MUSLIM STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (MUSA) OTAGO MUSLIM ASSOCIATION (OMA)

AlHuda
Issue: *re-edited
Friday 20 April, 2007 2 Rabi AlAkhar,1428 Inside this issue South Island Brotherhood Camp Muslims ModernAge Role Model : Dr Zakir Naik Out and About : South Island Brotherhood Camp 2007 A letter from Tania Siwatibau Sisters : The Muslim Woman and Her Wellbeing
Announcement: Lost Item: A small dark green sleeping bag which belongs to Mustafa Amer. It is believed it has been misplaced after the Camp. Please check mosque notice board or refer to him for further information.

South Island Brotherhood Camp

Despite the challenging chilliness and inevitable changes of plan, South Island Brotherhood Camp 2007 was held successfully in Green Park Scout Park, Balclutha that lasted for two days and one night. Participation was astonishing; this year more Christchurch brothers joined this annual gathering even though Balclutha is further away than Dunedin. Such spirit and bonding are reputable. The campsite proved to be what it had been advertised. Unmistakably, it is a secluded place of natures beauty with a small stream running around and flashes from a fishs scales caught ones eyes every now and then. And our brotherhood blossomed there. .

A diary by a brother. 6th April 2007 About 8.00 pm, Kasri and I arrive at the campsite after taking the key. It isn't a bad journey after all. The scenes around Clutha river are really delightful. We need to settle down a bit before the other two cars arrive. Approximately one hour later they arrived. Its good to know they are still in a good shape. Our tummies rumble. Hamed makes us a good hearty dinner; rice with hot curry. Foods, drinks, and other equipment need to be unloaded as soon as possible, itd be good to get in bed early, we need

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energy for tomorrow. 7th April 2007 It is an hour after we did Subu prayer that we go out to endure the coldness just to check the surrounding of the campsite. Very nice indeed,. We cant be long though, because we are expecting the brothers from Dunedin to arrive at around 11.00 am. Around 11 o'clock, they arrive in a bus. Soon, the rest coming by cars, arrive one by one. We prepare the lunch for the Dunedin brothers first because we know Christchurch brothers will be a little late due to the long distance. The first batch arrive in a van at around 2pm, while those waiting are playing volleyball and soccer. Hours past by, still the rest of the Christchurch have not arrived yet. Driving to a new place can be really trivial. They eventually arrive safe and sound at around 4pm. Without further ado, the arranged activities kick start with an ice-breaking. We have BBQ for dinner, enough to make us alert for the tazkira and some group activities. 8th April 2007 Yesterday was pretty tiring, especially for the Christchurch brothers due to the long journey. It is freezing out there, but we still move on with the day. Why would we want to stop and hide in the warmth of our sleeping bags? Its the last day of the camp! The fun continues with indoor and outdoor activities and finally, the day concludes with a prize-giving ceremony and a group photo. Major cleaning-up is another highlight of the day. Brother Mahmoud handles this crucial event very well. Soon, it is time to leave. It is really melancholic since we do not meet the Christchurch brothers everyday. The tired faces are then swept away by the chilly Balclutha breeze leaving a sweet memory for all of us to cherish and to ponder. Yes, our bond is tightened up again, the bond of brothers in Islam.

Muslims Modern-Age Role Model

DR ZAKIR NAIK

He was born on 18th of October in 1965, in Mumbai, India. Dr. Zakir Naik is renowned as a dynamic interna tional orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. He has not only learned Quran and Hadith by heart but has also learned several Bibles, the Talmud and the Torah (the Jewish scriptures), the Mahabharata and the Bhagwat Gita (the Hindu holy books), and other scriptures. Dr. Zakir is popular for his critical analysis and convincing answers to challenging questions posed by audiences specially non-muslims, after his public lecture.

He is also the founder and chairman of Islamic Research Foundation. The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), Mumbai, India, is a registered non-profit public charitable trust. It promotes Islamic Dawah - the proper presentation, understanding and appreciation of Islam, as well as removing misconceptions about Islam - amongst less aware Muslims and non-Muslims. With his beard and Islamic skullcap, Dr. Naik did not escape notice at Los Angeles airport and so was immediately hauled in for questioning. He proved that the concept of true JIHAD is not only Islamic but universal. Custom officers became curious and started putting more and more question, he continued to reply with his wisdom, knowledge and logic. An hour passed, a long line of people were waiting for questioning ,so he was allowed to go and when he got up and left room about 70 officers from the airport surrounded him started following him to know about their own religion and Islam.

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OUT AND ABOUT

South Island Brotherhood Camp 2007

My introduction to Islam
The intrigue and interest to know more about Islam developed with my interactions with a wonderful group of Saudi Arabian,Omani and Indonesian classmates,mashallah. In this day and age,the simplicities of life are quick becoming rare and all to easily, we try to fill our lives with complexities as if to say that life is not life without them. How quick we are to lose touch with these simplicites as we busy ourselves with the rigmaroles of day to day societal living. These simple,special qualities of wholesomeness,pure intentions and genuineness were my introduction to Islam through these special individuals,mashallah. For me,they represented Islam and the more time I spent with them, the more I was drawn to Islam. I also saw in them, compassion, discipline and strength of conviction. Such honourable qualities at such tender ages, how was I not to be inspired. Thank you my brothers and sisters and Alhumdillah that these qualities have not been lost and forgotten and for being,in my eyes, wonderful ambassadors of Islam. May you continue to be so and may the rest of us that are still budding into and discovering Islam, aspire to be so. For me,the journey of Islam is not only in the practise of prayers,study of the holy scriptures,attendance of Juma and the practise of Islam in our daily living but also the experiences that we have with our fellow Muslims. Jazakum Allah Khair

Tania Siwatibau is one of the new sisters who became a Muslim last year.

Tania Siwatibau

Al-Huda Sisters Page Dear sisters, This page of Al-Huda is dedicated to you. If you have any articles/ poems/ stories/ or anything else that you think would be interesting for the sisters to read, please let us know. You can either email Sister Sumayyah on:

SISTERS
The Muslim Woman and her Wellbeing

[email protected] OR Txt/call 027 333 4310 Also use the above contacts if you are interested in having poetry or creative writing competitions. There will be prizes! Reminders Please check your email regularly to be updated about the sisters events. If we don't have your email, you can either use the above contacts to let us know or you can write your details on the sheet on the sisters notice board. (located by the sisters entrance) Swimming starts again this week on Sunday 3:00 4.30pm in Phisyo Pool. Please bring $2.50 with you to help cover the cost of organising it. Our mosque needs your donations. Please donate whatever you can afford. The donation box is placed on the table in the main entrance. Useful sites suggested by some sisters are: * jannah.org/sisters * sisters.islamway.com If you know of any sites please let us know. She does not go to extremes of beautification or make a wanton display of herself Paying attention to one's appearance should not make a Muslim woman fall into the trap of wanton display (tabarruj) and showing her beauty to anyone other than her husband and mahram relatives. She should not upset the balance which is the basis of all Islamic teaching, for the Muslim woman always aims at moderation in all things, and is on the alert to prevent any one aspect of her life from taking over at the expense of another.

A Healthy Life
The Muslim woman does not forget to maintain her physical fitness and energy by following the healthy practices recommended by Islam. But she is not content only with the natural, healthy diet referred to above: she also follows an organized exercise program, appropriate to her physical condition, weight, age and social status. These exercises give her body agility, beauty, good health, strength and immunity to disease; this will make her more able to carry out her duties, and more fit to fulfil her role in life, whether it be as a wife or mother, young girl or old woman.

Beautification

Body, Mind, and Soul

The smart Muslim woman is one who strikes a balance between her external appearance and internal nature. She understands that she is composed of a body, a mind and a soul, and gives each the attention it deserves, without exaggerating in one aspect to the detriment of others. In seeking to strike the right balance, she is following the wise guidance of Islam which encourages her to do so.

Excerpts from The Ideal Muslimah by

The Prophet (SAW) said, "Every din has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty." Imam Malik The Prophet (SAW) said, "Modesty and inability to speak are two branches of faith, but obscenity and eloquence are two branches of hypocrisy. Tirmidhi

"Purity is half of faith. alhamdu-lillah fills the scales, and subhana-Allah and alhamdu-lillah fill that which is between heaven and earth. Prayer is light; charity is a proof; patience is illumination; and the Quran is an argument for or against you. Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or bringing about its ruin." Muslim (and Nawawis forty hadith)

Muslim Students Association (MUSA)

OTAGO MUSLIM ASSOCIATION (OMA)

C/O OUSA,P.O. Box 1436, Dunedin Phone: 477 1838 Fax: 477 1840 E-mail: [email protected]

P.O.Box 6288, Dunedin Al-Huda Mosque, 21 Clyde St, Dunedin. Phone: 477 1838 Fax: 477 1840