Unity in Diversity; Strengthening Shi'a Education; Deepening Gaza Crisis - Maulana Syed Muhammad Rizvi

Friday Juma KhutbaMay 23, 2025- Migration to North America has unintentionally promoted multiculturalism, evident in the diverse ethnic makeup of religious communities.- Shi‘a diversity has been noticeable in weekend school students since the late 1970s and 1980s.- As the community developed, full-time Islamic schools have emerged, reflecting similar ethnic diversity.- There are now 16 full-time Shi‘a Islamic schools across Canada, from Montreal and Ottawa to Toronto and Vancouver.- This growth has created a need for collaboration and networking among these schools.- In January 2024, the first global gathering of full-time Shi‘a schools was held in Karbala, with 60 schools from places like Indonesia and Australia represented.- On the sidelines, North American schools formed WISE CANADA (World Islamic Summit of Education, Canada) to promote cooperation in Canada and the US.- WISE CANADA will hold its first national meeting tomorrow at As-Sadiq Islamic School.- Networking helps schools share best practices, recognize challenges, and develop solutions.- Qur’anic verse 9:71 highlights the mutual support, righteousness, and obedience expected among believing men and women.- A call was made to embrace diversity and avoid isolation.- UN Secretary General highlighted the severe suffering in Gaza, with 80% designated as militarized or evacuation zones.- 160,000 pallets of aid (equivalent to nearly 9,000 trucks) are waiting to be delivered.- Canada, the UK, and France strongly condemned Israel’s military actions and settlement expansion in Gaza and the West Bank.- They warned of further actions if Israel does not stop military offensives and lift aid restrictions.- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy halted free trade talks with Israel, calling its rhetoric and planned military actions extreme and unjustifiable.- Foreign ministers from multiple Western and allied countries, plus the EU, issued a joint statement urging Israel to restore humanitarian aid flows.- They criticized a proposed Israel–US aid system for bypassing the UN, arguing it politicizes and undermines humanitarian relief efforts.Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)