The Muslim Judicial Council(SA) were honoured on Tuesday 27 July 2010 with the visit of a delegation from the Sirius Astronomy Association. The association was introduced to the MJC by resident astrologer Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim. The association is based in Algeria and endeavours to propagate the pursuance of knowledge in the field of Astronomy. (From right: Mr. Jamaal Mimouni, President of the Sirius Astronomy Association, Sh. Ihsaan Taliep: Second Deputy President of the MJC, Mr Ismail, Sirius Educationalist)

The associations' president Mr. Jamaal Mimouni was delighted with the trip to South Africa as it gave them an opportunity to visit various schools in the Western Cape to encourage young Muslims to enter into the field of astronomy as it plays an important role in the life of Muslims. He also reminded that Muslims played a pivotal role in the development of the science of astronomy therefore contributing greatly to the development of humanity.

The Association has an annual science competition in Algeria and the winners of these competitions are given the opportunity to travel to various countries as a prize for their dedication and hard work. In 2008 the winners of the competition travelled to the Netherlands to visit a company that manufactures telescopes. In 2009 the winners travelled to China to witness an eight minute lunar eclipse that scientists claim is the longest in duration for this century and might only be surpassed in duration in 2132. In 2010 the prize was a trip to South Africa to visit the largest telescope in Africa situated in Cape Town.

(The Sirius Association 2010 competition winners)

The association's delegation visited the Islamia School in Lansdowne on Tuesday and will try to visit some of the other Islamic schools in the Western Cape to further encourage young people to take an interest in astrology and the study thereof.