The posters I have used to illustrate this page are probably unislamic as they show living beings. However, I have used them because they are Somali Islamic posters and can be found on the Somali Poster Preservation Project Home Page. The first shows Prophet Yusef and the many-coloured coat. This story is also told in the Old Testament of the Bible. The second is Prophet Yusef with Zulekhah the Kings wife. The third is Prophet Ibrahim preparing to sacrifice his son. This is also in the Old Testament. The fourth is the creature that took Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to heaven.
Religion is a difficult subject to write about. I have visited many Somali pages to see what
the approach is and it is 
consistently
one of providing actual information and links to Islam. That every Somali page has an Islam link,
goes without saying, but as yet I have yet to see one which has an objective
look at something that is such an integral part of our lives. For Somalis, religion (that is Islam) is a
central part of our lives and is as natural as breathing, but it is also one of
absolute acceptance. There is no
questioning of belief in the sense that one finds in the west. This may be a
good or a bad thing depending on your point of view.
I
was born a Muslim and I will die a Muslim, but I find it difficult to accept
some things that my Muslim brothers 
push under the disguise of
religion. My place as a woman is not to
accept my husband having more than one wife, or his leadership in the family (I
can hear the men say now “but this is Allah’s will) or to accept that my
evidence is worth half of a mans or my inheritance rights are less than a
mans. Men support this by saying that
it is this way because of the mans responsibility to support the women 
members of the family. I agree that this is so but the reality is
that men in the main do not accept their responsibilities or
selectively interpret the rules to suit themselves. It is simply a fact that in the wake of the collapse of the
Somali state and the resulting anarchy, Somali families have survived due to
the strength and leadership of their women.
The obligations of their men, which are set out in the Quran, have
either been ignored or interpreted for the sake of men. I for one believe in equality of opportunity
and responsibility between the sexes and this is how I manage my life and no
Muslim man will tell me otherwise.
"All
religions are from one God. Religion is like the vehicle, which takes you to
your destination. You can become lost if you are consumed with religion, and
forget God - the destination. All the religions are here for us to choose from.
The question is, what is the religion of God? The religion of God is Divine
Love. If we don't have love, we won't be able to achieve our goal, even with
the best religion. The remembrance of God is from the heart."
Gohar
Shahi
A History of Islam In New Zealand
Muslims appear in New Zealand census from 1874. The
Muslim Community in NZ is increasing day by day. According to Mr. Ayyub Bhikoo,
in 1907 Mr. Ismail Bhikoo the first Indian Muslim came to New Zealand. Later in
1930's Mr. Ismail Bhikoo's five sons came to New Zealand. In 1952 First Eid
salah was performed in Mr. Suleman Bhikoo's house. In 1950's Mr. Suleman Bhikoo
along with 15 other Muslims formed the New Zealand Muslim Association in
Auckland. Some among the 15 members are Mr. Ghulam Muhiddeen, Mr. Dosi Mia Ali
Moses, Mr. Ismail Moses, Abdul Rahim Sukumia, Yusuf Ismail Bhikoo and Mr.
Adulsamad Bhikoo. In the same year the Islamic Centre in Hargrave Street was
purchased. In 1960 they called the first Alim Maulana Ahmad Saeed Patel to New
Zealand and later they purchased a new Islamic Markaz in Pompeliar Terrace
Ponsonby and then sold the Hargrave St. property. In 1966, the International
Muslim Association of New Zealand (IMAN) was formed in Wellington. In 1979 IMAN
and New Zealand Muslim Association of Auckland constituted as Federation of
Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ). Muslims are immigrants from all
over the world and some are local kiwi's as well. Today with the new wave of immigration, there are many thousands
of Muslims from many countries.
New Zealand’s Religions
New Zealand is predominantly Christian, with
the most common denominations being Anglican, at 22 percent, Presbyterian, at
16 percent, and Roman Catholic, at 15 percent. Non-religious people and atheists
account for 21 percent, and other minorities, including Judaism, Buddhism,
Islam, and other Christian denominations, include Ratana, a Maori religion,
account for the rest.
Churches are common all over the country, with mosques, temples and synagogues
being found in many main centres.
LINKS
About Islam
and Muslims - Islamic belief, Quran, Sunnah