Muneeb Nasir - Iqra.ca

An inspiring man

By Brian Carwana So often when Muslims make the news, it is as either victims or perpetrators of violence (the murdered London family or the Taliban respectively). Where, I always wonder, are the stories of Muslims like those I know – people who are excellent neighbours, insightful colleagues, and community supporters?

News

Muslim Philanthropy in a Canadian Context

Emmanuel College’s Centre for Religion and Its Contexts, in partnership with the Journal of Muslim Philanthropy and Civil Society, is hosting the Muslim Philanthropy in a Canadian Context Symposium on Saturday, March 27, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. EDT. This symposium addresses a simple, yet underexplored, question:

IQRA.ca

Muslim Torontonians Forge a Canadian Muslim Identity

By Muneeb Nasir — Since the turn of the 21st century, Toronto’s dynamic Muslim community has spawned homegrown organizations committed to Muslim participation and integration into mainstream society — Toronto’s Muslim community has been a leader in North America when it comes to forging an integrated Muslim identity.

Islam Canada

Practicing Islam in the age of COVID-19

By Muneeb Nasir Canadian Muslims, as all Muslims throughout the world, are grappling with the catastrophic changes on their personal as well as their religious life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mosques, Islamic Centres and religious schools have been closed since mid-March and all communal services have been suspended.

IQRA.ca

Restoring the true ‘Spirit of Fasting’ During the Pandemic

By Muneeb Nasir We could be experiencing our most significant Ramadan and greatest Ramadan experience ever in our life. The holy month, in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, could be the great spiritual reset many of us have longed for during previous Ramadans but have never quite achieved. This

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Toronto Mosque Hosts Open House to Celebrate Islamic History Month

Masjid Toronto held an open house on Saturday, October 26th to celebrate Islamic History Month. At the event, members of the public, religious leaders from different faiths, and representatives of the police services visited the mosque to meet their Muslim neighbors and learn more about Islam and the contributions of

Canadian Muslims

Islamic Foundation of Toronto: A Tribute & Lessons Learnt From 50 Years

By Muneeb Nasir* [Keynote address delivered at Islamic Foundation of Toronto 50th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 22, 2019] Over the past 50 years, all of you and your families have given of yourselves and dedicated your time, energies and resources in service to the Islamic Foundation. May Allah reward

Canadian Muslims

Islamic Foundation of Toronto History – Building a Community in Scarborough - PART 5

By Muneeb Nasir [This is the fifth part in the series covering the history of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, the first purpose built Islamic Centre to be established in Toronto. Many of the men, women and young people involved in the Islamic Foundation would become leaders and community activists

Canadian Muslims

Olive Tree Foundation Announces Grant to Support Ryerson University’s Muslim Community

The Olive Tree Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant to support the projects of the Ryerson Muslim Staff and Faculty Community Network that was formed in response to requests from the Ryerson community to support Muslims on campus. “This grant means so much to

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Toronto Mosque hosts Interfaith Iftar

The central mosque in Toronto, Masjid Toronto, held its first Ramadan Interfaith Iftar on Wednesday, May 15th and leaders of neighborhood churches and synagogues, as well as other religious leaders, joined the congregation to break the fast. “Ramadan Mubarak everyone! It’s a pleasure to have with us tonight, our

Canadian Muslims

Toronto Mayor hosts Iftar at City Hall

By Muneeb Nasir (TORONTO) – The City of Toronto commemorated Ramadan on Tuesday, May 7th with an Iftar dinner hosted by Mayor John Tory in the Council Chambers for Muslim leaders, activists and faith leaders. “I want to extend my best wishes to you, Ramadan Mubarak on the occasion of

Canadian Muslims

People could all do with a dose of Ramadan

By Muneeb Nasir Fasting is a big commitment and it is not quite that easy for those who are not initiated into the art of fasting. Ramadan is a month of abrupt changes. For a month, the fasting person takes a break from their usual lives to return to meaning

interfaith

Toronto Muslims attend Shabbat at Beth Emeth Synagogue

On Friday night, March 9, 2018, Toronto Muslims joined members of Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue as they celebrated Shabbat. The gathering was part of a continent-wide event, Shabbat Across North America, in which hundreds of synagogues across North America take part in an historic national Jewish event to celebrate

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Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada sends goodwill message to Muslims

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) has sent a message of support and goodwill to Canadian Muslims. “At the convention, our assembly adopted a Statement to Muslims in Canada,” wrote the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. “We commend this statement and

Canadian Muslims

‘Diversity is how we grow’, First Nation Chief tells ISNA Canada Convention

Chief Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MNCFN) told the ISNA Canada Convention on Saturday that Canadians should celebrate the growing diversity in the country. “Diversity is how we grow and become better than we were yesterday,” Chief Stacey Laforme told the gathering at the

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Toronto Faith Leaders gather at City Hall for ‘pray-in’ against poverty

Faith leaders from across the city marked the international day for the eradication of poverty by occupying Toronto City Hall and performing a marathon ‘pray-in’ in front of Mayor John Tory’s office. Calling for greater investments in the upcoming city budget, the faith group ‘Faith in the City’ says

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Canadian Muslims and Christians celebrate longtime interfaith cooperation

Canadian Christian and Muslim organizations celebrated decades of friendship and cooperation at a dinner held on Monday, October 2nd at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Toronto. “In a world where so many forces seem determined to divide and create hatred among us, building relationships of mutuality and respect

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Toronto Faith Leaders unite for Habitat for Humanity Build in Scarborough

Fifteen families in the Greater Toronto Area will have safe, decent, and affordable housing, thanks in part to the Faith 150 Build. More than 30 leaders from a variety of religious backgrounds gathered at the Habitat for Humanity GTA East-End Toronto build-site at 140 Pinery Rd in Scarborough on Wednesday

Canadian Muslims

Muslims respond to Indigenous Elders call for a National Day of Prayer

On Sunday morning, Muslims took part in the inaugural National Day of Prayer and Mindfulness that was called for by Indigenous Elders to pray for unity, understanding and a peaceful resolution of issues facing Indigenous people and settlers in the land. At two major Islamic Centres in the Greater Toronto

Canadian Muslims

Acknowledging the Indigenous land we have settled on

By Muneeb Nasir Seeking forgiveness and repentance are essential practices of a believer in God. The principles and pre-requisites for repentance that we practice to redress violations of the rights of God and against someone else are important principles. These principles that include truth telling (sincerely acknowledging wrongdoings and having

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Toronto Synagogue hosts Muslims for Friendship Eid Dinner

One of Canada’s largest Conservative synagogues hosted a friendship dinner on Eid al-Fitr, Sunday June 25th, for members of Toronto’s Muslim community. “We are excited to be hosting the first intercultural Ramadan Friendship Dinner with members from the Intercultural Dialogue Institute,” said Carol Weir of the Adath Israel

Canadian Muslims

Is anyone out there?

By Muneeb Nasir I have not been eating and drinking during the daylight hours this past week – not to punish myself unnecessarily – but, because in my religion, Islam, fasting in the month of Ramadan has been prescribed by God as one of the fundamental pillars of the faith so

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Toronto church and mosque share a meal

The Church of the Holy Trinity hosted a lunch on Sunday for leaders and members of Masjid Toronto. Rev. Sherman Hasselgrave, Incumbent of the Church of the Holy Trinity, joined by members of the church graciously welcomed their neighbors from the mosque. Dr. Wael Shehab, Imam of Masjid Toronto, thanked

Canadian Muslims

Toronto Community Leaders share Iftar

Dicle Islamic Society of Toronto, an organization serving the Turkish community, invited GTA Muslim leaders and their families to share an Iftar meal on Tuesday, June 21. The theme of the ‘Ramadan Iftar Tent’ was ‘The importance of Intra-Faith Dialogue’ and, according to the organizers, the aim of

Canadian Muslims

Women’s group uses dialogue to dispel myths about Muslims

Fauzia Mazhar is passionate about dispelling the stereotypical image of Muslim women prevalent in society and hopes the annual event she helps to organize in Kitchener will challenge these myths. “Since 2011, the Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo has presented a community outreach event on the first weekend of