I began this week on Monday by breaking fast with the MSA at UBC, immediately west of Vancouver.
I end the week tonight by breaking fast the Muslim Students’ Association at Simon Fraser University Burnaby Campus, east of Vancouver.
I arrived by taking the B-Line Express Bus from the Downtown Eastside, about 37 minutes later, I am wandering the SFU Burnaby Campus in search of Iftar.
Most large size University Campuses have a radio station.
CJSF 90.1 FM, aka Mountain Radio because this campus sits atop Burnaby Mountain.
وَالْعَصْرِ
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
“By Time.
Indeed man is in loss,
except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin one another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience.”
Qur’an – Surah Al-Asr – Verses 1-3
Skies are clearing out nicely @SFU in advance of our public star night, at the Trottier Observatory, 9PM-midnight!
— Howard Trottier (@sfutrottobs) 3 June 2017
Terry Fox statue – Sculpture by Stephen Harmon.
In the midst of SFU’s Academic Quadrangle…
…you might see a Mayan Pyramid.
Pyramid Builders today are called Real Estate Developers. Sometimes they build Universities too.
Preparing for Convocation; set for next week at Simon Fraser University.
I’m not Graduating from Simon Fraser University, yet I still feel a connection to all this.
Last year, to conclude 30 Masjids Canada, I visited a few Masjids around Metro Vancouver. That was early July 2016.
Earlier in the year, I had enrolled in Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development program, conducted at their Downtown Vancouver Campus.
This is the only post-grad certificate of its kind in the world, which would begin in October 2016
With apologies to Seth Godin, The SFU CED was my Alternative MBA.
Eid Al-Fitr 2016 in Vancouver, became Summer in Vancouver, become the SFU CED One-week in-person intensive at the beginning of October, and before I accepted the truth of it, I accidentally ended up living in Vancouver.
I’m still here.
I submitted my Final Assignment to my Instructor, Brian Smith, a few minutes before deadline on Thursday May 25 2017.
That final paper submission meant I had completed all the post-course requirements to earn the certificate. This allowed one full day of rest, reflection, and preparation before the start of Ramadan 2017, the following Friday evening.
No Cap and Gown for me this year, yet the Solutions from The Heart Award from my peers remains uniquely meaningful for me at this point in Life.
Looking long all these blue chairs, it feels like I finally graduated.
I had begun my B.A. focused on Islamic Banking and Islamic Economics at American Islamic College in Chicagoland.
That undergrad degree was ultimately interrupted with the sudden passing of my father in December 1991.
An odd observation, but until attending Simon Fraser University, I had never been a member of a Muslim Students’ Association.
I’ve attend any number of MSA events at any number of Campuses over the years… yet, when I was enrolled at AIC in Chicago, it was and still is a Muslim University.
When almost every student is Muslim, does an MSA even make sense as a Club or Student Organization at a Muslim College or University?
This past year at SFU, I was able to feel a part of the SFUMSA, and was accepted as such.
Earlier tonight…
Attended Simon Fraser University Muslim Students Association (@SFUMSA) Spring 2017 Social.
SFU Burnaby Campus. pic.twitter.com/LvNk5cyqi5
— HïMY SYeD (@30masjids) 11 February 2017
Simon Fraser University Muslim Students Association (@SFUMSA)
Spring 2017 SocialSo OF COURSE, Sisters Win playing “Muslim” Themed Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/sI2p7LL6lJ
— HïMY SYeD (@30masjids) 11 February 2017
Finally found my way to the Iftar location. Brothers sitting outside on a cafeteria patio.
Through the patio concrete , another moonsighting atop Burnaby Mountain.
