Ottawa Muslims Combat Covid-19

Ottawa Muslims Combat Covid-19 Observing health restrictions during an epidemic is an Islamic tradition

BY ZULF M. KHALFAN Ottawa-Centre Ontario New Democratic Party’s provincial MP Joel Harden mod

Prophet Muhammad (salla erated the “gathering.” Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised “ The whole session was about prayers Muslims residing in an epidemic-afin a time of calamity, and faith groups getfected area to stay there and for outting together to help and support [each siders not to enter it. Today, we call this other],” said Ibrahim. In a recorded phone “quarantine” or “isolation.” message to members, Imam Sulaiman

When the WHO declared the Covidchecked on how they were coping. OMA 19 a pandemic and national public health has been livestreaming its Friday khutba advisories were announced, the Muslims and prayer. of Ottawa’s National Capital Region ■ Jami Omar: Jamiatul Muslemeen of (NCR) immediately complied with the citywide guidelines. WORKING IN UNISON Ottawa-Carleton (JMO). Through UMOOG, JMO compiled a list of people’s needs

Working in unison through the United THROUGH THE UNITED and sent volunteers into different areas. It Muslim Organizations-Ottawa Gatineau (UMO-OG) — a coalition of the city’s MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONShas continued to help anyone in need with safety measures in place. 13 mosques, centers and charities — all OTTAWA GATINEAU (UMO-OG) Along with providing forms to the ill, taraweeh, jumah and the five daily prayers were swiftly suspended, as well as eve— A COALITION OF THE CITY’S self-quarantined and/or senior citizens who cannot go out to purchase household ning family and community programs. 13 MOSQUES, CENTERS AND essentials or cooked food, volunteers delivAll mosques and centers in Ottawa and Gatineau (Quebec) were closed. UMO-OG, Islamic Relief Canada, CHARITIES — ALL TARAWEEH, JUMAH AND THE FIVE DAILY ered groceries and non-perishables, ran errands and picked up prescriptions or other essential supplies. JMO even offered Human Concern International (HCI) and PRAYERS WERE SWIFTLY to buy and deliver supplies if the applicant other organizations formed a Muslim task force to support the citywide relief effort. SUSPENDED, AS WELL could pay through his/her bank. Volunteers were directed to place items UMO-OG is committed to helping anyone AS EVENING FAMILY AND at the door, phone the individual, drive off who needs assistance, and its relief and support services are available to people COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. as soon as the package was picked up, wear gloves and avoid all physical interaction belonging to all communities, cultures with those they were serving. and faiths. OMA donated C$6,000 to the city’s As the pandemic broke out and the city ■ The Ottawa Muslim Association Parkdale Food Centre (PFC), states Ibrahim, went into lockdown, the mosque offered to (OMA). As news of the virus was breaking, to help meet the increasing demand. The provide cooked meals to any homebound or the executive board of the city’s oldest mosque, amount covered the association-sponsored quarantined person who requested this serOMA’s The Ottawa Mosque, alerted members weekly dinner for the whole year. vice. JMO assigned registered counselors to who had symptoms to stay away, posted public In Toronto and Ottawa, PFC seeks to speak over the phone with those dealing with health advisories at entrances and on screens build healthier, connected neighbors and mental health issues or who “just wanted to and placed sanitizers throughout the mosque. neighborhoods through food and innovative talk” with someone. It shut down its three schools, and the new community partnerships and by challenging Imam Owais Tilly engaged his community imam Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman gave spiritual inequalities. Its 2018 annual report reports in virtual lectures through Group WhatsApp guidance on how members were to conduct that it provided groceries to 2,128 individuals and YouTube. One lecture provided seven tools themselves. and 1,075 households. for dealing with Covid-19. A series of lectures

UMO-OG distributed over 200 hygiene OMA opened the mosque’s Hall of Peace dealt with elevating the light of faith during packages — containing hand sanitizers, hand doors to act as a satellite distribution center these challenging times. As this pandemic is soap, tissue paper, shower gel, toothpaste and for the Sadaqa Food Bank. unique and very serious, the mosque asked brushes — and prepared and distributed 500 Its interfaith outreach to the Parkdale everyone to pray for the well-being of humanity. food packages, said OMA president Ahmed United Church (PUC) for joint commuOn July 7, JMO president Imam Anver Ibrahim. nity support activities led to holding a virMalam posted this note on the mosque’s web

A team of volunteers phoned seniors tual joint interfaith prayer group. Prayer site when a fajr prayer attendee announced he needing help at home and those who were leaders included Imam Sulaiman, Rabbi had tested positive: “Given the nature of this self-quarantined. They also went door-to-door Elizabeth Bolton (Or Haneshamah-Ottawa’s virus, it is not surprising. We all are at risk to the mosque’s neighbors, leaving a note with Reconstructionist Community), Rev. Dr. if the recommended rules are not followed. the mosque’s contact number and informaAnthony Bailey (PUC) and Elder Claudette Thus,” he added, “we have decided to shut tion, asking them to call if they needed help Commanda, an Algonquin Anishinabe from down Jami Omar effective immediately until picking up groceries or prescriptions. the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. further notice.”