When Islamic bookstores are like “Borders”!

Once a month I will pay a visit to Borders, and sometimes to Dymocks in the Rundle Mall, looking for popular books and bestsellers. I enjoy observing people reading or just browsing, some of them with children in tow. Many seem to make reading a family activity. Inculcating good reading habits from young is important, be it to increase one’s knowledge or just for the fun of it.

Reading is the source of knowledge. Allah swt stated in His first revelation: Read! In the name of thy Lord who createth; createth man from clot; Read; and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous; who teacheth by pen; teacheth man that which he knew not. (Surah Al-Alaq: 1-5).

Through His prophet, Mohammed s.a.w, Allah commanded us to read and study to seek knowledge in order for us to spread the message of Islam to mankind.

From the time of the prophet (610 AD) until the time when Islam was at its peak (before the attack by the Mongols in 1258 AD), Islam had brought the world civilisation out of darkness, and knowledge is the key to this.

It is true that paper was first invented in China but the Muslim merchants had brought paper to the world through the Silk Road in the eight century! The use of paper then spread to other parts of the world including North Africa and Europe. England then revolutionised
the use of paper in the 1450s by discovering printing and publishing methods. This could not have happened had not the Muslims introduced paper to the world!

Jonathan M. Bloom a professor in Islamic and Asian art, Boston College in his book “Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World” (Yale University
Press) made clear the advances of Muslims in using paper.

With the discovery of paper, writing and research by Muslim scholars in various fields of knowledge led to new discoveries and great inventions. Among the great Muslim
inventors and scholars are Jabir Al-Hayyan (Geology), Al-Khwarizmi (Mathematicians), Mohammad Ali Rostam (Clocks), Ibn Baytar (Gunpowder), Najmuddin Hassan
Al-Rahmah (rocket) and more others.

In conclusion, Islam teaches us the importance of knowledge. It has moulded the civilisation of the world. We thus have to educate ourselves and our children to continuously seek and love knowledge as the love for knowledge is the key to understanding Islam. With knowledge we can differentiate the good from bad, right from wrong and will be able to make wise and informed
decisions in order to live our lives in accordance to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of beloved Prophet Mohammed
s.a.w.

To quench the thirst for knowledge, especially Islamic knowledge, Muslims in Australia should strive for great Islamic bookstores with quality books, a huge range of selections, easy access and customer-friendly service, as can be found in Borders. How wonderful if we can recreate
Baytul Hikmah (833 AD, Baghdad) in Australia!

*Co-author is Wan Fauziah, an ex-architecture student from the University of Adelaide and mother- in-law to the author. Currently, is a Women’s wing of Selangor State and Educational & Human Development committee member, Malaysia Reformation Group (JIM).

Jauhnya perjalanan itu...

1.Perjalanan jauh memandu kereta dakwah ini sungguh indah. Makin hari makin banyak saat-saat manis walaupun ujian tak pernah sunyi.

2. Saban hari sentiasa memikirkan apa yang diungkapkan Ahmad Rashid: Kibarkan panji kebaikan. Kata beliau lagi: "Perlu ada yang memulakannya.. kadangkala dengan nyalaan api yang menarik perhatian. Adakalanya pula dengan mengibarkan bendera kebaikan yang dapat dilihat orang baik, lalu mereka berkumpul disekelilingnya. Apa yang kurang apda umat Islam hari ini ialah bendera dan panji. Bilangan mereka sudah ramai,. ilmu sudah tinggi tetapi perpecahan dan hampasnya mereka telah melemahkan mereka." Lihat Kitab Muntalaq Bab 11.

3. Updates SA: HidayahStore Australia Booksale pada 28 Nov Jam9am-5pm di 2 First Avenue Klemzig. Jualan buku teks terpakai, Buku Islamik, Novel Islamik, MuslimT dan banyak lagi. Jemput semua kita memandaikan umat kita sendiri dengan mengkaji Islam dalam simpanan ilmu yang sarat tak tergali itu!

Don't be sad - lecture series

Winter Trip 2009

Assalamu alaikum,

Insya Allah our 'siyahah' - Winter Trip 2009 begin today 5 July 2009. Our mission Adelaide-Newcastle-Sydney-Melbourne within 15 days bring along my little Wafiyah... Hopefully it'll be an amazing experience!

Please pray to Allah to seek His Safety upon our journey and mission. May this 'siyahah' blessed by Him. Amen.

FAMSY Annual Conference

FAMSY South Australia: Helping students, mould practising Muslim

Assalamualaikum wrt. wbt.

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah as He still loves us. He gives us treasured moments to improve ourselves. As the sign to praise Him, we should keep struggling and struggling to bring the 'Rahmah' to all mankind and universe (Kun Rahmatan Lil Alamin). Even tomorrow is our last day of life, nurturing al-khayr (goodness) is compulsory and significance before we meet Him in hereafter.

Our journey to Adelaide City was very meaningful and bring us Sakinah/calmness (after my beloved Wafiyah born to the world) as the time allow us to grow something meaningful and hopefully rewarded with Jannah. The establishment of FAMSY or Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth, South Australia chapter is a great platform to make da'wah to students. Statistically, the number of students and youth in South Australia growing very fast as there are three main universities i.e Adelaide Uni, Unisa and Flinders Uni which is a place of many brilliant students. Also, the schools and colleges are everywhere as education is a necessity nowadays.

This is a great chance for us as Muslims to make efforts in generating practicising Muslim youth in Australia and the world at large. For me, it was a very heavy task but Insya Allah if we steadfast, the victory is in our hand. It is also a training for us who will serve our community whereever we are.

About FAMSY, it is a professional Muslim student and youth organisation, that is committed to the education, training and development of future community leaders. Through its Tarbiyah and other programs, based on a balanced Islamic methodology, FAMSY, with integrity and excellence in all we do, strives to develop students and youth for the betterment of the Australian community.

The role plays by FAMSY was initiated since 1964. Lil bit about the history of FAMSY, it began with the formation of the Muslim Students Association of Queensland MSAQ at Queensland University in 1964. In 1966, during the AFIS (predecessor of AFIC) congress, MSAQ suggested that each University in Australia should set up its own Muslim Students Association (MSA).Later MSAs were established in Adelaide, Armidale, Melbourne, Newcastle and Tasmania. In 1968, the six pioneer MSAs founded Australian Federation of Muslim Students Associations AFMSA. In 1993 AFMSA became "Ittihad al Jamaat Al-Islamiah" (Federation of Islamic groups), and its membership was then also opened to non-students. In 1991 this name was changed to FAMSY (Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth).

About FAMSY SA, the vision is clear, becoming a body which is committed in developing practising Muslim students and youth through tarbiyah programs and creating the harmony & Islamic atmosphere in South Australia. The mission, we strive the vision by ongoing Islamic education through the comprehensive tarbiyah system; Islamic leadership training; and Islamic information and services.

I’m very positive that Islam is the complete way and the only way for mankind. It our task then to put some efforts so that our community discover the beauty of Islam. Know Islam. Love Islam. And Work for Islam.

In July 2009, there will be a weekly Islamic Talk known as Al-Hidayah Public Lecture which will be held in Adelaide Uni. The program is open for all and run by our brothers and sisters from FAMSY SA, Islamic Students Society of Adelaide University (ISSUA) and other students group. May this program will sparks the hidayah to the students and strengthen the bond of brotherhood among the students. Insya Allah.

Hopefully FAMSY SA as a new student body will benefit the society and becoming the agent of change to the ummah. We open for any suggestion and cooperation to work ahead in dakwah thullabiyah.

May Allah bless us with strength and steadfastness. Ameen.

Your brother in Islam,

Mohd Safwan Saparudin

Lebanese scholar Fathi Yakan died

Islamic Action Front leader Fathi Yakan died after he was hospitalized in serious condition on Friday night, Lebanese media reported.

Islamic Action Front leader Fathi Yakan, an influenced cleric, died after he was hospitalized in serious condition on Friday night, Lebanese media reported.

Islamic Action Front , who denied the reports earlier, confirmed on Saturday that its leader Yakan had died, Naharnet news agency said.

Voice of Lebanon radio said earlier that Yakan died at Hotel Dieu Hospital where he was hospitalized the night before.

Sheikh Fathi Yakan, an Islamic cleric, was born in 1933 in Tripoli. He held a seat in the parliament of Lebanon in 1992.

He became involved in Islamic work in Lebanon in the mid 1950s and was a pioneer in the establishment of the Islamic Movement.

Yakan's body will be moved to Tripoli on Sunday morning. The time and place of the funeral will be announced at a later time, the statement added.

May Allah place Him in Jannah for all good deeds and dakwah he made in this world.

p/s: the book 'Apa ertinya saya menganut Islam' still evergreen and wonderful forever!