keeping the kingston muslim community together...

THE BOND SEPTEMBER 2014 / ZULQIDH 1435 AH Volume 23, Issue 9 987686

I

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF KINGSTON 1477 SYDENHAM ROAD Kingston, ON K7L 4V4

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That

is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.(Qur’an Al=Maida 54)

KEEPING THE KINGSTON MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Assalam-o-alaikum Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses

against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against

you……… (Al-Baqara, 2.143)

Explaining the "Middle Nation” ummat wasat " one of the Tafsir narrator

describes “this word is so comprehensive in meaning that no English word

can correctly convey its full sense. It is a righteous and noble community

which does not go beyond proper limits, but follows the middle course

and deals out justice evenly to the nations of the world as an impartial

judge, and bases all its relations with other nations on truth and justice.”

Being part of this Umma, it is our responsibly too to be a community with

a middle course so that wavering one way or the other does not shake the

delicate balance which most of us have tried to keep within our

community as well as within the larger Canadian community. Obviously

we do have our spiritual, socio-political, philosophical, and cultural views

leading to difference of opinions. Recently we have witnessed that on

Canadian national level our foreign policies has shifted toward one side

which might have satisfied a limited segment of society but created a lot

of resentment all over. First generation of immigrants physically live in

Canada, but many of us are snugged to at least some socio-politico

baggage from back home. It is perfectly understandable. However, one

must be cautious that we do not adversely affect our community by

taking the inherited positions and tilting the delicate middle course of our

community. We also need to recognize that practicing the difference of

opinion is a discourse of the Canadian way of life and need to be

respected. Ways to disagree amicably must be evolved to keep harmony.

Islamic Society of Kingston work load as well as the number of volunteers

who are working for the ISK have increased, but it remains to be seen if

the work load is proportional to the number of volunteer’s available. More

volunteers are needed at all the time and at all levels.

With the departure of the Imam, a special vacuum was created affecting

administration and operation of the afternoon and weekend school.

Alhamdulillah, an early attention and start to remove the slack is paying

off and we are expecting that the school programs, Insha’Allah, will be

executed per schedule and the needs of our children will be met. Equally,

we expect that parents and other volunteers can also pitch in to provide

needed support to school management and staff.

Imam hiring committee is trying its best to fill the Imam position. By the

end of August, this committee has interviewed about six candidates and

at least one more candidate is expected to be interviewed prior to the

recommendations of the committee. There has been good input from the

community in the hiring process, despite the fact that the attendance

have been low during the candidate’s talks.

The ICK extension project is moving ahead steadily. A core group from

executive, fund raising, building and finance committees has been

working with various stake holders to get input on school requirements

and body wash for funeral arrangements. Women requirements in the

extension project as well youth input will be sought this month.

Completing this process will lead to town hall meeting for further

discussion. We have a number of events lined up in the next few weeks,

and your participation in those event is strongly solicited.

May Allah SWT reward all those volunteers who work at various

capacities in ISK.

I N T H I S I S S SU E

President’s Message

Education Outlook Page 2-5

Community Corner Page 6-8

ISK Information Page 9

President’s Message by Dr. Mohammad Saleem

THE BOND SEPTEMBER 2014 / ZULQIDH | Issue 7 2

Education Outlook


MESSAGE FROM EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Dear Parents,

I’m thrilled to introduce to you to the 2014-2015 academic year at the Islamic Society of Kingston's Evening

and Weekend School!

Every parent wants their child to be successful. For most parents, the standard for success is based on high

marks, academic and extracurricular achievements and finally, a stable occupation in life that brings a high,

or at the very least, decent income.

As Muslims, our standard for success must be broader – one that factors in the relationship of our child with

Allah and their final outcome in the Hereafter. Academic and career success must be encouraged, but if

they come at the expense of a child’s relationship with Allah and their well-being in the Hereafter, then this

cannot be considered to be true success.

At the ISK Evening & Weekend School, our goal is not to just educate students in the areas of Qur’anic

recitation and Islamic studies, but also to develop a framework of Islamic thinking in the minds of students.

We hope and pray that once students graduate and move on to face new challenges in life, this framework

will help them make the choices that will be beneficial to them in both worlds and that will help build their

connection with Allah, Insha’Allah.

Please take a few minutes to read this complete package. As always, if there are any questions, please let

me know!

I look forward to seeing you and your child soon. On behalf of our team and members of the ISK Education

Committee, welcome! May Allah make this a beneficial year for students, parents and teachers alike.

Sincerely,

Mahammad Aloudat

ISK Education Coordinator


Schedule

The days your child attends classes at the ISK Evening and Weekend School will depend on his/her current grade level in school.

GROUP JK

� Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:40 pm

� Saturdays from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

GROUP SK

� Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:40 to 7:50 pm

� Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:00 pm

GROUP A (Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3)

� Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 - 6:40 pm or 6:40 - 7:50 pm (slot must be selected at sign-up)

� Saturdays from 2:00 to 3:30 pm

GROUP B (Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7)

� Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 - 6:40 pm or 6:40 - 7:50 pm (slot must be selected at sign-up)

� Saturday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm

Calendar & Holidays

For GROUP A, JK and SK students, school will begin on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014. For GROUP B students, the first day of classes

will be on Wednesday, October 15th, 2014.

The academic year will be divided into three semesters:

• Fall (October 14 to December 20) •winter (January 10 to April 4) • spring (April 11 to June 27)

Tests will be administered at the end of each semester.

There will be no classes on statutory holidays and no Saturday classes will be held on long weekends. There will be no classes during

March break.

Admissions & Registration

All students, regardless of whether they were registered in previous years, will need to register online for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Registration opens on Friday, September 5, 2014 at www.kingstonmuslims.ca/school.

Fee payment must be made online or on the first day of school. Please see the “Fees” and “Payment Options” section of this package

for further details.

New admissions will be accepted only at the beginning of a semester, space permitting.


Lego Robotic Summer Camp Recap Alhamdulillah the two weeks summer camp is done. It was a good opportunity for ISK to deal with other organizations and

have a bit of change compared to previous years. The kids learned how to build variety of robots and program them to do

different tasks such as going forward and backward, turning left and right to find their way through a maze, dancing when

listening to music, following a line with certain color, turning when something is blocking the way, etc..


VISIT from Seniors Association of Kingston

On Wednesday September 10th, 28 people from the Seniors Association of Kingston visited the

Islamic Centre of Kingston. They were received by Brothers Hafizur Rahman and Mohamed

Bayoumi, and Sisters, Nazma Rahman, Ulfat Jalaluddin and Raafia Monem. They were given a

short talk on the Centre, the community and Islam by Brother Bayoumi, followed by questions

and answers. The program ended with some food and drinks. Rosemay Kozak, coordinator of

the visit, sent us the following email:

“Hello again , Hafiz,

THANK YOU all again for a simply wonderful afternoon at the ISK. Everyone on the bus was talking

about how enriching and enjoyable the time was. I can’t thank the cooks enough, either; the food

was exceptional! The conversations, the presentation, the tour, your warm welcome- nothing could

have been better.Please give my warmest regards to Mohammed, Ulfat, Rafia, and Nazma. We are

all looking forward to the flyers about the bazaar.

I wish you a safe and satisfying trip to Mecca.

Shukran!!!

Rosemary

ISK Communication Committee

ISK executive committee has formed the following

Communication Committee.

• Br. Khalid Elgazzar Acting Coordinator

• Br. Hafizur Rahman Member

• Br. Umar Iqbal Member

• Sister Kiran Saleem Member

• Br. Atif Rahman Member

You may contact committee at

[email protected]

EID ANNOUNCEMENTS

Eid Date: Insha’Allah, To be announced shortly.

Eid Prayer Venue: Islamic Center Kingston

Prayer Timings:

First Prayer: 8:00 AM Takbeerat start at 7:30 AM

Second Prayer: 10:00 AM Takbeerat start at 9:30 AM

Hudaya /Qurbani Contact: Br. Salahuddin Jalaluddin

Tel: 613-531-8340 email: [email protected]

Eid Party: Saturday, October 11, Details will be

announced.


Advertise Your Business Free at ISK Display

Special Limited Time Offer

Only few slots are available for the advertisement and it will be on "first come first served" basis

Send your advertisement in Power

Point Format (single slide) to Islamic

Society of Kingston

[email protected]

Or [email protected]

Community News

Congratulations!

Marriages: Two sisters who grew up in

Kingston as a part of the community got

married this summer. Allah SWT bless their

marriages.

Nikkah and Engagement ceremony of Br.

Faizan Imtiaz and Sister Sahrish Arshad were

performed in Spain. Insha’Allah, Walima will

follow in Kingston.

Birth: Sister Zahraa and Br. Noor had their

first child, a girl named Ayah on the day of last

Eidul Fitr. Allah SWT give her health and piety.

____________________________________

Leaving for Hajj Mubarak from Kingston this

year:

• Br. Haris Javed and his younger sister.

• Br. Hafizur Rehman

• Sister Shammi and Br. Aftab Ahmed

• Br. Fareed Watto

May Allah SWT make it easy for all of them.

_______________________________________

Arrivals: Br. Omar Iqbal and his family are

back in Kingston, and we welcome them back.

Br. Saleem Najmi has joined a job at a

Kingston firm.

_______________________________________

Death: Inna Lillahi wa Inna ilyhe Ragioon.

Father of Br. Sabri Alryani (Moktar Abdalla

Alryani) past away in Libya at Age 76. Please

make dua for him.

_______________________________________

If you have any news which you would like to

share with the community please send it to

[email protected]


A Welcome to the FROSH

By Dr. Mona Rahman

The following “reading" was included at the Interfaith Service organized by

the Interfaith Council on Friday, September 11. The Interfaith Service

consists of readings and meditations from various faith groups and is an

annual event during Orientation Week. Please note that much of the

commentary of the "parable" is taken heavily from commentary given by

'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali in his translation and commentary of the Qur'an.

Alhamdulillah rabbil 'alameen. Assalata wa salam 'ala Muhammad,

'abduhu wa rasuluhu.

(Praise be to God, Lord of the Words. May peace and blessings be upon

Muhammad, His servant and His Messenger)

I would like to begin first with a prayer uttered by Prophet Moses (pbuh)

when he was told to go to Pharoah as told to us in the Qur'an.

"Rabbish-rah-li-sadri Wayassir-li-amri. Wahlol 'oqdatam-mil-lisani-

yafqahoo-qawli"

(O my Lord! Expand me my breast; Ease my task for me; and remove the

impediment from my speech so they may understand what I say)

As university students, we are here with the common goal to

acquire knowledge. The way in which we perceive situations around us is

largely determined by our own experiences and knowledge of things.

Upon entering this environment, we have left one circle and entered a

larger one, one in which we are exposed to a broad range of subjects,

opinions, traditions, in hopes that we can increase our own knowledge of

the world and thereby gain a better understanding of life and world

around us and, as a result, be appreciative of and become closer to God.

I thought I would share a story related in the Qur'an about an

episode in the life of Prophet Moses (pbuh) when he was up against

mysteries he wished to explore. For brevity, I will only highlight certain

aspects of the parable as commented on by 'Abdallah Yusuf Ali in his

translation and commentary of the Qur'an, rather than relate the whole

story. Prophet Moses was to find a servant of God, whose name is not

mentioned in the Qur'an but Tradition gives it as Khidr (meaning Green).

Khidr had two special gifts from God: 1) Mercy from His own Presence,

and 2) Knowledge from His own presence. The first freed him from the

ordinary incidents of daily human life, and the second entitled him to

interpret the inner meaning and mystery of events. Prophet Moses

(pbuh) asked if he could follow him and learn from this special

knowledge. Khidr cautioned him, saying that there would be many things

which Moses would see with him which he would not completely

understand and which would make him impatient. Moses had faith in

God; he adopted the true attitude of the learner and promised to obey in

all things with the help of God. The story then goes to tell about three

events which seem paradoxical. After each instance, Moses becomes

impatient and questions the actions of his teacher. I will relate the final

one:

Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants

of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them

hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down,

but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If though hadst wished,

surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" He

answered: "'This is the parting between me and thee: now will I

tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast

unable to hold patience…..As for the wall, it belonged to two

youths, orphans in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried

treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a

righteous man: so thy Lord desired that they should attain their

age of full strength and get out their treasure-a mercy (and

favour) from they Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the

interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to

hold patience."

(Al-Kahf (18): 77-78, 82)

Although they were refused hospitality, Khidr performs a kind

act and rebuilds a falling wall without asking for any compensation. If the

wall had fallen, the treasure buried beneath it would have been exposed

and probably stolen by this selfish community. It was expected that

these orphans would grow up and safely take possession of their heritage

and be righteous men like their father, using it for good works and in

advancing righteousness in this wicked community. Thus, it is justice that

through the wisdom given by God, Khidr was able to protect both public

and private interests.

There are several major points we can learn from this story.

Prophet Moses (pbuh) was given tremendous wisdom as well as divine

revelation yet his knowledge was incomplete. No matter how much

knowledge we acquire, no matter how much wisdom we achieve, it will

still be incomplete. Even if one person acquires all the knowledge of the

present day in sciences, arts, literature etc, this still does not include all

knowledge as Divine knowledge is unlimited as far as humanity is

concerned. We need to make a constant effort, just as Prophet Moses

(pbuh) has shown, to keep our knowledge current. In fact, Prophet

Muhammad (pbuh) emphasized this by encouraging men and women to

acquire knowledge "even if one has to go to China". Most importantly,

what we learn from this story is that there are paradoxes in life; apparent

loss may be real gain, returning good for evil may be justice and not

generosity. God's wisdom transcends all human calculations.

In the university setting, we have the opportunity to be exposed

to many different subjects, perspectives, and schools of thought. My

advice to you as you enter university is to be aware of the paradoxes of

life. Open your eyes, open your mind and open your heart. Look beyond

the apparent, ask questions, be critical, remember that there is usually

more than one perspective to a situation and most importantly, be

patient and constant with faith, for with knowledge comes

understanding. The Signs of God are all around us yet it is only those who

have knowledge and understanding who may recognize them as such. As

'Abdallah Yusuf Ali states in his commentary of this story: "The highest

knowledge comes not except by divine gift, and a constant, patient

striving, with faith, to apprehend something of the purpose of the All-

Wise God".

Rabbi zidni 'ilman

(O my Lord! Advance me in knowledge)

Rabbi habli hukmaw wa'alhiqni bissaliheen

(O my Lord! Bestow wisdom on me and join me with the righteous)

Subhanaka Allahomma wa bihamdik. Ash-hado an la ilaha illah ant.

Astaghfiroka wa atoobo ilayk.

(Glory and Praise be to you O God. I declare that there is no deity but

You. I beg of You Your forgiveness and repent to You).


Dates Fajr Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha

Sep 15-21 6:00 1:25 5:35

Su

nse

t +

5

8:45

Sep 22-28 6:10 1:25 5:20 8:35

Sep 29- Oct 5 6:20 1:25 5:10 8:20

Oct 6-12 6:25 1:25 5:00 8:05

Oct 13-19 6:40 1:25 4:50 7:55

Oct 20-26 6:40 1:25 4:40 7:45

Oct 27-Nov 1 6:40 1:25 4:30 7:40

Notes:

o Jum’a khutba starts at 1:25

o Times shown are for Iqamah, Adhan will be called 10 minutes

earlier.

o During community events, Asr may be prayed earlier

ISK EXECUTIVE CONTACT INFO

PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD SALEEM

Tel: 613-530-3655

Email: [email protected]

SECRETARY NOOR KHARRAT

Tel: 613-770-4124


TREASURER SAMINA MAURICE

Tel: 613 -389-0390


SOCIAL COORDINATOR HISHAM ELBATARNY

Tel: 613-547-3779


WOMEN’S REPRESENTATIVE YOUSRA BENAZZOUZ

Tel: 613.549-5441


ICK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR MOHAMMED BABIKIR

Tel: 613-547-4551


EDUCATION COORDINATOR MOHAMMAD ALOUDAT

Tel: 613-484-4114


OTHER CONTACT INFO

IMAM OF ISK VACANT

Tel:


Website:

DAWA COMMITTEE COORDINATOR MOHAMED BAYOUMI

Tel: 613-389-7613

Email: [email protected] LIBRARY COMMITTEE RAAFIA MONEM, HODA BAYOUMI,

MOHAMMAD SALEEM Email: [email protected]

MOMS & TOTS MONA RAHMAN

Tel: 613-634-0149


NEW MUSLIM SUPPORT Email: [email protected]

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BOND?

Next Submission Deadline: Friday, October 10th, 2014

The Bond will accept articles from individuals on any given topic if

the editors consider them useful information for the whole

community. Please consider submitting 1 or 2 column article for

consideration.

Submit To: [email protected]

Next Publication Date (Insha Allah): Friday, October 17th, 2014

Disclaimer

The views and/or assertions expressed in THE BOND are the sole

responsibility of their author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those

of the newsletter committee, nor of the Islamic Society of Kingston

and its officers.

ISK INFORMATION PRAYER TIMES AT THE ICK

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