Since 1992, the NSW Burmese Muslim Association (BMA) has quietly served a tight-knit community in Sydney. For more than 32 years, it has been a place of belonging for Burmese Muslims, carrying forward culture, faith, and service in a new land they now call home.
We are a minority within a minority – part of the Muslim Ummah in Australia, which itself is a minority in this country. And yet, despite our small size, our spirit and service have always reached far beyond our numbers.
When the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar earlier this year, our members mobilised within hours. We visited nearly ten mosques across Sydney, spread the word through social media and AMUST, and received overwhelming support and a generous response from the wider Muslim community.
Together, we raised a significant amount, just a few dollars short of the $100,000 target.
This was not the first time we stretched beyond what seemed possible. A few years ago, we raised the funds for a community house in Seven Hills – entirely debt-free, without even a halal mortgage. Alhamdulillah, it became a powerful symbol of unity and strength of this community.
Yet council restrictions now mean the house cannot serve as the hub we had hoped for. As our community grows, so does the urgent need for a proper centre where we can gather, teach, and build for the next generation.
Through these experiences, one thing has become clear: we are not a silo. The earthquake appeal showed us the kindness of the wider Ummah here in Australia.
Our recent meetings with IFAM and ISRA remind us that we are stronger together, supporting each other’s initiatives and helping overcome challenges. We are proud to be getting behind the upcoming IFAM Convention and ISRA’s new Islamic Centre project.
For more than three decades, the Association’s motto has been simple: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” (Qur’an 3:103)
That rope has carried us through ups and downs over the years.
InshaAllah, with His mercy, it will guide us into the next chapter – strengthening our base, connecting with the wider Ummah, and building not just a new centre, but a lasting legacy of faith, service, and togetherness. With that, we remain steadfast and united as we move forward.
Comments