Gatineau mosque attacked by vandals twice in same week

Jan 7, 2012

Montreal, Quebec, January 6th, 2012- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its alarm over the second attack of vandalism in one week at the Outaouais Islamic Centre in Gatineau, Quebec.

Graffiti containing anti-Islamic and anti-Arab messages were found on the walls of the mosque on Thursday. It is the third time in the last month and the fourth time in the last four months that the mosque has been a victim of vandalism. Earlier this week, vandals attempted to set fire to two cars in the mosque parking lot. Two windows of the mosque were also broken.

“The increasing number of attacks against Islamic institutions in Canada point towards the serious problem of Islamaphobia, racism and hate,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “There must be zero tolerance for such violent, hateful acts committed against any community and it must be made clear that such attacks go against the values of our charter and constitution. It is time for our government officials to also recognize the gravity of these attacks and to take concerted action to ensure that they do not happen again.”

“We call on all Canadians to speak out against such attacks and work together to promote peace and social harmony. There is also a need for increased training for the police departments to help recognize potential hate motivated crimes and to dedicate more resources to preventing such criminal acts. Religious institutions and other community organizations that are often targets for such crimes should also be helped to install adequate security systems to help deter such attacks.”

MCM calls on the Gatineau police department to thoroughly investigate the incident as a potential hate crime and to move quickly to bring the perpetrators of this criminal act to justice. MCM further urges all officials and members of the community to exercise increased caution and report any suspicious individuals or activity to the authorities immediately.

Greif & Faith

Greif & Faith

Jan 7, 2012

Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
as-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Greif

The most difficult period in the life of the Prophet (s.a.a.w) was called the Year of Greif. In this year, his wife and soul-mate Khadijah (r.a) passed away and his protector and sponsor Abu Talib died while still a disbeliever. He (s.a.a.w) knew that he needed to seek new protection, so he travelled to Ta’if, but instead of finding protection, he was attacked, humiliated, and pelted with stones.After escaping the severe attack, the Prophet (s.a.a.w) made the following supplication:

اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَشْكُو ضَعْفَ قُوَّتِي وَقِلَّةَ حِيلَتِي وَهَوَانِي عَلَى النَّاسِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

O Allah, I complain to You of my own weakness, and of my lack of resources / creativity, and of the lack of my respect in the eyes of the people, O Most Merciful of the merciful ones.1

أَنْتَ رَبُّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ وَأَنْتَ رَبِّي إِلَى من تَكِلَنِي إِلَى بَعِيد يتجهمني أَوْ إِلَى عَدُوّ مَلَّكْتَهُ أَمْرِي إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِكَ غضب عَلَيَّ فَلاَ أُبَالِي غَيْرَ أَنْ عَافِيتَكَ هِيَ أَوْسَعُ لِي

You are the Lord of the weak ones, and You are my  Lord. To whom will You entrust me? To a distant  (stranger) who will show me an unwelcoming face?  Or to an enemy whom You have given control over  my situation? If You are not angry with me then I  do not mind, though safety from You is easier for me.2

أَعُوذُ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي أَشْرَقَتْ لَهُ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَصَلُحَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِي غَضَبُكَ أَوْ تُحِلَّ عَلَيَّ سُخْطَكَ لَكَ الْعُتْبَى حَتَّى تَرْضَى وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِكَ

I take refuge with the Light of Your Face, which brings light  to darkness, and upon which the affairs of the world and the  Hereafter become right – from Your anger descending upon  me, or Your displeasure befalling me. I will continue to seek  Your Pleasure, until You become pleased (with me). And there is neither might nor power except with You.3

1.In this portion he places all the blame for his misfortune upon himself, not on Allah (swt), not on the people who are causing all of this hardship.

2.In this portion he affirms his acceptance of any and all hardships so long as it is not an indication of Allah’s displeasure.

3.Finally, he begs Allah to not be displeased with him as if his hardship was a punishment, and as if the people rejected him due to a deficiency in his da’wah. (both of which are obviously not the case)