures coupled with links to other relevant internet sites. It will be emailed out to all members and also be available on the USMAA website – www.usmaa.org.au. We hope that all USMAA members and friends will include the USMAA website in their favourite list.
A hard copy of the newsletter is being mailed to members for the last time. Members will still need to access the electronic version for the links, photos etc. If you wish to have a hard copy mailed to you in the future please let us know and we will accommodate your need.
Your feedback and suggestions for improvement will be sincerely appreciated. May Allah guide us in the right path.
The Editorial Board wishes you all a very happy and peaceful Eid ul Adha.
The Editorial Board consists of Fahmi Haniffa, Hamzi Muhammed and Parveen Muhammed.
Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha
From the 1st to the 9th of Dul Haj, Muslims from all over the world take part in the largest gathering on Earth, the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth pillar of Islam. Hajj is a religious obligation that every Muslim must fulfil if financially and physically able and at least once in his or her lifetime.
Hajj symbolizes the lessons taught by the final prophet, Muhammad(PBUH), who stood on the plain of Arafat and proclaimed the completion of his mission and announced the proclamation from Allah: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam, or submission to Allah, as your religion" (Quran 5:3).
Hajj is a reminder of the Day of Judgment when people will stand equal before God waiting for their final destiny. It demonstrates the concept of equality of mankind, the most profound message of Islam, which allows no superiority on the basis of race, gender or social status. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances, but he scans your hearts and looks into your deeds". The only preference in the eyes of Allah is piety. Hajj affirms the commitment of all Muslims and their readiness to leave the material interests for Allah. The Quran states (49:13): "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other)). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."
On the 10th day of Dul-Hajj, Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).
On the morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends and the exchange of greetings and gifts.
During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Prophet Ibrahim's(PBUH) trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a cow, sheep, camel, or goat. The Qur'an describes Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH)as follows:
"Surely Ibrahim was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121) One of Prophet Ibrahim's(PBUH) trials was to face the command of Allah to sacrifice his son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. However Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to Allah.
The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is consumed by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share it with others.
It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. The Quran says, "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)
We are happy to inform you that a few USMAA members are performing hajj this year.
Eid Mubarak!
Eid-ul-Adha prayers and breakfast
Eid festival will be on the 8th or 9th of December insha allah. We are awaiting an announcement from the Board of Imams, Victoria.
USMAA together with the Monash University Mosque, Islamic Information Centre - Al Furqaan, Malay Association of Victoria and the Monash University Islamic Society (MUIS) will be conducting Eid-Ul-Adha prayers.
Following Eid prayers at Monash University, USMAA members are invited to participate in the Eid celebratory breakfast. Exact dates and locations will be published on the USMAA website and the members will receive an email announcement soon.
Eid-ul-Adha dinner
The next event in the USMAA calendar is upon us and the Management Committee cordially invites all members and friends to join them to celebrate Eid Ul Adha on Saturday 13 Dec 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Mulgrave Community Centre, 355 Wellington Road, Mulgrave.
Programme for the day will include;
| Quran Recital: | |
| Welcome: | Fahme Abulhassen , Acting President USMAA |
| Guest Speaker: | Dr Nazeeruddin Mohammad. Topic: 'What is Birr?' |
| Vote of thanks: | Parveen Muhammed, Secretary USMAA |
| Dinner: | Caterer: Buriyani House, Kings Street, Melbourne |
FREE entry for members who have paid the one-off function donation for 2008.
This event is organised utilising the one-off function donation made by members. As such, current financial members who have not paid the one-off function donation will need to pay $15 and all non-members will pay $20 per head at the door. Arrangements have been made to collect the membership fee and the one-off donation at the door for those who wish to pay on this day. There is no EFT-POS payment facility available at the door. The closest ATM can be found at the BP service station at the corner of Springvale and Wellington Rd.
Please follow the link below for more information on fees and charges: http://usmaa.org.au/Membership.php Hope to see you at the dinner Inshaallah.
Janaza (Service) Fund
The Usmaa Janaza Sub Committee (JSC) wishes to inform members that the new Janaza (Service) Fund has been activated. The purpose of this fund is to meet the service costs relating to burials. The establishment of the Service Fund was first proposed by the JSC at the last AGM and has been approved by the Main Committee at a meeting held on 4 October 2008.
The existing Janaza Account at the CBA caters to the purchasing costs of burial sites. The second account to be opened at the CBA will be the Janaza (Service) Account to meet service costs relating to janazas. The Main Committee has accepted the JSC recommendation that members be requested to make an annual donation of $30 per family to the Janaza Service Account. Since we are nearly at the end of the year, all donations made this year will cover you until 31 December 2009.
Members are kindly requested to make the $30 annual donation to the Treasurer or any Committee Member and receipts will be issued. We have already received the first donation from brother T A N Saldin. The JSC has set a target of approx $5000 for the year ending December 2009. Kindly make your donations without making too much of a fuss. It will make the work of the JSC easier, insha Allah.
Usmaa members and friends from the Western Suburbs have also purchased two burial sites at Fawkner and have collected donations of approx $3000 to be maintained separately to meet service costs relating to janaza's.
If you have any queries, contact the JSC.
Qurban Project
Allah (swt) prescribed Eid ul Adha to worship him and remember him. Allah (swt) prescribed Qurban (the sacrifice) to thank him and to help the poor and the needy. Qurban is a tradition of our father Ibrahim (pbuh) that was emphasised by our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). It is a compulsory sunnah for those who can afford it.
Human Appeal International Australia opens the doors of goodness for you in this geat and blessed occasion and calls upon you to donate your Qurbans and Eid gifts to the poor and needy in a number of countries worldwide. Be among those whom Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) referred to in the Hadith: 'For anyone who brings happiness to a Muslim family, Allah (Almighty) will reward him/her nothing less than Paradise (Jannah)'.
The cost of a Qurban is $80 and payments can be sent to Human Appeal International P O Box 406 Lakemba NSW 2195 or online www.humanappeal.org.au
Khalid Bin Waleed Mosque, Albion
A fund raising event was held last Saturday by a group for the completion of the Khalid Bin Waleed Mosque, Albion Sunshine. Pledges were received totalling $104,000. Fahmi Haniffa attended the event and has taken the initiative to pledge $1000 from friends of USMAA. Members are kindly requested to make donations for this worthy cause. Please make the donations to our Treasurer or any Committee member so that the funds could be collated and sent as a contribution from USMAA.
Eid-ul-Fitr 2008
The USMAA Sports Day 2008
The sports day organized by the USMAA Janaaza sub-committee was held at Templestowe on 9 March 2008, It was a beautiful day (35 degrees) for cricket and games. The activities included;
• Cricket – a six a side cricket tournament conducted by Chota and Nazeer
• Games for the ladies and children
• Lunch – supplied by Tandoori Junction
• Glenn Waverly, Snacks-supplied by Jabbar and Shiyana
• Awards ceremony.
As usual the cricket tournament was the highlight of the day and the competition was intense. The winners were ‘Jonny walkers’. The runners up were ‘Black Diamond A’. We are happy to inform you that we raised some money for the Janaaza Fund during this event. The Janaaza sub-committee wishes to thank you all for you participation and contributions. Thank also to all our sponsors and well wishers.
The 2009 Sports days will take place insha allah in February/ March next year at the same Venue in Templestowe. All cricketers are advised to hone in their batting, bowling and fielding skills. Further announcements will be made in our website closer to the date. Till then, keep your head down and play a stubborn innings.
Commitee: Arrivals & Departures
Sisters Zainab Ameen and Azeeka Nizar have stepped down from the committee due to family commitments. We thank them for their continuing support towards all our activities.
We welcome on board three new committee members: sisters Ziada Tokhi, Dianne Mehrudeen and brother Mohamed Salahudeen (Ungi). See updated list of committee members at http://usmaa.org.au/Commitee.php
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Email: members@usmaa.org.au USMAA INC. P O Box 120, Forest Hill, Victoria 3131, Australia. ABN 16207175319 http://www.usmaa.org.au
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