Radio Ramadan starting 30 July to 4 September

FM 99.5 for Canberra and the surrounding regions

FM 93.5 for the Tuggeranong area

Download Radio Poster.

Islamic Radio Broadcast in English:
Every year Radio Ramadan broadcasts only during the month of Ramadan in Canberra. 
For 18 years we continue to bring the most up-to-date lectures, talks and information about Islam.  We remain the only radio in Australia that broadcasts all programs in English. 
Live programs every afternoon is the very successful children's show which includes interactive talk back with fun, games and prizes with the aim of encouraging the children to understand their faith. 

The remainder of the program is a mixture of talks and lectures by well known and reputable scholars from the English speaking world covering topics including theology, law, history, Islamic etiquette and culture.  We also intertwine programs with music from around the Muslim world.  The call to prayer is broadcast five times a day.
Australian Muslim Voice would like to wish you all a happy month of Ramadan.

We are proud to announce the Australian Muslim Voice Radio Competition!

Prizes include:

 

18 years and above category: 1 return Coral Economy Class ticket courtesy of Etihad Airways, voted the World’s Leading Airline for the second consecutive year at the 2010 World Travel Awards. The winner will fly to their choice of Middle Eastern destination on the Etihad network.

"Terms & conditions apply":-

Under 18 years category: $500 cash prize

Under 14 years category: $250 cash prize

All you have to do is tell us in a maximum of 600 words: “What is it like being an Australian Muslim in 2011?”

Download the competition form here and attach to your essay. The winners will be announced on the Eid al-Fitr Festival on the 4th September 2011 on the lawns of Commonwealth Place, next to Questacon The essays will be judged by two prominent Canberra Muslims. The judges are interested in essays which best expresses the contestant’s personal experience, must be their original work and ideas of being an Australian Muslim. Entry is open to ACT and Queanbeyan residents only. Winners must be present at the Festival to receive their prize. Download the competition form here and attach to your essay. An acceptance of the competition conditions forms part of the entry. Only one entry per person is accepted. Competition closes COB 30 August 2011.


Canberra Eid al-Fitr Festival on Sunday 4 September

 

 

From 10am to 5pm
Commonwealth Place
Parkes Place, Parkes, ACT
(area between Questacon and High Court of Australia)
Stage performance starts at 12pm
Free parking

Download festival Poster.

Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) is the three days of celebration following the completion of the month of Ramadan and Muslims all over the world celebrate this occasion.  In Canberra we take the opportunity to hold a festival on the first Sunday following the end of Ramadan. 

There will be fun rides including, dodgem cars, jumping castle, and train rides.  And all sorts of animal shows including reptile, animal petting farm and pony rides.

There will be stalls selling a variety of cuisine including Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Lebanese and Turkish.  Other items for sale include stalls selling books, CDs, DVDs, clothing, gifts, arts, crafts, show bags, fairy floss, henna painting and much more!!

The stage performance will start at 12pm and will include folkloric and cultural shows and of course prizes won on radio will officially be presented to the winners on stage.

This is a family fun day celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan.  The Muslim community of Canberra welcomes everyone to the Festival and we encourage you to join in our religious celebrations.

Proudly supported by the Australian Federal Police.

If you would like a stall at the festival or you might be interested in joining the organising committee please E-mail: ceffcommittee@gmail.com

 

About the month of Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (Hijri) which lasts for 29 or 30 days.  The month of Ramadan changes every year and moves backward by 11 days (as it follows a particular moon cycle) and hence it takes about 34 years to move throughout the year.
Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month as it was in this month God (Allah) revealed to humankind the first verses of the Qu’ran to the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing be upon Him). 
During this month Muslims fast and refrain from eating and drinking during the daylight hours and only eat in the evening.  Muslims are reminded that they fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayers than usual during this month. The month is also intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality.
It is incumbent on every Muslim (man, woman and child) to pay Zakaah al-Fitr, a predetermined amount of money before the end of the month of Ramadan. In Australia that amount is $10 and is often paid to aid agencies or organisations helping the poor.  The other Zakaah al-Maal (alms) should be paid once in a lunar year and equates to 2.5% (or 1/40) of an individual’s money. This can be paid directly to the poor or through aid agencies or organisations helping the poor.  It is encouraged to give Zakaah al-Maal during the month of Ramadan as the benefits are manifold.
Once Ramadan is over and the very next day Muslims put on their best and new clothes and offer early morning special communal Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) prayers.  People wish each other ‘Happy Eid’ or Happy Festival and often eat sweets and then visit family and friends and celebrate for the next three days. 


The organisation

AMV is a not-for-profit organisation established to organise cultural and artistic projects including radio broadcasts, art shows, cultural events, music concerts and book exhibitions. AMV also supports and promotes Muslim multicultural and intercultural activities and exhibitions.

 

Projects

AMV organised the very successful Nasmat: Breezes from the Silk Road concerts. Nasamat concerts bring artists together to perform music styles from different parts of the Muslim world. Other successful projects include poetry reading evenings of Rumi and Hafez with more poetry projects planned for the future. Islamic Cultural Awareness courses targeting government and private sector professionals continue to be well received. Other projects include art shows, photographic exhibitions, history projects and much more.

 

History of Islamic Radio in the ACT

The idea and concept of an English language radio program is that of Sister Diana Abdel-Rahman.  She started her radio experience in 1993 working for the ACT Ethnic Broadcaster’s Council (EBC) and was instrumental in establishing Canberra’s very own multi-lingual ethnic broadcasting station, Canberra Multicultural Services (CMS). 
In those early years while working for the EBC Sister Diana took the opportunity to develop a Muslim radio program speaking to the voice of Canberra Muslims.  The first programs simply broadcast the call to prayer at Maghrib time signifying the time to break the fast.  As opportunities arose she used the studios of the CMS to broaden the Islamic program and was able to broadcast up to six hours in a day eventually securing 24 hours seven days a week programming in the month of Ramadan.  As she built strong networks among key technical and radio industry specialists she applied for a special licence to broadcast in the month of Ramadan.  Ever since, she had managed to develop and deliver very successful programs that continue to improve every year. 

Over the period of the life of Islamic broadcasting in the month of Ramadan in the ACT Sister Diana has had the radio branded under different organisations, starting with the Australian Arab-Australian Friendship Association, the Canberra Islamic Centre and finally in its final move under the auspice of Australian Muslim Voice, a organisation dedicated to radio, the arts and culture of Islam.  Radio Ramadan is still Australia’s only fully English language radio broadcast in the month of Ramadan.