Reflections

My experience performing umrah during the COVID- 19 pandemic

By Shaykh Imran Ally, Resident Imam – TARIC Islamic Centre, Toronto, Canada The umrah is a blessed invitation extended by Allaah Himself and an honour for every Muslim invitee. Allaah says, {Indeed, ˹the hills of˺ Ṣafa and Marwah are among the symbols of Allaah. So, whoever performs the pilgrimage or minor

Reflections

Write a Letter of Remembrance for the Quebec City Mosque Massacre Victims

By @studentAsim You're looking at the 6 people who were murdered after Maghrib (evening) prayers at a mosque in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, on January 29th, 2017. 17 children were left fatherless. 6 widows. 19 injured. And not to mention the moral injury to millions of others...Write your letter

Real Lives

Adam Attalla commended for helping children escape Mississauga fire

Last Saturday morning, 18-year-old Adam Attalla noticed a burning smell and then his mother saw a neighbour’s house on fire. Two girls were on the roof of the Mississauga semi-detached house with another girl trapped inside. Adam Attalla leapt into action. "There was a lot of smoke. So, the

News

You can do something about Islamophobia right now

By @studentAsim There is a fresh new initiative to do something about Islamophobia. New digital platform, Islamophobia.io creates “instant” change against Islamophobia. The platform is public, and gives Muslims, allies, and those interested in standing up for Muslim communities, an opportunity to participate in outreach. Outreach is shown through

Real Lives

Is there a doctor on the plane?

Toronto doctor Aisha Khatib was about one hour into her Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Entebbe on December 5th when the call went out, “Is there a doctor on the plane?’ A Ugandan worker returning home to Uganda from Saudi Arabia was about to deliver her first child. Khatib

News

Muslim youth hold fundraiser for Indigenous school

A group of Muslim youth held an online fundraiser on Saturday, January 15th to support the Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School, a Gayoghno (Cayuga) and Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) language immersion school located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Southern Ontario. “We are a group

News

Alexa McDonough remembered for her dedication to social justice

“We need Canadians to know that Osama is a Canadian name,” Alexa McDonough told a hushed House of Commons in 2001 in the wake of the Islamophobia that followed the 9/11 tragedy, “that Mohammed is a Canadian name, and that worshipping in a mosque is a Canadian tradition.” Alexa

Real Lives

Entrepreneur story: The journey of starting a business

By Nora Bahgat My name is Nora and I currently run a small business called Nora's Bakery that is based in Mississauga, ON, Canada. I started my business right in the midst of the pandemic in April of 2020. However, my passion for baking started as a 10-year-old when I

News

First Mosque to be built in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

A new mosque is being built in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, according to the administration of Halifax’s main Islamic Centre, the Ummah Masjid and Community Center. “We are pleased to announce that we have an accepted offer to build the first mosque and community centre in the Valley,” said Ummah

News

Toronto isn’t Toronto without us

Monday January 10th marked the official launch of Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Foundation  Love, Scarborough campaign to shed light on the healthcare inequities in the city of Toronto and raise $100 million dollars for Scarborough hospitals. According to SHN Foundation, “Scarborough is one of Canada’s most diverse communities, and

News

Jewish community supports homeless shelter at Al Rashid Mosque

Edmonton’s Jewish community has donated food and water to the Al-Rashid Mosque to support the homeless being housed at the mosque during the severe cold weather. “Thank you to @Alrashid_YEG for opening its mosque to the homeless during this severe cold snap. To help with this, #JewishEdmonton donated

Reflections

It's time to bring to bring Huseyin Celil home

By Taha Ghayyur Since the Liberal party’s assumption of power six years ago, Global Affairs Canada has shifted away from its long-standing commitment to preserving religious freedom around the world, something our country upheld for many years. In fact, in 2015, the Conservative government led the establishment of the

News

Edmonton’s Al Rashid Mosque extends temporary shelter during extreme cold weather in city

For people experiencing homelessness, winter is a brutal challenge. In light of this, the oldest mosque in Canada has opened its doors to shelter community members facing this challenge. “We have about 10 individuals staying at the mosque here with us during the day, the team is putting together a

Reflections

Welcoming Afghan newcomers

By Anela Jadunandan There was a knock on my door. I looked through the glass to see who it was and there he was, a man in a long coat with a kind face. I decided to open the door to see what he wanted. He said he was from

News

Good News to ring in 2022

Maduba Ahmad awarded Sovereign’s Medal for VolunteersHer Honour the Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, made presentation on January 1, 2022, to three recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers (SMV), including Mississauga’s Maduba Ahmad The medal recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across

News

Amplifying Canadian Muslim voices

Muslim Sources, an online database, was recently launched to make it easier for journalists and media outlets to find credible Muslim experts and reflect Canada’s increasing diversity in their content. “I was disturbed by the misrepresentation and negative stereotypes of Muslims that I would see in the media and

Real Lives

Mohamed Fakih appointed to the Order of Canada

Mohamad Fakih has been appointed to the Order of Canada for his business and community leadership, and for his philanthropic involvement in his community and abroad. The Lebanese-Canadian businessman is the well-known owner of the Paramount Fine Foods restaurant chain that he grew from a single shop to 80 locations

News

BC Muslims provide emergency flood relief to First Nations community in province

British Columbia Muslims have made a donation to First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) to provide culturally sensitive emergency support to the First Nations community of B.C. in response to the historic flooding the province recently faced. The BC Muslim Association (BCMA), in collaboration with other faith based charities,

Real Lives

Muslims pay tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Muslims are paying tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu who passed away on Sunday, 26th December, 2021 at the age of 90. “Bishop Tutu was a critical and moral voice during the struggle and post-apartheid democracy. He was a voice for the oppressed of this world and today we pay homage

News

RIS Convention goes virtual for second year

The largest Muslim convention in Canada ​was held virtually this weekend for a second year running due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS), which has a storied presence in Toronto, ​ran from Saturday, December 25th to Sunday, December 26th and feature​d​ well-known speakers from around

environment

Green Ummah launches new curriculum for Muslim Youth

In October, Islamic schools implemented a new curriculum to help Muslim high school students learn about environmental stewardship and advocacy. It’s a curriculum that could appear in schools across the country. By Anosha Khan - Writer, Youth Journalism Initiative Green Ummah, a non-profit organization focused on creating a green

News

Medical journal retracts letter calling hijabs 'an instrument of oppression'

The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has officially retracted a letter to the editor which called hijabs “instruments of oppression,” after an outcry from doctors and the Muslim community. In a posting on its website, CMAJ states, “The letter “Don’t use an instrument of oppression as a symbol of

Reflections

CMAJ disgraces itself by publishing Islamophobic drivel

By Dr. Sohail Gandhi You know, I really wonder if physicians organizations that claim to “support their members” really understand what that phrase means. Time and time again we’ve seen physicians representative groups fail their members. Now we have the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) allow an attack on

News

Toronto Mosque responds to Omicron variant and hosts vaccination clinic

The TARIC Islamic Centre hosted a vaccine clinic on Monday, December 20th as Torontonians scramble to get their third doses and to have their children vaccinated due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Humber River Hospital

Reflections

Omicron reveals need to close global vaccine gap

By Sara Hildebrand The Love My Neighbour movement, a collaboration of 35 faith communities and organizations, strongly agrees with the recent Dec. 13 article in The Hill Times, “‘Inevitable’ rise of Omicron shows ‘failed approach’ to ending pandemic, say experts.” Billions of global neighbours in low- and middle-income countries have