Monday, 29 October 2012
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Qurbani your fear
I would like to take this opportunity to send Eid greetings
to all my family and friends, loved ones and colleagues in the Muslim community
as well as the wider population as the Eid of Abraham is everyone’s festival.
While Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, the Jews are descendants of Isaac,
Abraham’s two sons.
We are indeed grateful for life and its many gifts. What
this Eid does for us is to seek deep into our hearts the generosity to share halal
meat and meals with others, while remembering Abraham’s willingness to
sacrifice that which he loved the most- his first son.
Love is such that it tests you. Abraham was God’s
best friend. He wished to have a son. God wanted to reveal to the world that
human sacrifice is forbidden, but sacrificing for the one, you claim to love,
is a must. Jesus said, "you shall love your neighbour as yourself.'
There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
I remember when we had just restarted Golden Grove mosque project
with the late Khalid Khan in 1992- a place that had turned into a pig sty and
garbage dump, after being bombed in 1964 and abandoned for thirty years – there
was a feeling that we were so resource-less, to even provide a single cow for
the first Eid. But the eight brothers thought that we can all pool out of our meagre
resources and at least have a small cow. The villagers were so delighted and
recently upon visiting the neighbourhood the folks there were so excited to see
me and reminisce on those austere but loving days.
That’s the original spirit of Hajj and Eid ul Adha. Unfortunately
much of that is lost today with the rich making the pilgrimage and the rich
having the means to do Qurbani and the rich having a good time around these festivities.
Money cannot buy love and wealth cannot purchase heaven. It’s your heart that
matters in the end! The obituary always talks about deeds and not status!
Abraham lived in the dessert of Arabia
that even water was scarce. God sent water in the form of the miraculous Zamzam
well. Today, I’m proud to see many who cannot afford an entire party of charity,
still join with others in sharing a ‘share’ and giving it away to the food
bank. A few years ago I saw an ad for the Christmas drive, from a known food
bank in Toronto .
It was around Eid al Azha. I made the call and explained the significance of
our holiday and how many Muslims make the sacrifice but would send the donation
to known poor countries out of Canada .
The folks there welcomed the idea of having halal hygienic meat, donated for
their food drive, as all can partake of halal. Today that’s an ongoing charity
and my friend from Enmore always says ‘charity begins at home’.
I’m so saddened therefore to hear about the gruel murder of
a Brother visiting from Toronto and having lost
his life in Georgetown
on his way to make Qurbani from his life savings. His martyrdom during the
sacred days of Zil Hijja will not go in vain and justice must prevail as people
must be safe wherever they are: - to perform their religious duties freely and
live happily- a right secured by the Charter of Rights, Geneva Convention and
the Medina Treaty 1400 years ago.
Quran 37:102 ‘when he (Abraham’s son) attained to working
with him, he said: O my son! Surely I have seen in a dream that I should
sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! Do what you
are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones.’
If anything, Abraham’s son, Ishmael, was taught to pelt the
devil and scare him away as he tried dissuading the lad from undertaking the
sacrifice, willingly. This reminds us that fear must undergo Qurbani. Fear must
be pelted with full force. Fear must be replaced with safety. Fear has no place
in life but ultimate destruction. When Love enters, just as darkness dissipates
when light arrives, fear MUST disappear.
‘Your task is not to seek love,
but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have
built against it.’ Rumi,
Poet of 2007, UNESCO
Happy Eid
Habeeb Alli
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Stuck
What to do when you are continually bombarded with negative comments and un resolved issues except that your mind wades in the cesspool of resentment. This is so depressing that sometimes the person you lived makes you feel life is not worth it.
But life is good regardless. Love is possible be it with whom. And after one trial there will be another. The rose in the garden looks beautiful for the onlooker and gardener alike only he has to toil the soil while the lover just admires!
Unrequited love in the shadow of pain. What a treat!
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Condolence on behalf Muslim leader- Naeem Nasir- of Guyana
Dear Editor
Upon the passing away, in Georgetown, a legendary Guyanese and Bakewell owner, brother Hajji Naeem Nasir, I would like to extend my condolence to his family and to the Guyanese community from faraway, Toronto.
I had the pleasure of doing business and learning from Naeem, R.I.P and his generosity knew no bounds. The vision he had for the humanitarian needs of Guyanese is simply mind boggling- State of the Art Mosque at Queenstown, State of the Art hostel for the homeless (not the Palms), State of the Art University to teach religion and academic pursuits, the non discriminatory position of his tireless philanthropy to all types of Muslim organisations and causes- its a simple fact that his religious upbringing from his father, the late Mr Nasir and his brother, Moulana Siddiq, left an indelible mark on his life.
I'm reminded of the beautiful poem of Shaikh Saadi-the Persian Fakir:
To worship God is nothing other than serving the people.
It does not need rosaries, prayer carpets, or robes.
All peoples are members of the same body, created from one essence.
If fate brings suffering to one member, the others cannot stay at rest.
What a beautiful brother- may Allah accept all his good deeds and grant him Firdaus in Heaven- and may God not deprive us of his blessings after.
May his family find patience after and his loved ones the passion and wherewithal to continue his legacy.
As Guyanese would say dead done but cry nah done- a country rather the world mourns his loss!
Monday, 1 October 2012
REPORTS OF SEP 2012 ACTIVITIES IN TORONTO
EID IN THE PARK
Muslims in GTA were treated to a sumptuous celebration of
food, drink, games, qaseedas and good wishes at the second annual Eid in the
Widlwood Park, Derry Rd, hosted by Richard Aziz. This year the weather was
superb and many more attended including well wishes from major organisations
like HCI, IMO, Imdaadul, Markham Masjid, Weston Islamic Centre, Brampton
Islamic centre, etc
Br Alim from the Muslim Perspectives Radio Islam show was at
hand doing the nasheeds and qaseedas while bro Habeeb did commentary on the
cricket match. Sisters also participated in the cricket, volleyball, and eating
fruits race. Amazing race! The children won many prizes and giveaways and again
it was fabulous event put on by the Richard Aziz’s team in Toronto. Special
mention to the CIOG team that were on display as well as all the sponsors
including Chief brand products and Twins products from Guyana run by Razia
Khan, the recipient of the Richard’s Caribbean Music Festival entrepreneur
award.
LEASE ROOFS- MOSQUES
OPPORTUNITIES
Masjids can lease their roof to install solar panels and
make an income. That was the recent discussion that was promoted in the mosques
in Ontario by Marriam Daneshwar who is working in close proximity with Energy
Ontario and a solar company. One such mosque is Barrie. The twenty year lease
is offered to home owners and commercial buildings too. The idea is to reuse
renewable energy and integrate it into the mainstream grid so more Ontarians
may have green energy while making a lease income from their rooftops.
QAWALI- on the rocks!
Bindas is an astounding mix of Qawali- Urdu poetry sang with
musical instruments and a mixture of Hebrew songs performed by an Israeli Jew,
a New York guitarist, two Bengali singers and harmonium players and a Toronto
pundit on the drums. Jewish and Indian counterparts organised this show
recently during the Ashkenazi Festival and brought Indian lovers of Sufi music
together with Jewish friends. Vijay Sipani said that some 400 attendees made
the event a success with Non Muslims getting an opportunity to be exposed the
universal teachings of Sufis- they taught love for all!
Behaviour Management
System
Teachers in Islamic schools were trained at the North York
Civic centre recently by a trainer on Behaviour Management System. Mr Alimamy
Bangura conducted the one day workshop that is offered to TDSB teachers and the
Ontario Association of Islamic Schools organised this one through Anela Jadunnandan.
The idea is to control physical violence and misbehaviours through a peaceful
and controlled means within the Education Act, Criminal Code and family law.
Students were offered a certificate and trained how to
physically diffuse a situation not only in school but anywhere where such bad
behaviours occurs.
Interfaith dialogue
Muslims and Christians were treated to an evening of talk
and food. Mr. Tariq Khan has been organising such events for a decade and this
time round he had a youth speaker Sauliha Alli speak on Canadian values of
multiculturalism and Habeeb Alli talked about the importance of Islamic law.
That evening many questions were asked to both Habeeb and Rev Arjan from
Hamilton. Later that evening Habeeb took that message to the Dawah Centre,
downtown, to their monthly halaqa and continued the topic. Laws are the source
of love for God and with Iman one naturally wants to obey Allah.
CCI- DINNER
Many Imams and leaders were invited for a sumptuous and well
decorated Eid dinner at Sayyeda Khadija Centre hosted by Dr Hamid Slimi. Among
the noted guests were persons working on the Rohinga massacre and they spoke of
the plight of the displaced people from Burma. Sister Zabeda did a fabulous job
with matching themes of decoration, enjoyable cuisine and a fantastic desert.
Persons were also engaged on the issue of global sighting. It was a pleasant
evening to celebrate Eid.
TAIC
The Toronto Area interfaith Council wants to engage
Torontonians on various issues including Climate Change Adaptability,
discrimination and networking at the North American Interfaith Network
conference in April 2013 at U of T. TAIC is known for its mayor breakfast. Mr.
Zul Kassim Ali is the Chair and he wants more involvement from the Council on
issues affecting Torontonians. He gave the example of without funds one can
organise help. He recently placed fifteen women in the hands of a seamstress
and with donated space and sewing machines they soon will graduate to go about
doing alterations. Any one can help- that’s what faith teaches!
FATIMA- GVI
Women in prison are not all tattooed up and killers. They
are humans inside and are spending time in order to make a change. That was the
discovery made at the recent workshop of hearing your voices conducted by life
Coach Fatima Omar Khamissa at the GVI, Kitchener women fancily where some
twenty Muslims and Non Muslim sisters attended. She gave her story of
survivorship from domestic violence and heard the stories and ambitions of the
attendees. She inspired them by showing she is now a published author and
renowned speaker. Any one can make a change because dua is not a plan but just
a phase.
ATHENA’S DINNER
Athena is passionate about interfaith relations. She is from
Nepal and works with the underprovided in Afghanistan. She recently organised a
wonder dinner with members of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish friends at High
Park Toronto. It was indeed a wonderful evening of tasty Pilipino halal chicken
curry and kosher salad plus South African okra stew. The conversation was
centred on what we can do to make a difference. Athena is making a difference
with her wonderful mom’s cooking and sharing her life with others faraway in
Afghanistan this fall. What are you doing?
JANAZA- Colonel Saab
The Janaza of Colonel Amiruddin Khan, from Hyderabad, was
done at the Abu Bakr Masjid in Scarborough with a remarkable attendance of 4000
Muslims from Canada and USA. He died at the age of 96 and a website about his
life and works is registered. www.colonelsaab.com.
A man from Scottish background, who was raised in India and served the Nizam of
Hyderabad then lived in Canada and married in Trinidad. He leaves behind many
children and grandchildren and his grandsons on said in his obituary at the packed
masjid that Colonel was from the Al Bayt and Nawab family. He had converted
over 5000 and traveled to 76 countries.
ISARC
ISARC – Interfaith coalition against poverty, organized an
evening at the Holy Trinity Church at Bell square in collaboration with the
Turkish Intercultural dialogue institute about poverty. Muslim, Christian,
Buddhist and Jewish panelists explored the idea of poverty in their respective
faiths. Among them was the famous Avram who works through YAHVETA, an
International relief organsition that has been doing work in Guyana for many
years. The son of a rabbi, he said that when he was in rabbinical school he
learnt a lot about the intricate discussions around when the wall falls, then
whose responsibility is it is to lift it up. When he left he wanted to lift it
up and help others lift it too.
WATER
Water is a sacred tool. It is so scarce in the world. That’s
what we learned form speakers at the recently organized seminar at Islamic
Foundation. Officials for Toronto City as well as volunteers of Greening Sacred
Spaces and Khaleafa.com organised the showing of a film that shows the
situation of water around the world. Many in attendance were asked their
feelings about the film and their social justice anger to fight for those in
Canada who are deprived of basic drinking water in the reserves. Do you know
how you can save water? Drinking water is a small percentage of the available
water in the world for a growing 7 billion humans!
Scriptural Reasoning
Students of Scripture were once again treated to the
discussion from the Scriptural reasoning session with PhD candidate Susan
Harrison from U of T. The topic this time was on Mysticism and passages from
the Quran, Torah and New Testament were brought forward for the discussion with
many meaningful insights and pertinent questions asked. It was delightful to
discuss and not fight! Many Interfaith leaders have been supportive to Muslims
during the video crisis and feels that this doesn’t represent the Prophet of
Islam or the viewpoint of mainstream Muslims. They have equally condemned those
who do such things to stroke the fire of hatred.
FAITH IN CITY
Torontonians needs to have faith in their City and the City
needs to recognise Faith is playing its vital role in keeping Toronto alive!
Soon interfaith leaders will have an opportunity to speak to
this at a conference being organised with one of the Counsellors on board and a
website in place. Issues are dealt with every day by City officials and Faith
communities too but often there is no connection made yet alone information
available. This will soon be addressed at a one day conference at City hall.
Stay tuned.
CHAMP- fighting Stigma!
Persons with HIV stigma are facing many issues including
discrimination, criminalization, immigration and lack of education and medical
help. The champs program was orchestrated by Ontario government to seek out
Faith leaders to help intervene and as scuh a training and research was
recently concluded. HIV is everyone’s business and rather than judging we have
a chance to help.
One person said he was diagnosed since in the 80’s and
without much hope he turned to crime and drugs. Now he is studying at George
Brown and York University and giving back to the city since he survived while
his friends died!
PEARSON- is prepared!
Chaplains were invited to join other servce providers at
Pearson Airport to discuss issues around emergency and learn about using social
media as well as understand how to deal with peer support. It’s no surprise
that persons witnessing traumatic situations may be affected and service
providers are no different. How to deal with burn out and how to take care of
peers without being intrusive is a problem in every sphere of life.
ISLAMIC RELIEF
TRINIDAD FALL DINNER
Trinidadians in Toronto were treated to a sumptuous Canadian
dinner and electryfing talk by Dr Munir ElKassim at TARIC Mosque in order to
fundraise for the Islamic Relief Centre in Trinidad. The twin Island people has
helped thousands in India, Haiti, Guyana, Bangladesh, Somalia, Pakistan,
Grenada, and they continue to through your support. Zainol Ali, the Chair said
it was a successful event and he is grateful for the many volunteers and
generosity of all Canadians to make his project come through. Special thanks to
TARIC.
NAMF INTERFAITH Panel
on Honoring the Prophet
Responding the satire that vilifies the Prophet Muhamamd has
been varied and even controversial. NAMF responded with an interfaith panel of
Imams, and Jewish and Christain leaders. There is the idea is to have a
dialogue of civilization rather than a clash of cultures. The evening was
indeed a great honor for Islam’s prophet, on whom be peace, where academicians,
religious people and spiritual leaders converged to dialogue about the options
rather than fight over the conflict! The messages of solidarity from many
interfaith leaders have been overwhelming.
www.namf.ca
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