NEWZEALAND NZ
İSLAM AWARENESS NEW ZEALAND MUSLIMS
http://www.islamawareness.co.nz/
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"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." Holy Qur'an 49:13 (Al-Hujraat - The Inner Apartments) Welcome to New Zealand's Islam Awareness website. This site is not only the home of Islam Awareness Week but is also your first source of accurate, high-quality information about New Zealand's Muslim community. The purpose of Islam Awareness Week is to increase awareness about Islam and Muslim New Zealanders. Here you will find information about Islam Awareness Week events happening near you and in our latest addition to the site information for those who may be new to Islam or wishing to become Muslim. Muslims in NZ – since 1874 The first Muslim migrants were Chinese gold diggers working in Dunstan, in the South Island, recorded in the government census of April 1874. In 1950 there were about 150 Muslims and the first Muslim organisation was established. Soon after, a boatload of European refugees brought about 50 Muslim men from Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. In the 1960s a number of Asian students also began arriving. In April 1979 the national body for Muslims, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), was formed. There was an influx of Indo-Fijians (a large minority of whom are Muslims) in the 1970s, mostly into Auckland. In the 1990s Somalis and Middle Eastern people began arriving in the main cities. There's been a steady trickle of converts to Islam since the 1970s. The 2006 census recorded 37,000 Muslims in total which includes a large number of New Zealand born Muslims as well as around 4000 who identified themselves as both Muslim and Pakeha or Muslim and Maori. What is “Islam Awareness Week”? Islam Awareness Week is a week of information and activities organised by local Muslims to increase New Zealanders' awareness of their beliefs, values and practises, and to tackle misinformation about their religion in a positive way. The aim is to achieve greater understanding between us all, by promoting communication and new relationships. It's also hoped to reduce ignorance and misconceptions about the world's second largest religion: prejudices about Islam often result from misinformation through news media reporting on world events involving Muslims. Most provide little or no perspective as to what Islam's take is on the issue or the position of the other 1.3999 billion Muslims. Negative reporting has been a major cause of the ignorance of Islam we see today. On the other hand, interactions during Islam Awareness Week provide a chance for all of us to find out directly from each other what it is that concerns us or we want to know about. Activities during the Week such as Mosque open days, talks, video screenings and information displays will allow people an insight into the Islamic way of life and the Muslims who follow it. Some may build on what they know, others might change what they thought they knew, or learn basic facts, such as that most Muslims are not Arabs, or that Islam means peace. Others may be interested in topics of their own interest whether it be Peace, Women, War, Law, God, or whatever – if we just come to know each other a little better in our own ways, Islam Awareness Week will certainly have achieved its goal. In this website you will find answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about Islam and Muslims, read some of our stories and see what's happening around New Zealand during Islam Awareness Week. Thank you for visiting us, we hope you will find what you're looking for. We would love to hear from you, so if you have any questions, please send us an email here. The theme of Islam Awareness Week 2012 is Islam Awareness Week 2012 will be observed from 27 August to 1 September 2012. Event details of Islam Awareness Week 2012 are detailed under the Events menu. We look forward to meeting you at the events around the country and getting to know you better. Salaam/Peace |