Muslim Australians. Their beliefs, practices and institutions

83 Pages·2004·1.609 MB·English

by  Abdullah Saeed

Muslim
Australians
THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS
A Partnership under the Australian Government’s Living In Harmony initiative
by Professor Abdullah Saeed
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
and AUSTRALIAN MULTICULTURAL FOUNDATION
in association with
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
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Muslim Australians:
THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 3
CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Muslim Community in Australia: A View from the 2001 Census . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Muslims in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Beginning of Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Key Beliefs of a Muslim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The Five Pillars of Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Commonalities and Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Muslim Family Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Milestones in a Muslim’s Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Muslim Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Holidays and Holy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Sacred Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sacred Texts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Determining Right and Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Food and Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Mosques and Religious Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Community Organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Islamic Schools: Weekend and Regular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Islamic Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Islam and Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Islam and Other Religions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Stereotypes and Misconceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Islam, State and Australian Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Contact Details
Mosques in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Muslim Organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Muslim Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Useful References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Muslim Australians:
THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 3
Introduction
In a simple and easily Muslims often tends to imply that
Muslims are a homogenous group,
this book shows their diversity.
understandable way, this book
Readers of this book will find
some similarity between topics
presents key aspects of Islam
covered in this book and another
book I published earlier, Islam in
and Muslim life and shows the Australia (Allen & Unwin, 2003).
However, the audience envisaged
for the present book is high school
variety of voices within Islam on
students. The two books therefore
differ in detail, format, choice of
topic and voice. Certain topics
a number of issues of concern to
covered briefly in the present book
can be found in some detail in
the average Australian. Islam in Australia.
I would like to thank Rachel Butson
for her contribution in refining the
original manuscript and identifying
T and providing me with some of the
his book was commissioned and Muslims in Australia, including
‘stories’ in the book as well as for her
as part of a major project in the category of high school
research assistance. Similarly, I would
which looked into the role textbooks. In the current climate of
like to thank Professor Des Cahill of
of religion in Australian society: anxiety about Islam in Australia, and
RMIT University and Professor Gary
‘Religion, Cultural Diversity and as a result of the events of September
Bouma of Monash University as well
Social Cohesion in Contemporary 11, 2001, the Bali bombing in 2002
as Mr Hass Dellal of the Australian
Australia’, a project that was funded and the ‘war on terror’, it was felt that
Multicultural Foundation, the
by the Department of Immigration such a book was greatly needed.
three chief investigators of the project
and Multicultural and Indigenous
Muslim Australians are not very large that commissioned this book, for
Affairs. As part of this project, I was
in number. In fact they represent less their reading of the manuscript and
asked to write a brief introductory
than two percent of the Australian their comments.
text that was primarily for high
population. However, the recent
school students but at the same time I hope this book will be helpful in
media coverage of Islam and Muslim
could be used by the general reader explaining something about the
related issues has led to significant
with no prior knowledge of Islam. religion of a growing number of
interest in Australia in knowing more
The book is thus an overview of the Australians and will contribute to a
about the religion and its adherents.
fundamental beliefs, practices and better understanding of Islam today.
In a simple and easily understandable
institutions of Islam. In addition,
way, this book presents key aspects
it contains some basic information
of Islam and Muslim life and shows
about Muslims in Australia and
the variety of voices within Islam on
how they interact with the wider
a number of issues of concern to the
Australian society. Relatively little has
average Australian. While the media
been written that sheds light on Islam Abdullah Saeed
representation of Islam and
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
4 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 5
Muslim Community in Australia
.
A view from the 2001 Census
Muslims in Australian cities Muslims in Australia and Country of Birth of
Citizenship Australian Muslims
Which suburbs do
Muslims live in? » An overwhelming majority, » The most frequently cited country
79%, of Muslims in of birth for Australian Muslims
Sydney - Auburn
Australia have obtained is Australia (approximately
(9,737 Muslims or 36% of the
Australian citizenship 103,000). The next is Lebanon
total population of Auburn)
(221,856 out of a total of (29,321).
Melbourne - Meadow Heights 281,578).
» Turkey is third, with 23,479
(5,195 or 33% of the population)
Muslim Australians being born
Canberra - Belconnen Town Muslim Migration to Australia there.
Centre
» Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina
(117 or 4% of the population) » Before 1981 approximately 41,000
and Pakistan are the countries
Muslims had settled in Australia,
Perth - Thornlie of origin of approximately
making up 2% of migrants.
(871 or 4% of the population) 27,000 Australian Muslims, with
» The proportion of Muslims approximately 9,000 people
Brisbane - Runcorn
immigrating to Australia is having been born in each of those
(388 or 3% of the population)
increasing steadily. countries.
Darwin - Karama Between 1996 and 2000
Languages Spoken by
(82 or 2% of the population) approximately 47,000 Muslims
Australian Muslims
migrated to Australia.
Adelaide - Para Hills
They represented 9% of » The three main languages spoken
(150 or 2% of the population)
Australia’s total immigration at home by Australian Muslims
Hobart - Sandy Bay intake throughout that period. are Arabic, Turkish and English.
(97 or 1% of the population)
» In 2001 a further 7,533 Muslims » Approximately 95,000 of Muslims
migrated to Australia. in Australia use Arabic, 45,000 use
Turkish, and 32,000 use English
Suburb with the highest
as their language at home.
percentage of Muslims
Dallas in Melbourne had the highest
concentration of Muslims at 39% of
the population. However, Dallas is
a comparatively small suburb with
only 6,346 residents.
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
4 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 5
English Language Proficiency
» The overwhelming majority
of Australian Muslims are
proficient in English.
» The age group that is most
proficient in English is 21–39
(85% of the group), while the
least proficient age group is aged
60+ (43% of the group).
Marital Status in Australian
Muslim Community
» 41% of Australian Muslim
women are married by the age
of 24, while only 12% of their
male counterparts are married
by the same age.
» 51% of Australian Muslim
males are married by the age
of 34, while another 26% are
married before they are 50.
» De facto relationships are
uncommon. 3% of males
in the age group 24–35 and
3% of females in the age
group 21–24 are in de facto
relationships.

Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
6 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 7
MUSLIMS IN AUSTRALIA
Origins of Islam in Australia
Origins of Islam in Australia A Muslim settler
L
ong before European Saib Sultan was a Muslim who came to Australia after sailing on the
settlement, Muslims had Endeavour. He had eleven and a half acres on Norfolk Island but in 1809 he
contact with Australia and and his wife sailed as third-class passengers to Tasmania (or Van Dieman’s
her peoples. Fishing for sea-slugs, the Land as it was known back then) on the Lady Nelson. His name was changed
Macassans (an ethnic group from to Jacob and records show that by 1819 he had twenty-eight acres of pasture
eastern Indonesia) began visiting the and two acres of wheat.1
northern shores of Australia in the
seventeenth century. Evidence of their
presence is found in cave drawings
of the distinctive Macassan boats In the early twentieth century, From the 1970s onwards, there was a
and in artefacts found in Aboriginal Muslims of non-European significant shift in the government’s
settlements in the north. background must have found it very attitude towards immigration.
difficult to come to Australia because Instead of trying to make new
Some Muslim sailors and prisoners
of a government policy which limited Australians ‘assimilate’ and forgo
came to Australia on the convict ships
immigration on the basis of race. their unique cultural identities,
but very little is known about them
Known as the White Australia Policy the government became more
as they left no traces in the history
it was used by the government of the accommodating and tolerant of
books, except for a few scattered
day put in place strict tests designed differences by adopting a policy of
references to their names.
to keep out people who had dark skin ‘multiculturalism’. By the beginning
During the 1870s Muslim Malay or who were from non-European of the twenty-first century, Muslims
divers were recruited through an backgrounds. But some Muslims from more than sixty countries had
agreement with the Dutch to work still managed to come to Australia. settled in Australia. While a very large
on West Australian and Northern In the 1920s and 1930s Albanian number of them come from Turkey
Territory pearling grounds. By 1875 Muslims were accepted due to their and Lebanon, there are Muslims
there were 1800 Malay divers working lighter European complexion, which from Indonesia, Bosnia, Iran, Fiji,
in Western Australia. Most returned was more compatible with the White Albania, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine,
to their home countries. Australia Policy. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India,
among others.
Afghan cameleers settled in The need for population growth and
Australia from the 1860s onwards. economic development in Australia Despite the occasional outspoken
Camels were imported and used by led to the broadening of Australia’s politician who criticises
European explorers to help open immigration policy in the post-World multiculturalism, broad sections
up the dry interior and transport War II period. This allowed for the of Australians have acknowledged
goods and services to different acceptance of a number of displaced and welcomed the contributions
parts of the country. Due to the Muslims who began to arrive from made by recent immigrants. Muslim
Afghans’ knowledge and expertise Europe. Moreover, between 1967 immigrants have become a part
with camels, they were credited with and 1971, approximately 10,000 of developing Australia’s culture,
saving the lives of numerous early Turks settled in Australia under an economy and religious knowledge.
European explorers and were vital for agreement between Australia and
exploration. Turkey. Almost all of these people
went to Melbourne and Sydney.
1 Bilal Cleland, “The History of Muslims in Australia” in Abdullah Saeed and Shahram Akbarzadeh (eds),
Muslim Communities in Australia, Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press, 2001, 14.
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
6 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 7
It was the Afghans and their
Contributions of
Muslims to Australia
camels that made it possible to
Muslims of various ethnic groups
have contributed to the development
of Australia, although they have not
gain access to the vast interior of
received broad recognition for this.
The Afghans were the pioneers
the Australian continent.
of the Muslim contribution to
Australian life. In the nineteenth
century, the Afghan cameleers were
recruited to Australia to assist in the On the contribution of Afghans to Australia
early European exploration of the
It was not until the arrival of the Afghan cameleers that Muslims started to
continent. Camels, with their ability
make some impact. Viewed mainly as necessary adjuncts to their beasts, the
to endure long periods without
role of the Afghans in opening up the interior of the continent to European
drinking, were rightly recognised as
settlement is only now being fully appreciated. At the time, the fear of racial
being the best animal to use in the
contamination dominated much of the national consciousness. However,
European exploration of Australia’s
without the Afghans, the exploration of central Australia would have been
vast dry interior.
impeded, the establishment of the inland telegraph would have been delayed
The Afghan cameleers participated and many of the inland mining towns would not have survived2.
in many expeditions to explore
It was the Afghans and their camels that made it possible to gain access to
Australia’s outback. They largely
the vast interior of the Australian continent. They further proved themselves
controlled the camel transport
during the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1870–73,
industry in the late nineteenth
contributing to both the survey and construction work and carrying loads of
century and played a vital role
materials into otherwise impenetrable country. When the Coolgardie gold rush
in the economic development of
occurred in 1894, the cameleers were quick to move in. The gold fields could
Australia at the time, from the
not have continued in existence without the food and water they transported.3
transport of goods, assistance with
laying telegraph and railway lines,
to establishing settlements in the In contemporary Australian life, Of the thousands of international
outback. The invention of the motor Muslims from all over the world students studying in Australia, a
car, however, meant that camels were have helped shape the nation. significant number are Muslims from
no longer needed. Due to the end They have developed trade links countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia
of the need for cameleers and the between Australia and several and Pakistan. Many have settled in
prejudice against Afghans, which Muslim countries, particularly Australia under the government’s
made it difficult for them to be Middle Eastern, for instance through ‘skilled’ migration program after
accepted socially, many Afghans had the export of meat that has been completing studies at their own
to return home or eke out a living slaughtered in a special way (often expense.
under the harsh regime of the White referred to as halal meat). These
Australia Policy. Muslims have opened up new
channels for trade between Australia
and their countries of origin.
2 Bilal Cleland, “The History of Muslims in Australia”, 12.
3 Bilal Cleland, “The History of Muslims in Australia”, 17.
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
8 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 9
Muslim doctors, engineers, lawyers, Australian Muslims Contrary to belief, most Muslims
scientists, academics, tradespeople Today and Fundamental do not have any problems with
and blue-collar workers are Australian Values4 these values. In fact, many Muslims
participating fully in Australian life. have migrated to Australia precisely
Australian society is based on a
Muslim small businesses abound because of them. From a Muslim
number of very important values
in the major cities (for example, in point of view, Australia is a generous
such as a ‘fair go’; parliamentary
Auburn and Lakemba in Sydney and accommodating society that
democracy and the rule of law; being
and in Brunswick and Coburg accepts people from all over the
open and friendly, particularly to
in Melbourne) and are another world, of all faiths, colours, languages
visitors to Australia; the freedom
reminder of the role Muslims play in and ethnicities. Australia gives people
to question and debate things
the economic life of Australia. recognition and the freedom to
rather than accept them blindly;
practise, teach, and even propagate
Muslims have promoted interfaith human rights, gender equality and
their religion here. Such rights
religious dialogue in order egalitarianism, and looking after
and freedoms are not available in
to encourage greater mutual each other in times of need, such as
a significant number of Muslim
understanding between people. They during bushfires, droughts, and other
countries. For most Muslims, the
have also been able to provide other disasters. It is safe to say that most
values listed here are part of Islam
Australians with greater knowledge Australians generally subscribe to
too, and Muslims do not see any
about the Muslim cultures in African, these values and, given that they are
conflict between these values and
Arab and Asian nations. a part of Australian society, Muslims
their religion.
are expected to subscribe to them.
The Muslim community has
However, there are some people in Certainly there is a small number of
enhanced the debate in Australian
Australia who believe that Muslims Muslims who insist that Australian
society about the interests of
cannot and will not do this. This is values, culture and society are foreign
minority groups, which have often
because Muslims are seen as rejecting to Islam and therefore unacceptable
had their needs and opinions ignored
Western values and fundamental to them. They think that the
by mainstream society. Australian
Australian values based on Western more Muslims are integrated into
Muslims have asserted their desire to
values. Australian society, the less ‘Muslim’
be treated equally and to be free from
they are. Their interpretation of Islam
negative stereotypes.
emphasises maintaining a distinction
Given that the community is still between Islam and anything
establishing itself, it has not so far perceived to have originated outside
participated in Australia’s political of Islam. It is important to remember
life in a significant way. However, this that these opinions belong to a small
may change as Muslims in Australia minority of Muslims and do not
become more settled and interested represent the mainstream Muslim
in participating in Australian opinion in Australia.
democracy.
4 See Abdullah Saeed, Islam in Australia, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 2003, 198-208.
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
8 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 9
Thirty-six
Two Aussie Muslims
percent of
Waleed was born in Melbourne in 1978 to parents of an Egyptian background.
He grew up to love cricket and football and barracks madly for the Richmond
Football Club. His brother became a surgeon, while Waleed decided to study
Australia’s
engineering and law at university. One of his favourite traditions is the
backyard Aussie barbeque with halal sausages and lots of rice. As a Muslim,
current Waleed goes to the mosque every Friday for prayers and fasts during the month
of Ramadan. Sometimes he even prays in the car park of the MCG so that he
doesn’t miss his prayers while he is watching a Richmond game.
Muslim
Rachel, a descendent of English and Irish settlers to Australia, decided to
convert to Islam in the late 1990s and has been practising it ever since.
population
Although it sometimes attracts attention, Rachel decided to wear a headscarf
or hijab to show that she is proud of being a Muslim as well as of being an
was born in Australian. She has had to learn how to pray, speaking special words in Arabic,
and one day hopes to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. Often people ask Rachel
where she is from and she smiles and tells them that she was born in Australia
Australia.
and is a convert to Islam.
Thirty-six percent of Australia’s The main issue for Muslims in Living as a minority
current Muslim population was born Australia is not whether Australia is
While most Muslims live in Muslim-
in Australia. Many others came here a Muslim majority country or not; it
majority countries (including
at a very young age and grew up in is whether Muslims have equal rights
Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Australia. For these people Australia and responsibilities with others, and
Iran, Turkey and Egypt), many
is their homeland, not a temporary whether they have the freedom to
live as minorities in different
stopping-place. This is where they practise and teach their religion, and
countries around the world. This
go to school and university, make Australia gives them this. Muslims
was the case even in the time of the
friends (with both Muslims and non- play an important part in making
Prophet Muhammad, when some
Muslims), get a job, establish a family Australia a multicultural and multi-
of his followers fled to the Christian
and home. There is nowhere else faith society, and are the third largest
kingdom of Abyssinia to seek refuge
they wish to go. Their understanding faith community after Christians and
from the non-Muslim Meccans who
of Islam is in harmony with Buddhists.
were persecuting Muslims.
fundamental Australian values.
Muslim Australians: Muslim Australians:
10 THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 11