Returned home a short while ago after praying Isha plus 8 Rakats of Taraweeh, inside Noon Academy‘s Masjid in Brampton…

Tag-Team-Taraweeh style on this first night of the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan 1444/2023.

I prayed behind the first Qari for a pair of two Rakats, then Shaykh Waleed Almakee lead the next pair of two Rakats, bringing it to eight.

As before, after four Rakats, the Taraweeh worshippers collectively recite Surah Al Ikhlas three times, before begining the next pair of pairs of Rakats.

Before Taraweeh began, and after Isha was prayed, Shaykh AlMakee shared some words of reminding about how to spend the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan.

He began by reminding us of who the “Loser” is, that is the one who witnesses Ramadan but does do anything about it or during it.

The Shaykh used the metaphor of a horserace and what winning horses do as they near the end of the race, approaching the finish line.

The horse may have kept some energy in reserve, but then uses everything, puts it all out there to win the race in the end.

The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan are like the end of the race.

And we should hold nothing back, to win Ramadan.

So what exactly do we do to be of the Winners?

The phrase he used,

“…Do ALL the Ibadahs…”

Resonated with me in its simplicity,

and its completeness, its thoroughness.

Paying Sadaqah every night, during all Last Ten Nights in Ramadan.

Sadaqah here : NoonAcademy.net/donate;

Dhikr, Praying.

We know what to do, and how best to spend our time in worship.

Perhaps we will do something that is Pleasing to Our Lord, and all our sins will be forgiven.

It was getting hot inside the Masjid, though I hadn’t yet felt it.

The door by the brothers’ side was opened to let in some night air.

The night air on Night 21 of Ramadan 2023 is 19 Degrees Celsius.

In Sahih Al-Jami’,

The Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“ليلةُ القدْرِ ليلةٌ سمِحَةٌ ، طَلِقَةٌ ، لا حارَّةٌ ولا بارِدَةٌ”

“The night of Qadr is a calm, serene and peaceful night.

“It is not hot nor is it cold…”


A deradicalization expert explains the hate ecosystem fueling Islamophobia in the GTA

Amarnath Amarasingam is an assistant professor in the school of religion at Queen’s University, and an associate fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation.

Aired: April 11, 2023

Press Conference at The Islamic Society of Markham, 2900 Denison Street.



York Regional Police provide additional information since Sunday’s Update.

Questions & Answers :


 

You need to increase/decrease/increase Volume to properly hear entire Q&A.

CTV News Toronto Videojournalist Janice Golding interviewed several worshippers who regularly pray at the Islamic Society of Markam.

 
Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of The City of Markham, held a brief news scrum with reporters, followed by a one-on-one interview.

Nadia Hasan, PHD, Chief Operating Officer of National Council of Canadian Muslims, interviewed with OMNI Television.


President of the Islamic Society of Markham Qaisar Nasir Khan says a male suspect brought his car to a mosque around dawn prayer,

Uttered Islamophobic slurs,

Made threats to burn down the worship place,

And tried to run over congregants.

“It was shocking.

“It could have resulted in serious injury, or God forbid, even fatalities,” he said.

The Canadian Press

Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, held a number of one-on-one interviews with The Canadian Press, The CBC/Radio-Canada, and others.

Walking Toronto through its Muslim history
A Sunday Jane’s Walk will take participants through the west end, touring the site of city’s first mosque and other Islamic touchstones.

 

I will be leading a Jane’s Walk on Sunday May 7 2023 :

The History of Canadian Muslims in Toronto Jane’s Walk 2023

Here’s a link to give you an idea of what to expect.

( Will update this blog post later today, InshAllah, with complete details. )

UPDATED :

TIME: Sunday May 7 2023 – 4:00 p.m.

MEETING POINT: Annette Street at Runnymede Avenue, Sidewalk on South West Corner of intersection.

WALK LEADER: Holding Orange “Walk With Us” Jane’s Walk sign; wearing a Green Square🟩

NEAREST PUBLIC TRANSIT: Runnymede Bus stop at Annette Street

WALK END LOCATION: Jami Mosque, 56 Boustead Avenue

“Fajr prayer underway this morning at the Islamic Society of Markham this morning,

following what police call a suspected hate-motivated incident.

Worshippers tell me they’ve been staying even more vigilant since the reported attack,

but they won’t be driven out by fear.”

Faiza Amin

Day 18 of Ramadan 1444/2023,

Sunday Evening,

I’m tired.

The Days are catching up with me and I need to rest a bit.

Not just the days, The Day, This one.

The news of the past day about the Islamic Society of Markham have taken up mental energy I had wanted to expend elsewhere;

Have taken up mental space which needs to empty and recharge.

For me, this evening,

Listening to Reflections on Islam is a kind of Mental Comfort Food, Audio Comfort Iftar Food, something like that… needed to recharge myself.


. . . Today’s 30 Masjids in 30 Days needed to be 30 Masjids at Home listening to Reflections on Islam’s Special Ramadan Daily Radio Program,

While awaiting Sunset Time of ~ 7:54 p.m. in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

After yesterday’s post about what happened at the Islamic Society of Markham,

Followed by the update posted earlier today,

I wanted to have something positive on 30 Masjids about Markham Masjid.

So I screen-captured the following images from Salat Al Dhuhr, plus a recording of the Bayan, or Reminder, delivered afterwards.

From the Masjid’s official Livestream :

Adhan Al Dhuhr, Call to The Midday Prayer made inside Markham Masjid, The Islamic Society of Markham.

Iqamah for Salat Al Dhuhr, Standing in straight line shoulder-to-shoulder, to perform The Midday Prayer.

After Salat Al Dhuhr,

A short Bayan/Reminder in a continuing Series about the Lives of The Sahabah, the Companions of Prophet (upon whom be peace) . . .

 

. . . Definitely something positive,

Alhumdulillah.

SUSPECT CHARGED AFTER SUSPECTED HATE-MOTIVATED INCIDENT AT MARKHAM MOSQUE

Posted on Sunday April 09, 2023

23-113350

Investigators with the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau have charged a suspect with several criminal offences after a suspected hate-motivated incident at a mosque in the City of Markham.

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 6:55 a.m.,

York Regional Police responded to a call for a disturbance at a mosque on Denison Street.

Witnesses reported that a male suspect had attended in a vehicle and drove directly at one of the worshippers and yelled threats and religious slurs.

The suspect drove dangerously in the parking lot before leaving the property.

Members of the #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau were notified and worked cooperatively with the Intelligence Unit and Hate Crime Unit to identify the suspect.

Members of the Hate Crime Unit attended the mosque to offer support to its members.

The suspect was identified and a warrant for his arrest was issued while efforts were made to locate him.

Shortly after midnight, on April 7, 2023,

members of York Regional Police arrested the suspect in Toronto.

CHARGED:

  • Sharan KARUNAKARAN, 28, of Toronto

CHARGES:

  • Uttering Threats
  • Assault with a Weapon
  • Dangerous Driving

Sharan KARUNAKARAN was held for a bail hearing.

His next scheduled appearance is at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the Town of Newmarket on April 11, 2023.

Investigators are concerned there may be other victims and police encourage them to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541,

or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS,

or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

Prepared by: Sergeant Clint Whitney

23-113350

April 9, 2023

 

Read the rest of this entry »

“We have been greatly distressed to learn about an apparent violent hate crime at a Markham mosque,

Where an individual yelled slurs,

Tore up a Qur’an,

And attempted to run down worshippers in his vehicle.

There will be a press conference on Monday with more details to come.”

National Council of Canadian Muslims

Islamic Society of Markham struck by a hate-motivated attack as an individual used a vehicle to attempt to ram worshippers

(Markham — April 8, 2023)

We wanted to communicate clearly with our congregation and our neighbours about a highly distressing apparent hate crime that recently took place at our centre.

On or about the morning of April 6,

An individual came to the Islamic Society of Markham (ISM),

One of the oldest and largest Muslim institutions in Markham.

Thousands of congregants attend the ISM,

And the centre is much busier because of the sacred month of Ramadan.

The individual brought his car to the mosque.

Upon entering the mosque,

he tore apparently a copy of the Qur’an,

And began a racist and Islamophobic rant directed towards the worshippers.

The individual,

Upon exiting the mosque,

Then attempted to run over or strike worshippers with his vehicle.

We are deeply troubled by this incident,

Especially as we near the anniversary of the London Terror Attack,

Where a family in London was run down in an act of hatred.

We appreciate the support of the York Regional Police,

Who moved swiftly to make sure our congregation was safe,

And to our understanding have arrested and charged this individual.

We further urge YRP to continue investigating this issue as a potentially hate- motivated crime.

We know that our congregation is a strong and loving community.

Our security and logistics team have taken additional steps to keep worshippers safe in the next days of Ramadan.

We will be hosting a press conference at the ISM this Monday to provide further information.

Press Conference Details:

WHERE: The Islamic Society of Markham, 2900 Denison St, Markham

WHEN: Monday, April 10, 12:00 noon

 

Read the rest of this entry »

Returning to the Masjid inside Noon Academy in Brampton, at 12 Rutherford Road South, for Isha and first eight Rakats of Taraweeh Prayers.

Noon Academy is where 30 Masjids began this year’s Ramadan on Night 1.

We prayed JUMAH here on Day 9, the Second Friday of Ramadan 2023.

Evening and Night temperatures have been less cold, evening warming up a little, so shoe racks on the outside makes sense mid-way through Ramadan.

When Ramadan began, the doors of the south entrance were used by both Sisters and Brothers to enter the prayer hall.

The south entrance is now exclusively for Sisters.

The north doors are now used as the Brothers’ entrance.

On the Brother’s side, some space making is required.

Done simply using a pylon and yellow caution tape freeing up a path to the door.

During my Umrah in 2011 to The Sacred Masjids of Makkah and Madinah, I observed a similar phenomena.

I marvelled at the inherent magnanimity of the Islamic Architecture.

And yet, with so much thought and design put into the giant buildings, something as humble and simple and universally recognizable as the use of Pylons and Yellow Caution Tape remained in use to help guide worshippers to their prayer spots.

Watching Livestreams from Makkah and Madinah today, you might still see both being used, though I haven’t seen it so recently.

Looking at the wall clock, we arrived with a couple of minutes until Iqamah.

Isha is now prayed at 9:25 p.m.

Ever since Noon Academy installed the Gold colour Islamic Geometry pattern behind the Mimbar, it has had my attention.

The Gold Islamic Geometry provides a visually pleasing background behind Khateebs who might be speaking from the Mimbar.

Pleasing for both those here in person and also for all who are watching Noon Academy‘s Livestreams.

Looking, and Reflecting upon this particular gold pattern, I’ve slowly been understanding something more about Labyrinths in Islam.

I previously blogged somewhat at length about Labyrinths in Islam on Day 9 of Ramadan 2020, which also happened to be the first ever World Labyrinth Day to occur during Ramadan.

Still percolating thoughts on this new understanding, and wanted to record a zooming in of this Gold Islamic Geometry pattern for a future blog post, so I recorded this for later use…

Qur’an being recited during first 8 Rakats of Taraweeh Prayer :

 

After the first four Rakats were completed,

And after Surah Ikhlas was collectively thrice recited,

Because a possibility exists that this Masjid may not be here come next Ramadan,

Shaykh Wlaeed Almakee made an urgent appeal for donations.

Shaykh’s fundraising update begins at 17:24 mark in the audio above.

You can help…

Here is Noon Academy’s Donation Page : NoonAcademy.net/donate