Summary

Black and white digital photograph of Ishak Imamovic in front of the old mosque in Brisbane, 1950.

Ishak Imamovic, a Bosnian Muslim scholar, arrived on the ship Skaugum in Australia in 1949. Ishak was born in Rahic in Bosnia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1912. He studied Sharia Law in Sarajevo in Bosnia at the Gazihusrev-Bey Madrasa and Civil Law in Debar in Macedonia. He settled in Brisbane and soon began to work in sugar cane fields and then at BHP. Later he worked occasionally in administrative jobs. In 1964 his wife Zuhra, daughter and son left Bosnia arriving in Brisbane. Ishak was a muezzin (called for prayer), ran khutbes (speeches during Friday congregation) and taught Islamic belief and practice and occasionally acted as an Imam. He is the author of the book 'Outline of Islamic Doctrine', published in 1971.

Description of Content

Man standing in front of a building.

Physical Description

Black and white digital photograph.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
Muslims in Australia are an under represented cohort in both the museum's collections and Australian history more broadly. As an-ever growing faith in Australia, it is important to trace the migration and settlement of Muslim Australians across time in order to help provide a historical, social and cultural context for Muslim Australians today. This collection is the key outcome for the collaboration between the Museum and Dr Dzavid Haveric, MV research associate, who has published a seminal history of Muslims in Australia. This collection is the result of his research and community interviews.

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