Jan 2013 reports
Ambition
Muslims Host first Multi Faith event about
Chaplaincy
What is a chaplain? A
spiritual caregiver. However, this knowledge and supporting such work has been
rare and left mostly to willing volunteers over the years in Toronto according
to longest standing Chaplain and recent recipient of the Queen Diamond Jubilee
award, Imam Abdul Hi Patel. He opened the session at Islamic Institute of Toronto
that had a 200 strong audience of diverse backgrounds and faiths, given it’s
the first event Habeeb and his team of volunteers have embarked on. Fatima Omar
Khamissa was the MC and she had her own story of how she visited the women prisons
as a speaker and was thrilled by their stories. Among the speakers was Pundit
Suraj Persaud who spoke of his work as a Hindu chaplain at U of T and stressed
the importance of diversity chaplaincy. Hon. Jim Karrigiannis of Agincourt
spoke about the importance of respecting each other and gave certificates of appreciation
to each of the ten listed speakers. There was a panel discussion and power point
presentation while entertainment was by Omair Ali and Joey Khan. The cuisine
was sumptuous and the atmosphere was cordial and enjoyable, given a cold
Saturday night in Scarborough!
The main sponsors were
Islamcare Ottawa, Canadian Council of Imams and several organizations and biasness
supported the initiative, including Emmanuel College that has a Muslim chaplaincy
course and new wudu and prayer place for Muslim students.
Moeen Centre host MiladunNabi program
Different people
observe the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet in a variety of ways. Not
everyone stands for Tazim and sing the Milad however many persons use the
opportunity to educate about this Noble Prophet of Islam who was born and died
on the same day of Rabiul Awwal the 12th.
The Centre for persons
with physical and developmental challenges did not leave out the young adults
and children from this occasion. There were plenty of Quran recitation and naat
recitals and speeches by the Muslim children and youths that day. Joey Khan
came all the way from Brampton to sing some Qasidas and the young and vibrant
Ahmed Habhab gave his story of being incarcerated and now freed, setting a
lifestyle of education and work and family. Habeeb Alli spoke on the positive
thinking of the Holy Prophet, drawing from his wisdom behind the Black Stone
conflict and the positivity he displayed during the man hunt in the cave of Thaur.
The program was indeed delightful with a full audience in the Senator O’Connor
high school auditorium, with lots to eat and enjoy after. Among the booths on
display that day was of IDRF and Moen Centre activities.
Their annual gala will
be held at the same school cafeteria on May 11th.
www.moeencentre.org
Hussein Day held in l Huda mosque Scarborough
Every year Ghulam Sajan
and his Ahl Bayt of Canada hosts a Dinner and Multi Faith forum on the life and
works of Imam Hussein, ra
The grandson of the Holy
prophet was brutally slain by Yazeed and his army in a terrible and tragic
incident that is now recognized by world religions. The Zoroastrian speaker Mr.
Bagli spoke laudably about Hussein and the Sikh scholar reminded us that the
once President of India Ramakrishna Rao said that Hussein is not mourned by the
Muslims but sits in the hearts of all humans. Mr. Armand La Barge spoke
eloquently and beautifully about the social justice of Imam Hussein and
reminded us that many Imams in Toronto inspired him as former York Police Chief
with their love for Hussein and his teachings. Habeeb Alli spoke about the
importance of Salat, that Imam Hussein reminded his assassin, even at that critical
time, to pray and his courage to stand up to tyranny reminds us even today that
the case of tyranny and racism is not over. The Quran recitation was by world renowned
Qari Ali Zadeh and many other speakers reminded us including a visiting scholar
from Khoum and UK the importance of the Quranic values of social justice and
meaning of sacrificing for the preservation of the Quran. It was indeed a
wonderful evening at Al Huda Mosque on Kennedy Road Scarborough that raised
food stuff and toys for the Muslim food banks and runs a school as well.
Faith in the City Symposium held at City Hall
Are you losing faith in
the services City of Toronto provides? Do you see religious bodies as
institutions that serve their own congregants an always asking for more money?
The steering committee
comprising of Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Jews decided late last year to
host a symposium that restores faith in the city of Toronto as well as in Faith
communities, after the murmur of people losing faith. Faithinthecity.ca was
created and the pun was intended to do just that- see the services of the City
as open to all and highlight, among the many, some of the areas where religious
groups serve all and not just members of their own congregation. The almost 350
rsvps showed that this free event held in the Councilors chambers of city hall
was attended by almost three quarters of those that reserved and the table
displayed information about some of those services including license to learn, and
after school program run by IDRF. Casino Toronto was energetic in their
displays! In the house was Hon MP Olivia Chow, who chose Poverty as the theme
of the Jack Layton chair at Ryerson and some of those students volunteered at
the event.
Homelessness,
disadvantaged youths, after school programs, refugee health, and poverty were
the key workshops this time round, with facilitators being from both a
religious organization and city run program.
Councilor Joe Milhevic
and Sarah Doucet were among the steering Committee and Habeeb Alli from the
Canadian Council of Imams among others. A generous grant of 5000 was made by
the Metropolitan Church of Toronto and was represented by Rev Brent Hawkes, who
did a dexterous job chairing the event.
It was indeed a wonderful
event with, lots of networking during the luncheon and people seeking apt
partners to continue this type of interfaith work. Next year will be bigger and
better and a special award from Councilor Joe was presented to the world known
Interfaith activist Paul McKenna for his Golden Rule poster. Habeeb in his
closing remarks singled out some important Interfaith leaders, in the audience
including Pundit Suraj Persaud, Fr Damian Macpherson, Dr Mark Toulouse, Dr Barbara
Landau, Dr Karen Mock and others who are doing amazing things every day to make
Toronto the Medina of Faith!
Faithinthecity.ca
JamiatulUlama held
their AGM at Madina masjid
The Canadian Council of
Muslim theologians held their biannual General Body meeting at Madina Masjid,
which is now their new office and many Ulama in Toronto attended. The
significant achievement of the body is the Halal Monitoring Board that oversees
many abattoirs and mainstream supermarkets and even restaurants that are
willing to offer hand slaughtered chicken. There are many newly approved fine
foods too i.e. MINA. The other chief achievement of this body is the Qaza or
judicial maters that arrive in the mail of the Ifta department. Fasakh cases
are processed through a qualified Qazi who studied in India and much more is
made easy for families suffering from separation and need a nikah cancellation.
The Jamiat has also joined many Muslims in Canada on some their other issues
like the domestic violence campaign and persons with disabilities.
Jucanada.org
Cedar brae High School host world religion day with
Imam, Rabbi and Pastor
World religion should
be mandatory but most students say they do not have enough room in their
timetable to accommodate such classes or some schools do not offer it. Such was
the conversation at the World Religion class at Cedar brae when Habeeb Alli and
a Pastor and Rabbi were invited to present about their respective faiths and
take questions directly. Usually a Non Muslim teacher teaches the class- so
it’s always good to have direct experience with persons from the respective
Faiths. Among the questions the students asked were about racism, Jesus,
Palestine and women in Islam.
More of these are
needed.
First week in February
is World Harmony Week and this is good time to get involved. The Council of
Imams is signatory to this world document for peace.
Muslims hosts diner at Brampton Halfway House
While everyone is
enjoying a great time with friends and family during this holiday, as in some
50 countries- the Birth Anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad- the poor man in
the jail doesn’t have to be left out. A sumptuous dinner and a lecture on the
Life of the Prophet by Imam Habeeb and Ahmed made lots of questions and
interactions meaningful in the life of those who are vulnerable and usually
alienated from society. Much appetite to learn is there and Islam creates that
interest always. The story of the Prophet, on whom be peace, being persecuted
and making it out alive and successful resonated well with some of the inmates
that night!
Suffering in Islam and Christianity at U of T
dialogue
In the ancient setting
of Christ and Rome sat two scholars at the Newman Centre at U of T St George’s
campus to discuss their respective Faith perspectives on suffering. There is
much to share and lots of questions and interactions from Muslim and Christian
students who host a bimonthly dialogue on various topics. The context of this
discussion was to seek answers to the atheistic response some Muslim girl had
when posed with the dilemma if God is loving so can he allow the murder of
innocent children! The Christian response was by Regis College Professor
Michael Strober who showed many references that suffering is the suffering of
Christ on the Cross and God has a wisdom when he post people through a destiny
of His making. Habeeb Alli showed that children are born innocent and do not
inherit any sins and the wisdom in a crisis is to test how the survivors and onlookers
respond with compassion or not. Also that destiny doesn’t mean a fatalistic end
or deterministic attitude but between both is the world of the Believer. That
God suffers at our suffering is more important than finding answers to every
pain and as Rumi said through the wound the light of God enters.
This discussion was
further advanced on the Sunday at the Multi Faith centre where a more direct
conversation took place with students. One person came up and wanted a Quran
and a book on the introduction of Islam. This event was hosted by the catholic
Archdiocese headed by Fr Damian Macpherson who has worked tirelessly in the
Muslim Christian relations in Toronto.
http://www.multifaith.utoronto.ca
ISARC held its annual strategic meeting on moving
forward
Planning early for 2013
is the key to success and ISARC steering committee of many diverse faith
leaders and key civilians met and worked out some key areas of focus. This
interfaith coalition against poverty in Ontario is working with meager fees
from member organizations and the Imams Council is one and from a grant from
Atkinson Foundation. The able and hard working Michael Skaljin has proven that
many town hall meetings, Queens park religious forum and many outreach to
diverse communities has paid off with much luck. The last budget at Queens park
showed some indicators that poverty is on the radar and hopefully that will be
so, on the agenda in the upcoming Provincial elections.
Isarc.ca
IDI hosts another dinner at Fairmount Royal to
highlight Multiculturalism in the media
The Intercultural
Dialogue Institute of Toronto, a beautiful Turkish organization, hat focuses on
interfaith dialogue and trips to Turkey made another important mark on the
Toronto landscape when it hosted its eighth annual gala at the prestigious
Fairmount Toronto. Guests included many known media personnel of CTV and Globe
and Mail and many interfaith leaders, civic society members and political
leaders. Hon Olivia Chow did a fundraiser for Sick Kids Hospital and the key
note address focused on key successes in recognizing multicultural elements in
the media- to which the Editor of Globe and Mail highlighted the employment diversity
reflection and the hard thinking in the news room to show respect to one’s
faith and tradition. However, the bad news is this is not always the case and
much has to be done as noted by the eloquent PEN Canada head. The presentations
were amazing including a play on Turkish coffee and the delicious cuisine. Many
were delighted to see that such a topic was tackled in such a cordial and
respectful atmosphere where key members of Toronto were present. They have also
launched the Public heroes’ campaign and interfaith trips to Turkey and many
interfaith dialogues and conferences. Erdem is among the Directors and he is a
member of the Council of imams. They are inspired by the teachings of Fethullah
Gülen.
http://www.interculturaldialog.com/
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