Gaza needs us now more than ever
Safar 1447 | July 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our hearts are heavy with grief and our eyes filled with tears for the unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe our brothers and sisters are enduring in Gaza. For nearly two years, relentless bombardment, siege, and displacement have devastated every facet of life. Homes, hospitals, schools, and entire families. Now, with food and clean water deliberately restricted, widespread hunger and the threat of starvation loom over hundreds of thousands, especially children**.**
This is not a natural famine. It is a man-made humanitarian crisis; a systematic denial of basic necessities to a besieged population. The human cost is staggering, and the silence surrounding it is devastating.
Allah says:
O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice as witnesses to Allaheven if it is against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives - (An-Nisa 4:135)
The Prophet also said:
The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim: he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him. - (Bukhari, Muslim)
To remain silent is not an option. To feel helpless is not an excuse. As an ummah, we are bound by ties that transcend borders. And as Canadians, we are called to raise our voices, open our hearts, and act in every way we can, through prayer, advocacy, charity, and unwavering solidarity.
**As the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), we affirm that standing for truth and justice is a religious duty.**Guided by the Quran and the Prophetic model of mercy, we commit ourselves to the cause of our oppressed brothers and sisters in Gaza. In this spirit, we:
**Stand unwaveringly with the oppressed,**demanding an immediate end to every form of aggression, occupation, and blockade that robs people of their God-given rights.
Partner with trusted relief organizationsto deliver lifesaving food, medicine, and shelter.
Raise awareness in our communitiesthrough education, advocacy, and civic engagement, fulfilling our role as witnesses to the truth.
A Call to the Entire Community
Fast in solidarity with Gaza
**Individually:**Dedicate at least one voluntary fast each week, reflecting on the hunger endured by those besieged.
**As families:**Invite every family member, including children old enough to understand, to join occasional fasts. Teach them empathy and the virtue of sharing others pain.
**As a community:**Coordinate mosque-wide or chapter-wide days of fasting followed by a collective, humble ifr.
Pray consistentlyfor the people of Gaza, especially in the quiet hours before dawn, beseeching Allah for mercy, relief, and victory.
Give generouslyto reliable relief agencies working on the ground.
Speak out with wisdom and couragein your homes, workplaces, social media, and civic spaces; echoing the Prophetic command to oppose injustice.
May our fasting, du, charity, and advocacy unite us as one body, sharing both the pain and the steadfast hope of Gaza.
Allah is in the aid of His servant so long as the servant is in the aid of his brother.
- (Muslim)
Abdullatif Bakbak
MAC President-Executive
On July 12, the Canadian Islamic College (CIC) officially welcomed the community for its very first Open House and the energy was incredible!
Guests explored the brand-newfacility, met faculty members, enjoyed a presentation on the colleges vision, and connected with Dean Dr. Mahmood Hadara. The event marked a major milestone for Islamic higher education in Canada.
The CIC will launch its part-time and full-time Honours Bachelors programs in September 2025, as well as open studies offering students a unique, faith-based, interdisciplinary academic program.
This is just the beginning and we cant wait to share more.
Let us know what you think. Take the short survey below.
The Muslim Association of Canada strives to be an anchor for the community. We aim to touch more lives and expand our footprint through education and service to many more communities across the nation.
