Tuesday, April 5, 2011

March reports

Reports March


ISARC hosts meeting to fight poverty.


Are you aware that almost 400 000 Ontarians live off the food bank?
For the last 25 years interfaith leaders have been lobbying the Ontario government to make a difference. Members of this group, of which Muslims are a part of, have been meeting and making poverty audits to parliamentarians. They have fought to have poverty indexed steeply in the budget. The new book just published by Brice Balmer, Persistent Poverty, provided lots of stats and stories and is being gifted to many politicians and leaders and media pundits. Michael Skalgin is the newly appointed Executive Director. He is Budhist by faith.
The Interfaith Leaders advocated to have the political leaders in Ottawa meet their promises of the Millennium Development Goals met in Ottawa early March. ISARC was in attendance and the Imam Ziyad Delic represented the Canadian Council of Imams. The Council is deeply concerned about the poverty issue and the environment among others.
www.isarc.ca

What about Arab offenders leaving prison?

The Arab Community Centre in Etobicoke recently convened an important session with Corrections Services Canada and chaplains to talk about reintegration after imprisonment.
Among the presenters were Yassin Dwyer, Senior Chaplain for Muslims in Kingston and Habeeb Alli, Secretary of the Canadian Council of Imams. Among the points highlighted were the need to have education about being moderate and the need to have employment and social support that speaks to the cultural sensitivity of the community. Many thought that there need to be space that is safe, religiously sensitive and open to help offenders reintegrate successfully.

Horizon TV show

Rev Earl smith has invited Habeeb Alli, Secretary of Canadian Council of Imams to appear on the Rogers TV show for Interfaith twice. He says this show has been going on for the past 20 eyras and there is lesser involvement from Muslims. It started when faith communities requested air time from several providers. Rogers has remained committed to giving time throughout the year every Sat for half an hour. The topics discussed were domestic violence and trauma. Dr Nyla Butt of Social Services Network presented on a cultural perspective on domestic violence- an alarming issue in the community.
Domestic violence s love that kills and Islam is about love and not killing. People should report to the authorities and seek help immediately. As for trauma again it’s a depression sickness that needs attention and should not be left to just some spiritual things or hawks.


National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee meets again.

Interfaith has become a daily recipe for many faith communities. Leaders are constantly called these days to present on their faith and a contemporary issue. However, who would have thought that 25 years ago the seed of interfaith was planted among Christians and Muslims in Toronto. The national organisations of Catholics and Anglicans sat with Muslims of a National order to discuss ways and means of cooperation.
They have over the years met and death with many issues including the Iraq war and attack on Coptic in Egypt.
While Muslims have been lacking in attendance there was revival meeting recently at the Catholic Church Headquarters and many Muslims attended. The Canadian Islamic Congress, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and the Canadian Council Imams.
The meeting is scheduled to be thrice a year and will continue to focus on recognising leaders in interfaith and provide an umbrella presence of the interfaith work done on the ground. The website will soon be expanded.
http://interreligion.mafr.net/paliers_dialogue_national.html


Moeen centre opens its door for all


Persons with disabilities and being Muslim is a double whammy. It’s more complicated when you don’t have the funding. Recently Moeen Centre hosted a Milad program with speakers, songs and food in order to bring awareness about the plight of those with disabilities and the programs they offer at their office site daily in Scarborough. Many years ago Sis Qaiser Alam started this project when she lost her son to a fire. He was a child of disability. Today she is committed with a board of directors to make a difference.
The speakers included Dr Hamid Slimi who spoke on the Prophet and disabilities, Habeeb Alli who spoke on Citizenship and Sunnah and Rasheed Carter who presented on the importance of Sunnah in Canada. It was a warm Sunday evening and across the city the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities were having their gala. Imam Zaid Shakir and Abdulla Idris were in the house at Candles Banquet hall inviting towards the same – support these initiatives that provide classes for the deaf and blind and help those who have so many disabilities. Actually one prominent Muslim activist at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto was recently appointed chair for the Para Olympics- Waris Malik will be taking these brave men and women, boys and girls who are developmentally challenged to Greece this summer to challenge the world on track and field!

www.moeencentre.ca
www.cam-d.ca
chair@specialolympicstoronto.com


Canadian Council Imams


Imams meet from around Toronto every month to discus many issues affecting the community, interfaith, halal, government, police- hijab uniform, representing Muslims in the media, etc. Membership is from across the country but mostly GTA Imams meet on the second Monday of the month at a chosen mosque. Sayyeda Khatija Centre in Mississauga was the last host and Imam Slimi is the Chair.

There is an amazing declaration on the website.

www.canadiancouncilofimams.com


Umar Habib visits


A popular scholar from Yemen visited Toronto and spoke in many mosques with huge turn outs. Nazim Baksh organised some wonderful programs on some interesting topics.

I met the Shaikh at the Islamic Foundation and was impressed with his talk abut the Japan Earthquake among other things. Many masjids have made appeals for this disaster. The Scholar came from a lineage of scholars and has actually visited the known Ulama of India like Abul Hassan Nadvi.

He made an impression in Toronto.

UFT MSA hosts presentation on Black history


Students were delightfully treated to a presentation on Muslim perspective on Black History recently at their weekly halqa held in Bahen Centre by Yusuf Badat. This time Habeeb Alli was the guest speaker and he spoke on the many contributions Muslims of West Africa made, the Moors of Spain and the history of Slaves in the Caribbean.

This topic was presented throughout February in various places. The Clarington Mosque in Courtice is newly purchased Church. Members meet once a month for a potluck dinner and a presentation. Shaikh talked about his to Muslims since it connects them with the Black community and helps them relate better. Besides Canada was home for many Blacks slaves who were Muslims. Look at Harriet Tubman and her Hijab- she was called the little Moses during the Underground Railroad!
The students at UFT MSA offered to fundraise for the Japan earthquake and they have partnered with NAMF on this.

http://www.islamiccentreofclarington.org/
http://www.uoftmsa.com/

MIST sports day


I have attended many Muslim events. But one Friday afternoon at a large sports centre in Scarborough was the best. Muslim youths of all backgrounds, boys and girls, competing with love, respect and valour on many sporting activities. MIST aims at providing this safe space for Muslim youths. Moin Hamza is the man behind this and it was nice to see so many leaders and parents involved. For the past four years this event has grown and has awarded many participants with meaningful awards not only in sports but public speaking and outreach. They are an amazing bunch!

www.mist.ca


David Suzuki supports Muslim scouts

Dawood Zwink is also David. He heads the Muslim Scouts in Toronto. But David Suzuki is not a mere coincidence to him. They both share aboriginal nuances and scouting history. So Toronto made history having the famous 75 years old environmentalist veteran attend an event in Richmond Hill meant to raise awareness for Muslim scouting. With so many issues with youths in the community scouting is definitely needed. Many who attended the event felt their money worth for listening to David Suzuki speak with intelligence, care and experience.

http://iqra.ca/?p=5049



ANTI Drugs campaign – help from Faith



Scientology held their founders birthday L Ron Hubbard 1911 at the Metro Convention Centre. He gave the world a strong sense of spirituality away from materialism coming from a Christian tradition mixed with eastern philosophy. But what strikes me most is his work with drug addicts and people of depression and violence. His work has helped thousands see a meaningful life and the school board and police in Toronto have been working closely to distribute these booklets that help youths make a meaningful choice in the face of drugs and suicide.
A page we can take. They have an interfaith perspective to life.
Rev Earl Smith and Pat have been friends of the Muslims for years and have helped many Muslims off the streets.

http://www.scientology.org/

JamiatulUlama held meeting Madina Masjid

The members of the JamiatulUlama meet every month to discuss issues of halal monitoring, fatwa questions and cases of fasakh and divorce. They held their meeting at the now beautifully finished Madina masjid. The hospitality here was amazing and the group of scholars in attendance have grown over the years to help Canadian Muslims deal with their many religious problems meaning fully.
http://www.jucanada.org/


Professor Mishka Lysack visits Imams

Working on the Green project for years, it has been a challenge to get mosque leaders to come on board. Imams may know about greening the mosque in Islam but to get it done is another thing. Recently Prof Mishka from Calgary has been visiting Toronto. He met with Habeeb Alli and ever since done several seminars, attended the NAMF Family fair and more recently met with leaders in Ottawa and Toronto. Bosnian Islamic Center hosted him in his presentation on Islam and the Environment and many imams attended and interacted meaningfully with him. The thrust now is to go for a Green Ramadan and anyone wishing for posters for their mosques and schools check www.greenkufi.ca

Habeeb presented on this topic with the Prof at the Redeemer Church retreat and the United Church seminar. Other Muslims were in attendance and Yusuf Badat of IFT also spoke at that seminar. It’s nice to see more Muslims involved in something that is a part of our Deen- we are Allah’s Khalifa and must take care of this trust!

TARIC mosques hosts Restorative Justice dinner.

Speaking with passion and jumping like a butterfly Saturday night was Spider Jones. No it wasn’t Muhammad Ali in the ring but it looks like. And this is not strange since Spider was the greatest boxer’s friend and ally. He now inspires thousands with his talk and books. He is phenomenal and Michael Taylor couldn’t find a better speaker to motivate Muslims to act on behalf of the men and women incarcerated than Spider. Among others were Abulhai Patel President of the Ontario Multifaith Council that over sees this project of Restorative Justice in partnership with Justice Canada. The aim is to provide alternative dispute resolution for Muslim offenders and their victims. The funding is needed to keep these programs running and help facilitate well trained and professional chaplains like Michael and others. It’s time the community act before it’s too late!
The attendance was fair and the food was excellent and no other than the legendary Adnan Sirajudden was on show with Ibrahim Shallaby doing his unique Art exhibition!

www.omc.ca

Mufti Abdurrahman visits Toronto

Students and scholars attended a two day seminar on Beliefs in Islam. This may sound simple but for many this was a refresher course. The Zulfa Academy hosted the program at Imdadul mosque and those who attended felt accomplished. Mufti AbduRahman has written extensively on Islam and teaches in the UK after spending many years in California. He is one of those young vibrant Western Scholars in Islam that may look up top. His book on Hanifi Fiqh has been a best seller for years. Fiqh Sunnah.
Moulana Ahmed Ibrahim of Brampton Islamic Centre was his main host and organiser.
www.zulfa.org

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