Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Chapter 1 Ibrahim's Roots 1
The Sick Man of Europe Is Dying 3
The Last Ottoman Mufti in Cyprus 6
Ibrahim's Parents 12
Chapter 2 Life in Cyprus 15
Birth of Ibrahim 17
Family Business 18
Ibrahim's Spiritual Upbringing 19
Merakli Kahve (Curious Coffee) 21
Mutual Respect 22
Chapter 3 The Hala Sultan Tekke, a Source of Inspiration 25
The Hala Sultan Tekke, a Source of Inspiration 27
Ibrahim's Mystical Vision 30
Wishing to Be Poor 31
The American Academy: A Turning Point 32
Chapter 4 Immigration to Australia 37
Early Years in Australia 41
Ibrahim's First Anzac Day 43
Poor Little John 44
The Golden Fifties 45
Banjo Club 47
Looking for Olive Oil 47
The Mohammadan Chapel 49
Encountering Early Muslims 52
Seven year Trip to Australia 54
1956 Melbourne Olympics 59
Chapter 5 Ibrahim's Marriage 61
The Cypriot Turkish Society 64
Plane Crash and the Execution of Adnan Menderes 66
Islamic Society of Victoria 69
Forming the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies (AFIS) 72
Chapter 6 Ibrahim Becomes a Key Player in Turkish Immigration to Australia 75
Another Turning Point 79
Persuading the Turks 79
Caucasian Turk Cemal Nazh 82
Housing Cooperative 83
English Course 88
The Turkish News 91
Political Involvement 91
Chapter 7 Ibrahim in the Media 95
"Mustafa Makes It" 97
"We're a Turkish Delight" 97
"Islamic Marriage Ceremony in Australia" 98
Chapter 8 Tension in the Community: The Coburg Mosque 99
Trouble at the Hospital 103
Thomastown Turkish Islamic Society 104
First Return Trip to Cyprus 105
Trip to Munich and Second Trip to Cyprus 106
Meeting the Iconic Rock Singer 108
Conflict in Cyprus 110
Umrah Trip 112
AFIS Becomes AFIC 112
Journey to Indonesia 115
Queen Elizabeth Honors Ibrahim 116
Meeting Khomeini 116
Military Coup in Turkey: Not Again! 118
Conflict and Forming Cypriot Turkish Islamic Society (CTIS) 119
Ahmet's Final Days 120
Family Visits 123
New Hope 124
Chapter 9 Hizmet and Ibrahim's service 129
Becoming a Volunteer in the Gülen Movement 133
Orhan Çiçek's Reflections on Ibrahim Dellal 135
Ibrahim Dellal Meets with Fethullah Gulen 138
First School 140
Dandenong Campus Opening 145
Arson 148
Isik College: A Resounding Success 152
Hasan Dellal's Passing 153
9/11 Interfaith Service 154
Hajj (Pilgrimage) in 2005 156
Visiting Larnaca after Decades 159
The Order of Australia 161
Chapter 10 A Living Archive 163
Visiting Gülen in 2007 166
Interfaith Service for Bushfire Victims at Sunshine Mosque 170
Three Important Principles 171
Until His Final Breath 173
