Jaffari Community Centre

22nd Rabi Ul Awwal 1446 AH

September 26th 2024

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- The Middle East situation is worsening, with the UN Secretary-General describing Lebanon as descending into chaos.

- Israel is conducting indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, killing women, children, and non-combatants.

- An elderly Canadian couple was killed while fleeing southern Lebanon, sparking condemnation from Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.

- Over 600 people have been killed, including 50 children, with thousands wounded and 90,000 displaced.

- The U.S. has been criticized for its hypocrisy, calling for a ceasefire while supplying $8.7 billion in military aid to Israel.

- Despite a temporary pause, U.S. weapons, including 2,000-pound bombs, continue to be shipped to Israel.

- Grand Ayatullāh Sistāni condemned the aggression and called for efforts to protect the Lebanese people and provide humanitarian aid.

- The ISIJ has responded by sending $100,000 in humanitarian relief to Lebanon.

- Locally, many Friday khutbas focus on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, observed annually on September 30.

- This day reflects on the genocide and injustice faced by Indigenous people since European colonization 500 years ago.

- Indigenous scholars emphasize "settler colonialism," which displaces Indigenous inhabitants and creates unequal societies, similar to the situation in Palestine.

- The use of "settler colonialism" helps link the struggles of Indigenous people in North America with the Palestinian cause.

Friday Juma Khutba

September 27th, 2024

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- The birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad brings blessings for all Muslims; he is described as "the mercy for the universe."

- The Prophet’s mercy is evident in the guidance given to Muslim soldiers, as reported by Imām Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣādiq, whose birth anniversary coincides with the Prophet’s.

- Prophet Muhammad instructed his soldiers to avoid deceit, mutilation, killing non-combatants, and harming the environment.

- Soldiers were prohibited from killing the elderly, children, women, cutting trees unless necessary, and destroying fruit-bearing trees.

- These instructions, given 1400 years ago, precede the Geneva Convention’s humanitarian principles from 1864, such as protecting wounded soldiers and civilians.

- Muslims often discuss humanitarian values but may overlook how their faith and Prophet set these standards long before modern conventions.

- Expressing hope that Muslims would adhere to the ideals presented by the Prophet and Imams of Ahlul Bayt.

- Recent events in Lebanon saw high-tech warfare by Israel, leading to the explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies, killing 37 people and injuring thousands.

- In Gaza, hospitals are targeted, with most casualties being civilians, including women and children.

- Western views on civilian casualties vary, with more concern shown for "our" civilians versus "the other," particularly Muslims.

- The case of Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, highlights this hypocrisy when she justified the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children during sanctions, stating the price was "worth it."

Friday Juma Khutba

September 20th, 2024

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- Shi‘as express happiness with the happiness of Ahlul Bayt and sadness with their sorrow. Eid-e Zahrā’ is celebrated as the day the family of ‘Ali and Fāṭimah rejoiced after the criminals responsible for Karbala were brought to justice by Mukhtār.

- Shi‘a Islām is rooted in the principles of love and hate (ḥubb and bughdh): love for Allah, the Prophet, the Ahlul Bayt, their followers, and values, and rejection of their enemies, known as tawalla and tabarra.

- Devotion to Ahlul Bayt is often expressed through speech, writings, and poetry, such as qaṣidah (praise) or marthiya/nawḥa (eulogy).

- Sayyid Murtaza and Sayyid Riza were prominent Shi‘a scholars from Baghdad in the 4th century, descendants of Imam Musa al-Kāzim. Their teacher, Shaykh Mufid, had a vision of Bibi Fāṭimah asking him to teach them Islamic jurisprudence. Both brothers became influential scholars—Sayyid Riza compiled Nahjul Balāghah, while Sayyid Murtaza specialized in theology and fiqh.

- Ibnul Ḥajjāj al-Baghdādi, a poet of the 4th century, composed a famous qaṣidah praising Imam ‘Ali. His poem, inscribed on the shrine of Imam ‘Ali in Najaf, highlights the significance of tawalla and tabarra.

- The qaṣidah praises Imam ‘Ali as the source of shafā (healing) and divine guidance. It describes the blessings received by those who visit his grave and intercession sought through him.

- When Ibnul Ḥajjāj recited his poem in the presence of Sayyid Murtaza, he included lines of tabarra (condemnation of enemies), which Murtaza initially stopped. However, Imam ‘Ali appeared in a dream to Ibnul Ḥajjāj, instructing him to recite the poem in its entirety.

- Sayyid Murtaza had a dream where the Prophet and the Imams showed displeasure because he had stopped the poet. He was instructed to apologize to Ibnul Ḥajjāj, which he did, and then the poet was honored by the ruler.

9th Rabbi Awwal 1446

13th September 2024

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- Imām Ḥasan al-‘Askari (a) quotes Imām Ja‘far as-Sādiq (a.s.) condemning people who follow corrupt religious leaders.

- He advises people to follow only jurists who control their desires, protect their religion, and obey their Master, emphasizing that such qualities are found in only some jurists.

- The ḥadith, although from Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (a), reached the community through Imām Ḥasan al-‘Askari (a), indicating preparation for the ghaybat of Imam al-Mahdi (a).

- Taqlid is not a new concept; Shaykh al-Mufid of the fourth century clarified that a partially knowledgeable person cannot decide on religious differences and must refer to a learned person.

- Muslim engagement with the Canadian political system is important, even though the Liberal government doesn't align with Islamic values.

- This week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada reinforced the arms export ban to Israel, suspended permits, and blocked a major ammunition deal, influenced by Muslim organizations like NCCM.

- Canadian Muslims can play a role in supporting the oppressed (mazlumin) against oppressors (zalim).

- Today is the 9th of Rabi al-Awwal, also known as Eid-e Zahra (a), which commemorates Mukhtar bin ‘Ubaydullāh ath-Thaqafi’s fight against the oppressors responsible for the massacre of Karbala.

- The senior officers of Yazid's army were punished, and five years after Karbala, Umar ibn Sa‘d was killed on 9th Rabi al-Awwal by Mukhtar’s forces.

Friday Juma Khutba

September 13th, 2024

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6th Rabi Al Awwal 1446 AH

Tuesday, September 10th 2024

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Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)

8th Rabi Ul Awwal 1446 AH

Wednesday, September 11th 2024

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Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)

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Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)

- The month of Rabi al-Awwal marks the Prophet Muhammad's (a) migration from Mecca to Medina, an important event in Islamic history.

- 'Ali (a) played a significant role during the hijrah when he took the Prophet’s place in bed to protect him from assassins.

- The night 'Ali slept in the Prophet's bed is known as "laylatul mabit," and Allah revealed a verse praising his sacrifice (Qur'an 2:207).

- Mu'awiyah attempted to suppress 'Ali's virtues in Islamic teachings by bribing narrators to distort the meaning of the Qur'anic verse related to laylatul mabit.

- Mu'awiyah offered increasing sums to Sumarah bin Jundub to fabricate a false narrative, but despite eventual success, this attempt did not gain much traction.

- The verse "They wish to blow off the light of Allāh with their mouths, but Allāh protects His light" (Qur'an) emphasizes the divine protection of truth.

- The first Muslim migration was to Abyssinia, a Christian country, where the Prophet recommended migration due to the just ruler.

- Muslims today should seek societies where justice prevails, with Western democracies often providing fairness and rights to citizens, despite foreign policy biases.

- The example of the International Criminal Court shows how justice is often compromised in international affairs, particularly in relation to powerful nations like the US and UK.

- Muslims in the West should engage legally and meaningfully to hold governments accountable for justice on a global scale.

Friday Juma Khutba

September 6th, 2024

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Thursday Night Majlis

1st Rabi Ul Awwal 1446 AH

September 5th 2024

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Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)