AL-HUDA NEWSLETTER FORTNIGHT PUBLICATION

15 TH MAY 2009 ISSUE 1

Current News: Side News:

Bahai Club Dessert Night:
On Saturday, 9th of May at 7pm, an interfaith dessert night was held in Clubs and Societies building. It was organised by students from the Bahai Faith. There were representatives from the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim faiths, but the majority of attendees were Bahais. Those who came were asked to bring along a reading from the scriptures of their faith or a prayer. The Muslim representatives decided to share an ayah from Al-Hujurat (49:13) and one from Al-Mumtahinah (60:7). Muslim representatives also shared some apple pie to the dessert night, and Alhamdulillah was quite popular as it was the only dessert dish that was finished.
Volleyball tournament organ-

Important dates
Event Date 16th May 22nd May 5th July

ised by MUSA is starting on Sat, 16th May after Aser prayer. Forms and details available in mosque foyer and with MUSA executives. All games will be played in Al-Huda Mosque. Last date to register your team is Friday 15th May. Feel free to contact sports officer Jonaid Alam if you would like MUSA to organise more sports activities of your interest.
The Otago Muslim Association

Volleyball tournament OMA AGM Soccer tournament

International 16th July Food Festival Brothers Camp 18 July

(OMA) annual general meeting will be held at Al-Huda Mosque on May 22nd after Maghrib prayer. All Muslim brothers and sisters are invited to attend and give their opinions on how the association is currently operating.
Shikh Jamal has Alhamdulillah

Inside this issue:

Letter from MUSA president About MUSA Hadith of the week 2 2 2 3 4

Buy a Islamic Book for the Mosque:

MUSA Dawah & Education officer, Khairil Afif is pleased to develop a campaign to encourage Muslims to buy an Islamic book and donate it to the mosque. He therefore, announces to all Muslims in Dunedin to buy English Translation of Islamic books either from their home country or online and donate it to the mosque as charity. For more details approach any MUSA member or send an email to admin@muslim.ousa.org.nz.

completed his degree will be graduating on May 23rd. He is leaving to Egypt on 28th of May. He say, he may not return back but is still unsure.
Soccor tournament will be

Islam, Liberalism and the University Swine Flue

played at Edgar Sport Center, south Dunedin. It is one day tournament. Further details will be available shortly.
Meat room will be open every

Brothers Camp
Brothers Camp previously held during Easter break unfortunately this year we were unable to make it happen on Easter. Therefore, we are planning to organise it on the 18th of July. We will appreciate if you could advice us your participation by sending email to

Friday after Jummah prayer. Also over the weekend after Magrib, but no sale on weekdays.

admin@muslim.ousa.org.nz.

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Letter from MUSA president Assalamulikum Warahmatu Allahi Wabarakatuh, First of all, I'd like to welcome you all to the new MUSA committee. Obviously, I wasn't the best Yassar A. Alamri among the brothers who were nominated for presidency, but since everybody pulled off, it came down to me!! So, please correct me whenever I'm wrong, and I will correct any wrong-doings I come across inshAllah. And that is why it is called a "committee". I would love to make MUSA 2009/2010 somewhat different. So, this year MUSA will try to introduce new activities, as well as modifying old ones to make them more interesting for both Muslim and no-Muslim communities alike.

MUSA committee members 2009/2010 From left to right: Aufar, Hikmat, Ali, Yassar, Muadh, Sami, Jonaid, Sufian, Waseem, Afif and Azim. Three other members not in the picture Musab, Khadar and Magan.

About MUSA The Muslim University Students Association (MUSA) is a registered association in Otago University. MUSA is also affiliated with the Otago University Students Association (OUSA) and the Otago Muslim Association (OMA). MUSA is formed by the Muslim university students for students. Currently there are about 50plus members in MUSA. The main purpose of MUSA is to spread brotherhood among the Muslims in Dunedin. Therefore, MUSA provides many activities such as welcome gathering, sports, camp for brothers and sisters and many other activities during the year.

Hadith of the week Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here - and he pointed to his chest three times. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour.

I am feeling really optimistic about the new group of executives. I know everybody is busy with his studies, so I'll try to keep it as "laid back" as possible. I like to sit and hear different opinions before making any decisions!! Just flick me an email or a text anytime you have anything in mind. JAK all, Wassalamualikum

In wider perspective MUSA strives to outstretch the idea of Islam among the non-Muslims. For this purpose there is Islam awareness week which allows all non-Muslims to participate in many Islamic activities during the [Muslim] week and become aware of Islam.

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tutions and how we apply this knowledge. The approach we as Muslims take to this is likely to differ greatly from field to field. In areas such as the health sciences we will most likely merely need to adjust slightly the way in which public health issues are administered, ensuring Islamic etiquettes and morals are proAll fields of study in the universities are based upon a cer- tected. However, in areas such as commerce and the humanitain worldview prevalent in ties the problem is more apparWestern societies, that of liberalism. Liberalism is the ideol- ent. The way in which liberals construct solutions to their ecoogy that arose in Europe and nomic, social and political probits descendant societies such lems will inevitably result from as the US, Australia and New their worldview that sees each Zealand following the fall in individuals freedom as the religious belief in Christianity most important concern. This in those societies. It is based will differ greatly from solutions upon a worldview that sees that are appropriate for our worldly concerns as the only context as Muslims attempting valid and reasonable ones. It to build Islamic civilisations, does not place any weight on concerns to do with questions built upon the foundation of the of God or the afterlife or with shariah with its deeper understanding of the human condithe health of the soul. Rather tion. Our solutions to modern its primary focus is on the day problems need to be estabfreedom of each individual. lished on this basis that protects the maqasid of the shariah This view of the world affects religion (in its wide meaning the way each field of study is ordered and gives us reason to concerning the health of the be careful about which knowl- inner as well as the outer), life, edge we take from these insti- lineage, intellect and property.

large portion of the Muslim community today regard the knowledge we receive from university as neutral not based on any specific beliefs about the world. As a result of this, there is a tendency to take knowledge from university academics blindly without assessing whether this is suitable for us as Muslims with our specific beliefs, values and identity.

Peter Lilly (Muadh)

Looking to liberal institutions for solutions will not bring us to this point we need to be more critical in our interaction with the university. I am not suggesting here that we cannot take any knowledge from Western universities. Instead what I have tried to demonstrate the importance of here is not taking university knowledge at face value. Instead we need to evaluate which aspects of knowledge are useful for us, what contradicts our goals and values and therefore to determine which knowledge we should appropriate and how we should apply it.

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Q: What are swine flu and bird flu? A: Flu is a disease caused by the influenza virus. Humans, pigs, birds, and other animals all can be infected by influenza viruses. Typically, influenza viruses can infect only one species, so the influenza viruses of humans are different from those of pigs and birds. However, sometimes a virus can infect more than one species. For example, pigs sometimes can be infected not only with pig influenza viruses, but also with human and bird influenza viruses. Then these viruses can sidle up to one another and swap genes, creating new viruses that have a mix of genesfrom human, pig, and bird viruses. That is what has happened with this new swine flu virus.

ted between humans. It is not clear yet how easily it is transmitted, nor how it is transmitted. Almost surely it is transmitted by sneezing and coughing, and by skinto-skin contact (like shaking hands or kissing) with an infected person.

Q: How do I protect myself? A: To protect yourself from catching swine flu, take the same steps you would to prevent getting any cold or flu: Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand cleaners frequently. When you greet people, dont shake hands or exchange kisses. Avoid contact with people with flu symptoms. If you develop sneezing and coughing, be sure to use tissues to wipe your nose and cover your mouth, and to throw the tissues in the trash or toilet bowl. From: Harvard Health Publications Flu Resource Centre. By: Yassar Alamri

Q: Are there treatments?

A: As of now, the new virus is killed by two antiviral medicinesoseltamivir and zanamivir. On the other hand, there is no proven benefit from using the medicines before symptoms deQ: Can this new swine flu virus velop, and there is proven harm: unnecessary widebe easily transmitted from spread use of these drugs person to person? could produce drug-resistant A: Unfortunately, the new viruses. swine flu virus can be transmitMuslim Students Association (MUSA)

Image Source: http://www.udel.edu/chem /white/C647/FluVirus.GIF; accessed May 11, 2009

Otago Muslim Association (OMA)

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