Jawed Anwar

FEW years ago, I was sitting with some of Ulema (scholars of Islam) in Toronto at a dinner party. I initiated, “I have a question if any one among you will prefer to answer.” Then, I asked a question:

“History proves that wherever, whenever, Muslims migrated and entered into any country, the darkness of the society started disappearing, and finally light engulfed the whole nation. As Muslims’ presence increased, the light overcame the darkness. But now things have completely changed. It is going opposite now. The population of Muslims in Canada have increased tremendously in last twenty-five or thirty years. Now we have hundreds of Masajid, Islamic Centers, Madrasas and countless number of Huffaz and ulema. We have about one million Muslims in Canada. However, the darkness of the society in social evils increased in a much higher proportion than our presence. Why is this difference?”

There was a complete silence.   No one responded.

Then I started trying to answer my own question. I said, “Most probably, one important thing we are missing is our role and responsibility of ‘Enjoining what is good…forbidding what is evil.’ This was the main motto of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and his companions (r.a.) They never rested or refrained from a single moment from this noble task in their life. In opposite, we are doing everything except this assigned task."

If we were pro-active to do this task, I believe it would not be possible for Ontario liberals and democrats to bring those bills, acts, and laws to be implemented.

Jama’at:

All our organizations, Islamic Centers, and groups must do this task: Enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong.

“You are now the best people brought forth for (the guidance and reform of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are transgressors.” Al-Quran 3:110  

This was the main thing and at the top of the list of things to do by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). So, there should not be any Islamic Jamaat not doing this task. We must create awareness in the public about right and wrong, about good and evil.

Masajid:

We should have at least four departments and four Imams (leaders) in all our Masajid: 1. Imam of Salat, 2. Imam of education and training (tarbiyah), 3. Imam of Youth (including one sister leader for sister youth), and 4. Imam of Dawah (outreach to non-Muslims). Two departments may be paired and combined. These positions may be paid or volunteer according to the size, resources, and availability in the Masajid.

The Mimbar of the Masjid and Jumuah Khutaba should be extensively utilized to do this task –enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.

Without condemning and endorsing any political party or group, you can address the real issue of society evils and our religious (Islamic) position on the matter. Our charity/not-for-profit status doesn’t stop us from addressing the evils and our religious position and beliefs in social and political matters. It is our constitutional fundamental right and freedom.

“Fundamental Freedoms 2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.”

(Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)

US Constitution guarantees similar fundamental freedoms and rights of religion. Check First Amendment.

Political Platform:

All the leading political parties have consensus on the major evils of the society (about promoting, practicing and educating LGBT lifestyle). Therefore involving, participating in, and voting for those parties and platforms are in fact an act of empowering and promoting evils. We must stop this kind of stupid political activism. Muslim candidacy from major political platforms never guarantees our representation (on the issues that bother us) in the parliament. In fact, they will be more vocal, more persuasive to establish the evils brought by their political platform. Experience always shows and proves it. All the Muslim members of Ontario Legislative Assembly were proactive and frontline supporter of those bills that aimed toward gender genocide.

We have liberty to launch a new political platform addressing those issues and concerns. It doesn’t matter how many people vote for us or how many seats we would be able to acquire in Parliament. But it will show our stand and commitment to the cause of “enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong”. The political platform may be one of the most effective platforms to address the issues of corruptions and evils of the society.

However, this platform needs religiously and morally strong people, people of strong character and Taqwa (God fearing). Otherwise, it will be hijacked easily by the mainstream parties and special interest groups.

Foster Care Training:

After bill 89, more and more children might be snatched from the parents’ laps, and more families will be affected by Ontario Liberal government’s high handedness. Parents can be charged for not attending or adjusting to the new lifestyle or new gender adopted by their children (public education system teaches sexual identification, orientation and encourages to adopt newly defined non-biological genders). A large number may go foster care families. Muslim families should be prepared with proper foster care training to foster and maybe even adopt Muslim children in crisis. To prepare your life and your home for fostering/adopting, you will need to attend specialized classes to learn how to address the unique problems stemming from emotional turmoil of children separated from their birth families for various reasons.  Find more details at: http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/fostercare/index.aspx

Halqa and Study Circle:

Daily/weekly/monthly halqa (circles) should be started everywhere (from Masajid to home) to create awareness among the community. In the study circle, Quran, Hadith, and Seerah should be studied and discussion should be made on the current affairs and situation, and government laws and legislations that are affecting our society and family.

(Syed Jawed Anwar can be reached at jawed@seerahwest.com)

Previous Articles:

Gender Genocide in Canada-3: Our Message

Gender Genocide in Canada-2: What Should Muslims Do?  

Gender Genocide in Canada-1: Before and Beyond Bill 89