Ramia Abdo Sultan

Topic: Acting After Media Hype: The Need for Serious Long-Term Solutions Time: 11:30am Ramia Abdo Sultan was born and raised in Australia and is also of Palestinian heritage. Ramia studied a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Technology Sydney and runs her own legal practice, Lawbridge Lawyers & Consultants with partners. Ramia also graduated with Distinction in a Master of Islamic Studies from Charles Sturt University and has a dual legal system interest, being a specialist in Islamic succession/inheritance law, whereby she blends with her expertise in the common law system to help craft innovative and culturally appropriate solutions for clients. Ramia also has a background in lobbying and advocacy for minorities and is a prominent member of the Australian Muslim community, where she is Community Advisor to the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC). Ramia is currently serving on the Executive Committee of various organisations including the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN,) the Gaza Children’s Fund Inc. and Charity Right Australia.

 

Shaykh Abdul Hadi Shah-Idil

Topic: Responding to Events within the Divine Plan Time: 11:55am After receiving a university medal and graduating with a First Class Honours in Economics from the University of New South Wales, Shaykh Abdul Hadi left Australia to study the traditional Islamic sciences with scholars from Jordan. Since then he has furthered his studies particularly in Hanafi Fiqh under the tutelage of Dr Salah Abulhajj and Hadith methodology with Shaykh Abdul Moez Nafti and is currently a qualified Mufti (jurisconsult). He is also an instructor of Hanafi Fiqh at Daar Ibn Abbas, a lecturer of classical Arabic at Charles Sturt University, and also MYA’s Shariah Advisor.

 

Shaykh Ahmed Abdo

Topic: Looking Beyond the Physical: The Mystical Place of Spirituality within Activism Time: 12:55pm Shaykh Ahmed Abdo is a Sydney born Imam, a scholar and respected teacher of Islam. After nearly ten years studying Islam in the blessed city of Tarim in Yemen he returned to give back to the people of Australia, his country. He studied in Dar al-Mustafa, an Islamic Seminary in Tarim, Hadramawt, under the tutelage of its Founder and Dean, Habib Umar bin Hafiz, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and worldwide authority on Islamic Jurisprudence, Theology, and Spirituality. During his course of studies in Dar al-Mustafa, Ahmed studied the core Islamic sciences including Arabic grammar, jurisprudence, theology, prophetic traditions and spiritual wayfaring, with a particular interest in the area of Islamic Jurisprudence. He currently serves as an Honorary Chaplain, teaches Islamic Law and Spirituality courses through Shifa Institute which he founded to better inform people regarding the principles and teachings of Islam and how they apply in modern day society, particularly Australia. He has taught the “Foundations of Islamic Law”, and “Marvels of the Heart”, on spiritual excellence. His students are located in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as Sydney. They access his courses through an online learning platform currently being refined through Shifa Institute. He has taught Arabic, Quran, and Islamic Studies at various schools in Sydney including Rissalah College and Australian International Academy. Ahmed is also an accomplished Interpreter. He enjoys the challenge of listening to a message, absorbing it, then immediately communicating in a way that is appropriate and relevant to the target audience. He is actively involved in interfaith work, as well as within the Muslim community. He has conducted lessons at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque Youth Centre and Lakemba Mosque in the past. He delivers Friday sermons in various Islamic centres and mosques.