The Legacy of Ay Ishaq Fayyaz; Canada's New Rights & Inclusion Council - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

Friday Juma KhutbaJune 5th, 2026- Eid al-Ghadir celebrates the completion and perfection of Islam, as reflected in Qur'an 5:3, and affirms the continued relevance of Islam through the institution of ijtihad.- The khutbah honored the late Grand Ayatullah Shaykh Ishaq Fayyaz, who passed away in Najaf at the age of 96.- Najaf's senior maraji' represented diverse backgrounds: Ayatullah Sayyid Saeed al-Hakim (Iraqi), Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani (Iranian), Shaykh Ishaq Fayyaz (Afghani), and Ayatullah Shaykh Bashir Najafi (Pakistani).- These scholars were leading students of Ayatullah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei and contributed significantly to Shi'a scholarship.- Despite independent legal opinions, the senior maraji' remained united on major socio-political issues affecting Iraq.- During the ISIS crisis, Ayatullah Sistani's call to defend Iraq was collectively supported by the other maraji', demonstrating unity of leadership.- Ayatullah al-Hakim emphasized that Ayatullah Sistani's statement alone was sufficient because he represented their collective voice.- In his condolence message, Ayatullah Sistani described Ayatullah Fayyaz as "a chosen brother."- A personal meeting with Ayatullah Fayyaz highlighted his encouragement for Muslims to participate actively in political systems.- He argued that Muslims should engage at all levels of government rather than limiting themselves to advisory roles.- Ayatullah Fayyaz cited the influence of the Jewish community in the United States as an example of how political participation can amplify a community's voice.- The speaker stressed that political involvement in Canada helps Muslims reduce challenges facing both the present and future generations.- Canadian Muslim advocacy succeeded in bringing attention to Islamophobia, leading to the appointment of Amira Elghawaby under the previous government.- Concerns were raised about Mark Carney replacing the Islamophobia office with a broader advisory council and the symbolism surrounding its launch and leadership.- Recent research from York University's Islamophobia Research Hub indicates continuing discrimination, marginalization, and workplace inequality experienced by Muslims in Canada.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)