Aunty Sha- poem in her memory

 

Aunty Sha- poem in her memory

Habeeb Alli

June 09 2023

A vestige of Alli pride

 

We’re told a time for everything

For love and mourning

For family and harvesting

Such is the Biblical and Quranic saying

 

A life full of life

That’s Ayesha Baksh at the doorstep of Heaven

From childhood memories

Every message bears testimony to her kindness

 

Not to miss a birthday or Eid greeting

A family of two beautiful children and lots more

She built a life in Canada even when widowed, single handily

Uncle B left no stone unturned to love her and her family

 

Every single call or card was filled with lovely memories

Now her journey unto Maa, and all begins

Our hearts will go on

No more shared sugar cake, and white roses

 

But when you think of it

She saw her Suzy got married, methinks, finally a tear fell for that memory

Blossomed by the presence of her son Rory and the Alli village

Her lasting words would be alrite, take care, until we meet again!

 

Godspeed to the Queen of hearts, and gratitude to our traveling guests from afar!

 

Love you mama- Mother's Day poem

Mother's Day - how to include her on this special day?

Don't forget me

She maybe gone and just been seen

But remember her

For she doesn't stop thinking about you

For those months of great pain

For those nights wondering what and why

For those years her prayers your gain

For all the things she taught you

Never forget her wherever you are

that  Paradise lies under her feet

This is no small feat

For she is always in prayer and so should you too!

Roes and kisses

Dinners and wells

Memories flood

Oh beautiful Mama our heart beats!

Diverse Communities commemorate Queen Elizabeth passing in Canada.

 

Upon the passing of Queen Elizabeth a Multifaith ceremony including Faith leaders  who are Buddhist, Jewish, Christian and Muslim participated outside the Cummers Lodge Long Term home in Toronto.

Muhammad AlShareef: The Visionary

 

Muhammad AlShareef: The Visionary

 

We are shocked by your sudden demise

But why be shocked when you always reminded us

That Life is to be discovered

Before our time for dua ends

 

You stood tall among martyrs

You lighted the way when teaching Islam online was a dream

Living through hard times

You stood the tide

 

The power of Dua

Is what one inmate remembered

Your CDs on Seerah

Stayed on loop inside his prison cell

 

Now that the star has dimmed

The galaxy will be filled with many more stars until

From the legacy you left

With DiscoverULife and AlMaghrib!

 

When you memorised Al Quran

You did it in flash in Cornwall

You studied in Madina and made Hajj every year

So you could make Dawa in the West the beauty it is so far!

 

In our hearts forever!

Multi faith Quotes During the Pandemic on different topics

Why Giving To The One Love Table Is A Unique Choice?

 Why Giving To The One Love Table Is A Unique Choice?

Written by Habeeb Alli and Edited by Juliane Martin

Because feeding people is always rewarding in all religious denominations.

Well that was the easy one liner.

But there are so many causes and people operating food banks are numerous especially during Covid.

Well to think of it being part of a family of people of all backgrounds that are informed by faith and love

and dignity is itself very ambitious given the times we live in.

Whenever we find such a community based upon these eternal values of the Golden Rule we must be

able to jump at it with our hearts, dollars and time!

When we started out One Love Gala it was because the then government of the day did not want the

continuation of Chaplaincy services for inmates locked up in federal prisons across Canada. They were

about to sever the important work diversity chaplains perform inside and outside prisons.

I was inspired by Bob Marley’s’ song One Love, One Heart to start advocating for this service by

highlighting the work Chaplains do to reintegrate inmates successfully into society..

Food insecurity is a rising concern in Canada during the Pandemic and around the world. No one is safe.

There is only One God and His Religion Is to take care of humanity.

I have been working with many Muslim organisations and participating in many Interfaith initiatives and

saw during my time at providing food hampers in Toronto to families affected during the Pandemic that

all walks of life were involved. The Hindu Pundit giving donations, the Rabbi picking up food at the drive

by, the Pastor delivering food hampers to the elderly and the Imam opening the mosque doors for

persons of all backgrounds to receive the Mercy of God through human servants.

Now that I have had the opportunity to do the food hampers differently, again the One Love song has

inspired me to have the fabric of Interfaith and Multiculturalism sew itself into this beautiful dress with

our amazing Christian Chaplain Julianne Martin as Director and the humanitarian Muslim leader Sadro

Usman leading the operations whilst the Hindu community activist Rajmini Ram renders her continued

support and the Jewish voice for the voiceless Orev Katz prods us on- the family of One Love is woven

from the threads of far and wide of volunteers, clients and donors of varied ethnicity, race, religion,

sexual orientation, nationality and languages because the human dignity of one is the dignity of all. We

are all the Children of Adam!

As in the case of Father Abraham he was the patriarch to all, he loved all and opened his dinner table for

all and as such when you give to the One Love Table you give to all- without judgment or need to prove

you are worthy- you are doing the work of the Prophets when you let people enter your space freely as

Rumi said: Come As You Are!

Thank you!

Megwich!

Merci

Lailatul Qadr and Mothers’ Day - Twin Sisters of Mercy

 

Lailatul Qadr and Mothers’ Day - Twin Sisters of Mercy

 

May 4^th 2021

 

by: Habeeb Alli

 

It's been a whirlwind of events during this Pandemic.

 

It's Ramadan and Muslims are going crazy about the search for the Night that equals a thousand months of worship. And rightly so, it's also that time of the year when we buy flowers and send gifts to our mothers. Mother's Day – both days falling on May 8^th and 9th, respectively.

 

I wonder if there is a connection between the Night of Power and Mothers' Day?

 

For this, I thought there is a silver lining like the vaccine during the Pandemic.

 

For the reader of this, the Night of Power in the Surah "Qadr" Quran Chapter 97 Verses 1-5 is the moment that God decrees one's life for the rest of the year and it is believed to be on the 27^th night of Ramadan. However, it can be any time in the year or any one of the 10 last nights of Ramadan.   When people, who were eager to get rich in the game of spirituality, complained to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, (On Whom Be Peace) that their years are shortened compared to those who lived for centuries before, in response, the Chapter Qadr was revealed. It is an auspicious night of prayers called the Night of Determination, or the Night of Power which is equivalent to one thousand months (which is equivalent to 80 years) of blessings.

 

It seems to me that the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may (God be pleased with her), actually questioned her husband, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, what should be her prayers if she finds out it is indeed the Night! Our Prophet, opined that appealing for God's kindness and forgiveness was most crucial. "Oh God, You Are Forgiving and Kind, You Love to Forgive, so kindly forgive me!" is the refrain that is uttered all around the globe on this special night.

 

Now if that wasn't an appeal to the motherly instincts of compassion, forgiveness and love, then what is? God chose the Mother of the Believers, the young and passionate Lady Aisha, may God be pleased with her, to reveal this priceless gem of worship, embraced by billions throughout the centuries.

 

When we celebrate and honor our mothers every day and with a grand remembrance on Mothers' Day, we are instinctively responding to their kindness, generosity and unconditional love for their children. This is their right upon us, so beautifully articulated by the Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, that Paradise lies "at the feet of Thy mother!"

 

So, this weekend, when you are praying for forgiveness on Lailatul Qadr and buying flowers for your beautiful Mom, or saying a prayer for her, alive or deceased, remember that mercy is the common denominator here. God's mercy demonstrated in a mother's love - something further demonstrated by your continued support of the Table of Mercy Foodbank this Ramadan which has served hundreds of mothers and families and prayed with them during this Pandemic. The Twin Sisters of Mercy seems to descend on us this weekend. Let's take the opportunity to be part of the mercy this year!

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Live In London)

Arif and Samantha: Love in the Six

Arif and Samatha

The unspoken love

Between Arif and Sam

That be-squeak the passion of a Rapturous fan!

That union of two hearts

That joined West Coast Demerara with Skeldon

It is the quietness of Arif

The energy of Sam

When placed on the altar of God's blessings

Make the love story of Ali and Fatima alive

So many want to renew their vows

So many in the house that I joined their hands

They look so beautiful today

Wishing to renew their vows

Inspired by Arif and Sam

So let this love be eternal love

For we will not hear

With death do you part

However, we will hear the angels sing

In heaven will see you dance!

Khan and Dookhoo families

At the hallmark of cultures

Are bonded by our ancestral roots

And from today onward

We know this will be quite a party

For, by God, love knows no barriers nor timings

Love is love

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Khan!

Eid by the Lake media release 2019

Media Release                                                          Dated: 2019-07/27

One Love Media and Friends Indeed Canada present the 4^TH Eid-by-the- Lake Festival in the Durham Region.

Eid by the Lake: The Sacrifice

The One Love media group and Friends Indeed Canada continue to promote positive and inclusive events in the Muslim community, collaborating with interfaith leaders and community organizations to provide inspirational messaging in the Greater Toronto area.

It is the fourth Annual Eid-by-the-Lake celebration for Eid ul Adha. Muslims around the world celebrate this festival during the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Eid-by-the-Lake festival will be commemorated at the Abilities Centre, 56 Gordon Street, Whitby, Ontario, on Sunday Aug 11^th from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with the Honorable MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, once again and the executive member of the interfaith body, the Abraham Festival, Helen Thibert from Peterborough, Ontario.

Founded by the Patriarch of three Abrahamic Faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the Hajj brings Muslims from all backgrounds internationally together. The Eid-by-the-Lake festival includes speeches, prayers, food, fun, musical performances, Interfaith messages and lots of time to socialise with family, neighbours and friends.

A number of Interfaith leaders as well as entertainers are in the line-up.

Awards Presentations include: the Hodan Nalayeh award for empowering girls in Africa and the nominee this year is Sauliha Alli for volunteering in Ghana.

The bazaar will include food vendors and other services in the Durham Region.

The charity of choice this year is "Service to Humanity" for their back to school program for the children in Guyana, South America.

Our main sponsor is the oldest Muslim charity in Canada Human Concern International serving Qurbani in thirty countries.

The Co-Chairs are Vaqar Raees and Anela Jadunandan.

This event is free and open to all.

Contact Habeeb at 416 823 1738 or bookhabeeb@gmail.com

Tribute to Hodan Nalayeh

Tribute to Hodan Nalayeh

#BeAWoman (was her buzzword)

Too soon oh peace warrior!

Too early oh Oprah of Africa!

Oh Princess of Black Panther

Your beauty exudes musk of Arabia!

Shot whilst shooting stories of their mothers

They thought they could out your light with their barrels of extremism

They even ask one sister to go home back

But the world celebrates your hijabiness, femaleness, Somaliness, Muslimness

We have worked together on the free Black Panther show

Children needed to see a black actress on the screen too

We have worked together on the youths in prison

We awarded you at the One Love Gala our mother’s Lyla Ali award

Because that is what we should do for our daughters of this Ummah

They deserve more for their humanitarian work without rewards

Burnt in the harsh sun of Africa

We will share your legacy to empower girls across the globe

One #NaagIskoDhig at a time!

God rest your beautiful soul and that of your loved ones!

Gone with the winds

But not forgotten!

Aleesha and Kesevan: A Love story of two cultures

Inset from right Chaplain Andrea Saul, Kesevan Paramanathan, Aleesha Paramanathan (formerly known as Aleesha Ally), Habeeb Alli.

July 26th 2019

Aleesha and Kesevan: A Love story of two cultures 

He would not give up
A boy from a single mom
A man inspired by the beautiful girl
A graduate who paid off his loan

Kesevan inspires youths out of the Six
He managed to up himself
With a condo, a passion and the love of his life
Never mind the Tamil curry burns your lips purple

The girl sitting by his side has burnt his heart red
The Princess from Oakville
Knows what she wants
Never traded her roots, traditions and aching heart

This union is blessed
Because one family lifted their hands
And held Kesevan and Aleesha
And tied the knot of cultures and faiths in one

Aisha was in love with the Prophet
Like when the snowstorm comes, you need your jacket
One cannot dismiss love
Because of the man-made barriers of the world

And so the determined, beautiful, educated daughter of Ally
Will sing to her children in Arabic and Tamil
The sweetness of her two mother’s love- Farina and Chandra
And by God will they taste some kothi roti, dhalpuri and mutton curry poutine in that

And so forever One Love!

#TheKesevans

Tribute to Aaron and Arianna: Father and Daughter slain

I pay special tribute to Tracey Waheeda’s husband Aaron and princess Arianna as they are laid to rest today.

The winds have passed under their wings

The beauty of their deeds

Have lifted their souls

Into Heaven, together with our mother Leila!

This a burden too shall pass

Like Jesus on the Cross

Such memories you have made

Such love you have given

A man whose heart was worn on his sleeve

Taken away by the greed of this world

A daughter yet to love

Snuffed away from the arms of her mother

God be with you, for in Him we trust, And those who love you!

https://newsroom.gy/2019/07/09/4-arrested-in-connection-with-robbery-murder-of-money-changer-and-daughter/

Farah and Chris: Cherish This Night

The love birds on God’s plan

Yes it’s Raptorsland

And we are celebrating the soulmates of Toronto

What better way than at the artistic Guild Inn

Farah a vegetarian and voracious humanitarian

She knows how to design the heart

With love and faith twisted in green and white

I don’t mean any heart- just Chris’s

And Chris the unbendable social justice warrior

He will give his shirt for you

And that’s why he fell in love with Farah’s faith

And the butter chicken too!

If this love story should be written on the walls of the Kaba

It would be Laila and Majnoo all over

Like the nightingale kisses the morning dew with couplets

Farah and Chris will be remembered for their divine union like every angel’s envy!

So while we enjoy the sunset

On the tapestry of nature’s birth

The twinning of two families, two faiths, two soulmates

We will dance away on the altar of our One God’s love!

Wudu Unit for Ablution installed in Canadian Prison for the first time!

Wudu Unit for Ablution installed in Canadian Prison for the first time!

Habeeb Alli

June 09 2019 Last Friday, June 7^th 2019, which happens to be both the Day of Juma and the day the Muslim inmates were celebrating Eid at Warkworth Institution, will be marked in Canadian prison history as the first time a wudu unit has been made operational. This is for ablution before prayers.

Muslims wash five times a day, called ablution, before prayers. This washing of the hands, face, and feet; and wiping the head necessitates dignity and grace- something all faiths warrant. However, having to make wudu inside one’s cell, where the toilet sits as well, and lifting one’s feet inside the sink to wash them in the presence of other cellmates, do not augur well for inmates relations nor dignity of religion to say the least.

At the One Love Gala 2017, an event aimed at celebrating the successful reintegration of inmates, proceeds of the gala were earmarked for the purchase of the wudu units and its installation within the Chapel of this particular Institution.
Thanks to the donors and well wishers as well as Correction Services Canada, their capable staff was able to see to the plumbing and building a base to mount the two units within the required standards.

The unit was purchased in the UK, thanks to the capable spearheading of the project by Site Base Chaplain Dr. Desmond Khanoo. He worked on this diligently for the past two years and was present at the opening on Friday.
Present at the official launch was Regional Chaplain Imam AbdurRasheed Michael Taylor, who shared his own experienced as the former Muslim Chaplain and the how far the journey has been that today such an accomplishment could be achieved. He emphasised Corrections’ commitment towards diversity.

Special gratitude is extended by the inmates for this facility and the fact that this can happen at one institution it can happen anywhere else.
This mobile type wudu units are common in the prisons and hospitals in the UK.

Like Jesus and Moses, Muhammad was ordered to wash up before prayer- Quran 5:6 “O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash you faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and wash your feet up to the ankles.”

Imam Habeeb Alli is thankful to being part of this history, from the beginning, as the Muslim Chaplain.

Spring to Easter celebrated

Spring to Easter celebrated

My father: My first boss!

                             Happy Father's Day!

My father: My first boss!
 

I remember
The apprenticeship
A gig that was short and telling
To hand him the pliers and then to run the wires

I was like 10
He was a big set guy
I was quick to quiver at his voice
I was paid enough for a Sunday matinee show at Gem

But many weekends and most evenings
I would learn to be an electrician whilst studying
From the country’s best, Rabbi, was Guysuco’s and DDL’s best
He taught refrigeration, generator repairs and wiring houses

To put a smile, God rest his soul!
I did run some wedding houses’ lights, like Aunty Inese’s
I did crawl in some ceilings to hide wires in Uncle Hydrali’s
I did not heed his venting or hammering

I wanted to be an engineer after leaving Queens
To follow the footsteps of my Granpa Wajid Ali
Who engineered the electrical wires from sugar factory to the seawall
But I turned my back and became an itinerant scholar from Enmore!

I learnt from my dad
To work hard and honest
To help someone in distress
And to be passionate, that would make life worth living to its best!

                          HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

whispersofkaieteur: Bibi Sanderson: a legacy of love and generosity

whispersofkaieteur: Bibi Sanderson: a legacy of love and generosity: This we know of mothers That Paradise is laid in gold beneath their tired feet A lifetime of life and laughter has been her lega...

Bibi Sanderson: a legacy of love and generosity

This we know of mothers

That Paradise is laid in gold beneath their tired feet

A lifetime of life and laughter has been her legacy

That Aunty Zee touched the hearts from Fiji to Canje

From the time I set eyes on her in Dawa Centre

And throughout the years through Mark and Sherry

The tree is known by the fruits it bears

Her children are all love and beauty

This single mother reminded me of Khadija

Living for her children while she prayed in silence

This teacher whose students are worldwide scholars

Reminds us that we too had a Mother Theresa

Once she sponsored the children of Skeldon

Once she would be there for those in Yemen

Yet another time it’s the masjid or iftar, the society, the humanity

Her generosity knew no bounds like her smiles

Let this not be the end of family and friends

Let not the party at Eid or Sundays or Holidays end

The glue to the life of the party has been the envy of many

Life itself envies death when death's desire is for God only.

Good bye Bibi Sanderson

Good bye our hero

Allah be with you always

And leave some breeze behind for your three angels!

Ramadan Mubarak:4th Annual Interfaith Iftar Gala 2019

Ramadan Mubarak!

Greetings!

I would like to profusely thank you for your continuous contributions and generous support towards our programs in the past year. We sincerely hope your Ramadan would be joyous and blessed!

As an extention of the annual One Love Gala we are continuing our mission in Ramadan by hosting our fourth Interfaith Iftar dinner. This is a continuation of the Canada Day Iftar that we started a few years ago!

See last year's event in the media here. https://torontocaribbean.com/ramadan-interfaith-gala-raising-funds-for-guyana-youth/

• Sponsor Skeldon feeding of 250 children per day for $220.00 through Service to Humanity feeding the children program.

• Sponsor the printing and distribution of educational brochures for $100.00 per 10000 every Juma/Friday in Georgetown by Shamal

• Sponsor the eye surgery for one man in Guyana- 2000.00

• Sponsor a child school books scholarship in Jamaica for one year for 300.00 through Albaster Gate Children Charity-http://alabastergatechildrenscharity.com/

• Support the prison program to help youths at risk -Think Twice founded by Ziya Brown- http://think2.org/

• DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM

PROGRAM: 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• Welcome by Co-Chairs- Habeeb Alli

• National Anthem of Canada- Steel pan

• National Anthem of Guyana

• Quran Recital and Recitation Qari Sameer

• MC Introduction- Firaz Azeez

• Interfaith service- Rev Earl Smith and Rabbi Yossi Sapirman

• Think Twice- Ziya Brown- Award and Check http://think2.org/

• Dr Nadine Wong - Alabaster Children Charity in Jamaica

• Videos Presentation- Habeeb Alli- Service to Humanity in Skeldon and Shamal Islamic Brochures in Georgetown

• Fundraising- Dr Munir Elkassem

• Iftar- 8:42 pm

• Magrib Salat- 8:45 pm

• Dinner 9 pm

• Entertainment- Munir Mohamed

• Door prizes

N.B

Main Sponsor:

Human Concern International- a registered charity in Canada helping orphans in Yemen this Ramadan for 30.00 per month with your zakat, fitra and fidya - all tax deductible. www.humanconcern.org

Purchase tickets