Oct 9, 2012
As-Salam 3alaykoum Wa Rahmatou Allah,
In Sha2 Allah, we would be distributing the roses and some fliers this Friday (Oct. 9th, 2012) at 5.00 pm in downtown (close to Masjid As-Salam, Concordia and maybe McGill). For those who do not know about the campaign, the roses campaign is part of our daawa activity for the year to talk to our Canadian neighbours about Islam and the great beloved Prophet Mouhammad (Peace be upon him).
We have put an order for 1000 roses (~$1,500). We might distribute another batch next week if there is a need and within the Daawa budget limitations.We need volunteers at 3.00 pm at the Masjid to clean the roses and prepare them.
We need volunteers at 5.00 – 6.00 pm to distribute the roses and speak to people also. There will be some fliers and books for those who are interested to know more. Please share and help us make this a success.
Click on this link if you want to donate ($5 = 3 roses)
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=V8TCS6X8UWNZY
Sep 7, 2012
The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America, in its 6th annual conference held in Montreal, Canada, Oct. 2009, and after studying the papers submitted by Amja’s members and discussing them in detail, has reached the following decisions on Student Loans:
- University education is one of the most important needs of the time for Muslims living in the United States, and it could be considered one of the necessities on the basis that necessity refers to something the lack of which entailsharm on the Muslim and there is no other alternative to it.
- Muslim students must expend their strenuous efforts in finding lawful sources to fund their studies, such as grants,financial aid, scholarships, and labor programs of the university.
- If the student can decrease his study load and work part time to financially support oneself, or take a subsidized loan, he shall do so.
- If the student cannot do that and needs a subsidized loan, he will be allowed to take the loan on condition that he takes only the amount needed and tries his best to settle his debts in the repayment period to avoid paying the interests.
- When the subsidized loan (which is interest-free) is not enough, and there is no other way except borrowing in interest, it will be permissible for him to borrow in interest only an amount that obviates his necessity. That is because necessity must be answered proportionately. Borrowing should take place after he has already enrolled in his study, since things which were not tolerable at the beginning can be tolerated later.
The Assembly urges all Muslims to cooperate together in order to fulfill their needs through lawful ways and try their best to guarantee education of their children and provide funding resources which agree with the ruling of the purified Sharee‘ah.
Full document: Status_of_students_loans_in_the_US-_Dr.Main_Alqudah
Sep 4, 2012
Montréal, Québec, Le 4 septembre 2012- Le Conseil Musulman de Montréal (CMM) présente ses félicitations aux gagnants des élections provinciales de cette semaine ainsi qu’à tous les membres et les dirigeants des autres partis qui y ont participé, saluant leurs efforts et leur détermination.«La campagne électorale a mis en lumière de nombreux enjeux importants aux yeux de tous les Québécois et les Québécoises et nous espérons que tous les élus se réuniront pour travailler dur pour servir les intérêts de notre peuple et contribuer à l’amélioration de notre province», a déclaré Salam Elmenyawi, président du CMM. «Il est maintenant temps de se retrousser les manches et de mettre un terme aux questions controversées et imaginaires afin de se concentrer sur les vrais enjeux et les problèmes d’importance pour notre province. Nous espérons que le gouvernement agira immédiatement pour éradiquer la corruption, améliorer l’économie, l’éducation et le système de santé, tout en respectant l’égalité de tous les Québécois plutôt que de porter atteinte à leurs droits».
«Nous allons surveiller de près la performance de Mme Marois comme première ministre du Québec et nous l’exhortons à faire preuve d’un véritable leadership dans la gouvernance pour le bien-être de toutes les communautés. Elle fait face à la tâche sérieuse de panser les blessures causées à de nombreux groupes minoritaires lors de la campagne électorale et nous devons oeuvrer pour éliminer le racisme, la haine et la xénophobie, tout en préservant les libertés civiles et l’harmonie sociale. Nous appelons aussi les partis de l’opposition à prendre très au sérieux leur rôle au sein de l’Assemblée nationale, en veillant à l’imputabilité du nouveau Gouvernement, et ce, dans l’intérêt de tous les Québécois.
Aug 15, 2012
Montréal, Québec, 15 Août, 2012 – Le Conseil musulman de Montréal (CMM) a exprimé sa préoccupation aujourd’hui face aux récents commentaires de la chef du Parti Québécois Pauline Marois qui a annoncé son intention d’interdire le port du hijab, du kirpan et de la kippa sur les lieux de travail pour les fonctionnaires advenant une victoire de son parti aux prochaines élections provinciales.
“Une telle décision serait absolument en violation des Chartes québécoise et canadienne des droits et libertés et il est même absurde pour la chef du Parti Québécois de mentionner une telle chose», a déclaré Salam Elmenyawi, président du CMM “Au lieu de se concentrer sur les vrais enjeux qui préoccupent les québécois, notamment les problèmes économiques, les soins de santé, l’éducation et la corruption, le PQ a opté pour la diffusion d’idées xénophobes dans une tentative désespérée de reconquérir le pouvoir par la propagation de la haine et de l’islamophobie, par les atteintes aux droits fondamentaux, par la fabrication de crises et par la division de notre société.”
“Nous conseillons fortement à tous les Québécois de prendre une décision éclairée et d’envoyer un message fort lors des élections au PQ, c’est-à-dire que la division sectaire et le ciblage des communautés religieuses ne sont pas acceptables. Le PQ prétend être soucieux de protéger les valeurs du Québec, mais il ne se soucie guère des droits et libertés sur lesquels notre nation a été fondée et ses propos ne sont alimentés que par la propagation du racisme, de la haine et de la discrimination. Il est regrettable de voir que ceux qui veulent être des leaders sont davantage obsédés par la création de la division sociale que par la création de l’harmonie sociale. ”
MCM encourage tous les Québécois ayant le droit de vote de s’assurer qu’ils sont inscrits et d’exercer leur droit démocratique le 4 septembre 2012. Pour plus d’information sur les élections, y compris sur où et quand voter de même que sur les candidats de votre circonscription, veuillez s’il vous plaît visitez http://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca.
Jun 2, 2012
“Whosoever builds for Allah a masjid, Allah will reward him similar to it in paradise.” (Bukhari)
Unfortunately, As-Salam mosque was devastated by a dreadful flood three days ago. Everything has been completely destroyed and we are in dire need of renovations
Please help by contributing whatever amount you possibly can, because this Masjid needs all the help we can get! Keep in mind that this is the only mosque in the heart of downtown! May Allah swt bless you for your all your help, Ameen!
The damages (other than walls, doors, and wooden floor):
- 2500 sf of under-carpet padding
- carpet installation and padding
- 400 books (Qurans, Quran translations, and da3wa materials)
- Office desk and chair
- Advanced Camera
- Laptop
- Audio Amplifier
- Portable MIC
- Stand Mic
- Interac Terminal
- Carpet vacuum (2)
- Commercial vacuum
- 30 abayas (men, women)
- Outdoor security camera
- Indoor security camera
- Dewalt drill and other power tools
- Router and Modem
- Entrace carpet
- Prayer time wall clock
Donation information
Online at http://www.salam-mosque.org/
Bank transfer:
Charity name: As-Salam Mosque / IQRA Foundation
Bank: RBC – institution number 003
Branch number / Transit: 05981
Account number: 1004779
For any information, please call at 514-545-5466 or email donate@salam-mosque.org
Feb 24, 2012
Allaah Almighty Says what means:“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allaah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.“ [Quran 3:110]
Islam is the best tool for relieving humankind of its ills. When we look at one another as individual beings with our diverse capacities and ideas we should be able to see the beauty of Allaah’s handiwork. But too often we fall into the trap laid by Iblees (Satan) when Allaah created Aadam. Iblees (Satan) became haughty and arrogant and felt that he was the best of creation. Allaah Almighty Says what means: “And [mention] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Aadam”; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.“[Quran 2: 34] Here Allaah Almighty mentions that rejection of faith lies in refusal to obey Allaah’s command through haughtiness. Many of us are haughty due to having pride in our accomplishments, our acquisitions and our positions in comparison to our fellow human beings. But is this what Allaah placed us on earth to do?
He, Almighty, tells us in Quran (what means): “…Had Allaah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allaah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.“ [Quran 5:48] Obviously, His plan was to make us different types of people so that we could realize our diversity and put forth every effort to lead one another to the Almighty. Being different only obliged us to work as one people to promote the good and forbid the wrong.
To work as one people striving to Allaah we must overcome our desire to use our ethnicity or race as a means to divide us. Every race struggles to hold on to, their inherited identity but in so doing, in the long run, we may encounter the risk of eliminating an aspect of our lives that will make us better people.
Poverty syndrome
Poverty separates people. At times we look to display our accomplishments in ways that glamorize and tickle the fancy of others. Everything looks well put together and organized, but when we take an in-depth look behind the scene, we may have overlooked some critical factors. Why aren’t there more people of color present at the event? Were they included in the planning stages? Was every effort made to get their input? As an observer of this phenomenon, all too often, I notice that more times than necessary, poverty is a factor. The fees to attend many programs are out off the scale for poor Muslims. Also, location plays a pivotal role in attendance. Every Muslim does not have a car and many rely on public transportation to get around. And, in a predominant white America, how does this apply to Muslims? The reality is that many Muslims of fair complexion are more comfortable being recognized as Caucasian rather than people of color.
Consciously, our brethren don’t use this as a factor but subconsciously it is used in the workplace, in the public sphere and in the most sacred place for the Muslim, the Mosque. If one grew up in America during the 50s, 60s and 70s, it was emphasized that the one with the lighter skin complexion would have a better chance of being mainstreamed in with their Caucasian counterpart and therefore apportioned some of the fruits of that community. The stigma that was placed on the darkness of ones’ skin became synonymous with failure. This was also taught to people of other countries before they came to America. The mantra was “stay away from the black Americans”.
Unfortunately, people of color tend to be among the poorest around the world. Their struggle has been documented throughout history. But, the one theme among this impoverished group has been to strive in the fact of adversity.
If you can read you can learn and if you can learn you can succeed. Yet the opportunities for success do not always be within the reach of all.
A community that is largely Caucasian has a greater chance of opening the door to advancement for its residents than a community wherein the population is primarily African-American. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. If the prosperous community took their ideas into a seemingly hopeless community as a means to inform them of the potential for success rather than deride them for their lack of motivation, working with them and pushing them to see that they too can thrive, a step toward equality can begin.
Now, let us substitute Muslim for prosperous and look at ourselves to see how some of us have neglected the less-fortunate in our midst and we will see where the genuine work of a believer belongs.
Knowledge
“What you don’t know can kill you” is a saying attributed to ignorance. Allaah, the Almighty, tells us in the Quran (what means): “And [mention O Mohammad] when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allaah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” And He taught Aadam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.” They said, “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.”“[Quran 2:30-32]
Clearly, without a true understanding of why we do something we will continue to have impoverished souls. The example of Aadam before the angels can be compared to the truly intelligent and the analytical among us. A scholar made the point that the intelligent one is aware of Allaah’s mercy to His creation, submits to it and obeys wherein the analytical one has not yet grasped the glory of Allaah and still questions His Omnipotence seemingly looking for a way out. Knowledge enlightens the soul and nurtures humility. Taking the position of slave/servant to Allaah broadens our perspective and invokes in us the will to submit willingly to His commands. Acknowledging our similarities and differences as assets rather than losses will bring us closer to Allaah and closer to one another.
In order to remove subtle racism there has to be an admission that it exists. Then steps must be made to heal and rekindle a relationship that predates modern man. Our community can regain its place as leaders of the world, but only if we accept our destiny as a unit of one Ummah in a race towards the everlasting bounties of Allaah.
