History of the New England Mosque
Sometimes Armidale is perceived as a university town, while
others believe it is a town with its own university. Whatever the case might be
the interaction between UNE and the New England community at large has always
produced very beneficial outcomes for all. One example of this is the story of
the UNE Mosque.
The Muslims’ history in New England starts as early as the second half
of the 19th century when a number of Afghani Cameleers settled in the
region. Some of the descendants of these families still live in the area.
In May 1978 the first
Muslim Students’ Association was
formed, and since that year Friday congregation prayers have been always held at
UNE, in whatever room or space available. In 1983 presentations were made to UNE
administration to make available a specific place for Muslims, to be used for
prayers. However it was in the late eighties, after many overseas students came
to UNE, that the cottage behind Trevenna was altered and allocated for that
purpose. Then in 1990 the Mosque was transferred to its current location in
front of the Security Office.
Throughout the nineties the Mosque witnessed many
activities and innovative projects, all of which were self-funded and managed.
Among these were the Blankets & Winter Clothes Pool, and - one of the most
exiting for the Muslim community including overseas students - the arrival of
the first regular shipment of Halal meat from Brisbane. Also numerous functions
were held that included Muslims and the wider community resulting in building
wonderful relationships and a harmonious atmosphere.
Since the
Friday congregational prayers started to be held regularly at UNE many Muslims
in the community were attracted to come to the University. The Mosque came as a
great enhancement towards this. Members of the Muslim community come regularly
to the Mosque for congregational prayers from as far as Tamworth and Moree. The
local Muslim community naturally provides overseas students with moral and other
support, enabling them to complete their study in a relatively familiar and
encouraging environment.
The
mosque also enriches the cosmopolitan and multicultural life in Armidale through
its community participation in various local festivities and activities. In
general, the mosque has been exemplary for beneficial interaction between the
University and its alumni, and the wider community.
Activities in the mosque are not only limited to prayers,
but also many social and educational functions take place in the mosque. For
example, recently there have been Forums of Understanding held between the
Muslim community and the Uniting Church of Armidale, which were most informative
to all participants as well as challenging and stimulating. Also Arabic language
and religious classes for children are held regularly in the mosque, as well as
group discussions about varied topics.
On
a number of occasions the educational and other activities in the Mosque made
headlines in overseas magazines and newspapers, including the Egyptian “Nisf
Eldunia”, 10/3/1991, a widely circulated weekly magazine that is read
throughout the Middle East, and a few other articles in daily newspapers. This
made good publicity for UNE and the region.
UNE
today is vastly different from those years of the late seventies when I was
teaching in the Department of Classics and studying in Economics. It is now
widely recognised that in the last few years UNE has been transformed from a
secluded provincial institution to a truly first choice international
university. There is no doubt that the current effective leadership and
efficient serious management have primarily achieved this, particularly by
encouraging international students/community activities including the Mosque,
which ultimately enhanced UNE’s international standing.
For example shortly after the Vice Chancellor came to UNE in 1997 she
made a point of meeting with the Muslim students and the Muslim community and
finding out about their activities and needs, and responded effectively to such
needs.
As I have
been involved in international business and marketing for some 28 years, both
overseas and in Australia, I can see that the potential for the mosque’s
contribution to the University and the community in general is almost unlimited,
particularly given that UNE today has positioned itself to compete in the
worldwide market of tertiary education. Indeed the mosque is a resource of UNE,
and as such can and should play a role in achieving the university’s
international objectives.
UNE Mosque
has a small Islamic library covering a variety of topics; all are welcome to
visit and borrow from the library, which is open to all. Incidentally the proper
Arabic word for a mosque is Gama’a, which literally means university or a
place of learning, of searching for the truth. The earliest European
universities of 13th and
14th centuries AD were in fact modelled on Al Gama’a Al Azhar, or
Al Azhar University of Cairo, 970AD. Many of the traditions and terminology
still existing in modern universities such as academic robes, Chair, and many
others can be traced to Al Azhar or even earlier mosques. So it is interesting
to note that UNE has its very own original university or Gama’a, the Mosque.
Mostafa E. Ghandar
Minister of Religion & Mariage Celebrant (Maazoun Sharee)
Life Honorary Member & Founding Member
of International Muslim Students Association, UNE.
Click Image
Reprinted
from UNE Smith’s March 2002
UNE
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