Uncategorized - Iqra.ca (Page 54)

Toronto welcomes largest Canadian Muslim convention this week

(December 21, 2009) – Toronto will be hosting the largest Muslim convention in the country this coming week. 15,000 delegates from across North America are expected to descend on the city for the 8th Annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention (RIS) scheduled for December 25 to December 27. The convention,

Ali Gomaa

Is the Swiss ban an opportunity?

By Richard Chartres and Ali Gomaa (December 19, 2009) – The recent vote in Switzerland banning the construction of new minarets casts an unnecessary shadow on the remarkable history of tolerance, hospitality and integration that is the true story of Switzerland. It is important to remember, however, that this vote in

askthescholar.com

Canadian Muslims can now find answers online

(December 18, 2009) – A well-known Canadian Imam and Scholar has launched an online resource providing users with access to his fatwas (Islamic rulings) and the ability to submit their questions on various issues. Shaikh Ahmad Kutty will answer questions through his web site, askthescholar.com [http://askthescholar.com/Default.aspx]

Izzeldin Abuelaish

Abuelaish brings message of peace to Toronto’s Muslims this Saturday

(December 16, 2009) – Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian doctor and peace activist, whose personal tragedy transfixed the world during the Gaza war earlier this year, will be the guest of honor on Saturday at an Eid ul-Adha dinner at the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF) in Scarborough. On Jan. 16,

Reflections

Solitude between ourselves and our self

By Tariq Ramadan (December 15, 2009) – Someday we are bound to come back to the beginning. Even the most distant pathways always lead us inwards, completely inwards, into intimacy, solitude between ourselves and our self – in the place where there is no longer anyone but God, and our self. Paulo

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Is the Qur’an hostile to Jews and Christians?

By Leena El-Ali (December 12, 2009) – When violence is committed in the name of Islam, the perpetrators often say that Muslims were never meant to enjoy good relations with followers of other religions, specifically Jews and Christians. They invariably quote verses from the Qur’an which they argue prove that

climate change

Through religious lens: combating climate change

By Hind Al-Abadleh (December 10, 2009) – As world leaders gather in Copenhagen this week (Dec 7-18, 2009) to negotiate reductions in emissions of gases causing climate change, citizens of the world should continue the task of examining their value systems that define their relationship with the Natural world. For Muslims

Abdolkarim Soroush

Muslim with a brain

By Sophia Rose Shafi (December 8, 2009) – I recently had the privilege of seeing Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi speak on the compatibility of human rights and Islam. As I awaited her appearance, two lovely Persian women sat next to me. After uttering the five or six lines I know in

Hopenhagen

'Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen'

“Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen” is the call to action from website Hopenhagen.org [http://Hopenhagen.org],which has created a global petition urging world leaders to attend and support the COP15 conference, and to reach an agreement regarding carbon emissions and climate change. From the website: Hopenhagen is

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Why Interfaith Dialogue?

By Abdul Malik Mujahid I saw two groups demonstrating against the Parliament of World Religions at Cape Town University in South Africa in 1999. One was of white Christians and the other of Indian Muslims. They were standing apart from each other despite their common cause against the Parliament. What

Aisha Sultan

My big, fat Pakistani Thanksgiving

By Aisha Sultan (December 4, 2009) – If past Thanksgivings are any indication, we should be past the turkey coma by now. But we’re probably still nursing an Eid hangover. This year, sacrifice and consumption collided for Muslim Americans. The blackest shopping day coincided with Eid ul-Adha, one of two

Farheen Khan

The Unheard Voices of Women Survivors - Are we ready to listen?

By Farheen Khan (December 2, 2009) – In a world where women are sensationalized on the runway and on screen and stories like Rihanna and Chris Brown are in the papers within minutes, there is a whole other world just waiting to be discovered. It is the story of the everyday,

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Eid ul-Adha – A time to learn what sustains us

By Wael Haddara [The following is a transcript of the Eid ul-Adha sermon deliver by Dr. Wael Hadarra at the CNE Queen Elizabeth building in Toronto on Friday, November 27, 2009] We are gathered here today to mark two traditions – one, a tradition or sunnah of our Prophet, peace be

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Film screening opens up lively inter-faith dialogue

Muneeb Nasir and Dr. Kevin Livingston at Don Heights Unitarian Congregation (Dec 1, 2009) – The Don Heights Unitarian Congregation and Initiatives of Change (Canada) hosted an interfaith dialogue following the screening of the award winning documentary film, The Imam and The Pastor [http://www.iofc.org/imam-pastor], on Sunday November

minarets in Switzerland

My compatriots' vote to ban minarets is fuelled by fear

By Tariq Ramadan (November 30, 2009) – It wasn’t meant to go this way. For months we had been told that the efforts to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland were doomed. The last surveys suggested around 34% of the Swiss population would vote for this shocking initiative. Last

Abed Bhuyan

The jihad to enhance oneself

By Abed Bhuyan (November 29, 2009) – If being an educator has taught me anything, it is that the human element of any endeavour cannot be ignored. I don’t just teach history–I teach history to 11th graders. Without the students, there’d be no papers to grade, no hoarse

CAM-D

Muslim organizations urged to recognize persons with disabilities

(November 26, 2009) – Canadian Muslim organizations are being urged to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by CAM-D (Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities). “On Friday December 4, 2009, we are asking all major Masjids across Canada to focus their Khutbas (sermons) on disability rights and obligations in

Eid ul-Adha 2009

Toronto Muslims to celebrate Eid ul-Adha by helping poor in the city

(November 23, 2009) – Toronto’s Muslims will be distributing meat to needy and low-income families in the city as part of the celebration of Eid ul-Adha which takes place on Friday, November 27. Eid ul-Adha (‘Celebration of Sacrifice’), also known as the Greater Eid, marks the end of the Hajj,

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Toronto Celebrates Charter for Compassion

(November 20, 2009) – Toronto residents took part in the launch of the Charter for Compassion [http://www.charterforcompassion.org] last week by holding lectures, discussions, film screenings, reflective walks and dedicating weekly sermons to the topic of compassion. The Charter for Compassion, officially launched on November 12, is a 330-word

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The one you choose to feed

By Louise Diamond (November 19, 2009) – There is a classic Native American story about a grandfather who tells his grandson about the battle between two wolves inside us all–one full of angry, fearful energy and one full of compassionate, benevolent energy. When the boy asks, “Which wolf wins?” the

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Be more proactive – Monia Mazigh to Canadian Muslims

(November 17, 2009) – Canadian Muslims need to be more proactive when it comes to supporting other Canadians who are detained overseas, according Dr. Monia Mazigh. Mazigh, the wife of Maher Arar, was a keynote speaker at the Inspired and Engaged Citizens: Canadian Muslim Conference held over the weekend in Hamilton,

Day of Arafah

Eid ul-Adha on Friday November 27

(November 17, 2009) – Saudi Arabia has declared that the day of Arafah will be on Thursday, November 26, 2009 following its announcement that Wednesday, November 18 is the first day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) and the European Council of Fatwa

Julia Williams

London Muslims worried over hate crime

(November 16, 2009) – The London, Ontario Muslim community continues to voice concern over the attempted stabbing of a hijab clad woman. “I’m getting a lot of concern from the community that this happened,” said Const. Marcel Marcellin, London’s diversity officer. The 52-year-old woman was confronted in an apartment

Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish inspires Toronto's Muslims and Jews

(November 15, 2009) – “Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance you must keep moving,” Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish told a multi-faith audience last night at Toronto’s Temple Sinai about the tragedy that devastated his family. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is the Gazan physician and proponent of

IDRF

Virtual History of Toronto’s First Mosque – a great resource says Minister of Education

(November 10, 2009) – The online archive and virtual museum of Toronto’s first mosque will be a great educational resource said Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Minister of Education. Minister Wynne was speaking earlier today at the launch of Mosqueone.com, an oral history project of the Dundas Street Mosque, the