CSMA is saddened by the dreadful stabbing attack in New Zealand by a person of Sri Lankan origin. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their loved ones. As the oldest association representing the Canadian Muslims of Sri Lankan origin, we strongly and vehemently condemn in unequivocal terms such monstrous acts of evil violence against humanity irrespective of from which faith it originates. We stand united with the citizens of New Zealand and its charismatic Prime Minister in categorically condemning this cowardly and heinous act. Our message to anyone who believes in violent extremist ideologies is that you have nothing to do with Islam.   

I read that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akber” to support and justify his cold-hearted act. This has nothing to do with the noble principles of our faith, which categorically denounces the taking of an innocent life. We, Muslims, consider this criminal barbarity as Godlessness. Terrorism has no faith and cannot be condoned or tolerated by any means, rationale, ideology or faith. Godless cowards attack unarmed, randomly selected, innocent people and we must commit to each other to defeat it.

Extremism and violence has created a scorching inferno that is devouring people of all faiths, nations and creeds throughout the world. Regrettably what is sometimes accomplished in the name of combating terrorism does not contribute to the resolution but instead adds fuel to this raging fire. Today’s world witnesses an increased polarization between “Islam and the West” and thus the ground is fertile for further fostering of Islamophobia, imaginary enemies, typecasts, and generalizations of one another which results in deadly consequences. Hence, amid all these turbulences and mayhems, it is soothing and calming to hear when the Prime Minster of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern said “Only the man alone was responsible for this violence, not a faith”. This is what I call leadership! 

The vile criminals under the guise of faith seek to divide our society and instil fear but In Sha ALLAH, we will ensure they fail. CSMA implores everyone to unite as one community and in the face of such shameful cowardice, unlike the extremists, let us endorse and advocate love and compassion as Islam teaches us.

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” - Winston Churchill

 By Fareez Farook (President, CSMA)
 
It is disheartening, demoralizing and depressing to read blog posts, Facebook pages and online forums hosted by the so called Sri Lankan patriots and flag-wavers who declare that “Sinhala Buddhists saved Sri Lanka from LTTE. So this country belongs to Sinhala Buddhists  only”.

It’s true that the majority of soldiers in the Sri Lankan Army were Sinhalese & majority of the casualties in the war were Sinhalese soldiers but this is normal and expected as it’s proportional to the total population of Sri Lanka, of which the majority are Sinhalese. However, it’s an ungrateful and churlish act to disregard the heroic and patriotic service of other races in defending Sri Lanka from its enemies.

Today 31st May, 2021 is the 16th death anniversary of Colonel Tuan Nizam Muthalif. He was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion of the Sri Lanka Military Intelligence Corps.

The Holy Quran places a supreme prominence on the importance of attaining knowledge. That knowledge has been at the core of the Islamic world from the very beginning as attested by Surah 96:1-5, which Muslims believe to be the first revelation received by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It says:

1. “Read (Proclaim!) In the Name of your Lord Who created"
2. “Created man, out of a clot (of congealed blood).”
3. “Read (Proclaim), and your Lord is the Most Generous,"
4. “Who taught by the Pen,”
5. “Taught man that which he knew not.”

The Quran refers the Prophet (pbuh) as an imparter of knowledge to others (Surah 2:151). His well-known prayer was: “ALLAH grant me knowledge of the ultimate nature of things”.

In Surah 39:9, the Quran oratorically asks: “Can they who know and they who do not know be deemed equal?” and exhorts believers to pray for advancement in knowledge.

Since its inception, CSMA has been a trendsetter and introduced many firsts to our community. In line with that tradition, Alhamdulillah, we are proud to introduce a blog feature in our newly redesinged website.

We have named it "ILM" (Knowledge) as befitting its nature & scope. Whereas most of the blogs dedicate themselves to one subject, CSMA in keeping to its longheld tradition, will be a forum where anything under the sky, ranging from information technology, literature, history, travels, useful tips & tools, ideas, inspirations, personalities to books could be penned & shared to raise the awareness of our community.

Please email your contributions (could be in English, Tamil or Sinhala but should be in a digital format) with your full name to info@csmaontario.ca. 

In the mid 80's, most of my after school hours were spent rummaging through the vast collections of the old books sellers of Kandy. One rainy day, it was on a such expedition did I come across Iqbal's "Shikwa Wa Jawab-e-Shikwa" (The Complaint and The Response to the Complaint) from a seller located at "Ismail Lane".

Little did I knew at that time that it was the beginning of a most joyous journey which will influence me over the decades till the present. 

The main theme of the poem Shikwa is that God is not fulfilling his promise to protect followers of the Prophet from loss and a decline in fortune. In Jawab-e Shikwa God answers directly that he has not broken his promise; instead it is the Muslims, his followers, who have turned away from the Path.