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The Yam Al-Nahar, the day of Sacrifice, also known as Abraham/Ibrahim AHS Festival of Sacrifice,- the greatest  day of the year.

God tested in multiple ways, with  big tests, the founder of 3 unity faiths, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, prophet Ibrahim AHS..He was asked to sacrifice his dearest son, Ismail AHS and but at the end  the animal was sacrificed.  God tested his sincerity.  Its now has become an yearly  ritual in Islam coinciding with the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to Makakh.

In the Quran, in 108.2, the Most Merciful states, ” Therefore to your Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice.”.  But to further clarify the purpose, He states in 22.37, ” It is not their meat or the blood that reaches God, it is your piety that reaches Him.”  so our sincerity in action is important.

SNMC instituted about 20 years back  to motivate and support the Ottawa muslims  to make the ritual sacrifice of an animal on the day of sacrifice coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage.here in Canada along with back home. We are here to stay in Ottawa and Canada, is our new home.We are required and able to practice all aspects of Islam in a peaceful way in Canada.

Also we are encouraged to eat one portion by us and give one portion to friends and families and one portion to the needy.In the first week of August 2020,  we distributed  the sacrificed meat of lamb, goat and cows  in  one or two Kg  see-through ziplock bags to about 15 of our neighbours as we do every year.

We saw smiles in the faces of all families, men and women of all faiths..They will be inshaAllah,  real ambassadors of muslims and Islam in Ottawa.

Those made an animal  sacrifice here in Ottawa or Canada, please try to distribute to the neighbours. Those did not  give a sacrifice here in Canada, please try next year  in Canada and distribute to neighbours. Let us  see first hand  the joy and happiness and let us make our neighbours real ambassadors of Islam and Muslims in a an easy and affordable way by a simple action. Ameen.

Reflection

Dr. Emdad Khan

Let us all reflect on our lives, the last seven months from January 2020 to July 2020 under the powerful invisible micro virus and if we are alive, look for a road map, for next six months up to January 2021. Also reflect on the lives of our known contacts, relatives, friends, neighbours, coworkers, and so on.We have all learned and rediscovered ourselves and the world around us.We have gone through many challenges and overcame them successfully..

So let us again, look at our new normal life and reflect how we all  changed  and our environment changed and keep on reflecting.Few things are part of new normal, online work and study, spending more time at home,  two meter social distancing, face masks, and line up in many many places and spend time in queque..

Thanks God, most of Ontario under stage three, in Ottawa and Canada we are far better off. Compared to Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, we are better off spiritually in terms of places of worship, SNMC  and other masjids are open for Jumah, Eid AlAdha and regular prayers and some other spiritual and social programs are coming up slowly.
Now think of past history, God has tested earlier generations and this time He is testing the whole world. It is an opportunity for us, like we got a second chance in life,  to reflect and rectify, be caring and humble.Still we see in some countries , more arrogance and evil things happening. May God guide us all to  come to the straight  path, path of eternal success. Ameen

Narrated by Shahr bin Haushab who said, I asked Umm Salamah (r. ‘anha), “O Mother of the Believers! Which supplication did the Messenger of Allah (S) make frequently when he was in your house?” She said: “He (S) supplicated frequently: “O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion).”
وعن شهر بن حوشب قال‏:‏ قلت لأم سلمة، رضي الله عنها، يا أم المؤمنين ما كان أكثر دعاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، إذا كان عندك‏؟‏ قالت‏:‏ كان أكثر دعائه‏:‏ ‏ “‏يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي، وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏
Source: Tirmizi
Transliteration: ‘Ya Muqallibal Qulubi, Thabbit Qalbi ‘ala Dinik.”
In another words, the Prophet (S) used to supplicate often that Allah keeps him committed to the principles of Islam,
For us here in Canada, another Eid this year is over, but as believers, we cannot take a rest or a vocation from our faith!
We know that upon saying the Shahadah and becoming Muslims, we make the covenant with Almighty Allah, the Creator.
At this point of time, we promise a commitment which is the essential foundation of any Islamic activity, especially in Canadian Muslim community (ies).
These committed individuals are named by Allah as ‘The Just and Balanced Nation – Ummatan Wasata.’
They individually and collectively stand in the world as witnesses to humanity: “Thus We have made you a Just and Balanced Nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger of Allah witness over you.” (Al Baqarah 143)
Being called ‘Ummatan Wasata’, having this status is a great honor but a great responsibility as well.
Meeting the obligation to be called Ummatan Wasata and playing the role of the Just and Balanced Community are the goals set for the believing community in Canada.
To achieve these goals, members of the believing community must commit themselves to the covenant made with Allah.
What do we mean by the term “commitment”?
According to the lexicon, the term “commitment” means the state of being pledged, obliged to something.
What is then the Islamic commitment?
It means to increase the sense, the feeling, the consciousness of being pledged and obliged to Almighty Allah and the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S) and the betterment of others and environment we live in.
It is the sense of responsibility towards ourselves, others and environment.
In short, commitment means to make more serious and concrete pledge to work and sacrifice for the cause of Allah by making ourselves accountable to Him and making shore that others benefit from us for His sake.
Allah informs us about the Right Direction and the commitment to it in the following words: “Say: Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin.” (Al An’am 162)
The best example of the commitment is found in the lives of Prophets, the Sirah of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S) and the life of Sahabah.
Those who read it, first what strikes them is the high level of commitment of the members of the early Muslim community to the cause of good in the name of Allah.
1. Look at the commitment of Bilal (r) who was tortured under the Arabian sun. (We are not asked to sacrifice so much!) Look at the faith which he had. Look at the words: Ahad, Ahad, Ahad (only One God). Look at the power of his sincere Iman. Look at his struggle for social justice! Look at his readiness to sacrifice that others could have freedom.
2. Look at the commitment of Abu Bakr! He leaves his property, good social status among the Quraysh and follows the Din of Islam. He gives ALL for the pleasure of Allah and betterment of people/community.
3. Look at the personality of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S), his Iman, and his energy. He refuses all the gifts, power of Duniya by choosing the Din of Allah: ‘If you would give me the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand I would never stop the mission ordered by Allah.’
4. Look at the lives of Ibrahim, his son Ismail and the Mother Hajar and you will find amazing examples of self-sacrifice and commitment for the sake of Allah.
Ya Rabb! Help us make our hearts committed to the Din, follow the path of commitment of the great giants and role-models from our past and make us of those who would commit ourselves to the principles of righteousness that the Almighty is pleased with.
Allahumma Amin!

Greeting by Dr. Emdad Khan

As-salaamu Alykum, meaning “Peace be upon you.”  Is the greeting used by all Muslims. The reply to the greeting is Wa Alykum As-salaam, which means “And upon you be peace.”

As-Salaam is one of the  beautiful names of Allah. In the Quran, in 26.61, He commands believers, “But if you enter houses, salute each other—a greeting of blessing and purity from Allah. –.” Again in 6.54, He states, “When those come to you who believe in Our signs, say: ‘Peace be upon you…” (6:54)

 Finally, in paradise, in 39.73, “And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups. When they reach it, the gates will be opened and the keepers (angels) will say, ‘Salaamu Alykum, you have done well, so enter here to abide therein.’” 

The Prophet (pbuh) used to greet people by saying As-salaamu Alykum and encouraged the companions. The greeting helps bond Muslims together as one family and establish strong community relationships.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you about something which, if you do it, will make you love one another? Greet each other with salaam.”.

Let us revive saying As-salaamu Alykum to each other, we know or not know them

Greeting with salaam is sunnah/recommended but the rely is obligatory. The one who says first salaam get more Hashanah. It is one of the rights of one Muslim to another.

So, let us be the first one to greet with salaam and let us have a practice of giving daily at least salam to 10 believers.