Connecting Hearts: IPC 2nd Matrimonial Event

Connecting Hearts: IPC's 2nd Matrimonial Event

Love knows no bounds, and neither does our commitment to fostering meaningful connections. Join us for IPC's 2nd Matrimonial Event at Jame Masjid Mississauga on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from 11 AM to 4 PM.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024

🕚 Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🕌 Venue: Jame Masjid Mississauga (5761 Coopers Ave Mississauga ON L4Z 1R9)

What to Expect:

- 🤝 Interactive Sessions: Engage in insightful discussions and interactive activities to get to know potential matches.

- 🌟 Guidance and Support: Benefit from counseling services to navigate the journey of finding a life partner.

- 💬 Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Registration Fee: $20/person (Until March 1, 2024)

- Register early at https://mohid.co/go/yoRd9EQ to secure your spot at a discounted rate.

- Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

This event aims to create a platform where individuals seeking matrimonial alliances can meet and interact in a respectful and conducive setting.

Join us at IPC's 2nd Matrimonial Event and let's embark on this journey together. Your potential match could be waiting! 🌹✨

The Importance of Consuming Lawful Foods in Islam

The consumption of lawful food is a very important issue for Muslims. There is a direct link between eating lawful foods and the ability of a person to worship Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. In Surah Al- Mu’minoon, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala commands the Messengers:

يا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلوا مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ وَاعمَلوا صالِحًا ۖ إِنّي بِما تَعمَلونَ عَليمٌ.

“Oh Messengers, eat from the good things and act righteously” (Quran 23:51).

Mufti Shafi Usmani in Maariful Quran mentions “The word tayyibat means pure and good things. Since things which are forbidden under the Islamic laws are neither pure nor desirable for people who are gifted with a common sense, it follows that the word tayyibat refers only to the things which are permitted under the Islamic Shari'ah and which are not only good in appearance, but also pure in their intrinsic nature” (319).

This verse implies that all Prophets were ordered by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala to do two things: to consume food which is pure and permissible under the Shari’ah, and to carry out good deeds. Considering that these injunctions have been addressed to the Prophets, who are our guides in all facets of life, it is vital that we as Muslims strive to implement their dietary practices as well.

 Furthermore, the juxtaposition of these two commands suggests that the consumption of lawful foods has a significant effect on human actions. When a person consumes lawful food, it will result in the individual performing good deeds, as eating pure is associated with carrying out good actions. Consequently, consuming foods that are unlawful according to Shari’ah will result in a negative outcome on a person's worship.   

Imam Al-Ghazali in his Minhaj Al-ʻAbidin states: It is necessary to abstain from unlawful and dubious things for three reasons:

1.   To protect one’s self from Hellfire. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said: “That (human) flesh is more deserving of Hellfire which has grown from unlawful food.”

2.   The consumer of unlawful and doubtful things will not be given divine ability to perform good deeds in the manner that pleases Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala the most. Only a clean and pure slave of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala can best serve Him. Imam Al-Ghazali deduces this conclusion from the verse of the Holy Quran:

وَلا جُنُبًا إِلّا عابِري سَبيلٍ حَتّىٰ تَغتَسِلوا

“A polluted man cannot enter the masjid without taking a bath unless he is a passer-by” (Quran 4:43).

The verse is proposing that a person in major impurity is not allowed to enter the masjid. How can it be fathomed that a man engrossed and contaminated with the filth of unlawful and doubtful things visit the masjid? How can he claim that he is serving Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala whereas the energy of his body is derived from unlawful sources?

3.   The one who indulges in prohibited things will be debarred from doing good deeds. Despite a person performing good deeds, it will be rejected and hurled back to the person. There will be no reward in lieu of those good deeds, except hardship and time being lost. Supporting this is the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ stating: “How many there are who pass the night standing in prayer but do not gain anything from it but sleeplessness, and how many there are who fast but do not gain anything but hunger and thirst” (84-85).

To provide some context, Mu’adh Al-Razi illustrates this issue using an analogy where obedience is a treasure from the treasures of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, and the key to unlocking it is supplication. Its ridges are lawful things. So how can the lock be opened with a key that has no ridges? None can access the treasure if the lock is not opened, i.e. good deeds are not possible without lawful sustenance (85). 

Also, in a famous hadith the Prophet ﷺ gives an example of a person who has not adhered to the command of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala to ensure his food source is halal:

“On the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So, the Almighty has said: “O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.” [23:51] and the Almighty has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you” (Quran 2:172).

Then he ﷺ mentioned [the case] of a man who has journeyed far; his hair is disheveled, his clothes are dusty; [in this sorry state] he spreads out his hands to the sky saying, “O Lord! O Lord!”, while his food is unlawful, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram; so how can his supplication be answered?” (Hadith 10, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi)

In this hadith, this man is turning to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala supplicating in a state of humbleness, and displaying his vulnerability. However, in spite of all this, there is something blocking his prayer from acceptance, and that is the unlawful foods and drinks that he consumes, and the unlawful clothes which he wears. This hadith teaches us that one whose food source and income is unlawful, his devotions will not be accepted no matter how much he humbles himself in front of God.

In short, as believers it is imperative that we step back and contemplate on what we are consuming. We should ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the requirements prescribed to us by our Sustainer? If not, we should consider what changes we can make in our lives to help us follow the Shari’ah. Not only does following the Shari’ah bring us closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, it is also interconnected to one’s state of mind and actions. Like the famous saying, “you are what you eat,” food is a combination of body and spirit; thus, we should be conscious of what we consume. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala grant us pure sustenance and guide us to that which earns His Divine pleasure. Ameen.

Embracing Winter as a Muslim: A Season of Spiritual Preparation

Winter, with its cold embrace and shorter days, offers a unique opportunity for Muslims to delve deeper into their spirituality. Some actions come more of an advantage during the winter season, like the fourth pillar in Islam, Sawm (Fasting). Fasting has been made as obligation upon us in the month of Ramadhan as Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says in the Quran,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

 "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183). 

This verse not only shows that it’s an obligation in the month of Ramadhan, but rather it emphasizes the significance of fasting as a means to righteousness, a practice that gains particular relevance in the winter months.

In the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, there is guidance regarding fasting during shorter days. Amir ibn Mas’ud  (May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fasting in the winter is the easy reward. (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 797)”

This Hadith highlights the ease and flexibility in the practice of fasting during winter, where the shorter days render fasting more manageable and accessible, as well as the reward is more.

Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ exemplified the importance of waking up for night prayers, especially during the winter season. It is narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala be pleased with him) on the authority of Imam Muslim in his Saheeh, that the Prophet ﷺ said, "The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night" (Sahih Muslim 1163)

This Hadith underscores the merit of engaging in voluntary night prayers, particularly during the winter months when the nights are longer, providing ample time for reflection, supplication, and drawing closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

Winter serves as a call for Muslims to introspect, realign their priorities, and strengthen their connection with their lord Allah Ta’ala. It offers a conducive environment for increased acts of worship, self-discipline, and seeking closeness to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala through various forms of devotion. The colder days and longer nights present an opportunity to recalibrate one's spiritual compass and revitalize the soul.

As Muslims prepare for winter, it is imperative to seize this season as a time for increased acts of worship, seeking forgiveness, and expressing gratitude. Fasting, night prayers, recitation of the Quran, and acts of charity should become integral parts of one's routine during these months. Embracing the teachings of the Quran and following the noble example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) serve as guiding lights on this spiritual journey through winter.

Let us not let this winter merely be a time of colder temperatures and shorter days but a season of spiritual rejuvenation and increased devotion. By embracing the teachings of the Quran, following the practices of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and engaging in acts of worship, one can truly harness the essence of winter as a time for spiritual growth and closeness to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.