ASK THE IMAM

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/947-69836/Islam/Imam-Habeeb.htm

AUG REPORTS- EVENTS IN GTA

Eid Dinners for Inmates

Every one is having wonderful Eid days after EidulFitr. But the poor old man in the jail drinking sour milk must have his share too!

Ontarians have a heart.

Muslims in the prison were treated to several Eid dinners and had invite guests over from far and near.

I was fortunate to hear good stories of not only Muslims fasting but Canadians who chose to fast with their Muslim students. In Pittsburgh ON at their ever variety filled and culturally refined dinner for Eid I met a gentleman who teaches life skills. He has chosen to fast every year for a while now so he may feel the pang of hunger and welt of thirst his students feel. He even ensures that he fasts the correct timing as per the prayer chart of his local area in Kingston.

Inmates invited several others including the Reverend Harry Nigh to join them in their sumptuous Eid dinner at the Keel Street half way house. Harry was delighted to share the meal and encouraged all to talk about the good stories of Ramadan.

Brampton halfway house saw the same with lots to eat.

Some of the Federal institutions had their Eid celebrated with sweets after prayers on Sunday itself while others had it after. The Women institution in Kitchener even saw one person accepting Islam because she admired the way the Muslims conducted themselves in Ramadan.

Eid is a time of joy and happiness. The sweets remind one that after sacrifice is harvest and after receiving the gifts of Allah one has to be thankful.

In prison one values this more than ever and every tiny but of sweet is a lifetime of happiness!

INTERFAITH VISIT FROM USA

“Canada is the second Holy Land”, says an American visitor among the group from Atlanta calling themselves World Pilgrims.

Muslims are familiar with Hajj- making them pilgrims once per year but how many people know that Muslims always travelled with other faiths in the past learning and worshipping.

Tayyibah Taylor, editor of Azizah Magazine and famous speaker at RIS was among the dignitaries of Jews, Muslims and Christians who visited ISNA mosque in Oakville. They also visited Holy Blossom temple as well as other places in Toronto, Niagara and New York in their round trip. The year before the group had visited Jerusalem and other countries.

The group was presented about Interfaith activities happening in Toronto by Habeeb Alli as well as Dr Abdalla Idris and Dr Kathy Bullock. Habeeb also delivered the Khutba talking about Interfaith importance in Islam, reminding all that the Quran respects all peoples and their traditions and wants us to dialogue rather than force Islam down people’s throats. During lunch many questions were asked and answered about Islam.

It was indeed a happy moment to have these persons of a different persuasion sitting in the mosque as the Holy Prophet on whom be peace himself entertained the Christians of Najran in his mosque.

Islamic Research and Jurisprudence office opened in Thorncliffe.

“The Quran orders the Muslims to ask their Scholars,” said the number of top Ulama visiting Toronto for the launch of the first Office for Islamic Research and Fatwa for Muslims from the Hanafi school of thought. These scholars are primarily from the world oldest institution Deoband India and have a great following in Canada. It’s also important that people recognise the differences of opinion are not only human but Islamic and it’s a mercy for humanity in the words of the Holy Prophet on whom be peace. This is the message Mufti Ahmad Kanpuri and Moulana Hanif from India and Mufti Saeed Motara from South Africa delivered to a packed audience of local Ulama and supporters in Thorncliff, home to thousands of South Asian Muslims, recently.

Mufti Ibrahim Kureshi will be managing his research and fatwas from this office at 2 Thorncliff Ave Unit 28^th. He is a member of the JamiatulUlama Canada.

Death words!

Allah has decreed death and while it's hard no doubt to accept that reality and especially when it happens to someone close yet we have to accept that otherwise Faith is in crisis as fate and Faith are related. They are so related that one is like the breath and the other the lung.

The Quran says every soul will taste death. However the wisdom behind this is to test us who is better is good works.

3:185 Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

The Prophet on whom be peace says that Death is a gift for the Believer. This is what gives us solace in the time of grief. That while we are attached so much to something so lovely and beautiful yet when it leaves it was meant to leave. Rather when it leaves us it goes to to place waiting for us for a better life eventually and that is heaven. So death is a gift for those who believe.

What I feel- POEM

• What I feel-

   

   

   

  A tribute to Syria

   

   

   

   

   

   

  What a wonderful morning

   

   

  Birds chirping

   

   

  Such a snow-less winter it is

   

   

  Soothing my lingering butterflies

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Why this ambivalence

   

   

  Where is my heart going is of essence

   

   

  Pounding like an engine when I see your name

   

   

  Dreaming of innocent images, all the same

   

   

   

   

   

   

  It’s not the kind that makes a smile

   

   

  Under the covers of unlighted rooms, desires stockpile

   

   

  Where sisters whisper naughtiness

   

   

  And false hopes are hatched in freshness

   

   

   

   

   

   

  But gone is the liking for anything pink

   

   

  Where from the anger of unfulfilled love I drink

   

   

  That kindles an inner world as large as Rome or Syria

   

   

  And words become helpless like un-controlled hysteria

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Inklings of poetry, lyrics, movies and e-books besides social media

   

   

  Knocking helplessly at the waves of control-mania

   

   

   

   

   

   

  They seem to become hapless victims of indescribability

   

   

  Even the encrypted gets cracked; not infallibility

   

   

   

   

   

   

  It’s like knowing you will not make it, even being a true fool

   

   

  Like a swan that swims gracefully while frenzies beneath rule

   

   

  I wandered the land, ghastly blue

   

   

  Until I laid my eyes on you

   

   

   

   

   

   

  So this isn’t a V-day tribute

   

   

  Rather to all those who are broken by unrequited truth

   

   

  Who fail to claim their birth-right without aggression.

   

   

  God made you perfect to receive affection

   

   

   

   

   

   

  To love and be loved is not a privilege or lucky strike

   

   

  It’s critical to civilization and any Mike

   

   

  Nations are at war, filling Hell’s fury with Super anarchy

   

   

  Angels are in prayers supplicating against such tyranny

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Tell me Just why- honestly why

   

   

  Sweet-harm enamored your thoughts daily

   

   

  Why the people’s constant mindfulness, fearfulness

   

   

  That you will not live up to this make-feel goodness

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Oh Land of Damascus

   

   

  Oh Nation of Prophets

   

   

  Where our sisters breathe divine breaths

   

   

  Have your brave hearts been buried in the princess of white minarets?

   

   

   

   

   

   

  I want to break loose like a snowflake in the wind

   

   

  And ever rescind

   

   

  Free from this occupy-lunacy

   

   

  Maybe like Rumi or even Gazzali- a heartland far from piracy!