By Abu Saad

(From Left: Muzammil Majid, Imam Mustafa Elturk, and Dr. Fawad Kiyani)

THE month of Rabiul Awwal started and, with this, Seerah conferences started all over North America. This writer attended the first event of the year on the last day of Safar (one day before Rabiul Awwal), Nov 18, in Thorncliffe Park Banquet Center at Toronto. It was organized by Islamic Organization of North America (IONA), founded by late Dr. Israr Ahmed, great teacher and speaker of Quran (tafseer). The Amir of IONA, Imam Mustafa Elturk, key note speaker, visited from Michigan, USA.

Imam Elturk said that, despite our numbers in the world --1.6 to 1.7 billion Muslims— and despite the fact that not a single Muslim would say that he or she didn’t love Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), the Muslims’ situation all over the world is worsening. The question was raised, If we really love Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w), then why is our condition worldwide so deplorable?

“Our enemies overwhelmingly are snatching the power, security, land and resources, and we are unable to do anything.” He said that the answer to this question is that our claim of love is just “lip service”. It is not visible anywhere in practice. “Our deeds are far and far away from the guidance given by Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.). In fact, in many cases it is quite contradictory. What we are practicing is in fact some rituals and nothing more.

“Performing salah and fasting just as a ritual is not enough. These are the means and training to do a larger task, and that is the struggle to establishment of Deen of Allah, the justice on this earth.”

Imam Elturk said that Allah promised us is that if you are true believers, you will never be sad, you will always have the upper hand. You will rule, not be ruled by others. But if you don’t have fear of Allah, your fear from the hearts of your enemy will be gone. This situation arises due to our love of this world and fear of death; the Arabic word for this situation is Wahan وہن .

He said that we have to struggle to bring back the just socio-politico-economic Islamic order, Iqamat –udeen, no matter wherever we are living.

Imam emphasized the importance of Jamaat (organization) for this struggle and asks the audience to come into the fold of IONA Canada.

Earlier, Dr. Fawad Kiyani, representative of IONA Canada, and Muzammil Majid, trainer and instructor at IONA Canada, also presented their speeches on different aspects of Seerah of Rasool of Allahï·º . They introduced IONA Canada’s current activities and programs and invited the audience to join the team.

IONA also organized similar events at Jamia Masjid, Cooper Ave., Mississauga on Nov 17, at Masjid Rahmat, Mississauga, on Nov 18, and Alrayan Islamic Centre at Oshawa on Nov 19., Sheikh Suleman, Imam of Masjid Rehmat spoke at Masjid Rahmat event, while Shikh Gomaa, Imam of Alrayan Islamic Center spoke at the event at their centre while Sheikh Salar Rasool, Pricipal ISNA High School spoke at the event at Jamia Masjid..

For more details about IONA, contact;

Islamic Organization of North America (IONA)

5200 Dixie Road, Suite 111, Mississauga, ON L4W 1E4

Tel: 647.956.4654, E: info@ionacanada.ca  Web: ionacanada.ca