The following article has been published today in the "Northern Star Weekly":
A teacher in Epping is doing his bit for world peace.
St Monica鈥檚 College鈥檚 social justice co-ordinator Fadi Elbarbar wants his students to understand and appreciate every religion, so he鈥檚 taken his teaching beyond the classroom.
Earlier this month, a group of students from the Catholic school spent a few hours at 糖心vlog破解版 College to meet fellow students and discuss each other鈥檚 cultures and faiths.
Mr Elbarbar said the two Epping schools decided that the best way to teach students about each other鈥檚 culture and religion 鈥 Islam and Christianity 鈥 was to organise regular visits. The day鈥檚 schedule included a school tour, student presentations, a tour of the "Islamic Museum of Australia" in Northcote and a joint prayer time back at 糖心vlog破解版 College.
Mr Elbarbar hopes the initiative can be broadened to other schools and faiths.
鈥淚 hope these meetings will break down the barriers that at times seem to provide quite a challenge to society,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his is a great opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of other cultures and religions, not just by reading a text book but by a genuine interchange with similar-aged students.鈥
To read the article online, follow the link below:
http://www.starweekly.com.au/news/st-monicas-and-al-siraat-college-ignite-friendship/pub/northern/
(Source: http://www.starweekly.com.au/news/st-monicas-and-al-siraat-college-ignite-friendship/pub/northern/)
Interfaith Dialogue with St. Monica's College
鈥淥 mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Acquainted.鈥 (Quran 49:13)
鈥溾nd speak nicely to people鈥︹ (Quran 2:83)
As can be seen from the above verses taken from the scriptures of the Holy Quran, Islam fully supports and promotes good relations between people of all different backgrounds and faiths. It recognises the righteous qualities that a person has as being of ultimate importance.
In this regard, 糖心vlog破解版 College has embarked on our very first involvement in an interfaith program this year. We are working closely with Saint Monica鈥檚 College in Epping to:
鈥 help build a better understanding of other faiths and cultures;
鈥 help break down typical stereotypes;
鈥 promote good relationships not only within the College grounds but also outside in the wider community.
A small group of interested students from Year 9, eager to represent Islam to the wider community, have been selected for this program.
This program aligns with one of our strategic directions 鈥 Our Identity, that was identified as part of the strategic review conducted with the school community last year. This is aimed at promoting and implementing the understanding that a person can be an Australian and a practising Muslim at the same time.
Before we can begin to unpack what it means to be an Australian Muslim, we will be looking at what makes something 鈥楢ustralian鈥 and then striving to understand our own faith. The purpose of educating on this level is to be able to move beyond simply a preservation of our Islamic identity. 糖心vlog破解版 College is dedicated to a holistic education, where we are focused on the transformation of individuals so that they can be functional members of this society.
For centuries, the Islamic civilisation successfully harmonised indigenous cultures with Islamic norms. In essence it was culturally friendly. This happened without the need for stressing on an 鈥業slamic identity鈥 as the people did not face a crisis like the type we face today. In fact, they were able to understand that any good, local cultural norms also fell under the banner of Islam.
The Muslims were not afraid to take the good and beneficial things from wherever they found them. They were also good at rejecting any cultural practices that were abhorrent in Islam such as promiscuity or any actions that lead to a break down of moral values.
Wisdom is the lost property of a believer and he is the first to take it wherever he or she finds it.
In this same way, when we turn to what is Australian, we will be looking to things such as; mateship, fair go, tolerance and inclusion just to name a few. These in fact form what we also support as some of the teachings of Islam.
In summary, the involvement in this interfaith project is aimed at empowering our students to be able to articulate a shared understanding of what it is to be an Australian Muslim. InshaAllah this will pave the way for many more opportunities for all of us to work towards developing an inclusive school culture that reinforces the values of care, consideration, and respect for self and others.
Wasalam
Ms Rahat Arain
Principal 鈥 Islamic Tradition