Our February 2024 Newsletter
Message from Imam Anver
Dear Community Members,
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
I hope and pray that you and your loved ones are keeping well and coping well with our mild winter this year. Here are a few tidbits for this month’s newsletter:
Donation Receipts for 2023Alhamdulil-laah, our treasurer Br. Tariq Baig and the finance team once again did an amazing job to get all donation receipts ready and distributed in a timely fashion for your 2023 tax preparation. Thank YOU all of our valued donors for continuing to support your institution Jami Omar. While I can not express enough gratitude for your continued support, I ask Allah (SWT) to grant you the true reward in both worlds. If you have not received your donation receipt as yet please reach out to our office and insha-Allah, they will take care of it promptly.
Update on the 572 Moodie Townhome Project: By the grace of Allah, we are very close to receiving the building permit. At this point, we are working hard to have the development levy either waived or reduced. The development charges levied by the city are extremely high and for the townhome project, it can be in the excess of $100,000 based on the estimate provided by the city staff. Therefore, we are continuing to work hard with the city staff to demonstrate that this project needs to be treated specially for development charges.
Current Situations with some of our masaajid: As we know, recently our community is facing some disheartening challenges in few of our masaajid and the situation all around us is one of sadness. While the carnage in the Gaza continuing with the rest of world pretending to be all normal, any issue of nature that we are witnessing at the moment makes us even sadder. We ask all of our community members to stay focus in our engagement with Allah (SWT) and keep making duaa for those brothers, sisters and children who are suffering because no faults of them. We also recommend that in such time of trials, we must not engage in gossip and spreading unfounded information around. The best approach would be to contain incorrect information and work with the elders to resolve issues in an amicable manner.
With salaam,
Imam Anver Malam
Khaadim – Jami Omar
Spiritual Insights
Family Ties
The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “The best amongst you is the one who is best towards his family and I am the best amongst you towards my family…” (al-Tirmithi)
A family of parents, spouse, children and grandchildren is a special gift from Allah who has enjoined Mankind to have kind treatment and to join family ties.
“…and fear Allah , through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.” (Quran, 4:1)
With in the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) we find the most perfect example in his teachings of how to work towards an ideal family life. We learn from his life that he would exemplify the most beautiful character (akhlaq) towards his family. His character was an embodiment of mercy, affection, patience, gentleness, kindness, love, commanding the good and forbidding the wrong with wisdom and beautiful teaching and preaching, spending quality time…to name a few.
By renewing our intention and reflecting on this tremendous gift of family we would appreciate even more those around us. Being mindful of the golden rule, “treat others in the way you would like to be treated”, forms part of excellent character which shall be the most weightiest in the scale of good deeds for a Believer on the day of judgment.
Ways of building a strong family foundation:
Effort towards acquiring Islamic knowledge (includes daily reading as a family)
Company of the Righteous (an environment to practice)
Meals together (as much as possible)
Family time (weekly activity)
Effort on our Akhlaaq (controlling anger- and the heart to forgive and the spirit to serve) understanding the others perspective, active listening, making time out for one another.
Du’a for guidance
May Allah Ta’ala bless us with the Akhlaq of the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and make us strong as individuals, families, communities and as an Ummah-ameen.
With salaam,
Imam Owais Tilly
Lorem Ipsum