Vicky DeaneStudent Services & Conference ManagerRobert Menzies College, Macquarie University

It’s OK: The pork is ‘Halal’

ItIt’’s OK: The Pork is s OK: The Pork is HalalHalal!!

By: Vicky DeaneRobert Menzies College

Macquarie University

THIS PAPER IS DEDICATED TOTHIS PAPER IS DEDICATED TOIMANE EL FECTIANIIMANE EL FECTIANI

A Female Muslim student from Morocco who applied to study a Masters in a Sydney university but was declined a Visa by the Australian Immigration Department.

“Bismallah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem”

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

So: So: ““ItIt’’s ok: the pork is s ok: the pork is HalalHalal..””

This is what one chef said, which, indicates a lack of knowledge

Muslim students and their belief: do we need to know?

YES: knowledge builds bridges, develops harmony and desirous environment – links in the chain.

Knowledge Is Power!!!Knowledge Is Power!!!

RESULTS RESULTS OF OF

SURVEY SURVEY

20062006--77

Countries Represented Countries Represented

PakistanMoroccoIndonesiaAmericaAlgeriaCanadaMalaysiaIndia

10 10 least least concernconcern

99 88 77 66 55 44 33 22 1 1 greatest greatest concernconcern

Living In a Living In a community of community of international international studentsstudents

Close to shopping Close to shopping centrecentre

Close to public Close to public transporttransport

Close to MosqueClose to Mosque

Ability to purchase Ability to purchase halalhalal productsproducts

HalalHalal products products served in served in residencesresidences

Provision of Provision of internet and internet and telephonetelephone

Close to campusClose to campus

Accommodation ConcernsAccommodation Concerns

Social ConcernsSocial Concerns

1010Least Least concernconcern

99 88 77 66 55 44 33 22 11Greatest Greatest concernconcern

II’’m not afraid at allm not afraid at all

Will I make friends Will I make friends quicklyquickly

II’’m afraid of local m afraid of local customscustoms

II’’m concerned I m concerned I will be will be misunderstoodmisunderstood

II’’m concerned m concerned about racism and about racism and discriminationdiscrimination

II’’m concerned I m concerned I wont be able to wont be able to practice my practice my religion freelyreligion freely

II’’m concerned I will m concerned I will have trouble with have trouble with the languagethe language

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TerminologiesTerminologies

•Salat (prayer)

• Ramadan

•Eid

•Halal

•LotaHuh?

SalatSalat (Prayer)(Prayer)

Pray 5 times a day:FAJR – PredawnDHUHR – NoonASR – AfternoonMAGHRIB – SunsetISHA – Evening

Routines:Observance of time:Ablutions: Always face toward Mecca when praying – in Australia that is Northwest.

MuslimMuslim

ManMan

In In

PrayerPrayer

MuslimMuslim

women inwomen in

prayerprayer

http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2003/10/29/News/Nourishing.The.Spirit-541818.shtml

Acknowledging Acknowledging SalatSalat??

• Compass to find direction of Mecca.

• Common space to pray in groups

Ramadan: What is it?

• Ninth month of Islamic calendar

• Religious significance – most holy

• Abstain from earthly pleasures

• No food or drink taken in daylight hours

• Breakfast taken before dawn, breaking fast at sun down

Place: Islamabad, Pakistan: taken on a personal visit

Typical Meal Which Breaks The Daily Fast Typical Meal Which Breaks The Daily Fast -- IftarIftar

Helping Muslim Students In Ramadan?Helping Muslim Students In Ramadan?

Find out:• When Ramadan begins each year

• What you can do to assist them

• If meals are provided at the university mosque to break fast.

• Help out by:• Providing microwave oven and fridge

• Providing space and facilities where they can break their fast together.

New moon indicates new month and end of Ramadan.

Beginning of EID

How an Islamic Month Begins?How an Islamic Month Begins?

EidEid CelebrationsCelebrations

A time to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Called “Eid-ul-Fitr”

EidEid CelebrationsCelebrations

A typical way of greeting with gifting money

Acknowledging Acknowledging EidEid??

• Arrange a few grand meals with special dishes.

• Greet the student by wishing him/her “EidMubarak”

• Identify Eid celebrations in the local Muslim community.

HalalHalal: What Is It?: What Is It?

• Food which is acceptable (halal) and food which is not (haram.)

• Emulsifiers made from “soy/lecithin” are halal, others are haram.

• Pork products are anathema to the Muslim.

• There should be no contamination of halalproducts with haram products.

Acknowledging Acknowledging HalalHalal??

• Purchase halal meats and products

• Where to purchase halal products

• Which cafes and restaurants are halal certified.

• Food preparation should not come into contact with any haram products.

Colourful lotas(Tahara)Tahara)

LotaLotaWhat is it?What is it?

Used in Toilets

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

The following comments were freely offered by students who completed the survey. There is a common thread throughout the replies.

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

I would be very bothered if the bathroom is shared or if the floor I live in is mixed. Shaking hand is also an issue for me being a Muslim woman.

Having the freedom to assist or not to special occasions like parties, because as a Muslim girl I will feel very embarrassed if they insist that I assist while the parties are against my values

Full respect of the hijab I wear

ImaneImane

“When they arrange for shared accommodations they(accommodation officers) should keep check as to whether the room mates belong to the same religion or to two conflicting sects/religions”.

• “Think and feel that muslim students are mere knowledge seekers, rather than Osama Bin Laden models. Good and bad are in every society.”

JavieraJaviera

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

For me it is just the availability of Halal meat and food and being able to practise my religion without fear and discrimination.

The models of toilets is a very big concern for the Muslims as in non-Muslim countries they don’t have proper arrangement for ‘Tahara’ i.e. cleaning ones body with water after passing urine and/or faeces.

Male Male –– 23yrs (name withheld)23yrs (name withheld)

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

Not appropriate to shake hands with men. No co-ed bathrooms or dorms. Free to indulge in all religious practices without being looked down upon. My food, culture and outlook should be respected as well.

Like to go for a place that respects me as an individual Muslim, rather then delve into what my community does as a whole.

SabahSabah

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

ArifArif::

I would only say if halal meal is provided in accommodation.

Halal meals

Prayer place.

Comments From SurveyComments From Survey

NajatNajat

“I am concerned if it is easy for a woman wearing hijabto find a part time job and if a woman wearing hijabwill be able to integrate the society”

Summary:Summary:

• SALAT (PRAYER)

RAMADAN

EID

HALAL

LOTA

RECOGNITION (of religion)

SENSITIVITIES (to situations –particularly with females)

FEAR of racism

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments• Ghaffer Iqbal Kiani – PhD, Macquarie University, Sydney

•For invaluable support and encouragement.•For proof reading and authorizing text and pictures

• Imane Il Fechitani – Master’s student – Morocco•For supplying multiple texts from the Quran.•For being my Cyber mailperson and sending surveys all over the world

•Rym Aoudia – Author, poet and Master’s student, Macquarie University, Sydney •For proof reading and authorizing text and pictures particularly feminine related issues.

•Sabah Yasub Dogar – Economics student, Lahore, Pakistan•For being responsible for gathering 100% of the Pakistan surveys

•Jessica Bakic - M.A. Commerce•For patient tuition in Power Point functions

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Wake Up TimeWake Up Time

Questions Please?