Our objective is to facilitate a fruitful collaboration between the representing scholars of the Muslims in Canada, who currently adopt differing views regarding the methodology of lunar calculations, which ultimately determine the beginning and end of Ramadhan, as well as the start of each of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

While both schools of thought sustain relevant evidence that maintains their position (and these matters are beyond the scope of the student of knowledge to grasp with the depth at which they ought to be examined), it is clear that Muslims all over Canada have chronically suffered the repercussions of this difference of opinion.

For time immemorial, there has never been a unanimously agreed upon day for which scholars declared the beginning of Ramadan or either of the two Eids. As a result, Muslim families have struggled with the discomforting question of which day to follow, and which school of thought to adopt.

This has created great tension amongst many communities, mosques, and families. In fact, this has caused serious problems within families. Generations of our children are emerging in oblivion, losing identity with the tenets of Eid and the concept of unity in Islam.

Because of the harms and fitna that has emerged, this difference of opinion is no longer healthy. At the same time, we declare openly that it is not befitting that we impose our opinions into the settlement of this matter. Instead, our objective is to simply underscore to our respected scholars, using statistics and testimonials, that this issue of disunity is indeed a serious disturbance for many Muslims and merits immediate and permanent resolution.

We ask for your support and endorsement. Although there have been many previous efforts to reach this ultimate goal (and may Allah reward our preceding brothers and sisters immensely for trying), to our knowledge, this is the first attempt of its kind.

This is the first time your direct voice will be counted as a significant factor in making this happen.

So let us hear your voice, and with the grace of Allah, this will happen.

For more information on the Hilal Committee’s method of calculation, please visit: http://www.hilalcommittee.com/decisions.html

For More information on the ISNA Fiqh Council’s method of calculation, please visit:
http://mail.isna.net/index.php?id=35&backPID=1&begin_at=60&tt_news=774

Please, take 30 seconds to fill out a two question survery for the Unifeid Initiative.

Quran recitation by Imam Sallah Feta this Friday April 4th after Maghrib prayers at Hamilton Mountain Mosque. Imam Sallah Feta scored 1st in Europe and 4th in the world in Quran recitation contests. He is visiting us from Albania and will be in the Hamilton area for the next 2 month. Stop by and listen to his beautiful recitation. Sweets and drinks will be served too!

See his video in YouTube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joeZg8DJnks

In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons denigrating the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As this sparked a tremendous amount of outcry and protests from Muslims around the globe, many non-Muslims were left puzzled at the uproar over seemingly benign cartoons and many others wondered why Muslims were so offended by the caricatures. Why all the fuss? Why do Muslims feel so strongly about the Prophet Muhammad? Why is it that Christians are not fussing over their religious icons being negatively depicted? With the reprinting of the danish cartoons recently, such questions have become even more pertinent.

Unfortunately, the media did not assist in answering such questions or conveying the thoughts and views of Muslims on the issue. In fact, in many cases it compounded the problem by providing the false suggestion that Muslims were offended simply because it is religiously prohibited to draw the Prophet Muhammad. However, the truth of the matter is that (the)Muslims were offended not merely because the Prophet has been depicted, but because of the hateful manner in which he has been depicted. Depicting the Prophet Muhammad, whom Muslims revere as a preacher of peace and mercy, in a manner that portrays him as a caller to terrorism or violence would obviously be quite offensive to Muslims.

To make matters worse, we are already living in times of increased hatred, animosity and discrimination towards Muslims. Islam is being maligned continually in the media and this is often accepted uncritically by non-Muslims in the west who generally know a lot less about Islam than Christianity or Judaism. This means that Muslims are frequently confronted with negative stereotypes and misconceptions in their workplace, school, social gatherings, etc. Consequently, to compare the situation of Muslims with that of Christians is fallacious; we would not expect a similar outcry from Christians because Christianity is fairly well-known to the western population. Christians are not at the same risk of being marginalized and discriminated because of cartoons insulting Christianity.  But when people know so little about Islam, cartoons denigrating Islam are more likely to be translated into increased hostility towards Muslims. As a result, Muslims are right to be very concerned about any form of media which could further the hostility and discrimination towards Muslims.

“But it is just a cartoon! How could it possibly have a negative effect?!”

Don’t forget that anti-semitic cartoons in europe were a prelude to the holocaust. The Jewish Virtual Library documents the instrumental role that propaganda -and cartoons in particular - played in inciting hatred towards Jews.

“A major tool of the Nazis’ propaganda assault was the weekly Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer (The Attacker). At the bottom of the front page of each issue, in bold letters, the paper proclaimed, “The Jews are our misfortune!” Der Stürmer also regularly featured cartoons of Jews in which they were caricatured as hooked-nosed and ape like. The influence of the newspaper was far-reaching: by 1938 about a half million copies were distributed weekly.” [1]

This manner of demonizing a religious minority is extremely destructive and dangerous and should be not dismissed as harmless cartoons if we are to learn anything from recent history. In times of such great turmoil and animosity we need people of all backgrounds to reach out and foster understanding, tolerance and dialogue amongst each other . We can not afford to allow hatred against any segment of our community to spread unchecked under the guise of freedom of speech. Without a doubt, freedom of speech is essential, however, with freedom of speech comes the responsibility to use that speech in a manner that will not incite hatred or malign any segment of our community. Rather, we should focus our efforts on promoting meaningful and productive discussions. Let us approach problems in an academic, humane, and respectful manner of critique rather than resorting to insult and mockery.

Do not allow yourself to fall prey to ignorance and misconceptions; learn about what Islamic beliefs truly are and understand what Prophet Muhammad’s teachings were. Visit www.IslamReligion.com for more information.

REFERENCES
[1] http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/history.html

There will be a FUNERAL PRAYER TODAY, THURSDAY APRIL 3, IMMEDIATELY AFTER DUHUR PRAYER (1:30 P.M.) AT HAMILTON MOUNTAIN MOSQUE (located at 1545 Stone Church Rd. E. )
It is for one of our brothers in the Kurdish Community, may Allah shower him with his mercy, grant him a place in paradise and give his family, friends, and relatives patience in this difficult time.

A Muslim brother who is new in Hamilton looking for a room to rent.

Contact: Michael (Mustafa) via donjvandemichael@gmail.com

Please take some time and fill out the membership form of the MAH, the membership is due now it can be paid until the end of March, if you wish to participate in the up coming elections at the end of April 2008.

Download the Form

You are Invited to Ismail, Ishaq & Yaqub’s Aqiqa Dinner at Hamilton Downtown Mosque Today!

Plase join us & bring Allah’s Blessings.

Time: After Maghrib Prayer appx 7:50 pm

Ibrahim Aykut, Father

Due to OPEN HOUSE program There will be no lecture on Saturday and Arabic Class. Arabic Class for Sunday is also canceled due to review settings. This might be a good chance those who want to join to the Intermediate Arabic Class. Next week review of the past units will be focused on. Please call 905.537.8778 to join. Arabic Courses. Also Sister Class for Beginners will be starting on second half of April, insha’Allah.

b.      QSSC (Buy a new Mosque)

TD Canada Trust ac#: 10362 004 0634 0000419

5.            Through your Online Banking account. Go to Interac email transfer and send any amount you would like Insha’Allah. Use admin!qssc.org as the transfer email and specify what is the amount for in the description section (example: Expenses or Buy a new place or Hajj or ….)

6.            You can also email us your contribution cheques to the following address Insha’Allah:

1865B Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M1R2Y3.

Cheques should be addressed to QSSC. Don’t forget to mention the purpose of the contribution (example: Expenses or Buy a new place or Hajj or ….)

Jazakum Allah Khairan