Recently I received an e-mail via a Melbourne Muslim yahoogroup. The e-mail was from a young chap who currently represents the AlGhazali Centre, and promoted a series of lectures to be delivered by "sheikh" Afroz Ali. Here is an excerpt of that e-mail:
Imam Afroz Ali is the Founder and President of Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences & Human Development, based in Sydney, Australia. He is a qualified Imam in the Islamic Tradition, having studied under Traditional Islam and received licence to teach in various Islamic Sciences. His studies have taken him from university-based Islamic University- Madina, Saudi Arabia then moving towards Traditional Scholarship in Yemen, United States and Mauritania, where he has spent considerable time to learn from the most esteemed Rightly Guided Islamic Scholars of our time. He has also travelled to Cairo, Egypt for further studies in Islamic Jurisprudence with Scholars at al-Azhar University and is on the Board of Advisors at Markaz Aleem in Cairo, Egypt.
He has presented lectures, workshops and training programs worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, United States, The Emirates, Egypt, China, Japan and Denmark. He lectures around the world on Islamic Jurisprudence, Spirituality, Ecological Wellbeing, Ethical Rights and Responsibilities, and Personal and Corporate Citizenship.
He has initiated philanthropic as well as sustainable environment projects in Australia and abroad, and continues to advocate peace, acceptance, justice and interpersonal rights. Imam Afroz is a founding and executive member of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change. He is also the recipient of the International Ambassador for Peace award.
I wrote to the brother in the following terms:
Dear Taymour,
In the bio of Mr Ali, it states:
"He is also the recipient of the International Ambassador for Peace award."
Can you please advise:
1. Who granted this award?
2. What was the award granted for?
3. When was it granted?
In relation to his studies at Madina University, can you please advise:
a. When did he study there?
b. How long did he study there?
c. Which courses, if any, did he complete?
d. Who were his teachers?
e. Did he complete any qualifications?
Looking forward to your response.
Ma salameh
These questions are, in my opinion, perfectly reasonable. And I expect that they will also remain perfectly unanswered.
I will keep readers informed of any response I receive. I don't expect any clarification at any stage before 2052 Olympics.
Words © 2009 Irfan Yusuf
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