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Introducing the New Muslim Project

WELCOME to the rst issue
of the newsletter of the New
Muslim Project (NMP).
Founded by Al Hikmah
Trust and launched on 15
September, 2012, NMPs
main aim is to reach out to
our newest Muslim brothers
and sisters across Aotearoa,
New Zealand.
Mimicking the very
successful British New
Muslims Project established
in 1993, our New Zealand
chapter aims to provide local
reverts with guidance, a
helping hand and a forum for
discussion as they follow their
paths deeper into Islam.
Forming the NMP, Sheikh
Rafat Najm of Al Hikmah
Trust and leader of the
project identied the need to
develop a haven of
information and support for
the Muslim reverts.
Praising Allah, hugs and
kisses are the way we
welcome a new Muslim to
Islam, explains Sheikh
Rafat, but eventually he or
she feels isolated and ignored
without any help or support
on their journey within Islam
and its community.
To bridge this gap, the
NMP is providing a range of
services including an
abundance of information
and reliable resources;
direction on day-to-day
Islamic practice; invitations to
social functions within the
NMP or the community;
study circles on requested
Islamic topics; and, most
importantly, continuous on-
hand support and guidance
for reverts or potential
Muslims on their journeys.
Ultimately, we hope to
identify and acknowledge the
specic needs of those who
are new to Islam and provide
them with the answers they
seek to their spiritual, social
and educational questions.
Also, with our ofce in the
heart of the city, we hope to
provide easy access to
Muslims and non-Muslims
alike, where all who are
interested are invited to learn
more about Islam.
This is a community
project, which aims to fulll
our obligations as a
community towards those
who join our faith,
emphasises Sheikh Rafat. By
harnessing and nurturing
challenges through
professional channels such as
the NMP we are better
equipped to help others and
create an atmosphere of
cooperation with one another
that leads to a better future.
Sincerely,
New Muslim Project Team
Asalaamu
alaikum,
brothers and
sisters peace
be upon you.
The New
Muslim Project
is an initiative of
Al Hikmah
Trust, a New
Zealand
registered
charity. The
projects
purpose is to
support and
help those that
are new to or
interested in
learning more
about Islam.
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Above: Sheikh Rafat
(left) and brother Tyrone
Smith (right) at the NMP
launch.
NEW MUSLI M PROJECT NEWS
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Personal profile
Karl Brooks
The proudest moments this
young project has encountered
are the occasions when an
individual comes to nd their
way back to God through Islam.
NMP welcome all reverts with
open arms and asks them to
share their stories with others
who are on the same path, as
Karl has shared his story here.
ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE to
convert to Islam in the NMP ofce is
Karl Brooks, who is by profession a
marketing manager and has been a
long-time New Zealand resident.
In mid-2012, Karl felt stressed
with work and found himself with
little time and energy for anything
else but work. But as this feeling
wore on, he knew that it was time
for a positive change in his life.
With this motivation, Karl
embarked on a spiritual journey to
nd the answer to his life change in
religion. On this search, he spoke to
members of various religions to
uncover the right one for him.
The other religions spoke of the
positives of their religion and the
negatives of others, notes Karl.
When I spoke to members of the
Muslim community, they spoke of
the positives of their religion and
also spoke highly of other religions.
The kindness towards alternative
religions from the Muslim
community was the key message to
me to follow Islam.
From the Muslim attitude he
encountered, Karl hoped to further
his understanding of Islam and, in
turn, nd a balanced and more
positive life by adopting the religion.
By converting to Islam, I feel
more focused on life and helping
others around me. I also have a
greater respect and time for family,
he says.
Brother Tyrone Smith and Brother
Mohamed Thompson (above) share
stories; community members
(below and right) gather to support
the New Muslim Project launch.
More photos of
the ofcial
NMP opening
Our thanks to partner organisations
- especially FIANZ, Al Manar Trust
and Voice of Islam - for their
assistance with and support of the
New Muslim Project.
Brother Karl receives his New
Muslim gift pack after
declaring shahadah in front of
Sheikh Rafat in the NMP
ofce.
When I spoke to
Muslims, they
spoke of the
positives of their
religion and also
spoke highly of
other religions...
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Issues facing
new Muslims
This report was produced as a
result of last Septembers road
trip to meet new Muslims to
nd out the issues facing them
and to show a spirit of
brotherhood and sisterhood.
Although the issues they face
are by no means unique to
them, some are exacerbated
because of their conversion to
Islam. The journey began in
Wellington on 8 September
then went on to Lower Hutt,
Porirua, Hastings, Palmerston
North, Rotorua, Hamilton and
ended in Auckland on 15
September.
Isolation
Several geographical issues were
raised on the road trip. A feeling of
isolation was common for some new
Muslims because other Muslims and
masjids (mosques) were too far away.
They want to feel that they
belong to a certain group but do not
because some Muslim communities
in New Zealand are divided by race
such as Fijians and Arabs and they
are not accepted because of their
race as a Maori, Pakeha or other
ethnicity.
Elderly Muslims face the worst
isolation as they nd it hard getting
transportation to and from masjids
or Islamic centres.
Confusion
New Muslims are sometimes
confused about what madhab
(methodology, or school of thought)
they belong to because of the
perceived differences. They
constantly feel they are being told
that things they do are incorrect and
then a sense of feeling comes that
they dont belong in Islam after all.
There is a lack of tolerance and
acceptance by some of the Muslim
communities for new Muslims that
makes them feel forgotten, ignored
and lonely for example, no one
smiling at them or a refusal to return
a salaam.
The deserted feeling by new
Muslims is because there is no
understanding of the background
they came from so there is
unsolicited advice which can make
new Muslims leave Islam after they
embrace it because their
expectations were not met by the
masjids or Muslim community.
The lack of trained Muslim
counsellors to aid with depression, a
sense of belonging to help with
loneliness and for spiritual guidance
is another issue new Muslims face.
Work problems
New Muslims feel guilty working
in jobs that they think are classied
as haram (forbidden), such as a
musician or selling alcohol in a
supermarket, and are uncertain how
to advise their friends and families
about what is wrong or right.
Unemployment is a substantial
issue, especially in Hastings where
they were told by the local Imam
that the seasonal work they do
picking and collecting grapes is
haram as grapes are used to make
wine. Many fathers and husbands
want to positively contribute to their
families and communities but are
unemployed and are nding the
current job market hard.
continued on next page
Rotorua was truly a gem of a
time, mashallah. We rolled up
to a house that looked
abandoned from the outside
but we were greeted by a
beautiful smile from a 60-year-
old Maori Muslim Kuia named
Aunty Emily. She also had a
friend who at the age of 64
recently embraced Islam. We
visited her at her home, where
she lives alone, and noticed as
we walked in that she had a
learn-how-to-pray mat hanging
up next to her bed. We listened
to her beautiful story of
conversion. Tyrone Smith
4
Marriage
Many female reverts are not
married and some are married to
men who are not practising Islam or
have yet to revert, which makes the
sisters feel guilty carrying on with
the relationship.
The new female Muslims feel
they need to get married but also
believe that nding a marriage
partner is difcult with many social
limitations, for example not being
allowed to talk to men.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is an issue
with some new Muslims, especially
Maori Muslims due to the way
theyve grown up in a violent
environment because of the gang
background within their families.
Some Muslim children are
placed within non-Muslim families
due to violence erupting within their
Muslim families, which raises serious
concerns for the safety of the child.
In some cases there were simple
family misunderstandings and the
children were still taken by the
Child, Youth and Family Services
(CYFS). Drug abuse, mental abuse
and alcohol abuse are some of the
factors behind domestic violence.
Education
There are hardships that new
Muslims face in terms of a language
barrier as the Holy Quran is
written in Arabic. They need to
know trusted websites and
educational resources for new
Muslims as they face issues of not
knowing what is correct or incorrect
information about Islam on websites
or other sources such as books.
New Muslims cannot
differentiate wrong from right
information about Islam and thus
rely heavily on imams (prayer
leaders in mosques). However, some
imams do not know that the reverts
have different levels of
understanding which results in lack
of help and support by the Muslim
Continued on next page
In Palmerston North we met an
84-year-old revert who
embraced Islam four years ago.
He is a well-known horse
breeder and has over 40 horses
on his ranch. The Quran he
holds has worn out marks
where you could see its well
used. He told the team he
doesnt get visitors due to him
not being too mobile and
isolated in a far away remote
area. Tyrone Smith
Before leaving Wellington the
road trip team went to visit
Brother Nassir and his family.
5
associations and masjids in
providing programmes and
khutbahs (sermon at Friday prayers)
in English to assist them in learning
more about Islam.
There is a general lack of Islamic
courses and classes to educate
reverts, especially in rural areas.
Culture
Cultural differences in the
Muslim communities sometimes
divide Muslims. New Muslims have
found it difcult to make new friends
because of judgement by the wider
community. Nationalism and racism
is felt in new Muslims to be
common. One female Maori
suggests that Maoris compared to
other cultures are badly treated and
that nding a supportive friend is
difcult in areas like Auckland.
Reverts sometimes nd
themselves lost and confused by the
barriers between the male side and
female in the mosques as they are
not used to it and feel that spouses
and families should not split up but
should go together for Islamic
courses, classes and events.
Social Media
Social media like television
inuence the members of some
reverts families. The depiction of
Muslims as terrorists and the
constant coverage of Taliban caused
one young revert to be kicked out of
the house. Although older reverts do
not face this, it is a potential
problem for younger new Muslims.
Muslims in
the Land of
the Long
White Cloud
AT THE DAWN of the 19th
century, many settlers were
overcome by the desire to escape
difcult pasts, searched for a place to
call home that promised a better
future, and hoped to settle in a
country that could grant them
prosperity and riches. Despite the
long, tedious journey to reach it,
New Zealandland of the long,
white cloudbecame a desired land
of refuge among these settlers.
It was not until the 1870s that
immigration began to boom and the
non-Maori population rose from just
under 30,000 to over 250,000.
Fuelled by the export of wool and
the discovery of gold, New Zealand
became a land of growth and
energy, and attracted the eyes of
many settlers across the world.
Among these settlers was a group
of 15 Chinese Muslims called
Mahometans who lived in the
gold mining settlement of Dunstan,
Otago. Soon after, several Punjabi
and Gujarati men from India
arrived. Once they found prosperity,
they sent for their families in the
1930s, and thus the Muslim
community began to grow.
In 1950, the New Zealand
Islamic Association was the rst
Islamic organisation formed to
represent the 200 Muslims who had
settled in New Zealand. As more
Muslim immigrants began to arrive,
they worked together to buy a house
in the heart of Ponsonby in 1959,
which was converted to the rst
Islamic centre in New Zealand. The
following year brought the rst
Imam in the country, Maulana Said
Musa Patel, from Gujarat, India.
The Muslim population
continued to grow slowly and
reached 2,000 Muslim immigrants
by 1979, the majority of which
could be found in Canterbury,
Auckland and Wellington. To
remain united, the three associations
brought about by these cities met to
create the Federation of Islamic
Associations of New Zealand
(FIANZ), which to this day still
represents the Muslim community.
Today, New Zealand is home to
about 40,000 Muslims representing
more than 40 nationalities.
As this number keeps growing,
New Zealand Muslims continue to
develop their strong community,
dedicated to working together on
following the righteous path towards
success in their religion.
Ponsonby mosque as it is today.
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Al Hikmah Trust
The Trust strives to advance the
understanding and practice of Islam
in New Zealand amongst youth,
especially tertiary students. It runs
programmes and presentations,
facilitates forums and meetings to
educate Muslim and non-Muslim
youths and students about Islamic
beliefs and practices. The Trust also
provides dawah material for
Muslim and non-Muslim youths and
students. The Trust houses two
groups, Al Hikmah Trust Girls and
Al Hikmah Trust Boys.
Email info@alhikmah.org.nz or nd
them on Facebook.
Fatimah Foundation
Fatimah Foundation aims to provide
family assistance to Islamic mothers
and homes. The foundation offers a
service based on Islamic values and
principles. Its mission is to build
stronger families by strengthening
support systems in the family home
and working towards a harmonious
community living in peace and
unity.
Email
info@fatimahfoundation.org.nz or
visit www.fatimahfoundation.org.nz
or nd them on Facebook.
Marhaba Play Group
and Learning Centre
Marhaba aims to help the children
of the Muslim community to learn
the Arabic language and Islamic
studies by providing a broad-based
educational programme which
allows the kids to choose from a
range of activities presented in fun
and interesting ways.
Email hoda.elwalili@gmail.com or
visit www.marhaba.co.nz or nd
them on Facebook.
Rasheed Memorial
Dawah Trust (RMDT)
Young RMDT team members
planting natives at Meola Creek
as part of an initiative for creek
restoration with Auckland
Council and Wai Care..
Some useful organisations
Rasheed Memorial Dawah Trust
(RMDT) operates primarily in
Auckland as well as in some of the
Pacic islands such as Fiji, Tonga
and Samoa. The trusts purpose is
to educate and engage people in
Islam and in our communities, with
a vision of achieving more peaceful,
progressive communities by
revealing the heart of Islam as it
was always intended to be practised.
RMDT is active in specic areas,
notably interfaith dialogue, religious
education, ecology and charity.
Find them on Facebook.
Continued on next page
7
Working Together
Group (WTG)
WTG is a group of volunteers who
are active in specic community
projects, notably the Janaza Project,
which provides funeral services for
Muslims and runs training sessions
for community groups on janaza
ghusl, and the Helping Hand
Project, which distributes food
collected from food banks in
mosques to needy families.
Janaza information: Ashraf Khan
(021 786 676), Mazin Al-Salim (021
1466 179) or David Blocksidge (021
054 8443). Helping Hand: Ismail
Waja (021 212 9282) or Ayah
Kautai (021 2222 808).
Young Muslim Womens
Association (YMWA)
YMWA is a not-for-prot, non-
partisan organisation committed to
supporting and nurturing Islamic
identity and values among Muslim
women in the Auckland region. It
welcomes members regardless of
race, culture, religious practice or
Islamic knowledge. They focus on
serving the female population
between the ages of 12 24,
working in four main areas: social
activities, educational opportunities,
annual camps, and sports.
Email ymwa.nz@gmail.com or visit
www.ymwa.org/ or nd them on
Facebook.
WTG members giving a janaza
ghusl demonstration to people
from the Sri Lankan community.
Quranic verse
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a
female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each
other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured
of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you.
And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Quran: Surah al-Hujurat (49:13)
Hadeeth
(action or saying of the Prophet)

The Messenger
of Allah (peace
and blessings
be upon him)
said: A good
word is a
charitable act.


(Recorded in al-Bukhari)
8
Level 5, Ofce 5A2, ACG House, 396 Queen Street, Auckland
Open 10am to 2pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except public holidays)
Telephone: (09) 280 1615
Email: info@newmuslimproject.co.nz
Web: www.newmuslimproject.co.nz or nd us on Facebook
The Buddy System
for befriending
new converts and
poviding them with
guidance is a core
concept in the
New Muslim
Project. Having
met up with some
of their convert
buddies for the
rst time, the
brothers and
sisters involved in
the New Muslim
Project discuss
how to move the
Buddy System
forward at their
January meeting.
It is exciting to
see the project
taking shape.
Views expressed in articles in New Muslim Project News are those of the author or organisation concerned and do not necessarily
reect the opinions of the publisher, Al Hikmah Trust. Contents copyright Al Hikmah Trust 2013.
We welcome your contributions and suggestions
for future issues of this newsletter
Please email the editor: newsletter@newmuslimproject.co.nz
You can donate to the New Muslim Project using these details:
Bank: Kiwi Bank
Account name: New Muslim Project
Account number: 38-9008-0489171-02