Post by maruf on Jun 29, 2004 23:01:07 GMT -5
Islam Enlightens Australia
Dr Abdur Rauf
Islam continues to enlighten the Australian continent with increasing force and fervour. The exact date when the first Muslim arrived in Australia has not been ascertained so far. However, the remains of settlements and cemeteries of the sixteenth century Macassar Muslim fishermen have been discovered in the southern coast of the continent. The recorded history of Islam in Australia dates from 1860 when a camel-handler, Dost Muhammad, arrived in Australia from Karachi. He was a Pathan who originally hailed from Kashmir. He brought with him two dozen Peshawari camels. He was scheduled to accompany Burke and Hills in their first-ever south-to-north crossing of the Australian desert. The two ill-fated explorers, however, perished in the highly hazardous journey. Although Dost Muhammad survived the tragic expedition he also lost his life in a later camel accident.
Streams of Immigrating Muslims
During the last half of the nineteenth century several Afghan cameleers were labouring on the Australian soil. They came to be known as Ghans, being a shorter from a Afghan. The Ghans were soon followed by streams of migrating Muslims from countries like: Albania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Cyprus, Palestine, China, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, North Africa, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, etc.
The early arrivals were mostly unskilled and semi-skilled labourers. Some of them were petty shopkeepers. They were, however, tough, hardworking and resourceful. They were soon rated to be the most appropriate persons to venture into inland Australia. Their services were also hired for building up the first overland telegraph line across the continent from Adelaide to Darwin. At later stages, these early Muslim settlers also assisted in the building up of the trans–Australian railways. Thus right from the earliest phase of their settlement in Australia the Muslim community was making substantial contribution to the process of exploration and development of the continent.
The termination of World War II saw a steep rise in migration. From 1945 to 1988 there was a rising stream of migrants from a large number of Muslim countries. The new arrivals included 41,470 from Turkey, 21,080 from Indonesia, 18,500 from Egypt, 5,950 from Syria and 5,370 from Pakistan. Quite a few hailed from other countries like Yugoslavia, Malaysia and Singapore. The immigrants from south-east Asia included a high proportion of professional personnel and skilled technicians. There were also those who had come for higher education and training.
The Muslim population of Australia has been rising steadily over the years. They now constitute the largest minority group in the continent. According to the 1986 Australian population census their number was officially reported to be 109,523. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, however, claims that even as early as 1980s the Muslim population stood approximately 250,000. The figure presently stands even closer to 300,000. Majority of the Muslims reside in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Community Organisation and Mosque Network
The Muslims in Australia present the picture of an organised and enlightened community. Each state has an Islamic Council, Islamic Cultural Centre, Muslim student’s association and a number of mosques. The Australian Federation of Islamic Societies was established in Sydney in 1964 to co-ordinate the functioning of all Muslim groups and associations working in various states. In 1975, its name was changed to Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC). In Arabic, it is known as Al-Ittih@a#du’l-Ustra#li# Li’l Maja#lis al-Isla#miyyah. All Islamic units operative at state levels must be recognised for their affiliation by the national organisation – the AFIC. Currently over 70 Islamic socio-cultural associations are affiliated to the AFIC. Each state Islamic Council and the Muslim students’ association has equal representation on the federation. A permanent federation secretariat is located in Sydney. The AFIC has by now established itself as a symbol of unity and power of Islam and the Muslim Ummah in Australia.
Presently a network of well-organised mosques are operating in the entire length and breadth of the continent. According to an old survey there are 15 mosques in various parts of New North Wales. Of these the Imam Ali Mosque at Lakemba in Sydney is the biggest. It was built through a donation of $ 1200,000 from the Saudi Arabian government. Victoria has ten well-established mosques. The magnificent mosque at Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, was designed by a Pakistani student studying architecture at the University of Queensland. It was constructed by voluntary labour and contributions by the local Muslim community. Some mosques have also been raised at former churches purchased by the local Muslims. Western Australia houses one of the early mosques constructed in 1905. The first mosque in South Australia was built in 1899. The island state of Tasmania has a mosque at its capital. Hobart. Well-organised programmes for the training of the mosque Imams are conducted locally. Such training programmes are also organised overseas through the Islamic universities in Pakistan and Malaysia. Professional help is also sought from Regional Islamic Da‘wah Council for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RIDSCEAP), World Assembly of Muslim Youth and other international organisations.
Dr Abdur Rauf
Islam continues to enlighten the Australian continent with increasing force and fervour. The exact date when the first Muslim arrived in Australia has not been ascertained so far. However, the remains of settlements and cemeteries of the sixteenth century Macassar Muslim fishermen have been discovered in the southern coast of the continent. The recorded history of Islam in Australia dates from 1860 when a camel-handler, Dost Muhammad, arrived in Australia from Karachi. He was a Pathan who originally hailed from Kashmir. He brought with him two dozen Peshawari camels. He was scheduled to accompany Burke and Hills in their first-ever south-to-north crossing of the Australian desert. The two ill-fated explorers, however, perished in the highly hazardous journey. Although Dost Muhammad survived the tragic expedition he also lost his life in a later camel accident.
Streams of Immigrating Muslims
During the last half of the nineteenth century several Afghan cameleers were labouring on the Australian soil. They came to be known as Ghans, being a shorter from a Afghan. The Ghans were soon followed by streams of migrating Muslims from countries like: Albania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Cyprus, Palestine, China, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, North Africa, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, etc.
The early arrivals were mostly unskilled and semi-skilled labourers. Some of them were petty shopkeepers. They were, however, tough, hardworking and resourceful. They were soon rated to be the most appropriate persons to venture into inland Australia. Their services were also hired for building up the first overland telegraph line across the continent from Adelaide to Darwin. At later stages, these early Muslim settlers also assisted in the building up of the trans–Australian railways. Thus right from the earliest phase of their settlement in Australia the Muslim community was making substantial contribution to the process of exploration and development of the continent.
The termination of World War II saw a steep rise in migration. From 1945 to 1988 there was a rising stream of migrants from a large number of Muslim countries. The new arrivals included 41,470 from Turkey, 21,080 from Indonesia, 18,500 from Egypt, 5,950 from Syria and 5,370 from Pakistan. Quite a few hailed from other countries like Yugoslavia, Malaysia and Singapore. The immigrants from south-east Asia included a high proportion of professional personnel and skilled technicians. There were also those who had come for higher education and training.
The Muslim population of Australia has been rising steadily over the years. They now constitute the largest minority group in the continent. According to the 1986 Australian population census their number was officially reported to be 109,523. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, however, claims that even as early as 1980s the Muslim population stood approximately 250,000. The figure presently stands even closer to 300,000. Majority of the Muslims reside in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Community Organisation and Mosque Network
The Muslims in Australia present the picture of an organised and enlightened community. Each state has an Islamic Council, Islamic Cultural Centre, Muslim student’s association and a number of mosques. The Australian Federation of Islamic Societies was established in Sydney in 1964 to co-ordinate the functioning of all Muslim groups and associations working in various states. In 1975, its name was changed to Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC). In Arabic, it is known as Al-Ittih@a#du’l-Ustra#li# Li’l Maja#lis al-Isla#miyyah. All Islamic units operative at state levels must be recognised for their affiliation by the national organisation – the AFIC. Currently over 70 Islamic socio-cultural associations are affiliated to the AFIC. Each state Islamic Council and the Muslim students’ association has equal representation on the federation. A permanent federation secretariat is located in Sydney. The AFIC has by now established itself as a symbol of unity and power of Islam and the Muslim Ummah in Australia.
Presently a network of well-organised mosques are operating in the entire length and breadth of the continent. According to an old survey there are 15 mosques in various parts of New North Wales. Of these the Imam Ali Mosque at Lakemba in Sydney is the biggest. It was built through a donation of $ 1200,000 from the Saudi Arabian government. Victoria has ten well-established mosques. The magnificent mosque at Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, was designed by a Pakistani student studying architecture at the University of Queensland. It was constructed by voluntary labour and contributions by the local Muslim community. Some mosques have also been raised at former churches purchased by the local Muslims. Western Australia houses one of the early mosques constructed in 1905. The first mosque in South Australia was built in 1899. The island state of Tasmania has a mosque at its capital. Hobart. Well-organised programmes for the training of the mosque Imams are conducted locally. Such training programmes are also organised overseas through the Islamic universities in Pakistan and Malaysia. Professional help is also sought from Regional Islamic Da‘wah Council for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RIDSCEAP), World Assembly of Muslim Youth and other international organisations.