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For this busy inner-city mosque a diverse congregation is celebrated. Leader, imam Hady, says this Muslim place of worship is not dominated by any one ethnic group.
According to Mr Hady 500 to 600 people attend the Jumu^ah (Friday) prayer and the congregation of Zetland mosque includes “people from all walks of life and country of origin…[The] Middle East, Asia, Africa…also from Europe…and there are so many Australian converts”.
When asked if this is unique and if he was trying to create an Australian brand of Islam, Mr Hady said:
“For some…yes…because perhaps this practice is not taking place in every mosque…it is the essence of the teaching of Islam.”
A recently published 12-year study by the University of Western Sydney surveyed more than 12500 Australians.
One question referred to Australia being weakened by people of different ethnic origins sticking to their old ways: 41.2% of respondents agreed. Another asks if there are cultural groups that do not fit into Australian society and 41.4% of people said yes.
Mr Hady says he faces misunderstanding and feels compelled to apologise, on behalf of Islam, following acts of terrorism.
This year includes the 10thanniversary of the September 11thtragedy. Jeremy Jones from the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said:
“Immediately after those events [911 attacks]…we had a big interfaith gathering at Martin Place and Amin Hady was the key Muslim religious person”.
The Reverend, Tara Curlewis, from the National Council of Churches has been frequenting Zetland mosque for three years. Ms Curlewis said:
“the faith community is trying to recognise that we [Australia] are not only a multicultural society but we are also a multi-faith society.”
Amin Hady is “first imam to Zetland mosque” but he is also a cleric and a Sheik. He said:
“imam is [a] title for [a] religious cleric who is in charge [of] religious matters for the community and usually he will be based at [a] certain mosque.”
A Sheik is a title given by an Islamic university. In the late 1970’s Mr Hady graduated from university in Medina, Saudi Arabia, and could then be called Sheik.
Becoming imam at Zetland mosque in 1998, Mr Hady promotes a pluralistic and moderate approach. He wants to engage the local community on issues including the role of women.
“We have given women not only significant [but] also prominent roles within our mosque” said Mr Hady.
On promoting the role of women in Islam Mr Hady notes that “strong emphasis” was placed on this by the prophet Muhammad. He cites the prominent roles played in business and education by Khadija, Aisha, and Fatima – Muhammed’s first and second wife and daughter.
According to imam Hady the role of women in Islam is often misunderstood because the real Islamic teaching is not known and due to “practice amongst Muslims themselves who mislead other communities about the role of women…they tend to limit the role of women not knowing that Islam has given women an important role in every aspect of life.”
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