Each Saturday in the Month of Ramadan, The Islamic Institute of Toronto hosts an Iftar and Lecture Program.
I wrote about IIT at length on Day 6 of 30Masjids in 2011.
Then, like today, I came to hear Shaikh Abdullah Hakim Quick (@HakimQuick)’s Lecture before the Iftar, and again it was time well spent.
His lecture had breadth and depth weaving into it many threads:
- Marking Canada Day and reminding us that Muslims were present at Canada’s Founding
- Aboriginal Concept of Niskam in The Mi’kmaq Nation in Newfoundland and similarities with Islam
- Instinct in Migratory Birds and how they fly to the same trees year after year
- Why Fasting is not in vain, rather it is a Mercy on the Human Being
- Using Handheld devices during the Month of Ramadan
After the Lecture, Brother Fareed Amin, current President and one of the Founders of The IIT, briefly addressed the assembled Muslims as Iftar time approached.
He briefly spoke about the Institution of Zakat and how with upwards of 1 million Muslims living in the Greater Toronto Area, a voluntary $10 per Muslim per month could eliminate poverty in Southern Ontario.
He couldn’t see any real reason why we aren’t already doing this, other than our lack of collective and individual will.
Hard to argue with that… Save for the question of how many Muslims out of that 1 Million number are in poverty themselves? Could they afford 10 bucks a month per family member? Within Islam, recipients of Zakat are exempted from paying Zakat in the first instance, so I end up half-way answering my own question.
There are many services which IIT provides to the wider Muslim Community of Toronto, some of them I listed previously.
To that, we can add making Tonight’s event accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Muslims.
Shaikh Abdullah Hakim Quick’s Lecture was transcribed and projected on both sides of the wall behind him. So that was something new, and indeed necessary. Hopefully other Islamic Centres will steal this idea and make it their norm as well, InshAllah.
Soon enough, time for Adhan Al-Maghrib, The Sunset Call to Prayer…
…and time to break the fast…
After Maghrib Prayers, brothers exited the multi-use Auditorium/Gymnasium and headed to the parking lot out back for Iftar Dinner. Sisters stayed inside and had the run of the space to themselves for a while.
In either case, Iftar Dinner was prepared in the same spot, under this big tent in the parking lot.
By the time I got my styrofoam filled tray of food, barely a chair was free. I spotted a number of younger brothers at the north end of the parking lot sitting atop the cement block wall below the children’s playground equipment area. That was good enough for me…
The Islamic Institute of Toronto certainly has Operational Excellence going for it. And on Iftar and Lecture nights, their excellence is in full view.
Behind me, children were having quite a bit of fun on all the playground equipment. I think it’s new, as I don’t recall it being there.
I ate slowly. The Clock was winding down as Isha and Taraweeh approached.
Time to head back inside.
Day 8 of this year’s Ramadan ended with Adhan Al Isha, then Isha;
Eight rakats Taraweeh;
Then pondering Abdullah Hakim Quick’s Wisdom, riding the bus back home.
