Papers by Zachariah Matthews
Islamophobia in Australia 2014-2016
This report focuses on the critical analysis of Islamophobia and its various manifestations in Au... more This report focuses on the critical analysis of Islamophobia and its various manifestations in Australia since 2014. Leaving aside terminology and historical Islamophobia within Western (e.g. Orientalism, colonialism, neo-conservatism) and Australian (e.g. dispossession of Indigenous Australians and racism towards different ethnic groups) settings, this report documents and analyses the present manifestations of Islamophobia. Grounded within a theoretical and empirical framework, the report explores the individual and institutional aspects of Islamophobia and the relationships between the two. While analysing diverse manifestations, the report does not claim to capture all forms of Islamophobia inclusively. The report is organised in two sections. Section I describes the theological, political and cultural aspects of Islamophobia as reflected in various institutions. Section I also examines the interplay of Islamophobia within the religious plane, the political sphere, media reporting of Islam and Muslims, right-wing organisations and in the field of criminology. Section II presents and analyses data gathered via the Islamophobia Register Australia reflecting Australian Muslims’ Islamophobic experiences. The report captures and critically analyses 243 verified incidents reported between September 2014 and December 2015. While these incidents do not reflect all local experiences of Islamophobia in Australia, they shed light on many aspects of its manifestations, nuances and complexities. The report findings signify the circumstances under which anti-Muslim hate incidents exist, operate and affect Australian Muslims, and illustrate specific characteristics of Islamophobia
Vancomycin Continuous Infusion: a Cohort of 23 Intensive Care Unit Patients
The Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2001
Objective: To observe the pharmacokinetic impact of administering vancomycin by continuous infusi... more Objective: To observe the pharmacokinetic impact of administering vancomycin by continuous infusion in selected patients in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) General Intensive Care Unit. Method: A retrospective review was performed of patients given vancomycin by continuous infusion in the General Intensive Care Unit over a four year period from June 1996 to May 2000. Results: Twenty six critically ill patients treated with continuous infusion vancomycin were identified. Twenty three of the 26 patients also received a regimen of vancomycin by intermittent dosing during the same admission to the unit. The pharmacokinetic data for these 23 patients are presented. The results of this review support the findings of previous studies that vancomycin given by continuous infusion achieves a better pharmacokinetic profile than intermittent dosing. (author abstract)
Religions, 2021
Developments in organ donation and transplantation continue to generate controversy, especially i... more Developments in organ donation and transplantation continue to generate controversy, especially in the field of reproductive medicine. Techniques used in assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), gestational surrogate mothering and gender selection, continue to challenge conventional norms. The use of these techniques, as well as the transplantation of reproductive tissue such as ovaries and the testicles, for example, enables children to be conceived who may have no genetic or social relationship to one or more of their parents, biological or other. This generates religious, legal, moral and ethical dilemmas for many people, including Muslims, who tend to hold negative views about organ donation. Legal frameworks such as ijtihad (independent judgment) in conjunction with al-maqaasid al-shar’iyyah (the higher objectives of Divine decree) are assessed to review the available Sunni juristic rulings pertinent to the question,...
Religions, 2021
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Muslim jurists state that as a general rule, sport is permissible in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ... more Muslim jurists state that as a general rule, sport is permissible in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (s) urged his followers to practice some sort of sport and exercise that help keep the body fit, as long as it does not entail harm.
Is it permissible for a Muslim to enter into an insurance agreement with an insurer? A summary of... more Is it permissible for a Muslim to enter into an insurance agreement with an insurer? A summary of available rulings is presented.
This paper discusses the place of ijtihad in Islamic law as well as the requirements to be a mujt... more This paper discusses the place of ijtihad in Islamic law as well as the requirements to be a mujtahid. The historical decline of ijtihad, the concept of taqlid and the recent trend of ‘group ijtihad’ will also be explored. Ijtihad will be shown to be a dynamic legal tool which can ensure that the intents and purposes of sacred law remains relevant to all times and places.
Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim to shake the hand of a person of the opposite gender? An... more Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim to shake the hand of a person of the opposite gender? Answer Summary (based on available rulings from jurists).
Questions about God, His essence and attributes have intrigued the minds of philosophers and theo... more Questions about God, His essence and attributes have intrigued the minds of philosophers and theologians for centuries (Abrahamov, 2002; Keating, 2011; Williams, 2002). Muslim theologians entered the debate in the eight century CE. At the heart of the problem of defining God is the role of divine text and human interpretation and application of it (Keating, 2009). This essay critically analyses the approaches to understanding the Quranic words describing God; and in particular the place of anthropomorphism and interpretation. Prophetic descriptions of God will not be included in this review. The problem of defining anthropomorphism and related concepts such as tashbih, tajsim, takyif and tamthil will be evaluated. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, in particular anthropomorphism and interpretation will be assessed and the more rigorous of the two characterised.
If the loan is interest-bearing, then it is not permissible. Islam prohibits riba as a rule due t... more If the loan is interest-bearing, then it is not permissible. Islam prohibits riba as a rule due to its oppressive and exploitative nature among other things. However, some scholars permit certain rare exceptions.
Islam prohibits riba (usury, interest) as a rule due to its oppressive and exploitative nature am... more Islam prohibits riba (usury, interest) as a rule due to its oppressive and exploitative nature among other things. Some scholars permit certain rare exceptions for its use under the legal maxim of “absolute necessity.”
According to the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) three act... more According to the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) three actions nullify fasting: eating, drinking and intercourse. Therefore, the passing of any solid or liquid substance that can be described as food or drink, in any quantity through the gullet (oesophagus) would nullify fasting.
In the current global climate where relations between Muslims and non-Muslims are under strain an... more In the current global climate where relations between Muslims and non-Muslims are under strain and seems to be worsening, it is critically important to review suitable approaches to dealing with differences based on a clear ethical framework. In this paper I will analyse the ethical principles of Prophet Muhammad in dealing with the non-Muslim community and discuss how he approached others. The essay will draw on the rich prophetic legacy to outline a model that could be used to enhance diversity management and especially improve the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims.
This is in response to three tabloid allegations occasionally made against me.
Presentation delivered to the 1st Asia-Pacific Countries Muslim Religious Leaders' Summit on "Uni... more Presentation delivered to the 1st Asia-Pacific Countries Muslim Religious Leaders' Summit on "Unity in Multiplicity: Rethinking Wisdom and Peace Together" hosted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday, 14 October 2015.
This essay reviews the relationship between the media and radicalisation. It will analyse a numbe... more This essay reviews the relationship between the media and radicalisation. It will analyse a number of symbiotic relationships between politicians, the media, terrorists, Islamophobia and radicalisation. With the focus on Muslim radicalisation given the contemporary reality, the case will be made that the media plays a role in the radicalisation of individuals. In support of the argument, evidence will be presented to show that Islamophobia and radicalisation share a key symbiotic relationship, with the mainstream media a willing facilitator in the bipartite arrangement. Influencing this relationship is a number of additional factors such as political rhetoric and terrorist recruitment which will also be reviewed. The main factor behind some of the mainstream media’s complicity in radicalisation is its current reliance on ideological conflict journalism on matters related to Muslims and Islam. The various types of media will be analysed and the extent to which each segment contributes to radicalisation described.
This report briefly analyses two questions: “What is the ruling for sighting the moon in Ramadan ... more This report briefly analyses two questions: “What is the ruling for sighting the moon in Ramadan according to the four madhabs?” and, “Is calculation enough or sighting the moon necessary according to the four madhabs?”
Firstly, the religious source texts that were used by these four major Sunni schools of law to formulate their respective rulings will be described. The specific rulings of each of the four schools will then be compared and finally the place of calculation as a method for determining the start and end of a lunar month assessed.
The human body is an extraordinary creation that is comprised of various unique faculties. While ... more The human body is an extraordinary creation that is comprised of various unique faculties. While all these faculties have distinct features, they are uniquely interconnected. This essay will examine the proposition that that the `aql (intellect) and nafs (ego) are two vital and interconnected functions that a person can use to develop either a praiseworthy or despicable akhlaaq (moral character) as well as purify or corrupt his/her own ruh (spirit).
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Papers by Zachariah Matthews
Firstly, the religious source texts that were used by these four major Sunni schools of law to formulate their respective rulings will be described. The specific rulings of each of the four schools will then be compared and finally the place of calculation as a method for determining the start and end of a lunar month assessed.
Firstly, the religious source texts that were used by these four major Sunni schools of law to formulate their respective rulings will be described. The specific rulings of each of the four schools will then be compared and finally the place of calculation as a method for determining the start and end of a lunar month assessed.