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Dr Ashfaq Ahmad
1. Scope
The Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad biography project is part of the Australian Muslim History, a key research area and strategic focus for the Centre of Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC).
The Centre places great importance upon the preservation of Australian Muslim Heritage through both teaching and research. It offers units that cover the history of Muslims in Australia, going as far back as the Maccassans and the Cameleers in subjects such as ISL456 Muslims in Australia and ISL355 World Religions in Australia.
It also contributes to the ongoing academic research focused on Muslims in Australia in the 20th and 21st centuries. There are three research staff currently working on a number of research projects related to the area. The research staff have been working on two separate projects that explore Muslim Pioneer History through two separate biography projects in Sydney and Melbourne.
The active projects are:
– Life and Times of Sh. Fehmi Imam
– Life and Times of Dr Ashfaq Ahmad
This is the page focusing on the Dr Ashfaq Ahmad biography project. Dr Mahsheed Ansari has been working on the Australian Muslim History research alongside colleagues from the Centre of Islamic Studies and Civilisation.
2. Project Details
The Australian Muslim ummah’s narrative is tied to the pioneering men and women who, even in the second wave of Muslim migration to the country, are illustrating a meta-narrative about the migrant Australian in the post-colonial era in the young nation’s history. The personal history of pioneers like Ashfaq Ahmad not only relays a fascinating life across three Commonwealth nations (India, Papua New Guinea and Australia) but also portrays how biographies reflect greater communal histories and national narratives.
Ashfaq Ahmad, an Australian Muslim of Indian origin whose life and legacy remain today with us, even as he is amidst us, presents us with a remarkable history of a rich and complex, yet complicated, personal life. He is a role model, a motivating social influencer and a pioneering Muslim leader in Australia. Ashfaq’s life is intricately related to the history of the Muslim community of this country due to his service to the many men, women, and organisations he initiated and contributed to.
3. Researchers
The principal researcher for this project is Dr Mahsheed Ansari, Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies and History of Muslims in Australia at the Centre of Islamic Studies and Civilisation.
Hanan Merheb is Research Assistant, working on the project since 2021.
4. Research Outputs
Ansari, M. The Biography of Ashfaq Ahmad, 2022 (forthcoming).
Ansari, M. 2020. ‘Australian Christian-Muslim Relations: A historical survey and a reflective evaluation’. June 2020, In Australian Journal of Mission Studies. 14, 1, p. 28-35.
Ansari, M. 2019. ‘The Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) and the formation of the Australian ummah’. Australian Journal of Islamic Studies. Feb 14;3(3):99-116.
Ansari, M. & Cufurovic, M. 2021. ‘Collective trauma and the Muslim women of the Christchurch attack: An observational and media study’. In Female pioneers from Ancient Egypt and the Middle East: On the influence of history on gender psychology. Karim, A. A., Khalil, R. & Moustafa, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Springer.
Ansari, M. 2021. ‘Al Momina down under: The untold stories and legacies of Muslim women pioneers in Australia’, Women’s Agency in Australia, Brill Publications, (Editors: Ghena Krayem & Susan Carland) (forthcoming).
Ansari, M. 2021. “The Muslim Problem”: Overcoming Islamophobic Rhetoric in Parliament. In Lessons from History: How the Past Can Help Us Solve Our Biggest Problems. (Editors: Carolyn Holbrook, Lyndon Megarrity and David Lowe) (forthcoming).
5. Related Research Outputs
Ansari, M. & Haveric, D. 2020. Al Biruni. In Sage Encyclopaedia of Sociology of Religion. Possamai, A. & Blasi, A. (eds.). 14 Feb 2020, SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
Ansari, M.& Coruh, H. 2020. Prophets as archetypes of peace in the Qur’an – Musa as prophet of peace as a case study from the Qur’an, In Peace and Sacred Texts, Lexington Publishing,, (Editor: Anthony Rees).
Ansari, M. Monotheism. 2020. In Sage Encyclopaedia of Sociology of Religion Possamai, A. & Blasi, A. (eds.). 14 Feb 2020, SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
Ansari, M. & Mese, S. Islamization. In Sage Encyclopaedia of Sociology of Religion. Possamai, A. & Blasi, A. (eds.). 14 Feb 2020, SAGE Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.
Ansari, M. 2019. Said Nursi’s Non-violent Social Activism as a Refutation and Response to the Re-emergent Neo-Kharijite Sect in Islam. In Mansouri F, Keskin Z, Contesting the Theological Foundations of Islamism and Violent Extremism. 1 ed. Vol.1. Palgrave Macmillan.
6. Engagement & Impact
We work and collaborate with tertiary institutions, academic partners, as well as industry and community. We have been working with Cumberland Council and the Islamic Federation of Education and Welfare.
Community Projects
The Your Story in Your Words was a community project delivered in three parts. The key objective behind this initiative was to introduce oral history to our local communities and empower them with tools to tell their stories. It was a project sponsored by the Cumberland Council to encourage the diverse residents of the LGA to share their stories, empower them through the art of storytelling and give them the agency to discuss their experiences as authentically as possible. Throughout the project, participants attended a series of workshops and public events with local and national historians and others to skill them up for the main event.
1 – Your Story in Your Words: Workshop
The first story circle of the project, the Your Story in Your Words Workshop, brought together members of the Cumberland community to encourage them to share their stories.
2 – Your Story in Your Words: Confessions of an ‘Accidental Author’- How I Became a Storyteller
“I never planned to be a writer; I stumbled into it by accident and I’ve been writing ever since.” Hanifa Deen
Our story circle continues with award-winning author Hanifa Deen. Join us to explore the secrets of Hanifa’s wiring intuition, her ability to listen to her inner voice and to engage herself in linking the past with the present, and value her personal history.
3 – Your Story in Your Words: Finale
In the finale, all the contributors came forward with their unique tales and showcased and displayed them through oral presentations and written work.
There were stories of camels in classrooms, memories of descendants from the 1900s, Abu Ali’s video shop and many more engaging memories from Cumberland locals.
Impact
We received a positive response from the Your Story in Your Words community project, which was encouraging, and demonstrates a great interest in this area.
Australian Muslim Musings – social media pages have attracted many followers, including academics, community and industry. It is great to see the enthusiasm with which the pages have been received, providing the research team with confidence for community and industry support for ongoing research projects.
Related Media
Hanifa Deen mesmerises audiences with her storytelling style
Your Story, in Your Words: Empowering people through storytelling
7. Other
Supervision
We welcome HDRs who would like to pursue post-graduate research in this area.
Donate for Research
This research is essential to retain the legacy and heritage of Muslims, an important part of Australian cultural history. Please be a part of this vision by donating to this project.
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