Imams and Muslim Leaders Take Important Step

Imams and Muslim Leaders Take Important Step

The graduation of Imams and Muslim leaders from an Australian designed and based course was an important step towards teaching Islam in an Australian context, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Robb said today.

Mr Robb said the course recognized the importance of having spiritual leaders who clearly understood the environment in which they were operating.

“Such understanding makes them far more effective in instilling confidence in Australian Muslims that they can be equal and committed members of the community while being true to their faith,” he said.

Mr Robb was speaking in Sydney at the Darulfatwa Islamic High Council’s graduation of some 100 Imams and leaders. He said the course had covered topics such as Muslim integration into Australia and Islamic doctrine and the theological proof against extremism.

“This is an extremely concrete and positive example of Australia’s Imams and Muslim leaders actively supporting the Australian Government in building community cohesion and unity,” Mr Robb said.

“The recent historic two day conference of Imams, with its particular focus on young people, was another key development in looking at how to communicate Islam to Muslims in Australia.”

Mr Robb said he was encouraged that the Imams conference had stressed the importance of preaching in English.

“Some fifty per cent of the 360,000 Muslims in Australia are under 25 years of age and most were born in Australia with English as their first language,” he said.

“So there is a clear responsibility to deliver the teachings of Islam in English so young people learn about the Koran from the Mosque and not the internet.”

Mr Robb extended his best wishes to Australia’s Muslim community at the commencement of the month of Ramadan noting that they played an important role in the economic and social life of Australia.

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