Letter to MPs from Muslim Community Regarding Ramadan

To Our Elected Members of Parliament:

The blessed month of Ramadan, observed by over two million Muslims in Canada and almost two billion Muslims worldwide, will be here in a few short weeks. A foundational pillar of Islam is fasting from dawn to sunset throughout this holy month. This devotional act is a powerful means of cultivating God-consciousness in our hearts and minds, inspiring self-reflection, and increasing empathy and good works. It is also a time when our places of worship overflow with Muslims gathering together to worship as a single community.

The Muslim community throughout our country is deeply affected by the loss of all innocent life, including the tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Gaza who have fallen victim to the collective punishment imposed upon them by the Netanyahu government. Millions more are at risk of death due to indiscriminate bombardment, the targeting of hospitals, systematic starvation, and the proposed military operation in Rafah that Canada, Australia and New Zealand have said would be catastrophic.

In addition to the ongoing attack on civilians in Gaza, violations of international law at the hands of extremist settlers in the West Bank continue to go unpunished. Moreover, the Netanyahu government has renewed its attack on sacred spaces and has announced the adoption of new rules to limit the access of Muslims to Masjid Al Aqsa, one of holiest places in Islam. This fresh provocation has been globally condemned – including by many of Netanyahu’s own colleagues.

God reminds us in the Qur’an that the wrongful killing of one person is akin to killing all of humanity. In light of this, our prayers and supplications, particularly in the recent months and as we enter Ramadan, are centered on the distressing situation in Gaza and Palestine, and for the thousands of children who have lost their lives in what the ICJ has described as a plausible case of genocide.

Here in Canada, we have, for nearly a century, welcomed our elected MPs from all parties into our mosques during Ramadan to not only engage in dialogue, but to share in our collective commitment to help the needy, the oppressed, and the poor. Ramadan has especially been a time when elected officials have historically had the opportunity to connect with hundreds of thousands of Canadian Muslims gathered for worship.

As our hearts break for the people of Palestine, we renew our commitment to upholding the ethics of our sacred month.

This Ramadan, we accordingly ask our MPs from all political parties that, before coming to our community gatherings, they commit to the following:

1. Condemning the war crimes being committed by Israeli forces;
2. Supporting an immediate ceasefire urgently needed to protect civilians sheltering in Rafah and beyond;
3. Demanding the immediate resumption of funding for UNRWA, a lifeline for millions of refugees which was suspended without reasonable basis;
4. Opposing the flow of arms and military equipment to the Netanyahu government, which, as confirmed by the ICJ, is engaged in plausible genocide; and
5. Standing in defence of civil liberties, including the right of Canadians to express solidarity with the Palestinian people without fear of reprisal.

If you cannot publicly commit to all of the above, respectfully, we cannot provide you with a platform to address our congregations. Ramadan is about humanity. This Ramadan, more than ever, only those MPs who share in our commitment to humanity will be welcome to address us in our sacred spaces.

We look forward to hearing from you.

/

FRANÇAIS

À nos députés :

Le mois béni du Ramadan, observé par plus de deux millions de musulmans au Canada et près de deux milliards de musulmans dans le monde entier, débutera dans quelques semaines à peine. Un pilier fondamental de l’Islam est le jeûne, de l’aube au coucher du soleil, tout au long de ce mois sacré. Cet acte de dévotion est un moyen puissant de cultiver la conscience de Dieu dans nos cœurs et nos esprits, d’inspirer l’autoréflexion, et d’augmenter l’empathie et les bonnes actions. C’est également un moment où nos lieux de culte débordent de musulmans se rassemblant pour prier en tant que communauté.

La communauté musulmane dans tout notre pays est profondément affectée par la perte de toute vie innocente, y compris les dizaines de milliers de nos frères et sœurs à Gaza qui sont devenus victimes de la punition collective imposée par le gouvernement Netanyahu. Des millions d’autres sont en danger de mort en raison de bombardements indiscriminés, du ciblage des hôpitaux, de la famine systématique et de l’opération militaire proposée à Rafah que le Canada, l’Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande ont déclaré catastrophique.

Au-delà de l’attaque en cours contre les civils à Gaza, les violations du droit international aux mains des colons extrémistes en Cisjordanie continuent d’aller impunies. De plus, le gouvernement Netanyahu a renouvelé son attaque contre les lieux saints et a annoncé l’adoption de nouvelles règles pour limiter l’accès des musulmans à la mosquée Al-Aqsa, l’un des lieux les plus sacrés de l’Islam. Cette nouvelle provocation a été condamnée dans le monde entier – y compris par beaucoup de ses propres collègues.

Dieu nous rappelle dans le Coran que le meurtre injuste d’une personne revient à tuer toute l’humanité. À la lumière de cela, nos prières et nos supplications, en particulier au cours des derniers mois et alors que nous entrons dans le Ramadan, se concentrent sur la situation préoccupante à Gaza et en Palestine, et sur les milliers d’enfants qui ont perdu la vie dans ce que la CIJ a décrit comme un cas plausible de génocide.

Ici au Canada, depuis près d’un siècle, nous avons accueilli nos députés de tous les partis dans nos mosquées pendant le Ramadan, non seulement pour engager le dialogue, mais aussi pour partager notre engagement collectif à aider les nécessiteux, les opprimés et les pauvres. Le Ramadan a notamment été un moment où les responsables élus ont historiquement eu l’occasion de se connecter avec des centaines de milliers de musulmans canadiens rassemblés pour prier.

Alors que nos cœurs se brisent pour le peuple de Palestine, nous renouvelons notre engagement à respecter l’éthique de notre mois sacré.

Ce Ramadan, nous demandons en conséquence à nos députés de tous les partis politiques que, avant de venir à nos rassemblements communautaires, ils s’engagent à ce qui suit :

1. Condamner les crimes de guerre commis par les forces israéliennes ;
2. Soutenir un cessez-le-feu immédiat nécessaire de toute urgence pour protéger les civils se réfugiant à Rafah et au-delà ;
3. Exiger la reprise immédiate du financement de l’UNRWA, une bouée de sauvetage pour des millions de réfugiés, suspendu sans base raisonnable ;
4. S’opposer au flux d’armes et d’équipements militaires vers le gouvernement Netanyahu, qui, comme confirmé par la CIJ, est engagé dans un génocide plausible ; et
5. Défendre les libertés civiles, y compris le droit des Canadiens d’exprimer leur solidarité avec le peuple palestinien sans crainte de représailles.

Si vous ne pouvez pas vous engager publiquement à tout ce qui précède, respectueusement, nous ne pouvons pas vous fournir une tribune pour vous adresser à nos congrégations. Le Ramadan concerne l’humanité. Ce Ramadan, plus que jamais, seuls les députés qui partagent notre engagement envers l’humanité seront les bienvenus pour s’adresser à nous dans nos espaces sacrés.

Nous attendons avec impatience de vos nouvelles.

Endorsed by/Supporté par:

National Council of Canadian Muslims

Abo-Ther Alghafari Mosque
Abu Bakr Islamic Centre
Abu Huraira Masjid (Saint John)
Abu Hurairah Centre
Afghan Community for Waterloo region
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada
Ajmm Laval
Ajyal Islamic Center
Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre
Al Ameen Masjid
Al Aqsa Musallah
Al Arqam Islamic Center
Al Faruq Islamic Center
Al Hijra mosque
Al Huda Institute Canada
Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre
Al Makkah Calgary Islamic Centre
Al Masjid Al Jamia/Pakistan Canada Association
Al Mustafa Academy & Humanitarian Society
Al Nadwa Educational Islamic Center
Al Rashid Mosque
Al Rayan Islamic Center – Courtice masjid
Al-Ghazali Centre
Al-Hedaya Islamic Centre
Al-Iman Islamic Center
Al-Omari Mosque
Al-Tawakal Musallah
Alabrar Muslim Association
Alfalah Center Edmonton
AlFalah Islamic Community Center – ICNA Canada
Alliance of Educators for Muslim Students (AEMS)
Alliston Islamic Center
Almanahel Arabic and sport organisation
Alsalam Comunity Centre
Altaqwa Academy Foundation
Amal Center for Women
Anatolia Masjid
Anjuman-E Anwarul Islam of Malton (Malton Masjid)
Ansaar Foundation
Ar-Rashaad Centre
Arab Palestine Association of Ontario
Association Mosquée de la Capitale
Association Musulmane de Lachine
Association Socioculturelle Louperivoise
Assunnah Muslims Association
Aylmer Mosque
Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre
Bab ul Hawaij Islamic Centre
Bait ul Iman
Bait Ul Mukarram Islamic Society
Baitul Maal Inc
Baitul Mukarram islamic Society, Toronto
BC Muslim Association
BCMA – Chilliwack Branch
BCMA – Richmond Branch
BCMA – Surrey Branch
BCMA – Surrey East Branch
BCMA – Vancouver Branch
Bilal Mosque
Bosnian Islamic Association GHB
Bosnian Islamic Centre of Hamilton
Bradford Islamic Centre
Bramalea Islamic Cultural Centre (BICC)
Brampton Islamic Center
Calgary Palestinian Council
Calgary Towhid Centre
Canadian Arab Federation
Canadian Council Of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah
Canadian Council of Imams
Canadian Council of Indian Muslims
Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians
Canadian Council of Muslim Women
Canadian Islamic Cultural Society
Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association
Canadian Muslim Counselling
Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network
Canadian Muslim Research Think Tank
Canadian Muslims for Peace and Justice
Canadian Palestinians Council
Canadians Against Oppression And Persecution(CAOP)
Cape Breton Muslim Community
Carleton University Muslim Student’s Association
Centre Assalam de LavalEst
Centre Communautaire Essalam
Centre Culturel Islamique De La Mauricie
Centre Culturel Islamique de Lanaudière
Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec
Chestermere Muslim Council
Chinese Muslim Association of Canada
Cloverdale Islamic Society
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)
Council of Islamic Guidance
CPSA Canadian Palestinian Social Association London and Run for Palestine London
Dalhousie MSA
Danforth Islamic Centre
Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre
Dar Foundation
Darul Al-Arqam Islamic Centre
Darul Arqam Musalla
Darul Khair Center Stouffville
Deaf Muslims of Canada
DEEN Support Services
Downtown Muslim Professional Network
Dufferin Muslim Centre
Duhaa Foundation
Durham Islamic Center
Durham Islamic Centre / Iqra Masjid
Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities
Enlightened Path Institute
Fairview Southeast Mosque (IISC)
Fiji Islamic Center
Fleetwood Islamic Academy Society of BC
Friends of Palestine Canada
George Town – Masjid Uthman
Ghadir Cultural and Educational Centre
Guildford Islamic Cultural Center
Hadhrami Canadian Community
Halton Islamic Association
Hamilton Downtown Mosque
Hamilton Mountain Mosque
Hikma Public Affairs Council
Hilm
Human Concern International
Hussaini Canadian Educational and Cultural Association
Huttonville Mosque
Hyatt Mosque and Centre
Ibrahim Jame Mosque
ICC Brossard
ICNA Ar-Rehman Islamic Center
ICNA Canada
ICNA sisters Canada
IDRF
Ihya’ Academy
Imam e Azam Musalla Brampton
Imam Mahdi -Mahdiye
Imdadul Islamic Centre
Independent Jewish Voice, Carleton University
Institute of knowledge
International Muslims Organization of Toronto
Iqra Masjid
Islamic Association of Grande Prairie
Islamic Association of Saskatchewan
Islamic Association of Saskatoon
Islamic Care Center
Islamic Center of Quebec
Islamic centre of brossard
Islamic Centre of Oshawa
Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario
Islamic Community Centre Milton
Islamic Community of West Niagara
Islamic Comuunity center of Brossard, Quebec
Islamic Cultural Centre of Sherbrooke
Islamic Foundation of Toronto
Islamic Institute of Toronto
Islamic Relief Canada
Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Toronto
Islamic Society of Ajax
Islamic Society of Markham
Islamic Society of New Brunswick Inc.(JRJ Saint John)
Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula
Islamic Society of St. Catharines
Islamic Society of Toronto
Islamic Society of Vaughan
Islamic Society of York Region
Islamic Supreme Council of Canada
IslamicFamily (IFSSA)
ISNA Canada
ITRUST Community Center-Pickering West Musalla
Jaame Masjid Scarborough (Central Mosque)
Jaffari Community Centre
Jamat Ul Ansar Brampton
Jame Abu Bakr Siddique
Jame Masjid Mississauga
Jami Omar
Jamia Islamia Canada
Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah
Jamia Masjid Ghosul Azam
Jamia Masjid Gunbad-e-Khizra (Green Dome)
Jamia Masjid Noor-e-Madinah (Montreal)
Jamia Masjid Sayyidah Zainab
Jamia Riyadhul Jannah – Edmonton
Jamia Riyadhul Jannah – Mississauga
Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada
JRJ Airdrie
JRJ Maple Ridge
JRJ Saskatoon
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Justice For All Canada
Kamloops Islamic Association
Kanata Muslim Association
Kelowna Islamic Center
Khadijah Masjid
Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque
Khayr Project Canada
Langley Muslim association
Lethbridge Islamic Centre
Life from Water
London Muslim Mosque
Madina Masjid
Madinah Masjid – Jamiat Ul Muslemin
Maktab Canada
Malton Masjid
Manitoba Islamic Association
Markaz ul Islam Society of Edmonton
Markaz-Ul-Islam Fort McMurray
Markham & Lawrence Community United
Markham Islamic Society
Marpole Musalla
Maryam Masjid (Islamic Association of Northwest Calgary)
Masjid Ahlillbait Mosque
Masjid Aisha (RA) (Niagara Falls)
Masjid Al Abedeen Islamic Research Center of Canada
Masjid Al Forqane
Masjid Al Hidaya Toronto
Masjid Al Iman
Masjid Al Jannah
Masjid Al salam
Masjid al-Farooq Islamic Centre
Masjid Al-Hakeem
Masjid Al-Rahmah – BCMA
Masjid Al-Wadood
Masjid Ali – Babulilm
Masjid Alqalam
Masjid Alsalam
Masjid Annoor
Masjid Aqsa Brampton
Masjid Arrahman
Masjid Aulia Allah
Masjid Ayesha (Edmonton)
Masjid Ayesha (Whitby)
Masjid Bilal Muslim Association
Masjid El Noor
Masjid Ibrahim
Masjid In The Park
masjid Kawartha Muslim Religious Association
Masjid Makkah Al Mukkaramah
Masjid Makkah Al-Mukkaramah
Masjid Omar bin Khattab
Masjid Quba – Edmonton
Masjid Quba Ajax
Masjid Ul Taqwa
Masjid ur Rahman
Masjid Yusuf
Masjid Zakariya
Masjidal salam
Masumeen Islamic Centre
MD-International
Mercy Dawah Centre
Mission City Islamic Center Society
Moncton Muslim Association
Mosquée Châteauguay
Mountain Mosque
Muslim Action Group
Muslim Advisory Council of Canada
Muslim Association of Brantford
Muslim Association of Calgary
Muslim Association of Milton
Muslim Association of New Brunswick
Muslim Community Foundation of Calgary
Muslim Community of Edmonton (MCE) Mosque
Muslim Council of Brantford-Brant
Muslim Council of Calgary
Muslim Educators Network of Ontario
Muslim Neighbour Nexus (MNN)
Muslim Society of Prince Edward Island
Muslim Student Association, University of Victoria
Muslim Students Association, McGill University
Muslim Wellness Network
Muslim Women of Brant
Muslim Women of Durham Region
Muslim Youth Association of London
Muslims of Shelburne Centre Masjid
Nasreen Khan
National Zakat Foundation
Ndg mosque
Newmarket Islamic Centre
Niagara Palestine Coalition
Nigerian Canadian Muslim Congregation Calgary
Nigerian Canadian Muslims Congratulation
Nisa Foundation
North London Islamic Centre
Nova Scotia Islamic Community Center (Kearney Lake Masjid)
Olive Branch
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
Orangeville Musalla
Ottawa Muslim Association
Ottawa Muslim Community Services
Ottawa South Muslim Community Centre
Ottawa Uyghur Centre
Outaouais Islamic Center , Centre Islamique de l’Outaouais
Pakistan Canada Association Of Edmonton
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Partners for Humanity Foundation
Peace River Muslim association
Pembroke Islamic Centre
Penny Appeal Canada
Pickering Islamic Center
Pickering Palestinian Association
Rahmat Centre
Rahmatul Allmeen
Ranchlands Musallah (Islamic Association of Northwest Calgary)
Razavi Community Centre
Relieve Humanity International
Ruh Care
Sabeel Muslim Youth & Community Center
SacredHand Canada
Safa and Marwa Islamic School
Sahaba Mosque
Saint Mary’s University Muslim Society
SAIT’s Muslim Students Association
Salaheddin Islamic Center
SALAM Project
Sayeda Khadija Centre
Sayyidah Aisha (RA) Masjid (St Catharines/Truro)
Sayyiduna Uthman Islamic accadmy
Scarborough Muslim Association
Scarborough Muslim Cultural Centre
Shalimar Islamic Center
Simon Fraser University Muslim Students Association
Sister Sabria Foundation
Sisterhood Softball League
South Nepean Muslim Community
Spiritual Society Canada
Spiritual Society Mosque
St Thomas Islamic Centre
Subhan Islamic Association
Sudanese Canadians Association of Ottawa
Surrey Jamea Masjid
Syedah Khadijah Center
Syyadina Omar Farooq Scarborough
Tamil Nadu Multicultural Association of Canada
Tanvir peace academy
Tarbiyah Learning Academy
Tawheed Community Centre
Thaqalayn Muslim Association Concordia (TMA)
Thaqalayn Muslim Association University of Toronto Scarborough
The Canadian Palestinian Social Association of London Ontario
The Canadian-Muslim Vote
The Islamic Centre of Markham
The Message of Islam Foundation
The Ottawa Muslim Association
Think for Actions
Thompson River University Muslim Student Association
Thunder Bay Masjid
Toronto Islamic Center and Community Services
Townline Muslim Centre
Umar Masjid
Ummah Foundation
Ummah Nabawiah Masjid
Ummah Society
University of Alberta Muslim Law Students’ Association
University of Alberta Muslim Students’ Association
University of Calgary Muslim Students Association
University of Ottawa Muslim Students’ Association
University of Prince Edward Island Muslim Student Association
University of Regina Muslim Students’ Association
University of Toronto (St. George), Muslim Students’ Association
West End Downtown Mussala
Whiterock Muslim Association
Windsor Islamic Association
Winnipeg Central Mosque
Winnipeg Islamic Center
York Region Muslims
York University Muslim Students’ Association
Young Muslim Sisters Windsor
Zainabiya Islamic Centre