Canadian Muslims Restorative justice project for GTA Muslim community “What we are hoping to do is to infuse Restorative Justice as another way of thinking about justice in the Greater Toronto Muslim Communities”, say Michael AbdurRashid Taylor, Coordinator of Victims with Diverse Voices, an innovative Restorative Justice project. “Many of Toronto’s Muslims come from a variety of backgrounds.
Canadian Muslims The passing of Mohamed Nasir - an exemplary Muslim Canadian leader Mohamed NasirOne of the pioneers of Canada’s Muslim community, Mohamed Nasir, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday evening, December 23, 2010. May Allah forgive him and grant him His Mercy. The Janaza took place on Friday December 24, 2010 after Salatul Jumu’ah at the Islamic
531 Record turnout at Islamic convention in Toronto (December 25, 2010) – The Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) convention in Canada broke new attendance levels on Christmas day with overflowing crowds packing the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. “Early indications puts the number between 17,000 and 20,000,” says Ayman Faris, the convention’s Director of Media and Public
Alimamy Bangura Ontario Association of Islamic Schools takes off By Anela Jadunandan The enthusiasm in the room was evident at a recent meeting held on December 4, 2010 at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Speakers came up one by one to the podium to voice their support for forming a new collective body – the Ontario Association of Islamic Schools
531 Leading thinkers and interfaith advocates to address RIS Convention Mufti Mustafa Ceric and Pope Benedict XVI(Toronto, ON) – An impressive array of leading thinkers and interfaith speakers is scheduled to address the largest Muslim Convention in North America that is set to begin in Toronto on Friday, December 24. The Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention will take place at
Canadian Muslims Major concerns facing Canadian Muslims By Yahya Abdul Rahman Many of the major concerns facing Canada’s Muslim community reflect the same concerns of Canada’s population at large including employment, health care, the rising cost of living and education These concerns include, but are not limited to: * The increasing right-wing positions of the Canadian
531 Vulnerable Muslim youth: the challenge of counter-radicalisation By Abbas Barzegar Many of us are still bewildered by the bizarre news of the 19-year-old Somali-born American citizen, Muhammad Osman Mohamud, arrested on 25 November for attempting to bomb a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. Putting aside questions regarding the nature of the FBI’s involvement in
531 Dalai Lama met Toronto Faith Leaders during recent visit [/content/images/wordpress/2010/12/dalai.jpg] By Habeeb Alli The world renowned His Holiness, The Fourteen Dalai Lama, visited Toronto in October and spoke to a large audience at Rogers Centre and at the inauguration of the Tibetan Cultural Centre in Etobicoke, Members of the Toronto Area Interfaith Council
Canadian Muslims Arabs say education pointless without free speech Arab youth sent a strong message to their leaders in the latest Doha Debate [http://www.thedohadebates.com/], saying education is pointless without the freedom to express your opinion. Out of an audience of mostly Arab and Muslim students, 53 percent supported the motion: This House believes education is worthless
Canadian Muslims Assault at Islamic Centre in Niagara Falls On the evening of December 3rd, 2010 Niagara Regional Police were called to the Islamic Centre on Willoughby drive in Niagara Falls in response to an assault complaint. Investigation revealed that two adult males and a male young offender attended the Centre armed with golf clubs. The three men proceeded
Canadian Muslims ISNA President receives 2011 Peacemaker Award The Islamic Society of North America’s President Imam Mohamed Magid and Dr. Marshall Breger received the Peacemaker 2011 Award for their work to counter the growing Holocaust denial spreading world-wide. The award was presented at the 25th Annual Olender Foundation Awards earlier this month. The Olender Foundation aims to
Canadian Muslims Being Read By Tariq Ramadan Penguin recently published my latest book, The Quest for meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism. [http://www.amazon.ca/Quest-Meaning-Tariq-Ramadan/dp/1846141524] It is a work unlike anything I have written before, an attempt to examine and to synthesize the master narratives that inform the spiritual traditions,
Canadian Muslims Saudi Grand Mufti uses Haj sermon to condemn fanaticism and violence By Muqtedar Khan The haj sermon this year – one of the highlights of the three-day pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca every year – has received special attention in the media all over the Muslim world. Excerpts from the sermon, which condemns terrorism and extremism and advocates moderation, have
Canadian Muslims I am African – and I’m now proud of it By Hussein Hamdani Growing up, when someone asked me where I am from (since no one assumed that I was Canadian), I would say that my family comes from Yemen. After being prodded, I’d admit that I was born in Kampala, Uganda, in East Africa. I never volunteered that
531 Muslims and Jews visit each other’s holy places this November By Habeeb Alli I can see your stares! I get them every time I say we are twinning our mosques and synagogues this month. “Really?” people ask, jaws dropping. For the third year, this exercise of interfaith exchange has progressed in good faith. Synagogues agree to twin with nearby mosques,
Canadian Muslims We the People: restoring sanity in America By Susan Koscis “Hug a Muslim Today” was the first hand-held sign I saw upon arriving at the Rally to Restore Sanity, which was recently held on a beautiful autumn afternoon on the National Mall in Washington, DC. That sign set the tone for what was to come. I’m
Canadian Muslims Qurbani program to help families in the GTA (November 12, 2010) – As Muslims set to celebrate Eid ul-Adha on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 many are busy making arrangements to offer their qurbani to benefit their families and the larger Muslim community within the Greater Toronto Area. Qurbani or udhiyah is a sacrifice that is offered at the time
531 A global interfaith initiative to change the world By Rahim Kanani More than two thirds of the world’s population – over four billion people – identify with one religion or another. Imagine the motivational energy of these four billion people used as a positive force for global social change. Whether tackling issues of poverty, disease, health, energy, education, gender
Canadian Muslims Eid ul-Adha on Tuesday November 16 and Wednesday November 17 (November 6, 2010) – Some North American Muslims will celebrate Eid ul-Adha on Tuesday, November 16 while others will celebrate on Wednesday, November 17. Muslims in North America, as well as in many other parts of the world, hold two different opinions about the observance of Eid ul-Adha. Some Muslims observe
Canadian Muslims North American Muslim Scout Leaders join the Hajj A delegation from the US and Canada has been invited to perform the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia as part of a global invitation extended to approximately fifty Muslim Scout Leaders by the International Union of Muslim Scouts (IUMS) in appreciation, and as a reward for their outstanding achievements and
531 Interfaith dialogue for a globalised world by Tareq Oubrou In these times, it is essential to engage in interfaith and intercultural dialogue, given the way our world is evolving. With post-modern globalisation there has been a decline in the belief in the philosophy of progress: the secular theory of salvation no longer has the answers to
Canadian Muslims Who speaks for Canadian Muslims? By Yahya Abdul Rahman Any individual or group who appears on TV or writes an opinion piece in a newspaper promoting themselves as THE voice of Canadian Muslims should not be taken seriously. It is impossible for any one person or group to encapsulate the diversity of thought and opinion
Canadian Muslims When it comes to the burqa debate, France should look to Canada By Elsa Rizkallah As the burqa controversy continues to make headlines in France, it is worth examining what France could learn from Canada, which has worked to reconcile freedom of religion with national security and women rights. Bills banning the burqa – a garment that fully covers a woman’s body,
Canadian Muslims Haider and Habib This is a story about Haider and Habib. It’s a real story that happened seven, maybe eight years ago. Haider was a humble, down to earth kinda guy – a guy who’d give up his seat on the bus to just about anyone else: Old, young, sick, healthy, didn’
Canadian Muslims Should we fear Islam? By Keith Ellison At a time when our nation is seeing a rise in intolerant behaviour, crossing every cultural line, whether based on race, religion or sexual orientation, we seem simultaneously stuck with a national news media that is preoccupied with conflict and controversy when we desperately need one that
