Australian New Muslims Association (ANMA)

The Australian New Muslims Association began three years ago in Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Masjid, in the suburb of Lakemba, Sydney. The beginnings were very humble with the group being called the New Muslim Committee and consisting of only five male members.

The purpose of forming this Association was to fill a vacuum in the Muslim Ummah for catering for New Muslims. As the new brother and sister entered into Islam, there were no avenues where they could be provided with guidance, education and the correct way of maintaining ones Islam and in some cases the New Muslims were left with no choice but to go back to their previous faith, hence the inception of the New Muslim committee. Also, as Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and Australia, it was felt that there was a need to develop a local organisation to cater for the purpose of Da’wah and the development of the new Muslims. ANMA, which is made up of brothers and sisters from many different ethnic backgrounds and from different parts of Sydney, welcomes the united support of all in our community. Some of those in the association were once new Muslims and bring a wealth of experience to this effort.

Praise be to Allah, ANMA continues to grow and now comprises several divisions, including Administration, Finance, Development, Education, Welfare and Da’wah. If Allah wills, we aim with your help to exceed the expectations of the new brothers and sisters and to propagate Islam as guidance and peace to humankind. We want to help the new Muslim to achieve what he/she has set out to achieve, to worship Allah (swt) in a manner that is totally devoted to him. The new Muslim faces many problems from non-acceptance of family and friends to difficulty in them accessing courses for learning about the greatest and only religion. This leads them to possible feelings of isolation and their progress is stifled.

ANMA is not a separate entity from our community but rather a united part of this effort. The new Muslim is a great example to the wider Australian community and is in the best position to give Da’wah and we, as Muslims have to treasure them. We hope in Allah’s will, with your support to provide for the emotional, intellectual and spiritual development of the new Muslim brothers and sisters, so they can become future leaders and for the successful propagation of Islam. Our aim is to provide a service totally devoted to pleasing Allah (swt) and to help our brothers and sisters overcome any obstacles or difficulties by any means necessary.

Today ANMA has come a long way, walhamdulilaah, with the formation of five different divisions and the inclusion of extra services such as IT and public relations. ANMA consists of 19 volunteer members who provide the services fifteen of whom are males and four are females. The constitution allows for one President (Amir) and eight Vice Presidents.

Wa Bil Laahit-Taufiq
Mohamad EL-Chami
President
Australian New Muslims Association

ANMA – Da’wah Division

The division of Da'wah (propagation) is to invite people to Islam or to clarify and correct any misconceptions or shortcomings that people have towards Islam. We hope to propagate the message of Islam and also foster a greater understanding of Muslims amongst the wider Australian community. The Da'wah division conducts many events and gatherings.
Some of the activities conducted by the Da’wah division are as follows:

- Conducting and holding Mosque Open Days mainly targeted for Non Muslims to attend, usually held at Lakemba Mosque.
- Holding public lectures at local venues.
- Interfaith dialogues.
- Da’wah courses: Misconceptions about Islam and Comparative religions.
- Da’wah via radio programs and radio interviews to clear common misconceptions that non-Muslims have about Muslims.
- Fundraising Events such as dinners, barbeques and Eid festivals.
- Prayer program to teach new Muslims how to perform prayer (salat) and prayer kits which includes: an instructional video on how to pray, compass, prayer mat and a book, which are all given to new Muslims upon reversion.
- Weekly lessons for Muslim, non-Muslim and new Muslim sisters on topics chosen by them.
- Da’wah tables at events, which are held either by ANMA or other organizations. These tables hold information pamphlets on Islam, on ANMA, our courses and upcoming Islamic events.
- Nursing homes and hospital visits, where Da’wah is conducted and open to all Muslims to come along.
- Creating and devising Da’wah material such pamphlets and other useful items.
- Jawlas to visit and keep in contact with new Muslims and Muslim youth.
- Bookstores at the UMA centre, Lakemba Mosque and stalls at different events.

This division in ANMA is the first point of contact for people who become Muslim. Volunteer members within this division assess and guide all new Muslims and try to cater for the overall development of the New Muslim brother or sister according to their relevant needs. A face-to-face approach is adopted and with a coordinated effort with other divisions, e.g. Education, Welfare.
Acitivities of the Development Division include:

- Conducting the Shahadah ceremony when an individual decides to embrace Islam.
- Organising events and social gatherings for new Muslims to interact and socialise with other Muslims, e.g. barbeques, dinners, etc.
- Organising certificates of reversion for all new Muslims, upon completion of the Towards Understanding Islam course run by the Education Division.
- Hold regular meetings to discuss and brainstorm ideas for bimonthly forums, lectures, movies etc.
- Compiling prayer kits for new Muslims, eg. Compass, mats, How to Pray video, etc.
- Liasing with Dawah to maintain the new Muslims, ensuring that all needs are met.
- Keeping regular contact with the New Muslim brother or sister through phone calls, social meetings, taking them for a visit to the local Masjid, etc.

ANMA - Education Division

The Education Division is an integral part of the work undertaken by ANMA. It has a volunteer staff of eight and is run from the UMA youth centre. Its main function is to develop and deliver courses catering for New Muslims in Australia, to facilitate their understanding and love for Islam, and to assist in their integration into the wider Islamic community.

To this end, ANMA has made it compulsory for a New Muslim to attend the ‘Introduction to Islam’ course. In this course, the fundamentals of Islam are explained. Only upon successfully completion of this course, are the New Muslims given internationally accepted reversion documents.

Apart from this course, the Division offers a variety of other follow-on courses in:
- Basic and Advanced Islamic Law,
- Arabic language,
- Recitation of the Qur’an,
- Islamic Philosophy and History, and many other courses are in the process of being organized inshaa allah.
The Division runs a women’s only program and has a course covering the misconceptions of Islam especially for those involved in Da’wah.
In order be provide an effective education service on a voluntary basis, the Division is constantly looking at ways of attracting professional and committed teachers, as well as running training courses to improve the quality of the existing teachers.
ANMA has placed a big emphasis on Islamic education, which makes an effective Education Division essential.

The welfare division deals with factors regarding the human condition. The division members concentrate on providing services to individuals who require assistance in matters such as Housing, Financial assistance, counseling services and matrimonial assistance. Our main aim is to instill in those who are interested or have embraced Islam a positive view about the brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam. Welfare also aids as a mediator between the different divisions depending on their circumstances. A brief description of each service follows:

Matrimony is a very confidential service we provide for anyone wanting to find a husband or a wife. These processes are conducted under strict Islamic conditions and potential bride/groom are supported throughout the whole process up until the wedding ceremony.

- Housing services include separate shelters for males and females that are fully furnished and subsidised by the ANMA finance division in the case where occupants are suffering from financial hardship. Otherwise a small fee is recovered from each occupant to help pay for rent, utilities and maintenance.
- Financial assistance provides financial aid in the form of cash to help pay for such necessities as food, clothing schooling and medicine. This service is provided for people suffering from extreme financial hardship.
- Counseling services includes soliciting services from professionals such as psychologists/psychiatrists or social welfare workers along with our own Islamic counseling as part of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (saw) to help maintain and improve the mental and spiritual well being of the new Muslim brother and/or sister.

ANMA - Finance Division

The subdivision of Finance is responsible for the financing of our resources and activities. They are involved in self-sustaining enterprises to fund ANMA. They also accept your Zakaat (CHARITABLE DONATION) and Sadaqah.
Their major projects include the Zakaat collection and disbursement throughout the year culminating in the annual Zakaat campaign in the month of Ramadan. The management and maintenance of the Association’s building, The UMA Centre, the funding of the educational courses, accommodation/financial assistance and resourcing of the association along with the management of the Islamic bookstore finances.

- Zakaat Collection and disbursement
"Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious."
(Surah An-Nahl, 16:125)
"Propagate my teaching even if it is only one sentence." – Rasulullah (SAW)
Guided by this verse and hadith, the Association has been promoting Islam and providing educational and welfare assistance to Muslim converts and the general public in Australia through various programmes and Da’wah activities. We disburse Zakaat according to the Quranic injunction in Surah At-Taubah verse 60, which stipulates the Asnaf (categories) deserving of Zakaat disbursement. We have in place a mechanism that monitors the aid requirements and the deservedness of these Asnaf.
"Alms for the poor and needy, and for those employed to administer (the funds); and those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah and for the wayfarer; (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom." (Surah At-Taubah, 9:60)

- Donation
As a non-profit organisation, the Association accepts donations from the general public. Your donations, Inshaa Allah, will go towards financing and upgrading the various educational, welfare and Da’wah programmes of the Association.