ISLAM IN CANADA
Ottawa Muslims Combat Covid-19 Observing health restrictions during an epidemic is an Islamic tradition BY ZULF M. KHALFAN
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rophet Muhammad (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised Muslims residing in an epidemic-affected area to stay there and for outsiders not to enter it. Today, we call this “quarantine” or “isolation.” When the WHO declared the Covid19 a pandemic and national public health advisories were announced, the Muslims of Ottawa’s National Capital Region (NCR) immediately complied with the citywide guidelines. Working in unison through the United Muslim Organizations-Ottawa Gatineau (UMO-OG) — a coalition of the city’s 13 mosques, centers and charities — all taraweeh, jumah and the five daily prayers were swiftly suspended, as well as evening family and community programs. All mosques and centers in Ottawa and Gatineau (Quebec) were closed. UMO-OG, Islamic Relief Canada, Human Concern International (HCI) and other organizations formed a Muslim task force to support the citywide relief effort. UMO-OG is committed to helping anyone who needs assistance, and its relief and support services are available to people belonging to all communities, cultures and faiths. ■ The Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA). As news of the virus was breaking, the executive board of the city’s oldest mosque, OMA’s The Ottawa Mosque, alerted members who had symptoms to stay away, posted public health advisories at entrances and on screens and placed sanitizers throughout the mosque. It shut down its three schools, and the new imam Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman gave spiritual guidance on how members were to conduct themselves. UMO-OG distributed over 200 hygiene packages — containing hand sanitizers, hand soap, tissue paper, shower gel, toothpaste and brushes — and prepared and distributed 500 food packages, said OMA president Ahmed Ibrahim. A team of volunteers phoned seniors needing help at home and those who were self-quarantined. They also went door-to-door to the mosque’s neighbors, leaving a note with the mosque’s contact number and information, asking them to call if they needed help picking up groceries or prescriptions.
Ottawa-Centre Ontario New Democratic Party’s provincial MP Joel Harden moderated the “gathering.” “The whole session was about prayers in a time of calamity, and faith groups getting together to help and support [each other],” said Ibrahim. In a recorded phone message to members, Imam Sulaiman checked on how they were coping. OMA has been livestreaming its Friday khutba and prayer. ■ Jami Omar: Jamiatul Muslemeen of Ottawa-Carleton (JMO). Through UMOWORKING IN UNISON OG, JMO compiled a list of people’s needs and sent volunteers into different areas. It THROUGH THE UNITED has continued to help anyone in need with MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONSsafety measures in place. Along with providing forms to the ill, OTTAWA GATINEAU (UMO-OG) self-quarantined and/or senior citizens — A COALITION OF THE CITY’S who cannot go out to purchase household 13 MOSQUES, CENTERS AND essentials or cooked food, volunteers delivCHARITIES — ALL TARAWEEH, ered groceries and non-perishables, ran errands and picked up prescriptions or JUMAH AND THE FIVE DAILY other essential supplies. JMO even offered to buy and deliver supplies if the applicant PRAYERS WERE SWIFTLY could pay through his/her bank. SUSPENDED, AS WELL Volunteers were directed to place items at the door, phone the individual, drive off AS EVENING FAMILY AND as soon as the package was picked up, wear COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. gloves and avoid all physical interaction with those they were serving. OMA donated C$6,000 to the city’s As the pandemic broke out and the city Parkdale Food Centre (PFC), states Ibrahim, went into lockdown, the mosque offered to to help meet the increasing demand. The provide cooked meals to any homebound or amount covered the association-sponsored quarantined person who requested this serweekly dinner for the whole year. vice. JMO assigned registered counselors to In Toronto and Ottawa, PFC seeks to speak over the phone with those dealing with build healthier, connected neighbors and mental health issues or who “just wanted to neighborhoods through food and innovative talk” with someone. community partnerships and by challenging Imam Owais Tilly engaged his community inequalities. Its 2018 annual report reports in virtual lectures through Group WhatsApp that it provided groceries to 2,128 individuals and YouTube. One lecture provided seven tools and 1,075 households. for dealing with Covid-19. A series of lectures OMA opened the mosque’s Hall of Peace dealt with elevating the light of faith during doors to act as a satellite distribution center these challenging times. As this pandemic is for the Sadaqa Food Bank. unique and very serious, the mosque asked Its interfaith outreach to the Parkdale everyone to pray for the well-being of humanity. United Church (PUC) for joint commuOn July 7, JMO president Imam Anver nity support activities led to holding a vir- Malam posted this note on the mosque’s webtual joint interfaith prayer group. Prayer site when a fajr prayer attendee announced he leaders included Imam Sulaiman, Rabbi had tested positive: “Given the nature of this Elizabeth Bolton (Or Haneshamah-Ottawa’s virus, it is not surprising. We all are at risk Reconstructionist Community), Rev. Dr. if the recommended rules are not followed. Anthony Bailey (PUC) and Elder Claudette Thus,” he added, “we have decided to shut Commanda, an Algonquin Anishinabe from down Jami Omar effective immediately until the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. further notice.”
28 ISLAMIC HORIZONS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
