Late last week, our son's best friend lost his grandmother, who lived at home with them. We've know the family for 9 years due to the kids' friendship so Mrs. M and I attended the funeral. Thing is, they are Ismaili Muslims, so this was a Muslim funeral. Very, very different from Christian or secular funeral/memorial. Much of the service is just chanting of prayers and reciting verses from the Qu'ran. There is a paying of respect to the deceased. Men and women are separate (as usual for Muslim services/rites).
I must say I am relieved to see the end of September.
It was a sad and bloody month.
The month began with the 12th Anniversary of the Sep11th attacks in US. On the same day, a Florida pastor was arrested
before he could set on fire several thousand copies of the Qu’ran.
The month really went off the rails when
a pair of suicide bombers in Pakistan killed close to 80 Christians
as they were leaving their Anglican Church after the Sunday service.
I feel compelled to discuss here this Quebec "values" charter that may seek to ban public servants from wearing "religious symbols" such as hijab, kippah, or crosses while working.
Personally, I feel very sad and confused about this direction, if it truly reflects a common view in Quebec or the rest of Canada. Does it reflect our limits on truly embracing diversity?
Well I have recently met probably the most amazing person ever. His name is Feroz and he is a Muslim. He lives in my town. He isn't just any Muslim though, he is one of the most learned Muslims...like...ever. He has permission from all 7 of the major Sufi orders to teach their ways (he is one of only 2 people in the past half century to achieve this), he has worked with the Prime Minister, done Akido training for CSIS, and has an incredible intellect.
Last month, nineteen former foreign ministers, including from Canada Lloyd Axworthy met in Madrid to conduct a far-reaching assessment of the relationship between the West and the "Muslim World."
“Do you have any balloons?” asked the little boy, looking directly at me. The women beside me would have looked far more familiar to him. Each was wearing a hijab as we chatted beside a display table at an Eid celebration last Friday. My head was uncovered and I was wearing my big beaded cross necklace.
Fom a faith and religious perspective, do you think the people of the Western World suffer from Islamaphobia?
Should and can religions and churches do something about this?
Do you think it is because we do not know enough about the Muslum faith and we should be using our faith as a teaching tool?
I, personally, do not know a Muslum. I only know Omni through WonderCafe.
This just in!
[copy and paste]
Updated Wed. Feb. 11 2009 6:51 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
In what is likely the first of its kind in Canada, a Toronto mosque is offering a "detox" program for young Islamic radicals who are sympathetic to the terrorist group al Qaeda.
It was the third bomb this week in Pakistan. A man walked into a mosque in Jamrud during Friday prayers. The congregation was about the size of our gathering this morning. Just after the Imam said the words, “God is great”, the bomb was detonated. Half of the congregation were killed or injured.
Today we ill learn about (upon request of Crazy) the creation of a Muslim!
When a daddy muslim and a mommy muslim love each other very much...jk :P
No, this is the story of my Conversion, along the way I hope to clear up some misconceptions about islam that helped lead me to it, and if I miss something I will try to add it later in a seperate post. Bear with me...
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