In order to ensure everyone’s safety, SNMC has developed a notification process in case if any person from the community attending the mosque tested positive for COVID19.
If you or one of your family tested positive for COVID19 and you attended the mosque in the 14 days prior to testing positive, please let us know either by:
Email: positive@snmc.ca
Send text message to: 613.801.5377
May Allah protect us all
COUNCIL OF IMAMS OF OTTAWA–GATINEAU
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Eid al-Adha (1441 – 2020) Announcement
Dhul Qa’dah 29, 1441 / July 20, 2020
All praise is for Allah. May His peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, the faithful companions, and all those who follow them.
In consistent with the Council’s endeavours to focus on the higher objectives of the Shari’ah, the Council had resolved to celebrate Eid al-Adha following the day of ‘Arafah. Therefore, the 1st of Dhul Hijjah will be on Wednesday, July 22nd and Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Friday, July 31st, insha’Allah. The Council of Imams
encourages community members to observe fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, which will be on Thursday, July 30th insha’Allah.
On behalf of the Muslim community of Ottawa-Gatineau, the Council extends its best wishes to all Canadians and Muslims on these auspicious days of Hajj and Eid al-Adha. The Council calls upon Canadians and Muslims to make a greater effort to help those in need, especially those who are being impacted due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. Please look out for those in need here at home and around the world, particularly by sharing meat from Eid al-Adha sacrifices and by supporting local food banks.
Let us celebrate the Eid in the spirit of inclusion, forgiveness, reconciliation and sharing not only within the families and friends but right across our country.
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
This statement is also endorsed by the following members of UMO-OG (United Muslim Organizations of OttawaGatineau): Islamic Society of Sandy Hill – The Mosque of Aylmer – Assalam Masjid
Zamzam spring/well has a tremendous history. It shows Hajar AHS and prophet Ismail AHS were two giant community builders and founders of the world’s greatest and most sacred city, Makkah.
At the command of the Most Merciful, Prophet Ibraheem AHS left Hajar AHS with her infant son, Ismail AHS in the desert valley of Makkah at that time, where no human habitation existed.
When water ran out, she, instead of sitting idle or crying or complaining, made exemplary efforts, in Arabic, Sayee. As a sign of love by mother, she was running seven times between Safa and Marwa hills looking for water or a passing caravan and was also keeping an eye on her son. In the middle of the two hills as her son was out of sight, not visible, she would run faster.
Allah swt liked her efforts and now after thousands of years, as part of Hajj ritual everyone performing Hajj or Umrah, must run seven times between the two hills, called Sayee (Effort).
Not only that, but midway between the two hills as nowadays, indicated by a set of green lights, everyone must imitate her and run a bit faster between the two lights, where she was not able to see her son.
We know Allah swt made the spring to pop up suddenly at the feet of infant Prophet Ismail and seeing so much water, she fill-up up whatever pots he had and uttered Zam and Zam and the water stopped flowing.
Now, every year, millions of Hujjaz all the year-round drink its water and take it home. It is still flowing and full. Also, if anyone drinks its water in standing position, with any intention, Insha’Allah the most Merciful will accept the Dua and Prayer.
Now let us ponder the efforts/Sayee of Hajar AHS. How problems bring new opportunities. She did not cry or sit idle or complain why we were left alone in a desert with no human habitation. She made efforts and looked for water. And Allah swt rewarded by popping up a spring under the feet of infant prophet Ismail AHS.
That was the starting of Makkah. Birds started coming overhead and the traders passing by saw birds overhead there and thought water was there. Some stopped to collect water and some with permission of Hajar AHS, started to live there. But she was the leader of the community and controlled the zamzam well. Gradually, the hilly desert valley took the shape of the most sacred city of the world.
Later Prophet Ibrahim AHS visited a few times. He at one time wanted to sacrifice Prophet Ismail AHS based on a dream. Allah swt tested but did not let Prophet Ismail AHS to be sacrificed and now it became mandatory for us to sacrifice animals as love of God. Shaitan provoked them three times and that also became part of Hajj ritual, to reject shaitan by throwing stones in 3three places
Another occasion Ibrahim AHS and son Ismail AHS together rebuilt the Kaaba originally built by Prophet Adam, where every day every Muslim five times face to wards Kaabaa to pray. We visit to perform Hajj and Umrah. Legend say, Ibraheem AHS called Azan, who ever responded by saying Labbayek, are able to perform Hajj.
Here Allah swt brought us as immigrants and children of immigrants in Canada. We have now an opportunity for all of us to establish Islamic practices here and build house of God and build Muslim community.
This allows us to quickly and accurately send you alerts for your and your loved ones’ health and safety compared to the low-confidence paper slips. From now, there’s no more admission to SNMC facilities without a Masjid Pass.
Register at https://checkin.mysnmc.ca and keep it on phone or print the pass.
If you need help, our staff are available everyday from Asr to Maghrib and volunteers may be available at prayer times.
As usual, SNMC has arranged Eid Sacrifice, this year with Bilal Farm.
The costs are as follows:
Last day to order Qurbani/Udhia is as follows:
July 26 for Cow share and Goat
July 28 for Lamb
Due to COVID19, there will be no slaughter observation this year. There will be curbside pickup for lamb and goat only on the 2nd day of Eid at the farm, if you would like to pick up your meat on 2nd day from the farm, please notify the office (info@snmc.ca), SNMC will work with Bilal Farm and assign you a time slot for the meat pickup
The rest of meat (including cow shares) will be delivered to SNMC on the 6th day of Eid (If Eid is on Friday July 31st, meat will be delivered on August 5th). More information about the pickup will be posted later inshaa Allah.
You can pay online at www.snmc.ca or by cash, cheque, debit, and credit at the SNMC Masjid.
Only those who donate 100% meat will be able to get a CRA Tax receipt.
Donated meat will be distributed to the Ottawa Food Bank, Sadaqa Food Bank and Local needy by SNMC.
Dr Emdad Khan, Ottawa
Corona Virus: We as an individual, family, community, and country are all under the control of an invisible micro virus, the most powerful. Alhamdu Lillah, as Muslims after a gap of 3 months, we are now praying in our place of worship, Masjid. It is a trial and test from Allah swt, as He declares:
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ. al-Hadid: 57.22 No calamity strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into existence – indeed that, for Allah, is easy.
Now our purpose as human beings, we become humble and caring. So, when we will leave this world, we will be pleased with Him and He will be pleased with us. So, Allah swt commands us:
سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ – 57:21
Compete toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
But in our effort, we get, or not get some thing, Allah says,
لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ -57:23 In order that you not despair over what has passed you and not boastful [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful
Under corona, we all should have objectives in life:
1) Be Closer to the Almighty, by sacrificing our desires, support the needs of others
2) Take the Quran as our daily friend, read, understand, and ponder & apply in life.
3) Establish five daily prayers with full concentration
4) Pay Zakat to grow and purify our wealth and give as goodly loan to God for the needy, orphans and vulnerable,
5) Forgiveness: pardon, forgive and overlook the people falsely blamed us. If we forgive, we will be relieved of big burden from inside, we will be free from stress.
6) Love of Humanity and no hatred: God created us by His own hands and each one of us has an important purpose to leave behind good legacy. So, we love and accept them. As they are, any faith and any ethnicity, any color.
7) Patience: We know God is with us if we are patient and patience is light. If we are angry, we lost the light and will do some thing wrong.
8) Dua/Supplication: Let us pray for salvation for our parents, forefathers, our children, our next progeny, our relatives, neighbours, all believers for good things in this world and in the next world.
Have you signed up for your Masjid Pass?
Having your Masjid Pass with you is now mandatory when entering SNMC.
Sign up for one at https://checkin.mysnmc.ca
It only takes a minute and it’s a one time sign up.
For details on how to sign up and explanations go to: https://checkin.mysnmc.ca/Home/Instructions
There are 3 ways to sign up for a Masjid Pass
1. From your phone. Don’t forget to click Add to Home Screen – this allows you to access your Masjid Pass without internet connection.
2. From your computer and print your Masjid Pass.
3. Come to SNMC and ask – we will help you sign up and print your Masjid Pass.
Once registered, bring your Masjid Pass with you (either an electronic or a printed copy) when you come to SNMC.
Your Masjid Pass replaces the piece of paper with your contact information that you were previously required to drop off when entering SNMC.
We are requiring you to sign up for a Masjid Pass to help keep you, your loved ones and our community safe.
By Signing Up, we can quickly notify you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 while at our facilities.
Your privacy is important to us.
The information you provide will not be shared outside of SNMC except in the unfortunate case that Public Health asks to contact you for COVID-19 contact tracing.
We will remove all information tied to your personal identity from the list of mosque check ins after 3 months of that check in.
Our Creator addresses the human beings, He created us from one single male and female. He made us in different nations, tribes, so that we know each other as diverse and inclusive communities.
Indeed, Almighty God loves those who establish justice in society and deals justly with all human beings irrespective of faith, ethnicity, origin, color. He loves who establishes justice in his dealing with each one and in society.
Prophet’s final sermon at Hajj in Makkah, 1500 years back, “O people, all mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab. Also, a White has any superiority over a Black, nor a black has any superiority over a White except by piety and good action.
The invisible micro virus is controlling human lives as individuals, as family, as community, as country, in the whole world. Many human beings all over the world have become caring, humble. Takes care of the needy, vulnerable, as individuals, community, and country.
Still, unfortunately, we see in the USA, UK, Europe, even in Canada more hatred, racism against Black, African, Latin and Asians. This is also visible in some South Asian countries, hatred and racism against different faiths, tribes, and ethnicities.
With a black person dying under the custody of a white police officer, a large anti- racism, demo is being held in large cities in many countries all over the world. In Ottawa, even PM Trudeau attended one such demo, in front of parliament Hill.
Many now think what is going on in the USA, and a bit less in the UK, Europe and even here in Canada. This is also true in many South Asian and African Countries, even in Arab countries. People are discriminated against based on place of origin, color, language, faith. Unfortunately, in those back-home countries, in the same country, different segments of society are not treated on equal footing.
Look at our own neighborhood, our own ethnic group, our own large families, and relatives, are we treating fairly and equally.
Look at our own professional organizations, our work, or our faith organizations, are we treating everyone on equal footing?
Look at ourselves, in our own day to day dealing, in shopping, in busing, in driving, in our masjids or faith gathering, we ourselves should look in the mirror and change our attitudes, each and every one.
In many countries, for the last 2 to 3 months, the large cities were under lock down conditions. As of June 2020, over 7.5 million affected by coronavirus and over 400,000 left the earth to meet the creator to account for their activities.
With the invisible micro virus, God sent a clear message to humanity, and has given an opportunity to rectify ourselves as individuals, as family, as community and country. To establish justice, so we are loved by our Creator God.
Good news, Canadian government on federal, provincial, and even city level moving forward with effective actions to eliminate discrimination for first nations, blacks, and visible minorities. We hope and pray more just society will be established in Canada and God will love all levels of Canadian government. We also need to work peacefully so that every country works to establish just society for each and every citizen in their countries whether in America, Europe, Asia, Africa or Arab world.
Register for a series of interactive online workshops for youth with our Imams this summer!
These workshops will focus on drawing closer to Allah, developing Islamic knowledge, and developing your critical thinking and research skills.
There are limited spaces and attendance to all workshops in the series would be mandatory as we will build off of each one.
Interested? Join us for an online information session on Monday July 6th at 7pm.
