01-13-2007, 03:31 AM
if i remember my history, the first Muslims in Australia were from Afganistan, they opened up central Australia by finding routed north and south and east and west.
>THE RICH HISTORY OF MUSLIMS IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
>Part One of a report by GRETTA SCADDING
>
>Muslims are today a barely noticed minority in Alice Springs, the town
>they helped to build. Before wheeled transport arrived in 1929,
>countless Afghans sweated and toiled to carry supplies by camel across
>the desert. Their descendants today have a deep respect for their
>ancestors. They are proud of their culture and some still practise
>their religion of Islam. Much, however, has changed over the years.
>There were originally about 50 Afghan families living in Alice Springs,
>but many left to go to Marree, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. There are
>now 35 Afghan families remaining, though the Islam community as a whole
>numbers about 65 families, including those from India, Pakistan,
>Bangladesh, and the Middle East. All members of the community are
>still "given Azan" - the equivalent to the Christian baptism. But many
>do not strictly adhere to all the five pillars of Islam: prayer,
>fasting, charity, haj (the journey to Mecca, at least once), and to
>believe in Allah - God. Praying five times a day has become a trial
>for many, and there are rarely more than 10 to 15 people at the mosque
>for Friday prayer. Others indulge in the infidels' habits of drinking
>alcohol, smoking and gambling. There are now rarely arranged marriages
>to fellow Muslims. Meride Satour, an Afghan descendant says: "Our
>grandparents' marriages were arranged, but my husband is a Catholic
>European: "I drink alcohol, just like my father did. He told Abdul
>Khan [a respected leader at the local mosque] never to disturb him on a
>Saturday. "This was his betting day. We have a tradition of
>respecting your elders so Mr Khan couldn't really say anything!"
>
>Rachel Warner, whose grandfather was an Afghan camel driver, says:
>"The Imam, [teacher] from Adelaide, told us What you do in moderation
>is your business'." For the Muslims here, the mosque, in the new
>Larapinta area, is supposed to be the hub of community activity, but
>not for Rachel. "I have never been to the mosque because I believe,
>like any religion, if you do the right thing, why do you have to go to
>church? "I believe in God and that is enough." Getting to Mecca on
>the haj doesn't draw many people either.