Trudeau: Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention exemplifies “our shared beliefs”

From HERE:

JONATHAN D. HALEVIREBEL BLOGGER

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, sent a video message to the annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (December 25-27) in Toronto.

The annual “Reviving the Islamic Spirit” (RIS) convention is according the organizers “an attempt by the youth to help overcome new challenges of communication and integration.” Its official Facebook page states the following: “The convention aims to promote stronger ties within the North American Society through reviving the Islamic tradition of education, tolerance and introspection, and across cultural lines through points of commonality and respect.

https://youtu.be/ArtiAI52d9M

“Furthermore, the convention will be a celebration of our identity and Islamic faith. To help attain these ideals, the convention will feature a wide range of voices from various parts of the world. The convention showcases Islamic leadership from across the globe sharing a common platform before the widest cross section of our community. This program hopes to empower the youth across North America and inspire a true revival.”

The following is the transcript of Trudeau’s message to the Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention:

“As-salamu alaykum, Hello my friends. I’m thankful for this opportunity to share a few words with you

tonight. I attended the Reviving the Islamic Spirit [RIS] convention in person three years ago

and have had the pleasure to of sharing a message every year since.

“It brings me great pride to support the efforts of this organization, a true force for the promotion of Muslim Canadian identity. I’m sure you will enjoy your RIS experience as much as I did.

Since its inception in 2001, RIS has fostered the creation of a proud and a dynamic community. It exemplifies the rich diversity that makes our country such a great place to live.

“The RIS convention provides an important form for so many of us to exchange ideas and promote stronger ties between and within our communities.

“Every year, you seek to create a unique experience that highlights the many positive contributions of the Muslim community in North America.

“This is also about celebrating our shared beliefs in justice, fairness, equality of opportunity and acceptance. The work you do in communities across the country is what builds the and strengthens our multicultural fabric.

“As your Prime Minister, I have noted with deep regret a number of highly disturbing acts aimed at Canadian Muslims. These recent acts of intolerance have no place in our country and run absolutely contrary to Canadian values of pluralism and respect.

“This is why we are moving quickly to welcome refugees from Syria who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations. These people step off the plane as refugees and they walk out the airport as new Canadians.

“We define a Canadian not by skin colour or language or religion or background, but by a shared set of values, aspirations and hopes and dreams, and we are strong always not in spite of our differences but because of them.

“One does not need to look further than Maryam Monsef, our newly elected MP for Peterborough who came to Canada as a young refugee from Afghanistan and is now a Minister of the Crown.

“In Canada, the role of our government is to bring Canadians together, not to divide them. It is through this shared vision that we will work closely with you to build a better and a stronger Canada. May peace and blessings be upon you.”

Literature dealing with the Caliphate and flogging adulterers at Toronto Islamic conference

CIJnews obtained a textbook called “Islamic Studies” by Husain A. Nuri and Mansur Ahamd (Level 10) that was being sold during RIS conference at one of the Islamic booths. The following are excerpts of the textbook:

p. 79

“…her [the woman’s] legal liabilities are equal to man’s liabilities. If she commits an offence, her penalty is no less or no more than a man’s penalty i a similar case. For the crime of adultery, her punishment is 100 stripes, the same for a man…”

p. 83

“The ayah [Quranic verse] instructs men not to marry idolatrous women…

p. 85

“Islam allows a Muslim man to marry a Jewish or Christian woman…Islam has prohibited Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men…

p. 87

“While Islamic ethics advocates strict monogamy, Islam has allowed a Muslim man to marry up to four women. However, a Muslim man can have multiple wives only if is under certain obligations, and provided that he meets certain conditions.

p. 97

“When Allah intended to create human beings, He mentioned them as khalifah. Evidently, the role of human beings as khalifah requires them to live up to the status of being true representatives of Allah…

“In fact, in the Quran the word khalifah is used in the sense of one who judges or rules in accordance with the command of God. in ayah [Quranic verse] 2:30, the word khalifah is used to mean the children of Adam (A) as well as all of mankind. In ayah 6:165 the word khalifah is applied to include all of mankind…

P. 98

“In many Islamic writings, the word khalifah is understood as a political system. The title khalifah is used for the leader of the Islamic world. The leader has the right to adopt the divine rules, protect the religion, and rule the Islamic world. Thus all the leaders after Rasul [messanger] Muhammad (S) where political successors to Rasulullah [messenger of Allah] (S), therefore, known as khalifah. A Caliph or Khalifah is recognized as the Amir al-Mu’minin, or the Commander of the Faithful.

“This meaning of the term does not override the original sense applied during the creation of Adam (A). However, our purpose here is to see how the concept of the term applies to all of us and how each of us can be khalifah on earth…

p.99

“In the seventh century, Islam provided mankind the ideal code of human rights. These rights conferred honour and dignity to mankind and eliminated oppression, exploitation, intimidation, coercion and injustice. Allah is the ultimate provider of law and He is the source of all human rights. Establishing and upholding human rights is integral to overall Islamic order. Thus, it is obligatory for Muslim government and rulers to implement human rights in true Islamic spirit. Therefore, no ruler, government or king should curtail or violate the human rights conferred by Allah…

p. 100

“According to many scholars of Islam to establish the institution of khilafa is fard al-ayan. It is a legal obligation that must be performed by each individual Muslim… According to some scholars, to establish the institution of khalifah is fard kifayah, or communal obligation. Although it is a duty for each individual, as long as a sufficient number of community members perform it, the duty is fulfilled.”

Cijnews also obtained an audio cassette in which Imam Hamza Yusuf, who vehemently opposed domestic violence, discusses the rights of men and women and explaining the Quranic verse (chapter 4 – An-Nisa, verse 34):

“Men have authority over women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.” — translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

Referring to the meaning of the words “strike them” mentioned in this verse, Yusuf relies on the interpretation of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. “This idea of striking, the Prophet [Muhammad] clarified that it is a light strike. It is just a way of really saying: listen to me, please, you know, listen to me, and it is a type of discipline…” Yusuf said.

He further explained: “I just wan to end with what [the Muslims scholar] Ibn Ashur says because I really feel that it is so important. He says, after a long extensive investigation of this verse, he says it is prohibited to abandoned a woman or to strike a woman because one thinks she is going to do something wrong. In other words, something has to have happened, it needs to be a gross breach of a marital contract, and this is why a Muslim man have to know the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Really. They have to know them. You are supposed to know them before you get married… So what he says? As for striking, this is a very dangerous matter. he says: and really defining it is very difficult to examine this. And then he says: it is permitted in situations where [moral] corruption [فساد] is clearly manifested. In other words, You’ve got a very dangerous situation. She has gone into an aggressive behaviour. She is really in a state of aggression against her husband… it is only permitted if there is no harm that comes from it. That means that physical violence is prohibited. You cannot harm a person.”

(This article originally appeared at CIJNews and is reprinted with permission.