Friday prayers return at Valley Park

High school students — not a religious leader from outside — now lead the weekly Muslim prayers at Toronto’s Valley Park Middle School, a change the school hopes will ease objections to the 30-minute service.

Three male students from nearby Marc Garneau Collegiate began leading Friday afternoon prayers earlier this month rather than an imam from the nearby mosque, because some critics had complained about an outside religious leader conducting worship at school during the school day.

In a bid to address those concerns, school officials brainstormed this summer with leaders of the large Muslim community in Thorncliffe Park, near Don Mills Rd. and Overlea Blvd., and agreed that student-run prayers seemed a solution, said Valley Park principal Nick Stefanoff. Many Toronto high schools have long allowed students to run Friday prayers on-site, but Valley Park had allowed an imam, partly because its oldest students are only in Grade 8.

But with Marc Garneau Collegiate across the street, Valley Park turned to their students for help.

“We wanted to address concerns without changing the religious accommodation we provide,” said Stefanoff, whose school started allowing the prayer service three years ago as a way to stop losing as many as 400 students every Friday to worship at a local mosque. Many believe the Qur’an requires followers to pray together at a certain time on Friday afternoon, so Valley Park lets students use the cafeteria after lunch.

“I think it’s a good idea because it cuts down on travel time and it’s safer for younger students to stay at the school,” said Hamzah Khoda, 16, a Grade 11 student who helps the student leaders who conduct the service.

So far the students have led only one service since they resumed for the winter, which drew some 300 Valley Park students. Stefanoff noted they “were actually pretty quiet and orderly.”

Khoda said the prayers begin with a sermon in Arabic from a book provided by the local mosque. He said the student leader wears a robe and female students sit behind their male classmates — a point that drew fire this summer for violating gender equity.

Jim Spyropoulos, superintendent of inclusive schools for the Toronto District School Board, said it is not up to schools to judge the beliefs of a religion, but they are compelled by law to accommodate students’ religious needs, whether it is a Jewish student’s need to stay home to observe high holidays, a Jehovah’s Witness’s objection to standing for the national anthem, or a Muslim student’s need to pray during a school day, unlike other religions whose day of worship falls on weekends.

“These are highly personal matters that are very important to many students, and we’re compelled to live up to our legal duty to accommodate them,” said Spryropoulos. He noted that Christian holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday are enshrined in law as statutory holidays.

Several religious groups have supported accommodating Friday prayers in school, including the Ontario Multifaith Council and the Hindu Federation. Other groups, such as the Canadian Muslim Congress and a group called Canadian Hindu Advocacy have opposed it.

READ ARTICLE ON THE TORONTO STAR

Hadith Al-Bukhari & Muslim

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: `La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli sha’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent),’ he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his sins will be blotted out from his scroll, and he will be safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds except someone who has recited these words more often than him. And he who utters: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)’ one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Hadith Bukhari

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.” [Bukhari Book:64 No:265]

Surah Kahf—Maher al-Mu’aqily

Hadith

Anas ibn Malik (رضى الله عنه) said that when he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he said: “Coming upon you now is a man from the people of Paradise.” So a man came from the Ansar whose beard looked disarrayed by the water from Wudu (ablution)…

Surah Al-Mursalaat

(O you disbelievers)! Eat and enjoy yourselves (in this worldly life) for a little while. Verily, you are the Mujrimûn (polytheists, disbelievers, sinners, criminals, etc.). [77:46]

Surah Yunus

“Indeed, Allah is truly favorable to the people, but most of them are not thankful.”[10:60]

Hadith Bukhari

It was asked ‘O Allah’s Apostle! We know how to greet you; but how to send ‘Salat’ upon you?

He said, ‘Say: Allahumma Salli ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala Ali Muhammadin, kama sal-laita ‘ala all Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala all Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala all Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.”

[Bukhari Book:75 No:368]

Surah Ibrahim

Rabbighfir lii wali-waalidayya walilmum-iniina yauma yaquumul hisaab

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” (14:41)

Surah Adh-Dhariyat

‎”Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs” [51:15]

Prophet Muhammad’s Care for the Poor

By Allah, it is not poverty about which I fear for you, but I fear in your case that (the worldly) riches may be given to you as were given to those who had gone before you, and that you begin to vie with one another for them as they vied for them, and that they may destroy you as they destroyed them. [Al-Bukhari]

O son of Adam! It is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold the essentials) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependents; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand. [Muslim]

If anyone gives as sadaqa (charity) the equivalent of a date from that (earning) earned honestly, for Allah accepts that which is lawful, the Lord would accept it with His Right Hand, and even if it is a date, it would foster in the Hand of the lord, as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes bigger than a mountain.
[Al-Bukhari]

Nothing is more delighting to me than this that Uhud should be of gold for me, and no dinar is left with me out of it before three nights pass except a dinar which I would set aside for the repayment of debt upon me. [Al-Bukhari]

Hadith Bukhari

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being overcome by dept and from being overpowered by men (i.e. other people).” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith:6369)

Insight into Imam Abu Hanifa- Shaykh Zahir Mahmood

Surah Ali-Imran

Among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is he who, if entrusted with a Cantar (a great amount of wealth, etc.), will readily pay it back; and among them there is he who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless you constantly stand demanding, because they say: “There is no blame on us to betray and take the properties of the illiterates (Arabs).” But they tell a lie against Allâh while they know it.[Ali-Imran 3:75]

DEFINING MARRIAGE – WEEKEND ILM INTENSIVE VII


To be held on
Saturday, December 3rd (12:30 pm- 7pm)
and
Sunday, December 4th (10 am – 5 pm), 2011
at the
Islamic Association of Northwest Calgary

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK

DAY 1DAY 1 –SATURDAY DECEMBER 3rd

12:30pmREGISTRATION
12:50-1:1:15ADHAN & DUHR SALAH
1:25-1:30RECITATION OF QURAN
1:30-1:45SUPLICATIONS OF THE MORNINING & AFTERNOONJ
1:45-2:201. BETTER OR BITTER HALF? AN ISLAMIC EXPLANATION

This topic will examine the reasons why all of the Prophets of Allah strongly encouraged their followers to establish the blessed social institution of marriage. Traditions of the Messenger (saw) will be examined outlining the purposes and reasons as to why one, in this day and age is somewhat obligated to get married. What is an appropriate age of marriage? Other objectives of marriage will also be discussed.
2:20-2:552 .PURSUE THE PERFECT RELATIONSHIP, NOT PARTNER!

This important assembly will highlight the judicial parameters of whom one is allowed to marry? After examining the fiqh of whom one can marry, including the topic of the people of the book, the instructor will bring the students attention towards the process of selection for a potential spouse. What should one look for? Is beauty a point to consider? What is the ruling of looking at one’s potential spouse? Did the Prophet advise us as to how glancing should be carried out? The fiqh of engagements will also be brought to the discussion table. Are engagements Sunnah? What is the ruling with respect to engagement gifts?
2:55-3:15ADHAN & ASR
3:15-4:003. FROM PROPOSING-GLANCING-ENGAGEMENT-MARRAIGE CONTRACT
WHAT CONDITIONS WOULD INVALIDATE A MARRIAGE CONTRACT?
This session will get into the judicial aspects of the fiqh related issues pertaining to marriage. Have you ever studied or even seen a marriage contract? What conditions, if any can a sister place on the marriage? Are prenuptial agreements Sharia compliant? What is a walima, and is there anything I should know about them? How many witnesses are needed for my marriage? What if I’m a convert… Who will be my Wali? If my husband apostasies from Islam, is my marriage still valid and for how long? What is the Islamic ruling on forced marriages? How does one announce the marriage? Is a woman’s consent required prior to marriage?
4:00-4:454. PROPHETIC ADVICE FOR NEWLYWEDS
What exactly is the point of the marriage sermon? Why did the Messenger (saw) choose these particular verses over others? What are the 4 foundational agreements the spouses should learn from the Sermon? The 5 recommendations of the Prophet (saw) with respect to the first moments of matrimonial life will be studied. The session will conclude by explaining the process of how to set-up healthy family dynamics and a successful atmosphere from day one.

4:45-5:05ADHAN & MAGHRIB
5:05-5:30 LATE LUNCH
5:30-6:30

CORRESPONDING RIGHTS & DUTIES BETWEEN SPOUSES/DOWRY-CAN I ASK FOR A $20,000 DOWRY?
What is the mahr or dowry all about? Is the mahr a form of insurance in the event the relationship gets compromised? Is the dowry culturally based or religious? Is there a minimum or maximum amount a woman can request? Did the Prophet (saw) give dowry to his wives? What is the story behind Fatima (ra) dowry? How much is Mahr Fatima? Is the dowry and its function mentioned in the Quran? Seriously, Can I ask for $20,000, cold hard cash? Do I have to cook or do laundry? As a wife, do I have to financially contribute towards the day to day expenditures of running a home? Who is the primary caregiver for the children? What is the concept of Qawamah?

6:30-7:10QUESTION & ANSWER
7:15ADHAN
7:30ISHA

DAY 2DAY 2-SUNDAY DECEMBER 4th

9:30-10:00BREAKFAST
10:05-10:15SUPPLICATIONS OF THE MORNING
10:15-11:156. THE 7C’s & 8S’s TO A SUCCESFULL MARRIAGE
A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE IS AN EDIFICE THAT MUST BE REBUILT EVERYDAY
This session will expound upon the key ingredients towards a healthy, successful, thriving relationship. The Islamic concepts of commitment, courtesy, communication, care, contentment, contribution and compromise will be discussed from an Islamic 21st century perspective. You’ll have to attend the course to figure out what the Seven magical S’s are!
11:15-12:007. THE FASHION OF HAVING SMALL FAMILIES…ISLAMIC?
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN PER FAMILY IN CANADA IS 1.1
Source: Statistics Canada/
WHEN DOES THE SOUL ENTER THE FETUS?
DO NOT KILL YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF FEAR OF POVERTY (QURAN)
The instructor during this particular topic will focus primarily on five salient points. 1. A purpose of marriage?
2. Children, a source of mercy for the parents 3. Islamic upbringing: An important responsibility 4.The fashion of having small families 5. The sacredness of life from the moment of formation.
12:00-12:458. THE FIQH & ETTIQUETTE OF MARITAL RELATIONS
LEGAL-MORAL-SPIRITUAL
Ustadah Noureen Tilly will be examining this subject with the sisters in the Youth Centre, while the same session will be delivered by one of the Shaykhs on the brothers’ side. The student will quickly acknowledge and grasp not only the beautiful teachings of Islam on this subject, but equally important, how the Prophet (saw) taught and exemplified these etiquettes in the most attractive and complete form.
12:45-1:00ADHAN
1:00DUHR
1:15-2:00LUNCH
2:00-3:009. POLYGAMY FROM PRE ISLAMIC ARABIA –MODERN DAY ISLAM
AN ACADEMIC HISTORICAL STUDY
This topic will be taught from a few different angles. Among them is polygamy in the Judeo-Christian traditions. The practice of polygamy in pre-Islamic Arabia. Historical and background context of the Quranic verses mentioning Polygamy. Prophetic teachings about Polygamy and it’s judicial classification according to Islamic scholars.
3:00-3:15ASR
3:15-4:30Q&APANEL
4:30-4:45CONCLUSION & DUAA

4:45-5:00ADHAN & MAGHRIB

Hadith Sahîh al Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim

worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you.” [Sahîh al Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Why Do We Dislike Death??

Hadith Bukhari: Greeting the People of the Book with Peace

Abu Uthman an-Nahdi said: Abu Musa wrote to a Persian leader and greeted him with peace in his letter. He was asked, “Do you greet him with peace when he is a disbeliever?” He replied, “Indeed, he wrote to me and greeted me with peace, so I have answered him.”

[Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad #1101]

عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ قَالَ‏:‏ كَتَبَ أَبُو مُوسَى إِلَى رُهْبَانٍ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فِي كِتَابِهِ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ‏:‏ أَتُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ إِنَّهُ

Music and Islam – Nouman Ali Khan

Islam: the Fastest Growing Way of Life

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