“I just learned that Khadija Haffajee has Returned to God.

Muslims in Canada from my generation, particularly women, will know Khadija Aunty.

When I was young she was the only woman on the Muslim speaker circuit and she came to Vancouver for many conferences and youth camps.

I remember so many sessions with her when all the youth would crowd her and share our stories and questions with her.

I remember Khadija Aunty as being a funny & loving woman who was straight forward and took no nonsense from anyone.

I respected her and learned so much from her.

Over the years I have thought about Khadija Aunty a lot.

She was also the only adult Muslim woman that I knew who has single.

She may have been the only single Muslim woman of her generation [or so it seemed to my young self]!

She did marry later in life & had a joyful marriage.

In my generation, many Muslim women stayed single, for reasons too numerous to detail on twitter.

For many years now I had wanted to contact Khadija Aunty & talk to her about her experiences of being single & ask her for advice.

I am so deeply sorry that I never made that call.

This is a year of loss upon loss.

From God we come and to God we Return.

May Khadija Aunty be blessed with eternal peace and joy and may we do good in this world with all the guidance, support, and instruction that she gave to so many of us for so long.

[This pic is from @nccm.]

— By Biryani For One

[gview file=”http://30Masjids.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/COUNCIL-OF-IMAMS-OF-OTTAWA–GATINEAU-Message-June-1-2020-English-French.pdf” title=”COUNCIL OF IMAMS OF OTTAWA–GATINEAU – Message – June 1 2020-English-French”]

 

Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau Clarification Regarding Eid al-Fitr 2020 Announcement

Shawwal 10 1441/June 1st, 2020

All praise is for Allah Almighty.

May the peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, the faithful companions, and all those who follow them.

Dear Community Members.

Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

We are confident that this communiqué reaches you all in the finest of well-being and Iman insha-Allah.

The intent of this message is to clarify with the community the subject of Eid al-Fitr 2020/1441 and the decision of the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau to announce the Eid al-Fitr celebrations for Saturday 23, May 2020.

BACKGROUND

To support the growing population of Muslims in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, a need was identified by the local Imams representing the major Masajid that they should come together to support the social and religious matters of the community.

With the continued growth of the diverse community base, the need to unify the community through a formal Imams Council became increasingly critical.

At first,

a more urgent task was to accommodate various schools of thought for the purpose of achieving higher objectives and gain mutual trust.

This unity could further prove beneficial to manage the declaration of the main Islamic dates such as the beginning and end of Ramadan, Dhul Hijjah, and the two Eids.

Therefore,

with the intention of maintaining harmony and unison within our community and prioritizing the consideration of higher objectives of the Shari’a the Imams Council of Ottawa adopted the Global moonsighting process for determining the dates for the Islamic months.

By adopting the Global moonsighting position,

it became easier to accept reports of the new crescent from anywhere across the world.

This position made it simpler to harmonize various viewpoints so as to easily allow the members of our community to observe major Islamic dates together on the same day.

The Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau recognizes that there are various views on determining the Islamic months which are all acceptable from the point of Islamic jurisprudence;

however,

the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau felt that a perspective which unites all opinions was needed for the unity of our community, especially regarding the beginning of the months of Ramadan, Dhul Hijjah and the two Eids.

We strongly believe that this is easily achievable through the Global sighting viewpoint.

Hence the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau, while utilizing science, astronomical data and moon visibility maps, but also prioritizing testimony (shahadah) over astronomy (hisab), accept the testimony and declarations from any reliable Muslim organization, moon sighting committee, or Islamic judiciary council of any Muslim country that has declared the sighting of the first moon (hilal).

CONTEXT OF HOW EID AL-FITR 2020 WAS DECIDED

Keeping the above in mind,

on the evening of Friday 22, May 2020 (29th Ramadan 1441) the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau received credible reports from Mauritania which met the Global moonsighting criteria that the Imams Council of Ottawa/Gatineau follows for moonsighting.

As such,

the announcement for Eid al-Fitr was made.

The moon for Shawwal was sighted in 9 different regions throughout Mauritania by approximately 40 people.

One of the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau members is from Mauritania and verified this information,

and therefore the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau made a collective decision that Saturday 23, May 2020 was Eid al-Fitr.

It is also worthwhile to note in addition to the above there were moonsighting reports from several countries including Somalia, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Chad, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ethiopia, Gambia, Tanzania, Hawaii, and even Arizona USA.

The possibility of the birth and sighting of the hilal after sunset on Friday 22, May 2020 in some of these regions, in particular, Honolulu Hawaii, and Phoenix Arizona USA was consistent to astronomical calculations and was also verified by the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Based on these reports many institutions throughout Canada also celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday 23, May 2020 such as:

1. Islamic Foundation of Toronto
2. Masjid Al-Farooq Islamic Center– Mississauga
3. Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre – Mississauga
4. Abu Huraira Center – Toronto
5. Thunder Bay Islamic Center – Thunder Bay
6. Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque – Toronto
7. Masjid Al-Salam – Brampton
8. Al-Abrar Centre – Aurora
9. All major Masajid and Islamic Centers in Nova Scotia

Having said that,

the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau appeals to all community members to practice patience, forbearance, and tolerance, and to refrain from all avenues that lead to divisions, disunity, discord, and the fragmentation of the community.

We must respect, tolerate, and love each other.

In conclusion,

The Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau would like to reiterate that it is trying its utmost best to serve the community and its interests first and foremost.

Thus,

it is important to have faith in the decisions the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau makes on behalf of the community.

Your kind dua’s are requested so that Allah may continue to allow us to serve the Muslim community.

May Allah accept our efforts and endeavors as moonsighting is also an act of worship (Ibadah).

We are extremely grateful for your understanding and continued support.

We also appreciate the input and encouragement we have received from the community, and ask Allah to guide us to that which is best.

Moving forward,

the Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau is considering further considerations and improvements to the moonsighting criteria while upholding unity on this important matter.

The Council of Imams of Ottawa-Gatineau (CIOG)

Signed by the Council members (in alphabetical order):

Imam Ahmed Limame – The Outaouais Islamic Centre
Imam Anver Malam – Jami Omar
Imam Ismail Al-Batnuni – AMA (Masjid Al-Rahmah)
Imam Mohammad Badat – Masjid Bilal
Imam Muhammad Suliaman – OMA
Imam Mohsen El-Nadi – SNMC
Imam Owais Tilly – Jami Omar
Imam Samy Metwally – ISG
Imam Sikander Hashmi – KMA
Imam Zijad Delic – SNMC

“Mr. Speaker,

I rise in these extraordinary times to share with you the experience of Muslim Canadians this Eid.

Muslim Canadians just observed Ramadan – and what a Ramadan it was.

At a time where usually families and friends gather for food or prayer,

unprecedented adjustments had to be made.

What was heartwarming Mr. Speaker,

is even when many adopted new ways to uphold their religious and social customs,

people didn’t forget their obligations to each other.

Muslim organizations stepped up to help their fellow neighbour.

Mosques and groups like the

and countless others mobilized volunteers and donors to offer support to vulnerable Canadians.

Today,

Muslim Canadians are celebrating Eid with pride and optimism.

Whether we celebrated Easter, Passover, Vaisakhi, Eid or any other special occasion,

Canadians displayed a strong sense of unity.

Regardless of our background,

we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

We will get through this pandemic together.”

— Omar Alghabra

Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre

Members’ Statements
House of Commons
Parliament of Canada, Ottawa

Monday May 26 2020

COVID Eid

I rose in Parliament today to recognize the excellent work done by Muslim Canadian groups during Ramadan & Eid in the midst of a pandemic. Thank you for making our country better for all

Posted by Omar Alghabra on Monday, May 25, 2020

 

Significance of celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr

Multicultural ਧਰਤੀ ਤੇ ਆਪਾ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਿਲ ਜੁਲ ਕੇ ਈਦ ਦਾ ਤਿਉਹਾਰ ਮਨਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ। ਸਾਂਝੀਵਾਲਤਾ ਦੀ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਕੀ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ ਕਿ – ਅੱਜ ਇਸ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲ ਦੀ ਘੜੀ ਵਿਚ ਸਭ ਇਕ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਖੜੇ ਨੇ – ਇਹ ਸਮਾਂ ਔਖਾ ਜਰੂਰ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਆਪਾ ਸਭ ਈਦ ਦੀਆਂ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾ ਹੀ ਵੰਡਾਗੇ

Kids celebrate Eid their own way amid covid19

ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਈਦ ਲਈ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਖਿੱਚ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਈਦੀ ਦਾ ਬੇਸਬਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਇੰਤਜ਼ਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ, ਦੋਸਤਾਂ ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਰੌਣਕਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਲਈ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਲਿਬਾਸ ਵਿਚ ਚਹਿਕਣਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਬੇਕਰਾਰ ਰਹਿਣਾ। ਇਸ ਵਾਰ ਦੀ ਈਦ ਆਮ ਵਰਗੀ ਨਹੀਂ – ਪਰ ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਬੱਚੇ ਈਦ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਿਆਰੀਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਰੁੱਝੇ ਰਹੇ।


During Ramadan 2016,

when I was doing 30 Masjids in 30 Days Canada, I wasn’t able to visit any of our three northern Territories.

Breaking a Ramadan Fast in Nunavut, The Yukon, and/or the Northwest Territories, then blogging about it, remains something outstanding in these 10 years of blogging Ramadan on 30Masjids.ca

InshAllah, I may yet do that.

On this Eid Al Fitr 2020,

Here are quotes and photos from others about Drive-Thru Eid Al Fitr Celebrations hosted by Islamic Centre of Yellowknife . . .

Boxes of chocolate and goodie bags for children were handed out to celebrate Eid in Yellowknife on Sunday. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)
Boxes of chocolate and goodie bags for children were handed out to celebrate Eid in Yellowknife on Sunday. (Danielle d’Entremont/CBC)
Monzur Choudhury hands out goodie bags to a local family on Sunday. Within the first hour of the Eid event, over 40 cars had driven by to pass along holiday greetings and collect the treats. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)
Monzur Choudhury hands out goodie bags to a local family on Sunday. Within the first hour of the Eid event, over 40 cars had driven by to pass along holiday greetings and collect the treats. (Danielle d’Entremont/CBC)
Zaka Ullah (right) says the drive-thru Eid celebrations allowed people to feel connected despite the territorial government's restrictions on gatherings. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)
Zaka Ullah (right) says the drive-thru Eid celebrations allowed people to feel connected despite the territorial government’s restrictions on gatherings. (Danielle d’Entremont/CBC)

“People have morning prayers where they meet each other, greet each other … and after, people normally have parties.

But this year with COVID[-19] going on we thought this was a nice way to get them out and get them connected,”

said Zaka Ullah, as he handed out chocolates.

Within the first hour of the event about 40 different cars had driven by.

Some were decorated with balloons; many cars were filled with smiling faces as passengers called out to organizers with the holiday greeting,

“Eid Mubarak!”

Eid is a day of happiness so we wanted to celebrate, we wanted to meet with people, and we wanted people to get out of their homes.

Awan said although it is difficult not being able to get together,

Sunday’s celebrations allow for people to focus their energy on supporting one another, rather than on material things, such as gifts.

“Islam is a very simple religion,” he said.

“Fasting is not just keeping hungry, it is all about having a better character, how beneficial you are to other people in the community, how caring you are — for your family and your friends and humanity.”

“We were just hoping to create some Eid festivities,”

said Nazim Awan, chair of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife.

“We decided that we’ll offer something that at least people can feel it’s Eid.”

Awan said Eid celebrations are usually held at large public spaces involving a reception and meal.

There is usually a community barbecue and gift exchanges to follow.

Awan said it was disappointing for the community to be unable to gather, but he understood the situation and felt they made the best of it.

“We put some smiles on the children’s faces and family’s faces,” he said.

The event brought over 65 cars to the drive-thru, held off Franklin Ave, where the new mosque is being built;

although construction of the mosque has been delayed as a result of COVID-19, Awan said.”

“Mashallah!!

Our Islamic Centre of Yellowknife had a good showing for Eid day as well.

About 75 families came through.

They also held a special Dawah🙏program delivering Eid gifts 🎁🎁🎁to children of mixed religious upbringing who don’t normally come to the mosque.

Kudos to our Yellowknife team that is over 4,700 KM away from here !!”

View this post on Instagram

Aid mobarak said for all

A post shared by Aziz Farssi (@azizfarssi) on

Sayeda Khadija Centre has been hosting Drive-Thru Iftars for the faithful.

We thrice drove-thru those Iftar Pickups on Day 3, Day 10, and Day 24.

Today we experience Sayeda Khadija Centre’s Eid ul Fitr Drive-Thru Sweet Pickup.

They had a scheduled pickup start time of  7.a.m. early this Eid Al Fitr morning.

We were here around

We reached here around 11:30 a.m.

The driving-thru was pretty quick. We received one sweet for each of the three of us in the car.

“Sayeda Khadija Centre. A place to Pray, Learn & Play!”

We exchange Eid Mubarak greetings plus hand waves, not handshakes, and we were done!

 

Alhumdulillah,

That was quick and fun!

A very nice experience visiting Al Huda Institute on this Eid Al Fitr 2020.

I was previously here on Night 2 of Ramadan 2019 for Isha and Taraweeh.

The line up of cars was orderly and everybody advanced easily in only a few moments.

This was a nice touch!

Balloons along the fence must have brought some smiles to children today.

Volunteers offered to tattoo Eid Mubarak greetings onto cars with washable inks.

There, see, Eid Mubarak !

Everything moved very smoothly, and with so few volunteers.

Paper Bags and not plastic bags. This was appreciated.

And just like that, we were receiving our Eid Al Fitr Drive-Thru Sweets.

Thank you Al Huda Institute Canada & Eid Mubarak !

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

⭐️UPDATE⭐️ Eid is Saturday, May 23! Our Eid Drive Thru will happen on Sunday, May 24! ⁣ Asalamu alaikum everyone! ⁣ ⁣ We pray everyone had a blessed Ramadan and may Allah (SWT) accept our efforts and ibadah. Ameen!⁣ ⁣ 💝We definitely missed seeing you all and having the Masjid full during Ramadan nights but we can’t imagine seeing an empty masjid on Eid morning! Sooo…. We want to invite everyone to our Eid Drive Thru! ⁣ ⁣ ⭐️Join Al Huda Institute on Eid Morning (10am-12pm) for an Eid Drive Thru! Get your Eid goody bags, let us tattoo your cars with Eid Mubarak messages (with washable markers of course)! Most importantly let us share Eid Morning Salams and smiles like always!⁣ ⁣ ***Date of Drive Thru will be determined after the moon sighting. 🌙👀⁣

A post shared by Al Huda Institute Canada (@alhudainstitute) on

“⭐️UPDATE⭐️

Eid is Saturday, May 23!

Our Eid Drive Thru will happen on Sunday, May 24! ⁣

Asalamu alaikum everyone! ⁣

We pray everyone had a blessed Ramadan and may Allah (SWT) accept our efforts and ibadah. Ameen!⁣

💝We definitely missed seeing you all and having the Masjid full during Ramadan nights but we can’t imagine seeing an empty masjid on Eid morning!

Sooo….

We want to invite everyone to our Eid Drive Thru! ⁣

⭐️Join Al Huda Institute on Eid Morning (10am-12pm) for an Eid Drive Thru!

Get your Eid goody bags,

let us tattoo your cars with Eid Mubarak messages (with washable markers of course)!

Most importantly let us share Eid Morning Salams and smiles like always!⁣

***Date of Drive Thru will be determined after the moon sighting. 🌙👀⁣”

 

Eid Celebration Live

Posted by ISNA Canada on Sunday, May 24, 2020

 

Posted by ISNA Canada on Sunday, May 24, 2020

 

Posted by ISNA Canada on Sunday, May 24, 2020

 

“Are you Eid ready?

This may be a socially distant Eid but there is still a ton we can do to get in the spirit,

starting with…

*decorating our cars for the Eid drive-thrus*!

Deck out your car with ALL things Eid and join us at our drive thru where you can get boxes of sweets and goody bags!

Also don’t forget to tune into our Eid Takbeerat and Eid Show virtually on social media!”