Miracle 539 Feb 26, 2021 (20th Anniversary Edition)

Volume 21 Issue 539 - Rajab 14, 1442 H, February 26, 2021 $1

www.miraclenews.com BC, CANADA First Muslim

Biweekly & Bilingual

THE

7 PM, Primer and Many

09 ‘We are not quite

3

9 Miracle Journey

08

8 US President Biden, Saudi King Salman 8 U.S. secretary of

others Messages at 20th

2001-21 14 Role of Muslim scholars in society

at

age

08

there’: B.C. still not Early findings show the by 80 percent Westshore welcomes BC Public Service’s

Pakistan, India agree on strict observance of

state plans V. visits

5

p

Pakistan offers $50m credit line ‘We are not quite there’: B.C. still not ready to ease restrictions, health officials say to Sri Lanka for defence ties

at pg 9

COLOMBO: With their hands on their hearts, Prime Ministers Imran Khan and Mahinda Rajapaksa are all smiles as they opt for a forehead bump amid Details at Pg 3 Covid-19 SOPs during a press conference on Wednesday.

VANCOUVER -- Rising COVID-19 case numbers and an increasing test-positivity rate have quashed any hope of B.C. easing province-wide restrictions at the end of February. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry broke the news at her coronavirus briefing on Thursday, Details at Pg 9

2

Rajab 14,1442 Feb 26, 2021

MUSLIMFOODBANK ANNUAL FUNDRAISER SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM 2021

-

Personal and Corporate Tax Returns Bookkeeping Audits and Reviews GST, PST and Payroll

We don’t just file your taxes, we look for ways to save you money!

(604) 227-1120 info@advancedtax.ca

www.advancedtax.ca

TIER 1

$1000 - Insert 30 second ad during the online event (provided by sponsor) - Social media story / Post recognition - Banner Ad place - Email marketing - Logo on print media - Logo on digital media

TIER 2

TIER 3

- Social media story / Post recognition - Banner Ad place - Email marketing - Logo on print media - Logo on digital media

- Banner Ad place - Email marketing - Logo on print media - Logo on digital media

$750

$500

3

Rajab 14,1442 Feb 26, 2021

PAKISTAN

TLP demands to be placed before parliament: PM

• Imran proposes establishing trade links as exist among EU members • MoUs signed for cooperation in tourism, education • Both sides highlight need for realising $1bn bilateral trade potential COLOMBO: Pakistan has offered a $50 million new credit line to Sri Lanka for cooperation in the field of defence and security.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who concluded his two-day official visit to the island nation, said a joint communique issued by the foreign ministries of the two countries from Colombo and Islamabad on Wednesday.

The two sides called for stronger partnership in matters related to security, terrorism, organised crime and drug and narcotics trafficking as well as intelligence-sharing, according to the joint communique. They also noted that the elevation of staff-level talks to defence dialogue had provided an opportunity to expand security sector relations.

To strengthen sports diplomacy, Pakistan would provide Rs52 million for promotion of sports in Sri Lanka, according to the communique. Prime Minister Khan at an interactive session with the sports community of Sri Lanka announced the commissioning of the Imran Khan High Performance Sports Centre in Colombo.

Pakistan also announced plans to establish Asian Civilisation and Culture Centre at the University of Peradeniya at the Sri Lankan resort of Kandy.....

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Thursday decided to keep Pakistan on its ‘grey list’, with the country’s status set to be reviewed next at an extraordinary plenary session in June 2021.The announcement was made by FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer at a press briefing from Paris on the outcomes of the FATF’s four-day virtual plenary meeting.“Pakistan remains under increased monitoring,” Pleyer said, adding that while Islamabad had made “significant progress”, there remained some “serious deficiencies” in mechanisms to plug terrorism financing.

“Three out of 27 [points] need to be fully addressed,” he said, referring to the action plan agreed to by Pakistan.

While reiterating that Pakistan has made “progress”, the FATF president said: “[We] strongly urge completion of the plan [by Pakistan].”

He said Pakistan “must improve their investigations and prosecutions of all groups and entities financing terrorists and their associates and show [that] penalties by courts are effective. As soon as Pakistan shows it has completed these items, FATF will verify and members of FATF will vote.”

Responding to a question by an Indian journalist about prosecution of terrorists in Pakistan, Pleyer clarified that the FATF was not

an investigative organisation. “What we assess is the entire system of anti-money laundering [and] the framework. This does not change with incidents per se,” he said.

“What is now essential is that Pakistan completes the action plan.”

The FATF president noted that Pakistan was working towards its commitment made at a high level to implement the illicit financing watchdog’s recommendations, saying “that is not the time to put a country on the blacklist”.He added that as soon as Pakistan completed the action, the watchdog “will verify the sustainability of the reforms and discuss in next plenary in June”.

Answering another question about alleged funding of terrorism by India, the FATF president declined to comment on specific incidents, reiterating that the watchdog was not an investigative agency. Source: dawn.com

quently, the DGMOs of both countries stay in contact through this established mechanism.” He said that from 2014 there was a spike in ceasefire violations along the LoC. “Both the DGMOs have agreed that the existing 2003 understanding should be implemented in letter and spirit.” Both officials have agreed on making it sustainable and have expressed the intention to act on it, he said. He added that there have been more than 13,500 ceasefire violations since 2003 which have claimed the lives of 310 citizens and injured 1,600.

He said that there is a great difference in the number ceasefire violations and casualties between 2003-2013 and after 2014.

Source: dawn.com

ISLAMABAD: The Gurdwara Kartarpur Governing Council on Wednesday called on the federal government to ask India to ease travel of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan.

The fourth meeting of the council was held here under the chairmanship of Religious Affairs Secretary Sardar Ijaz Khan Jaffar.

Officials of the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, interior, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Nadra and relevant security agencies were also present.

It was decided that the issue of preventing Indian Sikh pilgrims from coming to Pakistan would be raised at a high level.

During the briefing, the meeting was informed by the relevant authorities that India had sent two groups of Hindu pilgrims to Pakistan while the Sikhs were being prevented from visiting under various pretexts.

The council was further told by the foreign ministry officials that the Indian home ministry – which was equivalent to Pakistan’s interior ministry – had denied permission to a Sikh Jatha of around 600 pilgrims to visit Pakistan for the 100th anniversary of the Saka Nankana Sahib.

The group was also expected to visit five gurdwaras from Feb 18 to 21.

Expressing concern over the attitude of the Indian authorities, the religious affairs secretary said: “The state should not have double standard for different religions.”

“This biased attitude of the Indian authorities and prejudice towards religious minorities was unfair,” he added.

Sardar Jaffar said the issue of Sikh pilgrims’ visit to Pakistan would be raised at a high level. The Kartarpur Corridor project was an example of philanthropy and interfaith harmony, but the meeting deplored the unannounced restrictions on pilgrims by the Indian authorities.

Secretary Jaffar also reviewed the arrangements of the Kartarpur Corridor project.

Pace of ongoing development works related to facilities required by the pilgrims, such as connecting roads towards Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, were reviewed.

The meeting decided to provide opportunities to domestic and foreign investors to invest in the project in the near future to harness the potentials of religious tourism.

Source: dawn.com

It noted that “on the day of the election, chaos was spread in the entire constituency.”

A detailed verdict will be issued later.

Reacting to the decision, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who was the most vocal in demands for a re-election in NA-75, said “the people of Daska have gotten back their right.” Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan, she wrote that the “fake sadiq and ameen (honest and righteous) has been issued the certificate of vote thief ” through the ECP verdict. “Vote thief Imran Khan also turned out to be a kidnapper,” she alleged.

In another tweet, Maryam said the echo of her father and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif ’s narrative of “vote ko izzat do (honour

the vote)” was being heard “throughout the country”. “Thanks to the people of Daska who not only voted but also guarded their vote and handed over the vote thieves to the authorities after catching them red-handed.”

Maryam’s spokesperson Muhammad Zubair also spoke to the reporters and said that the government was “caught red-handed”, adding that the ruling party “adopted tactics that even the ECP was surprised”.

Zubair went on to say that the atmosphere in NA-75 on the day of the election was not conducive for voters, citing a firing incident in which two people were killed and three were injured. The former Sindh governor accused Prime Minister Imran of being at the “fore-

front of the conspiracy” and said that criminal proceedings should be initiated against the latter.PML-N candidate Iftikhar termed the decision as a “historic” one and thanked her voters for casting their ballots despite being beaten by batons and sticks.

“This is a historic decision which has set an example for coming elections,” she said. “I congratulate people of NA-75 whose battle I fought.

“Today they got their right, their constitutional and democratic right which every Pakistani deserves.” Source: dawn.com

Pakistan also announced 100 scholarships in the field of medicines (MBBS and BDS) as part of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Higher Education Cooperation programme.

During the visit, the prime minister held delegation-level meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. .

$1bn trade target

At the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Conference held in Colombo, the two countries highlighted the importance of realising the goal of achieving $1 billion bilateral trade target and also agreed to work towards broadening and deepening of Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA)......

Connectivity

While inviting the Sri Lankan businessmen to invest in Pakistan by exploring the opportunities being offered in the form of ease-ofdoing business, Prime Minister Khan told Pakistan-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Conference that trade connectivity among the countries was vital for poverty alleviation. Source: dawn.com

Pakistan, India agree on strict observance of all agreements, ceasefire along LoC: ISPR

Pakistan and India have agreed to the strict observance of all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors, with effect from Wednesday midnight.“In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence,” a joint statement said, referring to the military operations heads of the two countries.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the DGMOs of the two countries held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact.The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, Radio Pakistan reported. They reiterated that existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings will be utilised to resolve any unforeseen situation or misunderstanding.

Military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, in comments on private TV channels, said: “There has been contact between India and Pakistan on a hotline level since 1987. Fre-

FATF keeps Pakistan on grey list until June despite ‘significant progress’

Govt urged to take up Sikh’ pilgrims issue with New Delhi

ECP declares Daska by-poll null and void, orders re-election on March 18

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ruled that a re-election be held in the entire NA-75 Daska constituency after suspicions that the results may have been falsified.

The ECP, while hearing an application by PML-N candidate Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, declared the by-poll held in the constituency on February 19 as null and void. A five-member commission, headed by the chief election commissioner, announced the decision and ordered that fresh elections be held in Daska on March 18.

The order was issued using the powers conferred on the ECP under Article 218 (3) of the Constitution and Article 19 (1) of the Election Act, 2017.

4

T

Rajab 14,1442 Feb 26, 2021

E d it o r ia l

Harnessing the Power of Muslim Media

he increasing presence of media in our everyday life cannot be denied. It is not uncommon today to be watching TV while scrolling through news on your smartphone or tablet with online streaming playing in the background. While digital media is overtaking print media, print media has been transitioning to electronic editions, and accessible technology has made such bridging easier.

Malcolm X once said, “The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” The role of media is being defined and redefined constantly as people around the world gain access to various types of media. Media has been applauded for promoting free speech and at the same time accused of inciting violence and spreading propaganda. It is a fine line that all media outlets, regardless of the audience, need to walk all the time.

The Miracle Media Group has been very conscious of this need for balance from day 1. Twenty years ago, the environment in which the newspaper was launched was quite different than today. This was pre-9/11, and the ideals on which the newspaper was founded were giving Muslims a voice in the mainstream

through their own platform and promoting the community while bringing harmony among all communities in Canada.

Circumstances changed in less than a year and Muslims all over the world found themselves on the defence, protecting their families, fighting hate crimes, negative portrayals in the mainstream media while trying to increase the awareness about Islam and Muslims. At that time, the role of Muslim media become more pivotal than ever as it was incumbent on them to use all their means to combat ignorance, and discriminatory attitude of some powerful mainstream media. As Muslims are legally entitled to proceed in an organized manner to protect their faith, their media too is equally entitled to publish literature to give the true picture to the public regardless of ethnicity, colour or creed. The fact is media is always bound by a code of ethics to continue as competitive and credible under all circumstances.

A successful journalist has to be conscientious, because presenting the distorted facts is unethical and unlawful.

Fortunately, the Muslim media of today has genuine encouragement to become more and more assertive with an improved degree of confidence. In other words, they are more involved and getting closer to be competitive even in the commercially focused me-

dia market. Better late than never, the Muslims are comfortable to troubleshoot the negative status quo through their own electronic and print media.

They are catching up gradually and hopefully would be able to free the Canadian audience of Islamophobia. Misreporting, exaggerating, or ignoring coverage for the Muslims did lead to the formation of such independent voice of Muslim community through their own print and electronic media throughout Canada. Moreover, utilizing Muslim friendly apparatus, pro-Islamic media advocates may go ahead with repairing the tarnished image of Islam. Regularly airing of the constructive interfaith dialogues can be further fruitful.

The Miracle Media Group has strived to uphold these ideas.

While it has not been a perfect journey, we are constantly learning from our mistakes and building on our experiences. Over the past 20 years, the landscape has changed within the BC Muslim Community. The community has grown exponentially, and various media outlets are now representing the community and different viewpoints. In the spirit of unity and harmony, The BC Muslim Electronic and Print Media Think Tank formed a Canadian Muslim Media Club (CMMC) in 2019.

The Miracle Media Group is one of its key members is committed

to taking action.

As Muslim media reaches full force on daily basis, the Muslim youth would be encouraged to benefit, preserve, and strengthen their Islamic identity. In addition to the print media, a daily Muslim presence in the broadcast media and the internet would correct the anti-Islam feelings among the non-Muslim Canadians. Today, we see Muslim female journalists like Ginella Massa on television, hosting a prime-time show on Canada’s own CBC and breaking the glass ceiling for Muslims, in particular, hijab-wearing Muslim sisters.

Progress cannot happen in a vacuum. The community continues to work together to strengthen its voice and representation in the media. Whether it is supporting through advertising in free newspapers, writing for a Muslim publication or reading a newspaper and sharing your feedback and suggestions, we all have a part to play in strengthening Muslim Media. Meanwhile, Muslim media should continue to focus on achieving the goal of nation building based on balanced truthful journalism on merit. Together, everything is possible.

Waan Laysa Lil Insana illa ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.

By: Misbah Naseer

Burnaby Green Party members vote to add diversity to City Council in municipal by-election

To whom it may concern,

Burnaby CIty Council is badly in need of new leadership and new ideas and this election is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring muslim representation, diversity and new ideas to City Council.

The Burnaby Green Party has selected two women Mehreen Chaudry and Teresa Rossiello to bring this much needed change.

If elected, Mehreen will be the first Muslim woman to be elected in Burnaby and will be a fantastic representative of the muslim community. Her and Teresa will work hard together to bring this much needed diversity and change to City Council.

Mehreen firmly believes that “As Muslims, we often feel isolated in our faith and culture. We need to have our concerns heard and to have a say in policy-making so our values and rights are safeguarded. We also need to create a sustainable future for our province that preserves our planet as quoted in the Qur’an.

“It is He who has appointed you viceroys in the earth … that He may try you in what He has given you.” (Surah 6:165) Burnaby, B.C. At a recent Burnaby Green Party meeting Mehreen Chaudry and Teresa Rossiello were nominated as the party’s two candidates for the upcoming municipal by-election. These two women represent a growing interest to improve diversity on City Council in Burnaby.

“I’m very excited to see these candidates nominated knowing what they could

bring to this council,” says Joe Keithley, Burnaby Green Party City Councillor.

“Mehreen Chaudry was an excellent Green candidate in the 2020 Provincial election, which saw four Burnaby Green candidates run, and that experience will be a real asset. Teresa Rossiello has been active on civic committees and community-based organizations for more than 8 years. She also knows her way around a campaign having served as the Riding Association Chair for the BC Greens in Burnaby North.”

Both candidates have a passion for local issues like housing affordability, urban green spaces, community planning, poverty reduction, and of course, climate change and the environment. Other key priorities include addressing the need for diversity and maintaining equity in community building and development.

“The Burnaby Green Party and I firmly believe in collaboratively working with our community and facilitating solutions to the challenges facing the city of Burnaby together.” says Mehreen Chaudry, Burnaby Green Party candidate .

“Co-coordinating Burnaby’s homeless count was a rewarding experience that showed me how community members can come together to ensure our most vulnerable neighbours are not overlooked.” says Teresa Rossiello, Burnaby Green Party candidate . Independent Mayor Mike Hurley has worked closely with Councillor Joe Keithley to advance a wide range of policies aimed at tackling Burnaby’s most pressing issues.

“Electing more Burnaby Greens to council means more support for working collaboratively and effectively with Mayor Hurley and other members of council on the issues that matter most to people in Burnaby,” says Keithley. “After decades of inadequate leadership by former

Genocide of Uighur Muslims

(Calgary) The founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and the Muslims Against Terrorism, Imam Syed Soharwardy issued the following statement today.

I was shocked and very disappointed

by Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his cabinet’s racist behaviour today in the Canadian Parliament by not supporting the Conservative motion on the GENOCIDE of Uighur minority in China.

Is supporting human rights of Uighur Muslims against the Canadian values? Why human rights of specific people supersede over the human rights of helpless oppressed persecuted people? Isn’t China committing crimes against humanity by killing and persecuting Uighur Muslims? Why on this noble and very much needed motion in the Canadian Parliament Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had to be partisan?

In the past I have opposed the Conservative Party’s position on many other issues. But I sincerely thank the Conservative Party of Canada, its leader, honourable Erin O’Tool and the two MPs, Michael Chong and Garnett Genuis for standing up for the human rights of all people.

I pray for the safety and speedy return to Canada of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. And I also pray for the safety and wellbeing of Uighur Muslims. We must stand up for the human rights of all people regardless of colour of their skin, ethnicity, language, religion or nationalities. For any inquiries, please contact Imam Syed Soharwardy at 416-994-5467.

Thanks mayor Derek Corrigan and the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA), we are now making significant progress on issues the public has asked us to address as we shape a more affordable, inclusive and sustainable future in our city.”

The Burnaby by-election has not yet been called but is expected this Spring. Source: David Burton , Campaign Communications Coordinator

THE

MIR A LE

Miracle Media Group Inc.©

Contact Info Mailing and Office Address 9160-136A Street Surrey BC. V3V 7Z8 Canada Ph: 604-690-0400 Fax: 604-582-7809

Founder : Nusrat Hussain Managing & Chief Editor: M. Naseer Pirzada Sub-Editors: Misbah & Sabeeh Advertising Ph: 604-690-0400 Emails: info@telus.net miraclenews@telus.net Editorial Board : editor@telus.net Mr.Shams Jillani, Mr Aslam Hayat, Mr. Azhar Syed, M.A.L. Naumani, Graphic Design: Design Teams Copyright ® 2001 Miracle Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved Printed in Canada

Phone: 604-690-0400 Emails:

miraclenews@telus.net miraclenewsg@gmail.com info@miraclenews.com

Website: www.miraclenews.com

Contents

Pak. News Editor Faith

News N. Int

Local s Cand.News Mir Special Politics Health Women/Y Int.politics Pak/Sports Urdu

3 4 5 8, 9 14 6,7,10,12, 15,17,21,23 25,29 16 20 19 14 26 27-36

Miracle Media is Member of : National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada important note:

Letters to the editor and Articles do not reflect the opinion of the Miracle media group. We do not publish anonymous letters or the letters of the people who do not disclose their identity to ‘The Miracle.’ A writer can use a pen name or request ‘The Miracle’ to withhold his / her identity. Please include your daytime telephone number for the confirmation of your letter.

We regret the inconvenience.

5

Rajab 14,1442 Feb 26, 2021

f aith

Narrated Ibn Mas`ud: The Prophet (saws) used to take care of the people in preaching by selecting a suitable time so that they might not run away (never made them averse or bored them with religious talk and knowledge all the time) Bukhari/3-11

Every Prophet was Given Miracles

S a t a n’s Ways to M e n ’ s Hearts | Abu Hamid AlGhazali

By Al Jumuah Magazine h e example of The heart is like that of a fortress, and Satan is an enemy who seeks to storm this fortress, to take control of it, and to rule over it. Moreover, any fortress cannot be said to be secure from the enemy except when its entrances are guarded, and the gaps in its walls are vigilantly watched over. Therefore, he who is not wholly familiar with his fortress walls cannot guard them.

Guarding the heart against the evil promptings of Satan is a prescribed duty and an individual obligation upon every Muslim who is mukallaf (a legally competent person from the standpoint of Sharîah).

There is no doubt that the best defense against Satan’s raids on one’s heart may be achieved by recognizing the heart’s entrances that Satan takes to deliver his venom. Knowing these ways and entrances is the first line of defense against Satan.

Therefore, this knowledge becomes an obligation – as it is stated in the well-known fiqh principle that: That which is indispensably connected with fulfilling an obligation is itself obligatory.

The entrances of Satan are in effect the qualities or traits of man, and they are many. But we shall in the following refer to the principal ones:

T

Anger and Lust

Anger, as it is rightly said, is the ogre of the intellect. When the levies of the intellect weaken, Satan’s forces assail, and whenever man becomes angry, Satan plays with him just as a lad does with a ball.

It is related that a saint once asked Satan: “Show me how you overcome a person.”

speaks in admonition, it makes no impression on his listeners.

Sixth, it stirs up disease within him.

He replied: “I take him while in anger or desire.” In another story, it was said that Satan appeared to an ascetic who asked him: “What qualities of the sons of Adam are most helpful to you?” Satan answered: “Quickness of temper; for if a man is quicktempered, I can turn him upside down just as lads toss a ball.

you the other two.” Allah then revealed to Nûh: “You do not need the three; but ask him about the two.” So Nûh said to Satan: “Never mind the three and tell me about the two?” He replied: “They are the two which never fail me, and I use them to destroy man; they are: greed and envy. For through envy I incurred divine curse; and for greed, the whole Paradise was permitEnvy and Greed Also among the great breaches through ted to Adam save one tree, but I made the which Satan’s mischief sneaks into peoples’ best out of him through greed.” heart is envy (hasad) and greed (hirs). For Satiety of Food whenever a man is greedy for anything, Another great way Satan takes to men’s his greed renders him blind and deaf, as hearts is satiety of food, even when it is lawthe Prophet said: “Your love for something ful and pure. Satiety strengthens the lusts, blinds and deafens.” (Abû Dâwûd, through and lusts are weapons that come in handy a weak chain, but the hadîth meaning is for Satan. It is related that Satan appeared correct). The light of insight detects Satan’s to Prophet Yahya ibn Zakariyah who saw entrances, but if envy and greed becloud hooks of every sort attached to him (i.e. it, man’s ability to distinguish greed from Satan). Therefore, Yahya asked: “What are evil is compromised and, as a result, Satan’s these hooks on you?” Satan replied: “These hand is strengthened. He adorns, in the eye are the lusts by which I hunt the son of of the greedy one, everything that leads to Adam.” Yahya asked: “Do I have any of the realization of this desire, even if it be them?” Satan answered: “Perhaps you becondemned and immoral. come surfeited with food and so I make It is related that when Prophet Nûh(Noah) Salah and thikr (remembrance of Allah) a entered the ark he took into it a pair of burden to you.” Yahya asked: “What else?” every sort as instructed by Allah to do so. Satan answered: “Nothing other than what One day, Nûh saw in the ark an old man I told you.” So Yahya said: “By Allah! I shall whom he did not recognize. Nûh said to never eat my fill again.” Satan replied: “And, the man: “Who are you and what are you by Allah, I shall never again give a sincere doing here?” The old man said: “I am Sa- advice to a Muslim.” tan and I came to dominate the hearts of It is said that there are six blameworthy your followers, so that their hearts would qualities in overeating: First, it banishes be with me and their bodies with you.” So fear of Allah from one’s heart. Second, it Nûh said to him: “Get out from here, O en- rids one’s heart of compassion towards huemy of Allah.” Satan answered: “You know mankind, for he supposes that they are all Prophet Nûh, I destroy mankind by means satiated. Third, it makes ibâda (worship) of five things, and I shall disclose to you a burden. Fourth, if he hears wise speech, three of them, but I shall withhold from he finds nothing graceful in it. Fifth, if he

Love of Adornment

Also of Satan’s great entrances to believers’ hearts is the love of adornment in furnishings, attire, and residence. When Satan sees this quality dominant in one’s heart, he sets up his camp in that heart and indwells it, and keeping on bidding him to make the house more adorable, to adorn its ceiling and walls, and to extend its walls. He invites him also to adorn his apparel and his mounts, and seeks to enslave him therein his whole life long. In addition, when man succumbs to Satan in this, the latter will have no need to busy himself with him again; for, like a vicious circle, one phase of this leads on to another until he meets his death embroiled in the wicked snares of Satan.

Hastiness

Also of Satan’s great doors is haste and lack of resoluteness in affairs. Allah says: Man is created of haste. [Sûrat Al-Anbiyâ, 21:38] and again: And man was ever hasty.

[Sûrat Al-Isrâ’, 17:12] And He says to his Messenger: Hasten not the Quran until the inspiration is completed for you. [Sûrat Ta Hâ, 20:113] Also the Prophet said: Haste is from Satan and calculated action is from Allah. (Tirmithi) This is because actions should follow insightful understanding (tabrira) and experiential knowledge. Insightful understanding requires reflection (ta’ammul), and unhurried action (tamahhul), but haste precludes this. For when man seeks to make haste, Satan readily dispenses to him his own evil from whence the man knows not. www.aljumuah.com

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Feb 26 - Mar 12, 2021 Rajab 14-28,1442 H

Isl. Dt. Day Date Fajar

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri

Sunr Dhur ZawalAsarDhuhr Asar Shafi / Hanfi

Maghrib

Isha

For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

6

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M i r ac l e

specia l

Statement from the Prime Minister of Canada

A MESSAGE FROM It is with great pleasure that I congratulate The Miracle Newspaper on their 20th anniversary of publication.

PREMIER JOHN HORGAN

Since its foundation, The Miracle Newspaper has provided a platform for sharing and discussing essential ideas and perspectives. It has served as a source of disseminating important information to MuslimCanadians.

Significant milestones such as this one, allow us to take the opportunity to celebrate the countless contributions that Muslim-Canadians have made to Canada. Our country is great not in spite of our differences, but because of them. We are strong because we are united in our diverse society.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made producing media and reporting on various topics even more difficult. That is why I would like to commend the staff at The Miracle Newspaper for their dedication to their readers during this challenging period.

Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful 20 publication.

th

anniversary of

As Premier of the Province of British Columbia, I’m pleased to extend my warmest greetings to readers of The Miracle.

One of British Columbia’s greatest assets is the vibrant cultural diversity of the people who call this province home, and that is reflected in the wide range of exceptional media produced throughout the Lower Mainland. Twenty years have passed since The Miracle was created to fill the need for a bilingual print publication which speaks to the issues important to the local Muslim community. In that time, it has not only fulfilled that goal but has also worked to promote understanding and harmony among other cultural groups. In doing so, The Miracle helps to nurture the inclusivity and mutual respect that is so vital to the rich multicultural province we share.

I wish you continued growth and success for many years to come, Congratulations to Miracle Media on twenty years of excellence!

Please enjoy this special anniversary edition in honour of this exciting achievement.

HONOURABLE JOHN HORGAN PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Ottawa 2021 Community Office: Raj Chouhan, MLA Burnaby Edmonds 5234 Rumble Street Burnaby, BC V5J 2B6 Legislative Office: Raj Chouhan, MLA Burnaby- Edmonds Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Certificate of Congratulations We, the Surrey and Delta Government Caucus, congratulate The Miracle Newspaper and Magazine on their 20th anniversary.

It has served our community for the last two decades and we hope they continue to be a significant voice for years to come.

Harry Bains MLA, Surrey- Newton

Bruce Ralston MLA, Surrey-Whalley

Garry Begg MLA, Surrey-Guildford

Jinny Sims MLA, Surrey-Panorama

Jagrup Brar MLA, Surrey-Fleetwood

January 13, 2021

Congratulations I would like to sincerely congratulate BC’s first Muslim bilingual newspaper on celebrating 20 years of publication.

Your message of “Bringing Harmony to All the Communities” is more important than ever. Thank you for making such a vital contribution to our region.

In this special anniversary edition, I wish The Miracle Newspaper all the best for your continued success.

Yours sincerely,

Ravi Kahlon MLA, Delta – North

Rachna Singh Mike Starchuk MLA, Surrey-Green Timbers MLA, Surrey - Cloverdale February 2021

HON. Raj Chouhan, MLA Burnaby-Edmonds Speaker

7

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M i r a c l e

s p e c i a l

The Miracle’s Journey of Twenty Years Memories

(Feb 2001- 2021)

To be Continued at Page 13

8

Rajab 14,1442 Feb 26, 2021

N at

&

I nt

N E W S

US President Biden, Saudi King Salman U.S. secretary of state plans virtual visits discuss end to Yemen war Friday with Trudeau, Garneau, Mexico

Biden affirms US commitment to Saudi defence, calls for diplomacy in Yemen and praises release of rights activists.

United States President Joe Biden spoke for the first time since becoming president with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Thursday as the US prepares to release a report about the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden emphasised the US commitment to assuring Saudi Arabia security from threats from Iran and discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen, the White House said in a statement released by the communications office.Biden and the Saudi monarch addressed “the longstanding partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia” and the “US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”, the White House readout of the call said.“The President noted positively the recent release of several Saudi-American activists and Ms Loujain al-Hathloul from custody, and affirmed the importance the United States places on uni-

versal human rights and the rule of law,” the White House said.

Al-Hathloul, a prominent activist who had advocated for women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia, was released from a Saudi prison on February 10 after nearly three years behind bars.In Riyadh, “the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the US President stressed on the depth of the relationship between the two countries, and the importance of strengthening the partnership between them to serve their interests and achieve security and stability in the region and the world,” the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement.

Source: .aljazeera.com

YANGON, MYANMAR -- Social media giant Facebook announced Thursday it was banning all accounts linked to Myanmar’s military as well as ads from military-controlled companies in the wake of the army’s seizure of power on Feb. 1.

It said in a statement that it was treating the post-coup situation in Myanmar as an “emergency,” explaining that the ban was precipitated by events since the coup, including “deadly violence.”

Facebook already has banned several military-linked accounts since the coup, including army-controlled Myawaddy TV and state television broadcaster MRTV. The bans are also being applied on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook.

Facebook and other social media platforms

came under enormous criticism in 2017 when right groups said they failed to act enough to stop hate speech against Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority.

The army launched a brutal counterinsurgency operation that year that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya to to seek safety in neighbouring Bangladesh, where they remain in refugee camps. Myanmar security forces burned down villages, killed civilians and engaged in mass rape in their campaign, which the World Court is investigating as a crime of genocide.

Facebook in 2018 banned the accounts of several top Myanmar military leaders, including Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led this month’s coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party. The general heads the junta that now acts as the government, The junta has tried to block Facebook and other social media platforms, but its efforts have proven ineffective. For more than a week it has also turned off access to the internet nightly from 1 a.m.

Source: ctvnews.ca

Manhattan district attorney finally gets Trump tax documents, but that doesn’t mean they will become public. After a lengthy court battle, the Manhattan district attorney is in possession of Donald Trump’s tax returns and other financial records as part of a criminal investigation into the former president and his family-run Trump Organization, a spokesman for the office confirmed on Thursday.

The New York prosecutor’s office obtained the voluminous records on Monday, the same day the US Supreme Court rejected Trump’s latest attempt to keep his longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, from turning over the records.

Danny Frost, a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, confirmed the office’s receipt of the documents, which came some 18 months after a subpoena was issued for them. The records, which include eight years of tax returns, could boost the district attorney’s investigation into the Trump Organization. Unlike all other recent US presidents, Trump refused to make his tax returns public. The data could provide details on his wealth and the activities of the family-run real

estate company.

A spokesman for Mazars USA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Monday, after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump issued a statement calling Vance’s investigation part of “the greatest political Witch Hunt in the history of our country”.

Vance subpoenaed Mazars in 2019 seeking Trump’s corporate and personal tax returns from 2011 to 2018. Trump’s lawyers sued to block the subpoena, arguing that a sitting president has absolute immunity from state criminal investigations.

The Supreme Court in July rejected those arguments but said Trump could raise other objections. Trump’s lawyers then told lower courts the subpoena was overly broad and amounted to political harassment but the lower courts rejected those claims last year.....

Source: .aljazeera.com

Facebook bans all Myanmar military-linked accounts and ads

Prosecutors digging into Trump’s tax and financial records

WASHINGTON -- Antony Blinken will meet virtually Friday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau in a day of online diplomacy for the U.S. secretary of state. Blinken will meet with Trudeau, Garneau and other members of the federal cabinet as part of a “virtual trip” to Canada and Mexico, Blinken’s first bilateral video conferences since taking office.

The visit follows up on Trudeau’s own virtual summit this week with U.S. President Joe Biden, which produced a “road map” for plans to collaborate on issues like climate change, the economy and COVID-19.

The pandemic made an in-person visit impossible, said Julie Chung, the acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

“We decided to do this virtually instead of waiting for the time when it would be safer

to travel,” Chung said. “This is the new world we live in through virtual platforms, but we thought it was really important to engage with both Canada and Mexico early on.”

Agenda items for the two “neighbours, friends and allies” also include “defending human rights in the Western Hemisphere and around the world, and bolstering our shared defence and security,” said State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

That means the conversations will likely include the plight of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadians who have spent the last two years in custody in China.

Spavor and Kovrig -- the “two Michaels,” as they are known in Canada -- were swept up in the weeks that followed Canada’s arrest in December 2018 of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese tech giant Huawei and daughter of the company’s founder.

Source: ctvnews.ca

We can’t afford to wait. It’s time for paid sick leave for every worker in Canada.

Joint Statement by Canada’s Provincial and Territorial Federations of Labour In advance of the federal, provincial and territorial labour ministers’ meeting, provincial and territorial federations of labour are united in demanding that provincial and territorial governments guarantee seamless access to universal, permanent and adequate employer-provided sick days for all workers.

More than half of all Canadian workers have no access to paid sick leave. When they’re sick, they face an impossible choice between making ends meet and staying home to protect public health and get better. It’s a decision nobody should have to make.

Workplace outbreaks and transmissions during the COVID-19 pandemic have made it clear that paid sick leave is critical to protecting public health. Yet the gaps in coverage are huge, especially among low-wage workers. There’s an urgent need for immediate government action — especially with new, highly-contagious variants now spreading through our population.

It’s a public health imperative that sick workers stay home from work, and not just during the pandemic. Illnesses like influenza cause thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in Canada every year. By curbing the spread of infectious diseases, employer-provided sick days would protect public health while increasing workplace productivity, offering more stable income for workers and reducing health costs for governments.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is a small step forward, but it falls far short of what is needed. It’s temporary by design and re-

stricted to COVID-related illness. It interrupts workers’ income, making them apply and then wait for the benefit to arrive. And the benefit itself only replaces a fraction of lost pay for many workers. While this new benefit helps, it isn’t universal and permanent paid sick leave.

Initially, some level of government support may be needed to offset costs for small and medium-sized businesses that have been severely affected by the pandemic. But the ultimate goal, in every province and territory, must be to ensure that every worker knows that when they are sick, they will not pay a financial penalty for doing the right thing and staying home to protect public health.

Public support for employer-provided sick days is strong throughout Canada. The need has never been more apparent or more urgent.

We call on Canada’s labour ministers to prioritize the implementation of universal, permanent and adequate employer-provided paid sick leave for all workers now.

This joint statement is being distributed on behalf the Alberta Federation of Labour, British Columbia Federation of Labour, Manitoba Federation of Labour, New Brunswick Federation of Labour, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, Ontario Federation of Labour, Prince Edward Island Federation of Labour, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and Yukon Federation of Labour.

Source: Denise Moffatt Director of Political Action & Government Relations BC Federation of Labour

9

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

l o ca l / cO v i d / c o nt

‘We are not quite there’: B.C. still not ready to ease restrictions,.............

VANCOUVER -- Rising COVID-19 case numbers and an increasing test-positivity rate have quashed any hope of B.C. easing province-wide restrictions at the end of February. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry broke the news at her coronavirus briefing on Thursday, revealing that several of the key metrics officials monitor to determine the severity of the pandemic have taken a turn for the worse.“We are continuing to watch these indicators and when we have confidence that they are slowing in a sustained way, that is when we’ll be able to ease restrictions,” Henry said. “But we are

not quite there yet.” B.C.’s rolling seven-day average for new cases recently topped 500 for the first time since mid-January, after decreasing to 407 just last week. Henry said the number of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has also “crept up” to 6.7 per cent, with the Fraser Health and Northern Health regions at 8 per cent and 11.5 per cent, respectively.The province’s COVID-19 reproductive number, which is an average of how many additional infections are generated by each new case, has also surpassed one.

“What that means is that there’s potential for rapid growth if we’re not careful,” Henry said.“This tells us that every person, on average, who’s infected is spreading to more than

one other person. This is something we need to watch.” Earlier this month, health officials announced an indefinite extension of the province-wide ban on social gatherings and events, citing, in part, growing concerns around the spread of COVID-19 variants.

At the time, Henry indicated the tough-buttemporary restrictions could be relaxed at the end of February, but only if B.C. could successfully manage its caseload.

“We’re all keen to get to that point where we can safely spend time with more of our family and our friends, when we can travel, at least within B.C., and resume some of those things that we have all put on hold for these long winter months,” Henry said Thursday.

The provincial health officer said the government is now “looking ahead into March” for when some of those restrictions might be eased, including the ban on in-person religious services.

B.C.’s number of active cases has also increased since restrictions were extended at the beginning of the month, though hospitalizations have dropped from 253 down to 228.There are also fewer deaths being recorded on average, and the number of outbreaks in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities has been steadily dropping.

Health officials have credited that development to the widespread vaccination of seniors in care. Source: ctvnews.ca

Preliminary results from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control show a single dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is already giving substantial protection to B.C. residents of long term care facilities and health care workers.

Early vaccine effectiveness results from British Columbia (B.C.) show the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of COVID-19 in long term care residents and health care workers by 80 per cent within two to three weeks of receiving the vaccine.

“These findings, based on surveillance data, are very promising and reinforce the substantial benefit provided by the first dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in these priority populations,” said Dr. Danuta Skowronski, lead for the Influenza and Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Team at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). “They

also help to answer one of the important unanswered questions after the clinical trials about the effectiveness of the vaccines in the elderly and notably those within long term care.”

The analysis, led by Dr. Skowronski, looked at COVID-19 cases that occurred among vaccinated long term care residents and health care workers between late December 2020 and early February 2021. Researchers observed a pronounced drop in the number of cases among vaccinated individuals in both groups, beginning about 14 days after vaccination, including a reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among vaccinated long term care residents.

Vaccines begin to work a couple of weeks after vaccination. Researchers compared the risk of becoming a COVID-19 case in the first ten days following vaccination, before

the vaccine would have had an effect, to the risk two weeks or more after vaccination. In that way they were able to show vaccine effectiveness of 80% or more beginning just a few weeks after vaccination. This means that a single dose of vaccine could prevent at least eight out of every 10 cases of COVID-19.

The findings are encouraging as about 60% of deaths in B.C. have occurred in residents of long-term care facilities. Since the COVID-19 vaccination program began, there has been a demonstrable decline in outbreaks and deaths in long-term care facilities.

In B.C., residents and staff of long term care and assisted living residences and frontline health care workers were prioritized in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Immunization Plan to protect those most at risk of death and severe outcomes. Vaccinations for both groups began in December 2020.

The results are based on surveillance observations and have not yet been published in a peer reviewed paper but are being shared in the context of a public health emergency.

They are comparable to vaccine effectiveness results released by Quebec. Together, the studies reinforce the substantial protection for these important populations afforded by a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Funding for this research was provided by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

some of the unique design features and learn more about the new co-working space.

“We’re using technology and innovation to change the way we live and work,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “The new office model will help us keep pace with a growing mobile workforce, support collaboration and shared ideas in the BC Public Service and give people the flexibility they need and want.”

Over 2,000 B.C. government employees – more than 20% of the BC Public Service employees who work in Victoria – live in the Westshore area. Many have long advocated for an office space close to home due to the time and money they spend commuting each day. The new office will help ease commute times and support government’s goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants by reducing congestion and traffic idling.

“This is an exciting day for many people living in the Westshore,” Dean said. “Commuting to Victoria for work takes precious time away from our families and creates harmful emissions. This beautiful office will give people the flexibility they need to balance their home and work lives and reduce environmental impacts.”

During COVID-19, the occupancy of the of-

fice has been reduced from 100 to 50 people to ensure physical distancing and worker safety. A COVID-19 safety plan, including behavioural and wayfinding signage, is in place, per the direction and orders of the provincial health officer and WorkSafeBC. “I’m so excited for this space to open, as it’ll make a huge difference on my commute time to work and will allow me to spend more time with my family,” said Su-Mei MacDonnell, B.C. government employee and Colwood resident. “Having the choice and flexibility to be able to work at this ShareSpace location is fantastic.”

The more than 930 square-metre (10,000 square-foot) office space is modern, green and fully accessible. It includes a mix of coworking and private rooms, natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor patio and workspace with views of Langford Lake. Innovative office technology is used throughout, such as interactive room and desk-booking apps, digital signage and audio-visual meeting systems. It also has electric-vehicle charging stations, bike storage, day-use lockers and showers that promote active and green transportation options. With brightly coloured felt pendant lighting, exposed natural B.C. wood

Continued from Page 1

Early findings show the by 80 per cent or more

Westshore welcomes BC Public Service’s first fully mobile workspace

BC Public Service employees who live in the Westshore and surrounding communities can now work closer to home at the new Westhills ShareSpace – a modern, spacious and flexible co-working office.

“Today, we’re opening the door to a new way of working for the BC Public Service,” said Premier John Horgan. “Having the option to work and collaborate in a bright, open and innovative workspace near home will be a game changer for many people – giving them more time with their families, cutting commute times and helping reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

Premier Horgan was joined by Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development and MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin, to celebrate the official opening of the office.

The event included a tour of the office to see

elements, textured graphic and interactive walls, the space aims to inspire creativity and provide a collaborative, healthy and positive work environment.

“This is an exciting day for Langford and employees of the provincial government who live in the Westshore,” said Stew Young, mayor of Langford. “For over 25 years, I have been advocating for government offices in Langford. My hope is this office will be the first of many. Having this hub in Langford will allow residents to work close to home, get out of traffic, and spend more time with their families, creating a better work/life balance.”

Located at 1311 Lakepoint Way in Langford, the Westhills ShareSpace office was announced as part of a pilot in November 2019. Source:news.gov.bc.ca

Coronavirus infections over 113 million worldwide Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

89,135,363

Last updated:

February 26, 2021, 06:04 GMT www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?

113,550,915

2,519,328

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

CANADA Last updated:

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

BC;CANADA Last updated:

858,220 78,673

21,865 1,348

806,017 72,781

February 26, 2021, 06:04 GMT

February 25, 2021, 04:30 PM(PT)

10

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M i r ac l e

specia l FROM THE DESK OF THE CONSUL GENERAL MESSAGE FOR THE MIRACLE

As the Miracle celebrates its 20th anniversary on February 23, 2021, I feel privileged to felicitate Mr. Naseer Pirzada and his team for their dedication and commitment to make the Miracle Media a success.

Despite limitations of the ethnic media, The Miracle Media has transformed into vibrant and dynamic medium by providing invaluable information on political, social and cultural issues. It has also been helping in providing entertainment and promoting businesses. The Urdu and English Sections of the Magazine reflecting on the current situation covering local, regional and international news has made it accessible to a broader range of people.

I would like to congratulate the entire team of The Miracle on celebrating its 20th anniversary. I wish the Miracle Media Group go from strength to strength and continue to play its role in providing information and bridging the communication gap.

Janbaz Khan

Consul General of Pakistan

A

Celebrating Two Miraculous Decades

lhamdulillah, it is a superb occasion in the Miracle Media Group Inc.’s history as it has completed two decades (20 years) -a long journey that began on Feb 23rd, 2001.

I want to thank the supporters and great well-wishers of ‘The Miracle’ for providing continuous support through advertisements of their businesses, sharing their thoughts in writing with our readers, especially Mr. Nusrat Hussain, Mr. Shams Jilani, Mr. Aslam Hayat, Maulana Abdul Latif Nomani, Mrs. Shamim Karim, Mrs. Alam Ara, Mrs. Shabnam Khan, Ms. Asma Shums, Mrs. Nafisa Siddiqi, Ms. Khadija Nadeem, Ms. Gulshan Aalani, Mr. Zafar Alam, and many others.

In the past twelve months, everyone has had life experiences that were never known to them.

The Miracle family experienced immense losses during this time as our Senior Editorial board member Br. Azhar Syed, passed away on August 13 followed by the death of our first Chief Urdu editor Br. Mohammad Rafiq on Jan 9, 2021. Both men were pioneers in British Columbia and pillars of their communities. The Miracle family prays to Almighty Allah(SWT) for His mercy upon them and grant them forgiveness, reward them with the best place in paradise, and give patience to the families (Ameen).

In this special 20th Anniversary edition we are acknowledging the services of our Muslim community members in various fields including religious scholars, political partici-

pants in Civic, Provincial and Federal elections, advertisers, prominent community members of past and present, and various media groups.

The Miracle newspaper aims to provide a broad overview of the world through articles and images.

Over the years, we have covered around 5300 events from all communities in efforts to keep up with our slogan, “Bring-

ing Harmony to all the Communities”.

We are also proud that for those who are not Muslims, our Newspaper serves as a gateway to learn more about Islam as well as the local and international Muslim community. The Miracle cares and respects all community members irrespective of ethnicity and faith.

Our journey over the past 20 years has been quite an experience.

On Feb 23, 2001, Mr. Hussain launched the first Muslim Newspaper on a biweekly basis and his family’s and his day and night struggle gave a voice to the community. While I joined as Managing Editor in 2002, I was handed over the responsibility to run this show alone from Jan 2007. How successful my entire team and I have been in achieving these tasks? Well, the Miracle’s readers are the best judges.

The Miracle became synonymous with events for much of its publication life.

We conducted many successful Election Forums on Civic, Provincial, and Federal Elections debates. In the 2015 Federal Elections, Miracle Media did a vital role to conduct Surrey Candidates’ grand debate under the banner of BC Muslim Print Media.

In the 2016 BC Provincial election, the Miracle media covered the candidates’ nomination meetings, election campaigns, press conferences, community forums of many candidates and their profiles.

We held Qirat and Hamad o Naat competitions, awards for Miracle Youth, Advertisers, Sponsors, and Writers. Miracle Media also conducted three 6 hours long exciting Musical Competition programs for tributes the legendry Pakistani Singers Mehdi Hassan, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Mixed Pakistani songs, these programs engaged children, youth, adults, and seniors of all communities.

In 2019 Miracle Media was the partner of “ I AM PAKISTAN “ Worldwide Movement for Diamer Basha & Mohmand Dams Fundraising Dinner on March 24, 2019. We also became a Member of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC). The Miracle Media has been part of the Canadian Muslim Media Club (CMMC) and as part of CMMC, has been arranging social and political gatherings both in person and virtually.

While we continued publishing our paper in print till Nov 20, 2020, the realities of Covid-19 pandemic, we had to halt the printing. However, we have kept going in our digital format and the readers are still enjoying the newspaper on their screens on the Miracle Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Like other businesses, this year has hurt Miracle deeply as our advertisers are struggling but we aim to carry-on with our limited resources and stay with our readers, writers and advertis-

ers during this difficult time.

Feel free to comments on this issue about Miracle’s Historical 20 years journey, as your concerns and suggestions are highly appreciated for improving our quality in the future.

In the end, I will not be honest if I do not appreciate the efforts of my Miracle’s family Ms. Khadija, Ms. Misbah, and Sabeeh. Keep up the good work not only for the Miracle but for all the Community.

I thank everyone who took the time and sent their messages at Miracle’s 20th Anniversary, including PM Justin Trudeau, BC Premier John Horgan, BC Caucus, Speaker, Hon. High Commissioner of Pakistan, Politicians, Consul General of Pakistan advertisers, Organizations, and wellwishing individuals from the community.

May Allah (SWT) accept your prayers for our success and may He help us in serving the community.

Jazaakumu Allahu Khairan. (Ameen)

Mohammad Naseer Pirzada (Editor-in-Chief) Miracle

11

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

C omm u nity P olitic a l F I G U R E S

Miracle Media also Acknowledges all these Muslim Community representatives who participated in Federal, Provincial and Civic Elections and proved that Muslim community is also active participant of Canadian Politics. Well done, we are looking for more in future.

Dr. Aftab Ahmed Sheikh (Candidate for Councilor 2005

Shawkat Hasan

Ch. Ijaz Ahmed Chattha (First School Trusttee Surrey 2008)

Zakir Bokhari

Moe Chelali

Itrath Syed (Candidate for NDP MP 2004)

Rdhia Benalia

Rachid Arab (Candidate for NDP MP 2008)

Marc Mohammad (Candidate for Liberal MP 2008)

Sikandar Hayat

Ali Ahmed Zaidi

(Candidate for School Trusttee 2012) (Candidate for Councillor 2008) (Candidate for NDP MLA 2005) (Candidate for Liberal MLA 2009) Candidate for BC vision MLA 2013 (Candidate for School Trusttee Surrey 2014)

Adil Awan (Candidate for City Councillor Ricmond 2014)

BC CIVIC ELECTION 2018 Muslim Community Candidates

Sharmarke Dubow

Victoria Councillor

Prov.Elec 2020

Adel Gamar

Coquitlam for Mayor

Our Women role in Muslim Community

Dr. Riffat Nagra

Fatima Benhatta (IRC)

Dr. Babra Rana (PCWS) Kaniza Ishmail (MYC) Shahnaz Rehman (PCWS)

Qamer ul Nisa

Shahnaz Rehmatullah

Sadia Samiullah

Frida David

Mahwish Yousaf

BCMA Bby Women Chapter

Fiji Islamic Centre Women Chapter

Muslim Community Youth

Students of Darul Quran Academy of Canada

Students of Darul Quran Institute of Islamic Studies

Students of Muslim Youth Centre

The contents and pictures above are owned by the Miracle Media and cannot be reproduced without prior permission., we have many more,they will be in next.

12 M ir a cle speci a l Congratulations Messages at Miracle 20th Anniversary Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

Congratulate Naseer Pirzada and his Miracle team

It has been fabulous 20 years of reading Miracle Newspaper.

On behalf of Alameen Media we would like to congratulate Naseer Pirzada and his Miracle team on their 20th anniversary.

Over the last two decades Miracle has become an essential part of Vancouver’s Pakistani Community and has played a key role highlighting the stories in the Muslim community.

Your efforts and dedication is evident in your publication. With each passing year, Miracles continues to be an instrumental part of our community.

We wish and pray for your continued success in the decades to come.

Regards

Mohammed Jafar Bhamji Shahzad Mansoory Editors - AlameenPost

Congratulations Miracle Team on its 20th anniversary

On behalf of Islamic Association of Western Canada and Jamia Masjid Aulia Allah I would like to congratulate brother Naseer Pirzada sahib and his team on the 20th anniversary of Miracle newspaper.

Masha Allah Miracle has been serving all communities especially the Muslim community in British Columbia for 20 years. May Allah bless Pirzada sahib and the team at Miracle newspaper for their great very beneficial services. JazakAllah Imam Syed Soharwordhy ISCC, Calgary

Proud on Miracle’s dedication to the Community Bullay Shah Academy of Canada The Miracle Media Group is an amazing newspaper, which is a totally dedicated to the Community and its leadership to serve better and better. We are very thankful of Chief-editor glad on this Media Group, that

they have this opportunity to improve Community Services and relationships. May Allah bless the all team members to serve the best in future. All the Best for Miracle’s 20thanniversary.

Peer Afzal Naqashbandi

President Bullay Shah Academy of Canada

Miracle newspaper itself is a media leader

Formed in 2010, Pakistani Canadian Women’s Society is a non-profit organization.

Our Mission Statement is to To support and educate women to empower them for positive social change, build links among different cultures and help alleviate suffering for a better world.

Our key accomplishments include hosting a number of fundraising events for causes such as the Haiti earthquake, the floods in Pakistan, Canadians for Global Care fund raiser, Thar famine as well as a fundraiser for victims of Gaza.

One aspect of our Society that we are especially proud of is that we have established a tradition of using most of our community events to raise funds for worthy causes.

PCWS is also part of a festival that celebrates Pakistan Day. This festival has been held almost every summer since 2010 and is a collaborative effort involving the

Consulate of Pakistan as well as other community organizations.

The Society has also held events to bring communities together with musical evenings, Eid functions as well as organizing South Asian Film Festival every year.

We have held a number of educational events for women with a focus on issues such as violence against women, issues relating to parenting, depression & selfesteem and issues faced by immigrant seniors etc.

We at PCWS believe that for the development and progress of any society, it is important to enhance the quantity and quality of its human resource. This cannot be achieved without empowering the women of that society, improving their social position , giving them agency and equity and removing barriers in their progress . This includes closing the gender gap through education of not only the women but also education and awareness of all members of the society surrounding them to make a level playing field.

Since our inception in 2010, Miracle newspaper has been a great support in highlighting and promoting every event we have held. Miracle newspaper itself is a media leader in creating awareness about community issues , covering local as well as international news and holding events to bring communities together as well as recognizing outstanding community members. We at PCWS greatly appreciate the invaluable contribution they have made to raise the profile of Pakistani community.

been an absolute pleasure to contribute my Articles in The Miracle. I would like to thank The Miracle Team for it’s continuous contribution to all readers in the community.

May you have many more years of success and prosperity.

Congratulations & Best Wishes

Shabnam Khan RPC|MPCC Family Counsellor

We are looking for your support

Over the past 12 months, our communities have gone through a new kind of challenge, one that we have not had to face before. However, thanks to our donors and supporters, young children were able to study without wondering or guessing if they will eat today. Vulnerable elders were able to receive essential food and medicine. Youth suffering from addictions were given the resources and support they needed to break free from the shackles of substance dependence. Single mothers were able to see their children smile. As a food bank, by the grace of Allah (SWT), we were able to turn the table on hunger for over 5,000 hungry mouths. These are just some of the impacts we have been able to have on our community.

COVID-19 has brought many challenges to all of us as a community; from physical ailments to mental and economic distress. Annually for the past 10 years we would host a fundraising dinner, where we would raise over $100,000 to help fund some of our various Dr. Babra Rana programs. This year, due to the covid restrictions, we President(PCWS) have decided to do something new, something differ“Community was blessed with ent from our norm. I would like to invite you to join us in attempting to raise $50,000 on Saturday, February ‘The Miracle,” 27 at our first online, interactive fundraiser. Join us for Approximately ninety-one an evening to get updates on the different programs, years ago, within the footquestion answer sessions, community discussion, and hills of the Himalayans and Keynote speech by Imam Khalid Latif, Executive alluvial plains, where ethnic Director and Chaplain for the Islamic Center at New and cultural diversity reign York University. strong, in lands still lurking We are looking for your support at this event; for with the vestiges of an anmore information, or to help sponsor the event, please cient, sophisticated civilization, endured a man, best described as having a heart contact shatha@muslimfoodbank.com. that beat to another rhythm. This anomaly, not to be Our heartfelt congratulations to the confused with some vascular irregularity, but that of a Miracle team. heart full of love for wisdom and knowledge, and most Assalamu Alaikum, importantly ‘oneness.’ Our beloved nations dear phiOn this momentous 20th anlosopher ‘Muhammad Iqbal’ merely outlined the porniversary for The Miracle trait of a nation with a shared notion of ‘oneness,’ that newspaper, there manageus descendants continue to paint in, including many ment of Abu Bakr Islamic of us who makes up the nation’s vast diaspora. In these Centre would like to offer far-away lands that we now call home, our motherour heartfelt congratulations land is deep in our hearts and never forgotten. We go to the Miracle team. about our daily lives, contributing towards greater soAbu Bakr Islamic Centre was purchased in 2015 to ciety, often yet with a subconscious fear of truly losing serve the Muslim community of Newton. We have a sense of self. Twenty years ago, our lower mainland seen an overwhelming response from the community community was blessed with ‘The Miracle,’ acting as a which in turn helped us establish ABIC as a foundavoice, source of connection, a reminder that our true tional cornerstone for the surrounding Muslim comselves lay in our shared beliefs of ‘tawhid,’ a paintbrush munity. Alhamdulillah, this past Eid al Adha was an between that of us globs of paint and the canvas makextra special one for us. It was the occasion where we ing up our evolving nation. We thank you ‘Miracle’ for were able to finally pay back the last outstanding debts years of service. to our brothers and sisters. Abu Bakr Islamic Centre Dr. Riffat Nagra was finally free from debt, alhamdulillah.

Wish for many more years of success to Going forward we have a few ideas that we are currently working on and will share our future plans with Miracle the community as soon as we can. This pandemic has I would like to extend my caused our Masājid to close but we make due that this congratulations and best will end in short order. We would like to take this opwishes to The Miracle Team portunity to say Jazakumullah Khair to all our well on their 20th Anniversary. wishers and supporters. Without you, we wouldn’t The Miracle has established have been able to achieve our goals. We look forward a vital resource for general to serving you for years to come, inshā Allah readers, educators, businesses, parents and many more through great coverage. An Abu Bakr Islamic Centre (Imran Yakub)_ achievement of this kind is only possible with a team (Management) To be Continued at Page 14 of such talented and hardworking individuals. It has

13

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

Continued from page 7

M ir a cle

speci a l

The Miracle’s Journey of Twenty Years Memories (Feb 2001- 2021)

To be Continued at Page 21

14

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

S peci a l / nA T . n E W S

Role of Muslim Scholars in society

Question mands of Allaah and avoiding His prohibiWhat is the role of muslim scholars in society? tions. Indeed, role models play a great role in guiding people to the straight path. AlAnswer ll perfect praise be to Allaah, The laah, The Exalted, says (what means): {There Lord of the worlds. I testify that has certainly been for you in the Messenger there is none worthy of worship of Allaah an excellent pattern for anyone except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallal- whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allah often.} laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and [Quran 33:21] Messenger.

There is no doubt that the scholars play a vi- Third: they should treat people with modtal role in society. They are the heirs of the esty and humbleness and strive to help them Prophet’s knowledge, and they should act with their needs to the best of their abilities. upon that knowledge, taking the Prophet, sal- Anas ibn Maalik may Allaah be pleased lallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as their role mode with him reported, “If a female slave from and doing what he used to do for the Muslim the people of Madinah were to take the hand of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alaysociety. Their duties include the following: First: keenness to teach people their religion hi wa sallam, he would go with her wherand nurture their faith, morality and Islamic ever she wanted to help her fulfil a need.” etiquette. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what [Al-Bukhari] Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen may means): {It is He Who has sent among the Allaah have mercy upon him commentunlettered a Messenger from themselves re- ed: “How humble the Prophet, sallallaahu citing to them His verses and purifying them ‘alayhi wa sallam, was! He was the master of and teaching them the Book and wisdom - all mankind and yet would not object that although they were before in clear error.} a slave girl takes him by the hand wherever [Quran 62:2] The sermons and speeches of she wished so that he would help her meet the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, her needs.” and his advice to his Companions are too Ibn Umar may Allaah be pleased with them narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu many to be listed in full.

Second: giving a good example for people ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “The dearest person to follow by means of abidance by the com- to Allaah is the one who is the most benefi-

A

cial to people. The dearest deed to Allaah is bringing happiness to a Muslim, dispelling a grief from him, settling his debt, or feeding him while he is hungry. It is dearer to me to support my Muslim brother in satisfying a need than to make itikaaf (seclusion for the purpose of worship) in this mosque (meaning the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah) for a month...” [At-Tabraani] Fourth, enjoining good and forbidding evil and eliminating grudges and discord against fellow Muslims from people’s hearts, because the scholars are leaders and it is unbecoming of a true leader to harbor grudges against others. It has been narrated in the Quran that the believers supplicate their Lord to eradicate resentment towards others from their hearts. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And (there is a share for) those who came after them, saying: Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts (any) resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.} [Quran 59:10] Fifth: striving in tending to the needs of fellow Muslims, visiting the sick, making peace between the disputing parties, and similar acts of goodness and kindness. Jaabir ibn Abdullaah may Allaah be pleased with

them narrated, “I fell ill, and the Prophet, sallallaahu’alayhi wa sallam, and Abu Bakr came on foot to visit me...” [Al-Bukhari] Sahl ibn Saad may Allaah be pleased with him reported that there was a dispute amongst the people of the tribe of Banu Amr ibn Awf. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to them along with some of his companions in order to make peace between them. [Al-Bukhari] You can refer to the books on the biography and attributes of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to familiarize yourself with the refined manners with which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, treated his Companions and the non-Muslims in Madinah. Verily, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is the best role model for all Muslims in this regard, and especially for the scholars. Allaah knows best.

Source..islamweb.org

Congratulations Messages at Miracle 20th Anniversary

Continued from Page 12

Congratulations Miracle Media

Miracle newspaper is celebrating it’s 20 Anniversary.

On this special occasion I want to congratulate Br. Mohammad Naseer Pirzada, Mr. (Late) Muhammad Rafiq, Hon. Chief Editor and Editor Urdu section sadly he is not with us any more,he is going to be greatly missed , and team Miracle for amazing success in these twenty years journey. Newspapers are “living textbooks” with the most up-to-date information and no doubt miracle does that by complete coverage of what is happening in our country and around the world, as we all experiencing the horrific situation due to Covid 19 and how it changed our life, so business and papers are shut down but this covid can’t stop Miracle news paper. popularity and prosperity of Miracle newspaper which we are observing today is due to the dedication, constant struggle to improve the quality is an amazing effort of Mr. Pirzada and his team. I also extend my gratitude to all the writers who cover different fields of life to make Miracle news an interesting bilingual news paper. Special thanks to Urdu writers for their dedication and continuous effort to keep Urdu alive.

As we know, Miracle was first published on February 21st 2001. From the first edition up till now it has provided excellent coverage of our community‘s every related events, specially Muslim community of greater Vancouver and Muslim ummah. In addition, we always get full coverage of every Pakistani event such as special editions. We appreciate Miracle’s policy to create harmony with

other communities and publishing the articles to bring forefront community’s social and other problems facing our community.

Miracle is an unbiased paper, with a diverse readership .

Nafisa Siddiqui (Miracle Writer)

Miracle News 20th Anniversary

Miracle Newspaper is nothing short of a miracle. It is a miracle that has brought one of the most diverse readers and writers in one space; each bringing their experience and knowledge to bring harmony to the community.

In the age of digital media and shortening attention spans, many might be sceptical of the role a community newspaper holds in our homes. The opposite is true as internet news sites and social media have shown a greater need for a community newspaper that covers what’s important to our community’s readers right now in a credible manner.

Miracle News has and used its power to bring excellent news and knowledge in our community and has made a difference to its readers because of one common denominator – trust. We have writers from all walks of life who are experts and passionate about subjects that come together to learn, celebrate our values, and cultivate a sense of social unity. Miracle News allows for Muslims to help understand the community they live in, discuss politics, local events, entertainment, economics, and more.

Many people are often overlooked or at a disadvantage in a new community or country if they are foreign and do not speak the language or its culture. Miracle News has allowed those vulnerable members of our community to be able to engage in important conversations by

providing an informative platform for ing the pages where we celebrate and engage without community which is a them to develop an opinion. feeling that never loses its magic.

Harmony to the Community A community is defined not only by Asma Shums (Miracle Writer) its challenges but also by its victories. Just Chill Miracle News is beyond a community What newspaper did cavemen newspaper and covers headlines that afread? The Prehistoric Times. fect all Canadians in their everyday life.

I was visiting my granddaughter the With established writers and credible other day and asked to borrow a newsfact-checked sources, Muslim readers paper. can access news that is global in English It’s 2019, we don’t buy newspapers anyand Urdu for over 20 years. more. Here’s my iPad. I’ll tell you this, The undeniable highlight of a commuthat fly never knew what hit him. nity newspaper is its ability to talk about issues that major newspapers are unable Wish for many more years to publish. Miracle News has proven of success. this by covering issues happening in our My time at the local community that affects us directly Miracle has been such as local and provincial elections, so wonderful. neighbourhood crime, and important Originally, events not only in our local communi- I started off as a ties but on a global scale that are well- regular reader who researched and informative without any looked forward to bias. It is a watchdog for our community reading what was and country which has stood the test of new in the youth time as celebrated today for its 20th an- section of the paniversary and is irreplaceable to many per. But eventually, I noticed that the of its readers and writers. youth section had been replaced with As a reader, I have experienced the something else. pleasure of learning from many differ- Curious, I contacted Mr. Naseer, asking ent articles about the events in my city what had happened to the entire section. and knowledge for large-scale changes He responded by telling me the previin our country and world. I have also ous column writer had to leave and they grown my network by professionals fea- now had no one to write for the section. tured in this newspaper through small That’s when I volunteered my contribusinesses and support these pillars butions and I’ve been writing with the of our local region. As a writer, I have newspaper ever since. I started when I experienced what community truly was 12, and I’ll be turning 15 this year means. The team of Miracle News is a so that’s almost 3 years. Writing has alsmall family; you are always looked af- ways been a passion of mine and I’m ter and develop a relationship that feels so grateful that Mr. Naseer provided comforting and homely. Our local com- me with this opportunity and outlet. munity paper is delivered and absorbed My plans for the future are to continue by our friends, families, neighbours writing with The Miracle and work with daily who remember its writers and the team to help develop the newspaper businesses on our streets. That is how a further. Although we’re celebrating our newspaper survives twenty years serv- 20th anniversary in the midst of a paning its community. demic, the achievement is the same and In the paperless age, Miracle News gives here’s to many more years of success. us the pleasure of physically touch- Khadija Nadeem, Gr 9 (Miracle Writer)

15

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M ir a cle

speci a l

MIRACLE Acknowledges all religious Scholars, (Muftis, Alims, Alimas, Maulanas, Lecturers) for their services in the mosques and the larger community which are helping to spread Deen of Islam in British Columbia and Canada.

Qari Abdul Wahib (Surrey Jameh Masjid) Sheikh Nurjan (Naqasbandi Centre) H.Imam A.L.Naumani (Fiji Islamic Cnentre) Mufti Mohamed Mouadh (SJM)

Qari Zahid Abid( D.U.Quran)

Mufti Aasim Rashid (Al Ihshan Centre) Imam Gulam V. Baji(Amir Hamza Musallah)

Imam Syed Imroz Dean (Masjid A.Madina) Sheikh Murtaza Bachoo(Az-Zahaara)

Aabid Attari (Faizan Madina Centre) Mufti Shujahat Nadvi(Haqq Masjid) Imam Fode Drame(Az-Zawiah) Imam Abdulla Mazhar (Noor Masjid)

Qari Owais A.Wahab (D.u.Q.I)

Qari Anis A.Wahab(D.u.Q.I)

Maulana Saadat(Noor Masjid) Masjid Ur Rahmah

Masjid al-Salaam &Edu.Centre

Masjid ul Haq

Masjid Anwar e Madina

Surrey Jameh Masjid

Peer Afzal Ahmed (Bullay Shah Acd)

Skh A. R.Sulayman (NWM Musallah)

Imam Y.Momla (Masjid Al-Saalam)

Richmond Jameh Masjid

Abbotsford Islamic Center Masjid Prince George

Vancouver Jameh Masjid

Masjid Al Hadiya

Masjid Kelowna

Masjid Al-Iman Victoria

Fiji Islamic Centre

Imam Syed B.Soharwardhy (ISCC)

Az Zahraa Islamic Centre

Masjid Al-Noor

Under construction Jameh Masjid Aulia Allah

We also Ackknowledge Management Committees, Principals , Academic and administrative Staff of all major Muslim Schools.

The vision of these schools is to cultivate students who become ambassadors of Islam and strive for success in British Columbia or anyother place.

BCMA RICHMOND MUSLIM SCHOOL

IQRA ISLAMIC SCHOOL SURREY

BCMA SURREY MUSLIM SCHOOL

AZ ZAHAARA ISLAMIC SCHOOL RCM.

16

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

I n t

p o l i t i c s

Our Country Canada, Our Parliament system or evolved over time.

Written Elements

The Road to Democracy

C

anada is a democracy, which means Canadian citizens like you have the right to be involved directly or indirectly in the decision-making process.

Democracy

Canada is a representative democracy. This gives each citizen the right to elect representatives at each level of government (federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal). These representatives make decisions and laws that affect all parts of life.

Confederation Canada became a country in 1867 when the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia decided to join together.

During the talks leading up to Confederation, two major decisions were made that determined the shape of Canada’s government: • Canada would be a federal union with

The core documents of the Constitution are the Constitution Act, 1867 (formerly known as the British North America Act, 1867) and the Constitution Act, 1982 (which includes the Constitution Act, 1867, plus amendments, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms). However, the full list of written elements that make up Canada’s Constitution includes: • 14 Acts of British Parliament • 4 British Orders-in-Council two levels of government - federal and • 7 Canadian Acts provincial.

Traditional Elements • Canada would have a central Parlia- Many features of the Canadian system of ment with three parts: the Monarch, the government are not included in the ConstiSenate and the House of Commons. tution, such as: When Did Canada’s Provinces and Territo- • the Prime Minister ries Join Confederation?

• political parties • 1867 - Ontario, Quebec, New Brun- • Cabinet swick, Nova Scotia • responsible government • 1870 - Manitoba, Northwest Territories Getting Involved in Democracy • 1871 - British Columbia The voting age in Canada for a federal elec• 1873 - Prince Edward Island tion is 18. But voting is not the only way for • 1898 - Yukon Territory you to get involved. If you feel strongly about • 1905 - Alberta, Saskatchewan an issue, there are many ways to express your • 1949 - Newfoundland and Labrador views. Become knowledgeable about the is• 1999 - Nunavut sue by reading, researching and interviewCanada’s Constitution ing experts. Write to your local newspaper A constitution is essentially a rule book for or post your thoughts on social media. Form a government. However, Canada’s Constitu- a council. Send letters to a Senator or your tion is not a single document; it is a collec- MP to let them know how you feel. They tion of 25 documents and a number of tradi- may want to talk to you about it. tions that have either come from the British Helping out in an election campaign is an-

Consulate General of Pakistan Suite 1400 - 510 West Hastings.Street Vancouver BC V6B 1L8

CIRCULAR

Simplification of Procedure for issuance of Letters of Administration/Succession Certificate

other good way to get involved, no matter what your age. You can meet the candidate, help him or her prepare for public events, and help organize supporters. Does a political party interest you? Almost all parties have a youth wing that organizes events and distributes information. Your local community might need your help — you can volunteer for a community association or for the board of your local school, library or community centre. This is a great way to meet your neighbours and find out what is important to them. Community organizations have been successful across Canada in getting their concerns heard by politicians at all levels.

It is important to talk to your family about getting involved, too. Find out their opinions and discuss what issues are important to them. Canada’s system of government works because of its citizens, and you are never too young to become part of it.

TALK ABOUT IT!

What organizations are you part of?

Would you like to be more involved? How? Does your school have a student council?

How are students elected? What role do they play in the school? How could student voices be better heard (both in the school and in your community)? Talk with your classmates about these questions.

Just because you may be too young to vote does not mean that you cannot get involved.

There are several ways to make your voice heard and to enact change.

Source.lop.parl.ca

NDP will not trigger election as long as pandemic continues: Singh

Upon death of any family member , legal heirs languish in courts for years before they are able to obtain Letters of Administration (for immovable properties) and Succession Certificates (for moveable properties. Now without going to the Courts, the legal heirs can obtain Letters of Administration or Succession Certificates, as the case may be, through a quick five stage process facilitated by Succession Facilitation Units operated by the National Database Registration Authority.

Presently, one Facilitation Unit is operative in Islamabad dealing with properties/assets in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) only. Shortly, NADRA will establish many more Succession Facilitation Units in other cities in Pakistan.

The applicants have to submit a simple application form after which NADRA will issue public notice in leading local newspapers and on its website. Where no objections are received within fourteen days, the legal heirs whether in Pakistan or abroad (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha) can visit their local NADRA Office in Pakistan or the Pakistan Missions abroad, as the case may be, in the above mentioned Cities and conduct biometric verification. Once verification of the legal heirs is complete through biometrics, Succession Certificate or Letter of Administration will be issued in Applicant’s favour. Apart from the abovementioned cities, the Government at the earliest is creating biometric verification centres in many other cities of the world.

Procedure for applying the Letters of Administration/Succession Certificates is as follows:

Step-1

Application Initiation: The applicant will provide his/her National Identity number, deceased person’s death certificate and National Identity Card number. Along with the application, the applicant shall submit letter of authorization from the legal heirs to file application on their behalf.

Step-2

Legal Heirs and Assets Details: The applicant will provide the relevant details of legal heirs, and information pertaining to the moveable and immovable assets of the deceased.

Step-3

Verification and Consent of Legal Heirs: All legal heirs mentioned by the applicant will visit NADRA’s Registration Centre for biometric verifications and details provided by applicant will be verified.

Step-4

Advertisement in Newspaper: NADRA will publish the notice to the public at large for ascertaining ifthere are any objections on the particular application.

Step-5

Printing and Delivery of Certificate: If there no objections after 14 days of publication of the notice, the Succession Certificate/Letter of Administration will be printed and given to the applicant.

NOW THERE IS NO NEED TO GO TO THE COURTS!!

For details please visit the NADRA website: https://succession.nadra.gov.pk Very Soon Nadra Shall Introduce The Facility Of Filing Online Applications And Provide Online Biometric Verifications

Please Look Out For New Announcements

Janbaz Khan

Acting Consul General Consulate General of Pakitsan Vancouver

OTTAWA -- NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not trigger an election as long as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Singh says he will stand by his pledge to prop up the Liberal minority government on confidence votes regardless of whether the Liberals back an NDP bill to implement universal pharmacare, due for a vote later today.

The government is expected within the next couple months to table a budget, which would trigger an election if it fails to garner support from at least one major opposition party. New Democrats have been hyping their pharmacare legislation in advance of a vote that will either kill Bill C-213 or send it to committee for further scrutiny.

The NDP and Liberals both promised some kind of pharmacare program during the 2019 federal election campaign, but differ on the details.

Singh says his party’s universal medication plan, laid out in a private member’s bill sponsored by MP Peter Julian, resembles the framework recommended by a government-commissioned report released in June 2019.

Source:ctvnews.ca

17

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

COMMUNITY

LEGENDS Miracle Media Acknowledges all recently deceased community members, who served day and night for building up Muslim community in this region. The Miracle Media offers its condolences to their families.

Miracle Media ackknowledges all active Pakistani officials and local Muslim community members who have provided community services in past and are still working hard to make communities stronger in British Coulumia

Moin ul Haq (Ist C.G of Pak)

Dr. Shuja Alam (2nd C.G)

Janbaz Khan (4th C.G)

Dr. M.Tarik (3rd CG)

Mohammad Rafiq

Mohammed. Shafique

(F).MLA John Nuraney

Ashraf Waraich

Azhar Syed

S. Siraju Dean

British Columbia Muslim Association seniors and trusties at of BCMA 50 years Completion event

Prof.Mumtaz Gilani

Farooq Sapra

Kashif Sheikh

BCMA seniors and board members with former Premier Christy Clark at Masjid Al Saalam Burnaby

Former Consul General of Pakistan Dr. Shuja Alam with Pakistani Community at Pakistan Day

Liaqat Ali Bajwa

Jamil Chaudhry

Asad Ghondal

Mohammad Yousaf

Farooq Rai

Shamim Akbar

Haroon Khan

Sajid Hameed

Iqbal Cheema

Sabir Panuun

Mahmmood Awan

Daud Ismail

Musa Ismail

Sikander Khan

Ali Mirhirig

Azim Dhaya

Massood Joomratty

Mohammad Yasin

Daud Ali

Furqan Gehlen

M. Afzal Malik

Malik Irfan

Waqar Jan

Malik Talib

Zarar Butt

Ifthikar Ghuman

Shahid Chaudhry

Aseem Khan

Mohammad Yasin Bakridi

Rizwan Pirzada

Immad Ali

Altaf Sahib

Bilal Cheema

Yousef Barakat

Waqar Farooq Khan

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson with Pakistani Community in City Hall

18

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

DEWAN-E-KHASS Pakistani & Indian Cuisine King of the Grill

Please follow us on Facebook Dewan-E-Khass & www.dewanekhass.com

Dewan-e-Khass specializes in exotic Pakistani, Indian Grill and Karahi dishes made by our experienced cook from Pakistan.

We invite you to come and taste one of our authentic dishes. We are sure once you taste, you will come again.

Owner: Siraj Khan 11am to 10:30 pm.

Open 7 Days a Week

604.327.4800

5750 Fraser Street, Vancouver

FOLLOW US ON

WHAT WE DO PERSONAL TAX RETURNS CORPORATE TAX RETURNS REVIEW ENGAGEMENTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BUSINESS AND TAX PLANNING SR&ED RETURNS BOOKKEEPING (GST, PST, WCB, PAYROLL)

WHO WE HELP INDIVIDUALS CORPORATIONS SOLE-PROPRIETORSHIPS NOT-FOR-PROFIT PARTNERSHIPS

3A-709 Twelfth Street, New Westminster, BC, V3M 4J7 604-773-0910 sabeeh@naseercpa.com 604-357-5088 www.naseercpa.com

19

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

w o men / L I F E S T Y L E & C U LT U R E

By: Asma Shums,

T

he fast pace of modern day family life can make it easy to forget that simply just spending time with our children is really important. Our time is one of the greatest things we can give them. Summer time offers lots of opportunities to spend time together and some good old family bonding! Here’s why you should make quality time a priority: It builds children’s self-esteem Children who spend time with their parents participating in activities together build a positive sense of self-worth. When children feel that they are valued by their parents, they feel more positive about themselves.

Family activities don’t have to be expensive trips out to be meaningful, the important part is just being together. You could go for a bike ride or play a game together.

It strengthens family bonds Families who share everyday activities to-

The importance of Family Bonding.

gether form strong, emotional ties. Studies have found that families who enjoy group activities together share a stronger emotional bond as well as an ability to adapt well to situations as a family. Share your favorite hobbies, sports, books, movies or other favorite activities.

It develops positive behaviours Children and adolescents who spend more time with their parents are less likely to get involved in risky behaviour. According to studies done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse via Arizona State University, teens who have infrequent family dinners are twice as likely to use tobacco, nearly twice as likely to use alcohol and one and a half times more likely to use marijuana.

Children who frequently eat with their families also usually have improved dietary

intake compared to those who don’t eat as often with family members.

It encourages communication When you spend time with your children you are fostering an environment for open communication. Good communication is important for your children to feel comfortable with talking to about anything. Simply asking your child how their day ask gone can make a big difference.

It can help your child’s academic performance Spending time helping your children with schoolwork or reading together, especially in their early years, will foster an environment that values academics. If your child feels comfortable coming to you with schoolwork, they are more likely to perform better academically.

It can help your children be a good friend

Children learn by example. If you are setting a good example for them by spending quality time together, they are more likely to adopt those behaviours in other relationships in their lives. Simple things like playing games together will help them understand more about interacting with others as well as teach them things like sharing and kindness.

Most importantly, family time means you can just have fun and enjoy each others company! You’ve still got a little bit of time left before the children go back to school so make the most of it this weekend and do something together.

Email info at: asmashums@gmail.com

pseudonym, such as “Miss Manners” for the noted etiquette columnist otherwise known as Judith Martin.

Some columnists write specifically for syndication, while others work for a particular news organization, and their columns may be reprinted by permission from the organizations they work for.

Originally, columnists focused primarily on humorous pieces, which might include political satire, jokes, or other forms of humor to lighten the news and keep readers occupied and engaged. Over time, columnists began to expand their offerings, and they can be found writing on food, fashion,gossip, and lighthearted community news. A columnist may work as a critic, writing a regular column on a topic of interest such as film or art.

Some columnists use letters from

readers as a core part of their column.

Advice columnists, for example, take requests for advice and assistance from readers, responding to them in a regular column. A columnist can also use a column as an educational forum; for example, a gardening column might include answers to questions about plant identifications from readers. Reader submissions can also be used to distribute information or coordinate community exchanges.

Editorials are also commonly presented in a column format. In an editorial commentary, a columnist is generally quite opinionated, discussing an ongoing issue or news items.

Editorial columnists can also write endorsements for elections, provide information for citizens who want to get involved in particular causes, or provide a forum for debate, as in the case of a publication which has two columnists of opposing views who duel over a topic in a jointly-

produced column.

Working as a columnist requires good writing skills and a strong work ethic, because the day to day burden of producing a column can be quite significant. Some columnists start out as journalists, while others may be asked to consider becoming a columnist because of their expertise in a field. An economist, for example, might be invited to produce a weekly column on economic issues for the readers of a newspaper.

not break the sticks as long as they remained tied together but you broke each single stick quite easily. They were strong in bundle, but became weak when separated from one another.”

This had a deep effect on the farmer’s sons.

They gave up quarreling and began to live in peace and worked wholeheartedly to produce more grains. The lesson: united we stand divided we fall.

Once Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went out on a journey along with some of his companions. Birds were singing and chirping lively.

One of the prophet’s companions saw a nest in a bush. It was the nest of sparrows and there were two chicks in it. He picked up the young sparrows. All at once the elder sparrows came crying and began to fly over his head.

The prophet asked his companion why the sparrows were circling over his head. The man replied he had removed their young

ones from the nest. The prophet was greatly moved. He felt sorry for the poor little birds and advised the companion to put back the baby sparrows in the nest at once which he did promptly. The sparrows were happy and cried no more.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was kind and affectionate not only to human beings but also to all living creatures. God almighty, for this very reason, was pleased to bestow upon him the title of ‘benefactor of all the worlds’.

The prophet is known to have said that “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to people.”

Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (God be pleased with him) had to undertake a journey when he was yet a young boy. His pious mother stitched up 40 gold coins in his shirt and advised him to speak the truth always.

He joined a caravan and set off on his journey.

A gang of robbers fell on the travelers and deprived them of their valuables.

One of the dacoits, who happened to pass by the boy, said: “Do you have anything on you?” The young boy replied promptly: “Yes, I have 40 gold coins.” He readily showed the money when asked to. The dacoit took the

boy to the leader of the gang.

Like all other robbers the leader was not surprised a little. “Why did you not deny having money?” The boy said his mother had advised him to speak the truth always.

The gang chief was deeply impressed: “Alas!

I don’t obey the commands of God while this little boy so faithfully follows his mother’s advice.” He disbanded the gang and gave up his bad ways of earning livelihood. Thus the example set by Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani reformed all the robbers and dacoits.

The boy grew up to be a great religious leader and a pious saint held in high esteem by millions and popularly known as Ghaus-ulAzam Gilani. --Email: zasarwar@hotmail.com

The toughest part of a diet isn’t watching what you eat.

Q: Why shouldn’t you fall in love with a It’s watching what other people eat.

I have fillings in my teeth. My refrigerator magnets keep pulling pastry chef? me to the kitchen. That’s why I can’t lose weight.

A: He’ll dessert you.

By: Asma Shums,

C

What is Columnist ?

olumnist is someone who regularly prepares brief essays and commentaries for publication. Columnists may work for broadcast media in radio and television, but they are more commonly associated with the print media, in the form of newspapers and magazines. A columnist is a type of journalist, but he or she is not required to adhere to expected journalistic ethics of neutrality, and a column does not necessarily contain news.Columnists usually write on a regular schedule, producing material for publication on a weekly, monthly, or daily basis. They appear in the same section every time they are published, usually under the same heading, such as “News and Notes” for a columnist who provides information about community events. They may write under their own names or under a

By: Zafar Alam Sarwar

A

farmer had three grown-up sons who always quarreled among themselves. He asked them to live in peace, but his advice had no effect on them.

He was worried about the family’s future.

One day the father fell seriously ill, and sent for his sons. He asked them to collect a handful of sticks which they did at once. He tied the sticks into a bundle and asked them to break the bundle one by one. They tried hard to break it but none could do. At last the farmer untied the bundle and asked each to break a single stick. They broke the single stick quite easily.

Their father said: “My dear sons, you could

‘United we stand, divided we fall’

20

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

H E A LT H

Empowering Autism and Other Disabilities

Autism

“ is not a ‘gift’.

For most, it is an endless fight against schools, workplaces, and bullies. But under the right circumstances, given the right adjustments it CAN be a superpower. Our societies need to change, and we need people who can think outside the box and we need to start taking care of each other. And embrace our differences.” Greta Thunberg Many years ago, people with disabilities, neurological disorders or other types of mental illnesses were not accepted very eas-

ily in society. A lot of people did not know much about diagnoses, and due to this, most individuals with a disability would be labeled as “mentally ill” or “mental”. Communities would label them according to their own assumptions and decide their fate, which would mostly be ‘’exclusion” and “isolation”.

In today’s world, science and research has shifted our lives to a very advanced level.

Psychologists are working on new studies every day, and because of this, we now have a sufficient amount of resources to diagnose and treat most of the issues such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities etc.

Physical disabilities and illnesses are often easily identifiable and thus can be diagnosed simply. Mental, neurological and learning disorders, however, are often left unnoticed by parents and guardians as they often do not seem to notice.

Something to note is that we are very lucky to be residing in Canada due to the available funding, and other factors such as health care and diagnoses, which are free of charge.

Although there is a systematic procedure in place, sometimes things seem very complicated for Canadians due to reasons such as: • Lack of knowledge • Stigma • Social Pressure • What to notice, when to notice and how to proceed In this Biweekly column we will be talking about the above challenges in our society. We are part of a connected community, however ongoing learning and knowledge is the key to building healthier and stronger networks so we can work through the issues together.

Please contact Miracle Newspaper for any questions, suggestions and concerns, or contact Huma Shoaib at the email address be-

low.

Huma Shoaib (she/her/hers) Senior Behavioral Therapist Founder: Empowering Autism Email: humas6@hotmail.com

Nutrition tips – get back on track after a slip up happened and then quickly get yourself back on track.

Remember why you started your journey.

Work through and resolve any negative feelings that begin to become self-fulfilling prophecies. Remind yourself that even the strongest individuals can relapse.

Remove yourself from distractions.

If you can, limit your interactions with people and places that enable you to go off course. It may be hard when it’s the people close to you that try to minimize your successes. But, it’s worth it for your journey to try.

Get back to your plans. You started this journey for a reason, so get back to it as soon as possible. For example, if you consume too much or not enough food at dinner one day, return to healthy eating the next day.

Pick healthier options. If you’re ordering takeout or delivery, look for the healthier options to eat when they’re available.

Control your portions. When you’re eating food someone else prepared, eat more of what is good for you and watch your portions of the unhealthier options. Fill up on the healthy stuff!

Record your food. Even though it can get tiresome, it will help keep you accountable.

You don’t have to get down to in-depth details, but taking a couple of minutes to make your list can help you stay on a healthier course. Health apps on your phone or myfitnesspal.com can help.

Take cues from your stomach. Your stomach knows when you’re full. If you’ve eaten your regular portion but still feel like eating, wait 20 minutes and see if you’re still hungry.

If you are, then eat, if you’re not, don’t overindulge because the food is there.

Connect with supportive friends or family members. These are people that want you to succeed and can give positive feedback to help you push through, especially when you feel like you’re about to relapse.

Reward yourself. Give yourself encouraging feedback for your successes, especially when you initially restart. It can help you stay motivated.

Everyone backslides sometimes, so don’t give up! Treat it as an opportunity to learn and push through.

Source: artofbeingfabulous.com

Next three months will be vital for keeping Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers alive.

Tehran, Iran – Unofficial talks between Iran and world powers that signed an ailing 2015 nuclear deal appear to be the only way forward as neither side seems willing to take the first step. Iran says the United States, which in 2018 unilaterally abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), must first return to full compliance under reporters on Wednesday Joe Biden would the accord by lifting all economic sanctions it only communicate with the Saudi king and imposed. President Joe Biden has said former said the declassified Khashoggi report was US leader Donald Trump’s “maximum presbeing readied for release soon. sure” campaign has failed, but nevertheless While Biden restricts his contacts to the insists Iran must first reverse steps to reduce king, others in the administration are talking its commitments under the deal in response to Saudi officials at various levels. “We have to the sanctions.This week, Iran said it is conbeen in touch with Saudi officials at numer- sidering an offer by the European Union’s ous levels in the early weeks of this admin- foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to hold unistration,” said State Department spokesman official talks with the P4+1 – China, Russia, Ned Price. the United Kingdom, France and Germany The 59-year old Khashoggi, a Saudi jour- minus the US – that would also include the nalist and Washington Post columnist, was US as a “guest”. Ali Vaez, director of the Iran lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Project at the International Crisis Group, said Oct 2, 2018, and killed by a team of opera- it is likely officials from Tehran and Washingtives with alleged links to the crown prince. ton would sit together at an informal meeting Source: Dawn.com hosted by the EU in the coming weeks.

“There, they are likely to agree to an interim set of measures to buy more time for negotiating a timetable for a mutual return to full compliance with the JCPOA,” he told Al Jazeera.The meeting was called in light of Iran’s latest move on Tuesday to stop voluntarily implementing the Additional Protocol – a document that gives the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) broad inspection authorities of Iranian nuclear sites.

In a statement after Iran stopped providing the United Nations’s nuclear watchdog with short-notice inspection capabilities, the th Source: aljazeera.com

Some of the common reasons include:

T

By: Samantha Wharton he pandemic is a time that can test even those with strong nutrition willpower. There are also many other reasons people may reach for food at any time of the year. I consider myself to have moderate willpower when it comes to food. But when I go to town, I go to town! I don’t think I’m alone in this; it happens to many people at some point. You set up healthy food goals, and something comes up that sabotages them. I hope some of the nutrition tips in this post are helpful.

Anyone who tries to eat a healthy diet on a regular basis experiences the frustration of trying to maintain it when ordering in food or for other reasons.

Regardless of why you backslid, instead of getting upset about it, first figure out why it

• Lack of motivation • Lack of confidence • Discouragement with slow progress • Problems with family or friends • Boredom • Impulse eating My two issues used to be social commitments and impulse eating. If something is there, I will eat it, even if I shouldn’t. I’m lactose intolerant, but if I see chocolate around me, I’ll eat it – all of it! I’m fortunate not to experience either often in the past ten months. Social commitments aren’t allowed right now, and I don’t buy tempting items when I shop.

Healthy food options

Some nutrition tips to beat backsliding

Once you figured out why it happened, try to find out how to overcome it.

What caused you to backslide? For example, if boredom caused you to backslide, find something to do to overcome it, such as taking a walk or reading. When it’s the result of thought patterns, it helps if you recognize those thoughts, shut them down when they begin, and then focus on the benefits of staying on track.

US report on Khashoggi’s death may single out Saudi crown prince

WASHINGTON: A declassified version of a US intelligence report, expected to be released soon, has observed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, four US officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The officials said the report, for which the CIA was the main contributor, assessed that the crown prince approved and likely ordered the murder of Khashoggi, whose Washington Post column had criticised the crown prince’s policies.President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded the Republican Donald Trump five weeks ago, told reporters on Wednesday he had read the report and expected to speak soon by phone with Saudi Arabian King Salman, 85, father of the crown prince. The report’s release is part of President Biden’s policy to realign ties with Riyadh after years of giving the Arab ally and major oil producer a pass on its human rights record and its intervention in Yemen’s civil war.

Biden is working to restore the relationship with Riyadh to traditional lines after four years of cozier ties under Trump.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told

Iran and world powers hint at talks over nuclear deal

21

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

Continued from page 13

M ira c l e

spe c ia l

The Miracle’s Journey of Twenty Years Memories (Feb 2001- 2021)

July 18, 2013: Miracle Media was one of the team members who represented Pakistan in 7th Fusion Festival at Holland Park in Surrey.

March 2, 2013: On its 12th Anniversary, Miracle Media launched its new edition of all colour pages. Awards were given to Miracle’s Writers. The awards were distributed by Consul General of Pakistan and Deputy Consul General Ms. Batool Kazim at Afghan Chopan Banquet Hall & Restaurant in Surrey.

March 2, 2013: On its 12th Anniversary, Miracle organized a Ghazal (Eastern Music) program in which many young and senior singers participated. Miracle Media acknowledged their skills of singing and prizes were distributed by Consul General of Pakistan Mr. Shuja Alam.

March 26, 2013: Miracle Media participated in the Provincial Elections 2013 by providing media coverage of each political party and interviewing many candidates for MLA. BC Liberal party’s candidate Christy Clark shared her views with Mr. Pirzada at Taj Banquet hall in Surrey.

April 24, 2013: A great debate between candidates of all Provincial political parties for May Elections was arranged by Miracle Media Group in collaboration with Pakistan Canada Association in Pakistan House.

December 18, 2013: Managing editor of the Miracle Media met with Mr. Justin Trudeau, Federal Liberal party leader at that time, at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver and discussed many issues facing Canada and Muslim communities. This interview was facilitated by Mr. Bilal Cheema.

July 18, 2014: Miracle Media was one of the team members who represented Pakistan in 8th Fusion Festival at Holland Park in Surrey.

October 23, 2014: Miracle Media was one of the South Asian Media who joined in Debate and Q & A session of Surrey mayoral candidates’ first candidate meeting at SFU Surrey Campus To be Continued at Page 25

22

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M ira c l e

The Year(s) of Acceleration: 2020 Media Trends

By: Mel Haupt

A

spe c ia l

s we head into the new year and survey all that occurred over the past 12 months, Backbone has identified a number of media trends worthy of keeping an eye on as we strategically plan for 2021. The unprecedented nature of 2020 events have, surprisingly or unsurprisingly, accelerated many media developments despite the glacial pace of quarantine.

Paid Media

Staying nimble is the name of the game in the paid media ecosystem coming out of 2020. As reported mid-year, overall media consumption and e-commerce behavior drastically shifted in 2020, which was directly reflected in our media recommendations. We do not expect this trend to slow down in 2021.

First and foremost, e-commerce is booming: consumer purchase behavior has shifted to online and, even with the option of in-store shopping, we continue to see this pattern with a 17% increase in ecommerce conversion rate year-over-year.

Media trends - Average conversion rate 2019 vs 2020 Due to this behavior change, we are putting a premium on the online user experience and the digital media that supports it. It’s a dance of creating demand through meaningful prospecting efforts anchored in quality content while harvesting that demand through hard-working performance media. We expect paid search, shopping, paid social, Amazon marketing and data-driven display and video to continue to be priorities in order to capitalize on the booming e-commerce demand.

Conversely, traditional media has taken a hit: Inner-city and business-district out of home is a lower priority as fewer people are commuting. However, high-travel road-trip corridors are still experiencing advertiser demand because more people are hitting the road instead of air for travel. Furthermore, with the spike in participation in outdoor activities, these more rural interstate placements are more relevant than ever.

Linear TV continues to see subscribers cutting the cord to participate in on-demand streaming services (connected TV/ OTT). As media consumption behavior has shifted, consumers are prioritizing relevant, quality content that they can play at any given time. We view recent developments in connected TV technology as an inflection point: the proliferation of smart TVs in American households now puts connected TV’s reach at a scale rivaling that of linear TV. According to Roku, they are now able to reach four out of five U.S. households with programmatic OTT inventory across all major ad-supported

connected TV platforms. That scale, combined with more sophisticated targeting and remarketing capabilities, means that connected TV is no longer merely a means of reaching cable cutters.

The belt has been tightened on print publications as we saw a number of consolidations in the industry, cutting book frequencies and decreasing overall distributions. This has been offset by the increase in online media consumption as many publishers have experienced a surge in site traffic.

But some progressive publishers have begun to make greater investments in their first-party data platforms to enhance their ability to segment ad campaigns in a more sophisticated way. “There is no survival for publishers without first-party data,” according to Robin Thurston, CEO of Pocket Outdoor Media. “Pocket has made significant investment in re-platforming digital properties in an effort to syndicate personalization. This has proven the hypothesis that outdoor enthusiasts participate in three or more activities, and by having first-party data, we can personalize the experience and brands can speak to users where they want to be spoken to.”

Earned Media

PR may look different these days, but it still remains a strong and effective channel to drive indispensable third-party validation.

Throughout the past handful of years, we have observed a shift in the earned media landscape to prioritize SEO and affiliate links. 2020 expedited this trend. As ecommerce has been on the rise, affiliate has become a necessity for any productcentric story. SEO has also become an integral part of publisher content: as most consumer journeys now begin with a Google search, publishers craft their content to rise to the top of the SERP. This is forcing our earned media team to think strategically about pitch lists and what defines a successful PR hit.

Marrying affiliate and SEO with earned media opens up the door to conversion and revenue tracking — the “Holy Grail” of PR measurement. Although PR metrics and ROI data are still not as robust as what’s available for paid media, Backbone continues to invest and improve our PR reporting. Metrics like domain authority, article impact and SERP score allow us to put a data-driven strategy behind PR. Ultimately, we’re getting closer to defining what conversion means to PR as we can start to attribute sales directly to an earned media story.

Despite PR’s recent orientation towards mid- and lower-funnel tactics as described above, earned media remains the most effective vehicle for building brand awareness and exposure among expansion audiences. Editorial coverage from trusted

publishers is a uniquely effective, authentic and resilient means of bringing new people into a brand for the long haul, going beyond the click or the purchase event.

No matter how enticing it is to funnel investment into channels with clear-cut sales attribution and return on ad spend, word-of-mouth validation from influential publications is essential to building brand love and buzz over time.

Affiliate Marketing

Living at the intersection of paid and earned media, affiliate marketing is arguably experiencing the largest and fastest growth across all media channels. Simply put, consumer product research behavior continues to focus on editorial recommendations, and affiliate is there to capture demand and monetize it.

Over the past several years, accelerated growth of affiliate marketing has been fueled by the increase in DTC e-commerce. Over the past 12 months in particular, affiliate has benefited from the surge in e-comm demand, in part helping brands make up for the drop in wholesale revenue experienced in 2020. On average, Backbone’s clients’ revenue was split 2030% DTC and 70-80% wholesale revenue going into 2020. Through the hardships of 2020, brands needed to close the gap from loss of wholesale business, and affiliate proved to be an effective lever to pull in order to help increase overall e-comm business.

Furthermore, with the shifts in content consumption, affiliate opportunities provided a mutually beneficial relationship for brands and publishers through the revenue-share model.

Community Management and Influencer Marketing

It was not long ago that influencers and social media ambassadors were viewed as a dying trend. Influencer content came off as inauthentic, money-backed recommendations, and consumers were calling “BS.” In 2020, however, Backbone Media experienced a surge in influencer marketing (expected 15-20% growth in influencer spend 2020 versus 2021), and we only expect this channel to continue to grow and maintain its place as a key, and increasingly trusted, part of the overall media mix.

I

which is a global threat to us all. “The trends in Africa of hot summers getting hotter and rainy seasons drying out are linked with factors that include increasing greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere,” said Ming Cai, a program director in NSF’s Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences. To put it shortly, as the Sahara expands, the Sahel (a border region) retreats. This will put human societies and ecosystems at risk. The Africans

Backbone Media

The lines between media continue to blur, the marketing channels available to marketers continue to multiply, and new technology is both enabling greater sales attribution and generating higher levels of consumer trust. In today’s media landscape, brands need to be tuned into which levers to pull at what time, requiring an increased level of discipline and choreography across channels.

Many of our clients are fortunate to have benefited from the outdoor-activity boom during the COVID pandemic, and in order to ensure continued success at matching consumer demand, we will prioritize authenticity and relevancy across paid, earned and owned media.

The acceleration of media trends that we saw in 2020 is expected to normalize in the coming year, but the change that occurred already is here to stay.

There are three primary factors that are driving this growth: 1: The need for human connection in 2020 accelerated the interest in influencer Source:backbonemedia.net content and social media personalities.

The Sahara Desert and Its Growth – What’s Going On By: Khadija Nadeem Gr 9 t seems that the Sahara Desert, the second largest desert in the world, isn’t happy with it’s second place position and is determined to take the number one spot. Studies show that the giant desert, which already occupies about 3.6 million square miles of the African continent, has grown roughly 10% since the 1920s. This is due to climate cycles which is completely natural, but also man-made climate change

2: Consumers have resorted to their screens to make emotional connections that previously happened in-person with family and friends. Backbone has found success for our clients by forging authentic connections within an influencer mix that can both amplify heat moments and establish long-term ambassador relationships.

Advances in technology, amplification and connectivity have created a trifecta for fueling the growth of influencer marketing. The Branded Content Tag and similar technologies enable cross pollination and democratize the platform, allowing brands to have control and take advantage of a 360-degree approach to social media (paid, organic and content curation).

3: Comfortability is increasing and understanding of the influencer channel is maturing. Both brands and consumers are accepting the money-backed nature of influencer marketing to a greater degree than we’ve observed in the past.

For our clients, follower size is no longer a vanity metric. Backbone is noticing a shift in consumer brand-discovery behavior as younger demographics are turning to social pages rather than search platforms for their first interaction with a brand.

Therefore, follower count legitimizes your brand among prospects, and putting an emphasis on quality content to incentivize a follow is worth the investment.

who live there, lead largely agriculturedependent lives. As the desert expands, rainfall data determines that multiple new acquirements of land are receiving less rainfall. Researchers are currently focusing on the Sahara but new data shows that it’s possible other deserts are also expanding. The African continent is one of the most vulnerable to climate change and yet its populace are among those least responsible for it, truly a tragedy.

23

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

M iraLOC c lA eL / sp spe o r tc s ia l

Acknowledges all our Advertisers who have been advertising with us in 2019-20.

This is a token of thanks to recognise them. Unfortunately, we could not accommodate everyone. Below are some of our current business owners, and some of our occasional advertisers who advertise solely or on behalf of their organization.

Jameel Ahmed (Realtor)

Ijaz A.Chatha (Realtor)

Ashraf Maitla (Realtor)

Massood Joomratty(Lawyer) Zahida Khan (Mortgage Professional) Soleman Hashmi(Lawyer)

Fazal Khan(Allied Insurance)

M. Arshad(Barney`s)

Adeeb Shums (Realtor)

Waseem Afzal (Realtor)

Umer Butt (Realtor)

Shoaib Rauf(Notary public)

Akhtar Tanoli (Travel &M.E)

Junaid Iqbal (Realtor)

Ayyaz Shums ((Realtor))

M.Salim (Notary Publicl)

Syed.A.Iqbal (S & S Insurance)

Mohammad Shahab (Pan Palace) Siraj Khan (Dewan e Khass) Ibrahim Lajpoori(Zabiah Foods) Alamgir Khan (Realtor)

NOOR JAHAN

Iqbal Cheema

Azim Dahya(ADA)

Farrukh Alam(VAP Auto)

Grocery&Meat Store Mohammad Lablu

Azim Dahya

Shehab Elbarbari

Basil Dawood

Ghulam Mustafa

Br. Shams

Bullay Shah Academy of Canada

Masjid Anwar e Madina Fiji Islamic Centre (IMAC)

Peer Afzal Naqashbandi

Federal Liberal Party Ottawa BC Liberal Party Victoria

Br. Imad

Muslim Community Print, Electronic and Social Media in British Columbia

M.Naseer Pirzada

Shahana Gouhar Haqqi

Sanaullah Chaudhry

Jafar Bhamji

Tarik Kiyani

Intikhab Ahmed

Naveed Waraich

Haris Hafeez Khan

Rahat Rao

The content and pictures above are owned by the Miracle Media and cannot be reproduced without prior permission.

24

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

T

A R T &

a R C H I T E CT U R E

New Seven Wonders of the World

he following list of the New Seven to build - much of the money was raised Wonders is presented without rank- through donations. The statue has become ing, and aims to represent global her- an easily recognized icon for Rio and Brazil.

itage.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.

October 28, 2019

3: Machu Picchu (Peru)

In 2007, more than 100 million people voted to declare the New Seven Wonders of the World. The following list of seven winners is presented without ranking, and aims to represent global heritage.

Machu Picchu, an Incan city of sparkling

1: Great Wall of China (China)

granite precariously perched between 2 towering Andean peaks, is thought by scholars to have been a sacred archaeological center for the nearby Incan capital of Cusco. Built at the peak of the Incan Empire in the mid1400s, this mountain citadel was later abandoned by the Incas. The site remained unknown except to locals until 1911, when it was rediscovered by archaeologist Hiram Bingham. The site can only be reached by Built between the 5th century B.C. and the foot, train or helicopter; most visitors visit 16th century, the Great Wall of China is a by train from nearby Cusco. stone-and-earth fortification created to pro- 4: Chichen Itza (Yucatan tect the borders of the Chinese Empire from invading Mongols. The Great Wall is actu- Peninsula, Mexico) ally a succession of multiple walls spanning approximately 4,000 miles, making it the world’s longest manmade structure.

2: Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)

The Art Deco-style Christ the Redeemer statue has been looming over the Brazilians from upon Corcovado mountain in an awe-inspiring state of eternal blessing since 1931. The 130-foot reinforced concrete-andsoapstone statue was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and cost approximately $250,000

The genius and adaptability of Mayan culture can be seen in the splendid ruins of Chichen Itza. This powerful city, a trading center for cloth, slaves, honey and salt, flourished from approximately 800 to 1200, and acted as the political and economic hub of the Mayan civilization. The most familiar ruin at the site is El Caracol, a sophisticated astronomical observatory.

5: The Roman Colosseum (Rome)

was built between 1632 and 1648. Considered the most perfect specimen of Muslim art in India, the white marble structure actually represents a number of architectural styles, including Persian, Islamic, Turkish and Indian. The Taj Mahal also encompasses formal gardens of raised pathways, sunken flower beds and a linear reflecting pool.

7: Petra (Jordan)

Rome’s, if not Italy’s, most enduring icon is undoubtedly its Colosseum. Built between A.D. 70 and 80 A.D., it was in use for some 500 years. The elliptical structure sat nearly 50,000 spectators, who gathered to watch the gladiatorial events as well as other public spectacles, including battle reenactments, animal hunts and executions. Earthquakes and stone-robbers have left the Colosseum in a state of ruin, but portions of the structure remain open to tourists, and its design still influences the construction of modern- Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, Peday amphitheaters, some 2,000 years later. tra was the capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV, and likely existed in its 6: Taj Mahal (Agra, India) prime from 9 B.C. to A.D. 40. The members of this civilization proved to be early experts in manipulating water technology, constructing intricate tunnels and water chambers, which helped create an pseudo-oasis. A number of incredible structures carved into stone, a 4,000-seat amphitheater and the El-Deir monastery have also helped the site earn its fame.

A mausoleum commissioned for the wife of Source: travelchannel.com Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal

Pakistan’s Khan endorses Turkish show Yunus Emre to youth

Prime Minister Imran Khan says airing of quality Turkish content on state-media PTV is an attempt to provide role models and alternative entertainment to people. efending his decision to air Turkish drama series on state-run television, Pakistan’s prime minister has said the blockbuster productions are being broadcast to educate and provide good role models to the people, particularly the youth.

In an interview with local broadcaster Hum News aired on Saturday night, Imran Khan said the airing of quality content like Turkish dramas was an attempt to provide alternative entertainment to the people.

Observing that the misuse of technology, like mobile phones, has “devastated” society, he said: “You cannot ban things, but you can provide alternative entertainment to the public.”

PM Khan said Pakistan will try to produce quality productions such as Yunus Emre: Askin Yolculugu (Yunus Emre: The Journey of Love) and Dirilis: Ertugrul (Resurrection), which have enjoyed record viewership in the country and abroad.

Earlier this week, Khan had publicly recommended that people watch Yunus Emre: Askin Yolculugu to explore their interest in Sufism.

The blockbuster series is being broadcast under the title Raah-e-Ishq, meaning the

D

path to love, with Urdu dubbing on the state-run Pakistan Television, which has already attracted a large viewership.

“I strongly recommend the serial Yunus Emre being shown on PTV for all those who are interested in Sufiism (Marayfat),” Khan said.

It follows the record-breaking historical drama Diliris: Ertugrul, which has taken Pakistanis by storm.

Already becoming a household name in the South Asian country, Ertugrul has set yet another record as its Urdu YouTube channel last week surpassed 10 million subscribers.

In 2013, Pakistani TV channels screened 11 Turkish-made TV series and two movies, with 34,000 tourists visiting Turkey that year.

The number jumped to 113,000 in 2018 and is estimated to exceed 120,000 by the end of this year.

Who is Yunus Emre?

Yunus Emre, also known as Dervis (Dervish) Yunus, was a folk poet and Sufi mystic whose exact date of birth is unknown, lived in Anatolia from the mid-13th century to the first quarter of the 14th century, according to various sources.

Writing his poems in the folk language, in which he described the divine love that every believer seeks, he played a role in the for-

mation of the dialect called “old Anatolian Turkish,” which constitutes the first phase of the historical cycle of the Turkish language.

Having lived in Anatolia, present-day Turkey, he was a very influential figure in Sufism and was considered a spiritual doctor, according to Kamil Saritas, a member of the Faculty of Theology at Eskisehir Osmangazi University and the head of the Yunus Emre Research Center.

Yunus Emre lived in the same era as great people such as Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi, Haji Bektash Veli, Ahi Evran, Ahmed Fakih, Geyikli Baba and Seydi Balum, and his mentor was Tapduk Emre.

ten in the mathnawi form – a poem based on independent, internally rhyming lines – titled “Risaletu’n-Nushiyye,” includes religious and Sufi advice, while “Divan” consists of his poems that were widely read in Anatolia when he was alive.

Pointing out that he was very influential in Sufism with his short, concise, and effective sayings, Saritas said: “He has always been the carrier of Islam’s messages of faith, love, hope, and justice that transcend time and space.

“Yunus Emre, who said ‘Whoever dies is the animal, the lover does not die’ continues to remain alive and keep people alive with his thoughts, even though it has been hundreds of years since he passed away.”

Carrier of Islam’s messages Saritas noted that Yunus Emre’s work writ- Source: trtworld.com/art-culture

25

Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

Continued from page 21

M ira c l e

spe c ia l

The Miracle’s Journey of Twenty Years Memories (Feb 2001- 2021)

March 24, 2015: Miracle Media Founder and Editor in-chief appeared on a talk show on Joy Tv and discussed community issues.

August 16, 2015:

Thousands came together to celebrate Pakistan’s independence at British Columbia’s Fourth Pakistan Festival in Holland Park Surrey. The event provided a window into Pakistan’s arts and crafts, cuisine, fashion and music and was a joint effort led by the Pakistani Consulate in Vancouver, Miracle Media was the major Print Media partner of this event.

July 18, 2015 Jason Kenny, the Defence Minister at the time,with his staff and Surrey-Newton Conservative Candidate Mr. Harpreet Singh among them. Mr Naveed welcomed him and admired the Harper’s Government policies. Maulana Naumani made Duaa for the prosperity of Canada.

Mr. Naveed provided the opportunity to community members to ask any question from Hon. J. Kenny. Many topics were discussed in which Daesh, Al Qaidah, Immigration policy during 2006-2015, Women’s Veil, Education policy, Taxes and many other issues.

March 15 2015: Justin Trudeau Press Conference with South Asian Media The Leader of Federal Liberal Party of Canada Justin Trudeau had a press conference with South Asian Media From Muslim media, The Miracle, Al Ameen, Community Times Canada and Sohni Darthi of Pakistan were participants..

April 16, 2015: Miracle Media was one of the protesters against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, socalled rock-star politician and Prime Minister Stephen Harper at their visit of the Sikh temple on Ross Street in Vancouver. Protest was against his time as CM of Gujarat and his order of brutal killings of Gujarat Muslims in India.

July, 18, 19, 2015

The 8th Fusion Festival took place at Holland Park. The new and interesting part of the parade was, that the Consul General of Pakistan Dr. Mohammad Tariq raised the Pakistani flag throughout the parade along with Mr. M. Afzal Malik and M. Naseer Pirzada of Miracle Media.

September 5, 2015: Miracle Media Group announced the Grand Debate for Federal Election 2015 as a joint venture with BC Muslim Print Media .

October 3, 2015 BC Muslim Media held a Grand Debate of all parties Candidates in which Muslims participated in historical numbers. BC Muslim Media is a temporary group of three different and independent Muslim Newspapers, Canada Times, Community Time Canada and The Miracle.

December 25, 2015 Alhamdulillah Miracle Media Group completed consecutive 400 Editions on December 25,

July, 23, 2016

The 9th Fusion Festival took place at Holland Park. The new and interesting part of the parade was, that the Consul General of Pakistan Dr. Mohammad Tariq raised the Pakistani flag throughout the parade along with Mr. Fahad Amjad, Mr. M. Afzal Malik, Mr.Malik Irfan and M. N. Pirzada of Miracle Media.

August 14, 2016,

The Miracle Media was the Media partner of Fifth Pakistan Festival 2016 at 70th Pakistan’s independence Day To be Continued at Page 29

26 sp o r t s PCB to invite 50 per cent crowds for Karachi-leg matches Rajab 14 1442 February 26, 2021

Match 5 Islamabad United trounce Karachi Kings by 5 wickets in PSL clash

Match 3 Masterful Hafeez leads Lahore Qalandars to 9-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in PSL match

Match 1 Karachi Kings make short work of Quetta Gladiators

Match6 Lewis Gregory stars as Islamabad United beat Multan Sultans by 3 wickets in PSL clash

Match 4 Qalandars claimed a 4-wicket win, Gladiators lost by 7wickets.

Match 2 Lahore Qalandars open PSL 6 campaign with 4-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi

Teams Mat Won Lost Ties Pts NRR POINTS TABLE Till Feb 24, 2021 Source: dawn.com Lahore Qalandars Multan Sultans Karachi Kings 2 2 0 0 4 0.792 2 1 1 0 2 1.398 2 0 2 0 0 -0.583 Islamabad United Peshawar Zalmi Quetta Gladiators 2 0 0 4 0.468 2 1 1 0 2 -0.086 2 0 2 0 0 -2.007 2

27

            

28

29

Continued from page 25

The Miracle’s Journey of Twenty Years Memories (Feb 2001- 2021)

Miracle honors its Writers & its Team Members at Pirzada’s Residence at 17th Anniversary

Miracle Media Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Miracle Media was the part of the Basha/ Diamer Dam committee “ I AM PAKISTAN “

Canadian Muslim Media Club formation since 2019- to date

30

31

32

33

34

27

35

20 FEB 2001-2021

35:05

20 FEB 2001-2021

20 FEB 2001-2021

PICTURE PICTURE

604-690-0400 miraclenews@telus.net 604-690-0400 www.miraclenews.com

miraclenews@telus.net

www.miraclenews.com

2021

2001-2021

NOTARY PUBLIC

Notary Public Immigration Consultant

(604) 596 1861 # 220-13711

Mohamed Salim Contractor

72 Ave. Surrey, BC (Opp. Newton Wave Pool)

Shoaib.surrey@gmail.com

Unit #219-7928, 128 St.

Shoaib Rauf

(York Business Centre) Surrey. BC V3W 4E8 C: 604.817.3022 O: 604.503.5025 Fax: 604.503.5045

http://www.salimnotary.com/ http://cwics.ca/ www.cwics.team

Emails:salim@salimnotary.com

&:cwics.team@yahoo.ca

NOOR JAHAN G ro c e r y & M e a t

S t o re

5989-Fraser St.(E 44th St.) Vancouver

Coronavirus Cases:

577,482

Deaths:

12,804

604-301-9090 Pakistan Last updated: Recovered:

542,393

February 26, 2021, 06:04 GMT