December 12, 2011 11:29 AM
By CBC Community Team

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced a ban on face coverings, such as niqabs, for people swearing their oath of citizenship.

A Muslim woman wearing a niqab attends a protest against islamophobia in Bern on Oct. 29. (Michael Buholzer/Reuters)The ban, announced Monday, is effective immediately.

As a result, Muslim women will have to remove their niqabs or any other face-covering garments, such as burkas, before they can recite the oath of citizenship to become Canadians.

Kenney said he’s had complaints from MPs and citizenship court judges that it’s hard to tell whether people with their faces covered are actually reciting the oath of citizenship, which he says is a requirement to become Canadian.

“We cannot have two classes of citizenship ceremonies. Canadian citizenship is not just about the right to carry a passport and to vote,” Kenney said.
Do you agree with the ban on veils for citizenship oaths? Let us know in the comments below.

PLEASE VOTE

http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2011/12/should-veils-be-banned-during-oaths-of-citizenship.html

We shall set up just scales on the Day of Resurrection so that none will be wronged in the least. (We shall bring forth the acts of everyone), even if it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed. We shall suffice as Reckoners. QURAN [21:47]

‘Whoever is patient, Allah will give him (more) patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience.’
[Bukhari and Muslim]

Say, “I have been forbidden to worship those whom you worship other than Allah”; say, “I do not follow your desires – if it were, I would then go astray and not be on the right path.” [Ana`am 6:56]

And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive Guidance.
(Surah Al-Anbiya 32)

If only the Unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!
(Surah Al-Anbiya: 40)

Some poor people came to the Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) and said, “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and ‘Umra; fight and struggle in Allah’s Cause and give in charity.”

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say “Sub-han-al-lah”, “Alhamdu-lillah” and “Allahu Akbar” thirty three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.”

[Bukhari 0804]

The Messenger of Allaah (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who visits a (sick) Muslim early in the morning but seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise.” [Al-Tirmidhi (969)]

Narrated Qasim bin Muhammad: Three traditions have been established because of Barira: ‘Aisha intended to buy her and set her free, but Barira’s masters said, “Her wala’ will be for us.” ‘Aisha mentioned that to Allah’s Apostle who said, “You could accept their condition if you wished, for the wala is for the one who manumits the slave.” Barira was manumitted, then she was given the choice either to stay with her husband or leave him; One day Allah’s Apostle entered ‘Aisha’s house while there was a cooking pot of food boiling on the fire. The Prophet asked for lunch, and he was presented with bread and some extra food from the home-made Udm (e.g. soup). He asked, “Don’t I see meat (being cooked)?” They said, “Yes, O Allah’s Apostle! But it is the meat that has been given to Barira in charity and she has given it to us as a present.” He said, “For Barira it is alms, but for us it is a present.”[Bukhari 065:341]

By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
[Surah Al-`Aşr 103]

Allah’s Apostle (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whenever you go to your bed (for sleeping) say, ‘O Allah! I have surrendered myself over to you and have turned my face towards You, and leave all my affairs to You and depend on You and put my trust in You expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment. There is neither fleeing from You nor refuge but with You. I believe in the Book (Qur’an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent.’ If you then die on that night, then you will die as a Muslim, and if you wake alive in the morning then you will receive the reward.”

[Bukhari Book:93 No:580]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Ashura’ I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.”

[Narrated by Muslim, 1162]

Abū Qatāda al-Anṣārī (raḍī Allāhu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…The fast of the day of `Āshūra, [I consider it to] expiate the sins of the preceding year.” [Muslim, Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd and Ibn Khuzaymah]