Miracle 620-April 5, 2024

THE

Significance of Eid ul Fitr & Lailla tul Qadar What happened in Palestine in 1976?

B.C. cracking down on ‘unfair’ evictions in CJP says attack on judiciary’s independence Gaza ceasefire talks stall as Israel and Hamas

“InGaza,thereare MayAllah(swt) accept peoplewhohave ambitions, yourgood deeds ,forgive fullest,justlikeanyotherpeople inthe yourtransgresionsandeasethe suffering neighbouring countries,”Financialhelptheyneed! ofallpeople aroundthe globe.Ameen.!

40,000 Palestinian flags erected in installation in Devonian Park in Vancouver’s West End

Canada condemns Israeli strike on aid workers in Gaza, demands investigation

OTTAWA - Canada condemned an Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip(opens in a new tab) on Monday and is demanding a full investigation.

The World Central Kitchen said a dual Canadian-American citizen, as well as three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national and a Palestinian were delivering food that had arrived by sea when they were struck Monday evening. The charity suspended operations(opens in a new tab) in the region following the attack. World Central Kitchen was founded by celebrity chef José Andrés and operates in several countries wracked by wars or natural disasters.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the Israel Defense Forces carried out the “unintended strike,” which killed “innocent people.” He said officials are investigating and “will do everything for this not to happen again.”

March 30, 2024 - Vancouver, BC - Early Saturday morning, 40,000 Palestinian flags were erected in Devonian Park in Vancouver’s West End to symbolize the significant loss of civilian life due to the ongoing assault on Gaza, and Canada’s role in funding the slaughter. Over 100 community members from across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, composed the installation over 2 hours using recycled materials. Each flag represents a civilian life lost in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza since early October 2023. The United Nations estimates approximately 70 per cent of fatalities are of women and children. A further 70,000 thousand people have life-threatening injuries, with limited access

FIR registered as all 8 IHC judges receive threatening letters laced with ‘white powder’

Islamabad police on Tuesday filed a case on terror charges after all eight judges of the high court received threatening letters laced with a “white powder”. The first information report (FIR) was registered at the capital’s Counter Terrorism Department police station on the complaint of duty clerk Qadeer Ahmed under Section 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. In the FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Ahmed said he worked at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and eight letters were received a day ago for each of the court’s judges, including Chief Jus-

tice (CJ) Aamer Farooq. He said that the letters were dispatched today and received by the personal secretaries of the judges. He said the sender was stated as a woman named Resham but there was no address mentioned.

Qadeer said that shortly after, he was

Premier David Eby

and your BC NDP MLAs wish you

Premier David Eby Vancouver-Point Grey

Brenda Bailey Vancouver-False Creek

Raj Chouhan

Burnaby-Edmonds

Rob Fleming

Victoria-Swan Lake

Sheila Malcolmson

Nanaimo

Jinny Sims Surrey-Panorama

George Chow Vancouver-Fraserview

Kelly Greene Richmond-Steveston

Kelli Paddon Chilliwack-Kent

Rachna Singh Surrey-Green Timbers

Katrina Chen Surrey-Guildford

Garry Begg Jagrup Brar Surrey-Fleetwood

Harry Bains Surrey-Newton Burnaby-Lougheed

Bob D’Eith Maple Ridge

Megan Dykeman Langley East Port Coquitlam

Mike Farnworth

Anne Kang

Ravi Kahlon Delta North Burnaby-Deer Lake

Bruce Ralston Surrey-Whalley Burnaby North

Aman Singh Richmond-Queensborough

Janet Routledge

Bowinn Ma North Vancouver-Lonsdale

Niki Sharma Vancouver-Hastings

Mike Starchuk Surrey-Cloverdale New Westminster

Jennifer Whiteside

Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.

Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari

Significance of Eid al-Fitr What is Laylatul Qadr 2024?

Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha –

What is the Difference?

Eid, meaning ‘celebration’ or ‘festival’, is a prestigious word in Islam. There are two dedicated times of Eid in Islam that Muslims celebrate as per the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) guidance: Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. These are times at which Allah (SWT) rejoices in His followers being happy and encourages joy amongst all.

Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha often get confused, but they are two separate celebrations and have different meanings behind them. The two festivals are celebrated similarly, but they commemorate different things and as such, encompass two contrasting facets of Islam.

What is Eid?

As mentioned, Eid refers to a time of joyous celebration. There are two types of Eid: Eid ul-Fitr (sometimes called ‘small Eid’) and Eid ul-Adha (sometimes called ‘big Eid’, ‘Qurbani Eid’, ‘Bakra Eid’ or ‘Eid al-Kabir’).

When is Eid?

The question of ‘when is Eid?’ depends on which type of Eid you’re referring to.

If you’re wondering which Eid is after Ramadan, it is Eid ul-Fitr. This tends to be the more widely known Eid of the two amongst those who do not follow Islam,

comes before Eid ul-Adha and therefore is the first of the Eids. The last 10 days of Ramadan is said to bring with it a thousand months’ worth of blessings, and there’s no better way to follow the month of fasting and charitable giving than with Eid celebrations. Officially, Eid ul-Fitr celebrations commence on the first day of Shawwal – the 10th month of the year.

When is Eid ul-Adha?

Qurbani is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims and occurs during the 12th month of the lunar year. For Qurbani to commence, Eid ul-Adha prayers must have been observed. This places the Eid ul-Adha date after Eid ul-Fitr, with Eid ulAdha being in Dhul Hijjah.

As a result of the Islamic calendar being based on the lunar cycle, exact dates for both the Eid’s changes every year, being approximately 10/11 days earlier each year.

Eid Greetings

To wish each other a blessed Eid ul-Adha, “Eid Mubarak” is the generic greeting. This is also used on Eid ul-Fitr. To be more specific, you can say “Eid ul-Fitr Mubarak” or “Eid ul-Adha Mubarak” but given that the two holidays fall at different times of the year, “Eid Mubarak” works just fine.

What is Eid ul-Fitr?

and that is despite it being the lesser of the two Eids.

When is Eid ul-Fitr?

Eid ul-Fitr follows Ramadan which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. This means Eid ul-Fitr

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and lasts for one day. It is a celebration of Allah (SWT) giving you the strength to get through the Ramadan fast. So, how is Eid ul-Fitr celebrated? There are several parts

To be Coninued at Page 7

Laylatul Qadr is one of the most important and sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. It is also referred to as the Night of Power or the Night of Decree. While the month of Ramadan is most widely known as the month that the Qur’an was first revealed to humankind. The Night of Power describes the exact night that the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

When is Laylatul Qadr?

It is a commonly held belief that Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) occurs on the 27th of Ramadan, which will fall on the evening of 5th April 2024. However, scholars of Hadith recommend focusing on the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Especially the odd nights, as it is most likely to have occurred in one of these nights based on the following Hadith:

It was advised by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to: “Look for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan”. (Bukhari and Muslim) Humankind will never know the exact date of Laylatul Qadr. However, it is most likely one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan – Allah knows best.

Why is Laylatul Qadr called the Night of Power?

Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Power, is described as such to illustrate the significance of what the night entails for humankind. Allah says about the purpose of this night: Ha, Meem. By the clear Book, Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night every precise matter – Every matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send (a messenger).Qur’an | 44:1-5 Signs of Laylatul Qadr

Only Allah has knowledge of Laylatul Qadr. However, to determine its presence we are directed towards some signs. Two of the most authentic signs of Laylatul Qadr are:

The sun rises early in the morning without rays. Ubayy, (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “On the morning following Laylatul-Qadr, the sun rises without any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up.” (Hadith | Muslim)

It is a pleasant and calm. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), said: “Laylatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun rises on its morning being feeble and red.” (Hadith | Ibn Khuzaimah)

Try your best to catch Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) by focusing on Ibadah (worship) this Ramadan more than ever before! Therefore, by consistently making Du’a to catch it, it may be that Allah allows you to witness this precious and powerful night and earn its rewards!

Laylatul Qadr Surah

Laylatul Qadr, or The Night of Power/ Decree, is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Qadr. The whole Surah is dedicated by Allah to describing this bountiful night in these precious verses: Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.Qur’an | 97:1-5

Source: https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/

RAMADAN TIMETABLE 2024-AH

THE letter written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) detailing interference in judicial work by intelligence agencies is an important and brave intervention. By linking it to a previous incident where a former judge had made similar observations, they have helped establish and publicise a malignant pattern of establishment interference.

The response to the letter from the Supreme Court has been weak so far. A commission under the executive tasked with interrogating executive overreach cannot be reasonably expected to achieve much. Further, it adds weight to the perception that the current Supreme Court leadership is hoping to sweep things under the carpet, due to various political and tactical alignments.

Given the outcome of previous inquiry commissions, where facts have either been ignored, or outcomes have sidestepped the facts uncovered, a general sense of cynicism is not unwarranted. Pakistan’s track record of the state trying to fix problems created by other parts of the state is pretty poor.

To put things into context, it’s necessary to look at a significant public intervention, such as this letter, as the response of a system completely weighed under a lopsided structure of power. In the past few years, establishment encroachment has taken a qualitatively different form, touching on a range of arenas of state functioning.

It is necessary to look at a significant public intervention as the response of a system weighed under a lopsided power structure. The handicapping of judicial functioning is one such example. The management of the

Fighting monopolisation

economy is another. The creation of apex institutions such as SIFC that is now wading into sectors as diverse as agriculture, information technology, and even education is reconfiguring the very nature of the state.

Urban land use has seen such encroachment for a couple of decades, and the modifications to the Irsa Act made by the caretaker government suggest that water resource management might be the next frontier of internal conquest.

On account of such efforts, the state is being reshaped along two dimensions. The first is vertical, ie, a centralisation of decision-making that undermines a federal constitutional structure and spirit. Provinces are given token representation and their concerns are often overridden.

Bodies that are designed to support federalist decision-making and resolve federal conflicts, such as the Council of Common Interests lie disempowered and non-functional, while centralising entities such as SIFC act as apex decision-makers.

The second dimension is horizontal, ie, a monopolisation of authority within the federal tier from institutions such as parliament and judiciary to the unelected executive and establishment. This too is in violation of a constitutional structure, but it happens in an even more egregiously illicit manner. And it happens because of the frequent use of coercive tools to achieve desired outcomes.

Pakistan’s political history tells us that both centralisation and monopolisation efforts have an expiry date. Internal diversity, cross-cutting interests, and the existence of a range of different power players ensure that monopolising ambitions (dubbed

the ‘Bangladesh model’ these days) are scuppered. The task at hand is for resistance to succeed before sufficient damage is caused.

Centralisation efforts will require coordinated fightback by political parties that have an incentive to support federalism. In the current configuration, this is the PPP and, ironically, the PTI which remains coercively confined to one provincial government. Recent chatter about recalibrating the NFC award and attempts to change the structure of water resource management by imposing a central government appointee as chairperson are the two immediate battlegrounds. The technical case against such centralising ambitions has already been made by several authors on these and other pages. But the technical case alone will not win this battle; instead it requires a parliamentary response that the federalist parties must lead, even if it involves setting aside their own acrimony and differences.

What will prove to be a much tougher fight is resisting the continued monopolisation of power within the state structure. The treatment meted out to both PTI in recent months, and popular movements in the ethnic peripheries over the past many years, have reduced the scope for public mobilisation and protest.

In the aftermath of the IHC letter, some are hoping that bar councils will form the organisational core of a fresh round of resistance; perhaps by initiating another lawyers’ movement to protect the turf of the judiciary. Others are pointing to the role that civil society organisations, rights campaigners, and the me-

dia will need to play, given their occupational allegiance to constitutional rule.

But in the current climate, and the range of heavy-handed tactics deployed over the past two years, it is unlikely that any of these entities can succeed on their own. Instead, gradualist, broad-based resistance that opens up sporadic breathing space is going to be a more plausible path forward.

The IHC letter reflects a deepseated frustration with institutional overreach. One possible response to it is that it may actually take immediate pressure off the judiciary and re-secure some of its independence, via a process of internal negotiation.

While this does little to assuage more structural fears, it will be a considerable victory in the short term. Over the medium to long term, a broad-based coalition invested in constitutional rule remains the only path forward.

Tactical action through parliamentary work can fight off centralisation efforts. Interventions via sympathetic pockets in the judiciary, mass media, and the public at large can prevent further monopolisation.

Crucially though, no such coalition can function without the support of political parties, civil society actors, and existing mass movements in the smaller provinces, and more importantly, no such coalition can function through only one party.

The current moment, and the opening provided by this letter, should be used for coalition building, even if it means setting aside past animosity. This holds as true for political parties as it does for various segments of civil society.

The writer teaches politics and sociology at Lums.

Courtesy By:Umair Javed

Canada condemns Israeli strike on aid workers in Gaza, demands investigation

News Continued from Pg 1

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the attack on aid workers is “absolutely unacceptable.”

“This is something that never should have happened, and we are heartbroken for the families and for the organization that has been putting people in harm’s way to counter the extraordinarily devastating humanitarian crisis going on in Gaza right now,” he said. “We obviously need full accountability and inves-

tigation in this.” Trudeau said there needs to be “clarity” about how it happened and repeated a call for a ceasefire “so more aid workers are not in danger as they try to respond to the suffering on the ground in Gaza.” Earlier in a statement posted to X, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she was “horrified” by the airstrike. “We condemn these strikes and call for a full investigation,” she posted. “Canada expects full accountability for these killings

and we will convey this to the Israeli government directly.” World Central Kitchen’s work was key to a recently opened sea route that offered some hope for northern Gaza.

The United Nations says much of the area’s population is on the brink of starvation, largely cut off from the rest of the territory by Israeli forces. Andrés said he is “heartbroken” by the deaths of his colleagues. “The Israeli government

needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X.Cyprus, which has played a key role in trying to establish the sea route to bring food to the territory, said ships that recently arrived were turning back with some 240 tons of undelivered aid.

Source:ctvnews.ca/

News Continued from Pg 1

alerted that there was a “chemical powder” found in one of the letters. He added that the judges’ staff were subsequently instructed to not open the remaining letters. He said the police were immediately informed about the matter, adding that the sender had attempted to influence judicial decisions by spreading “fear and harassment”. Ahmed went on to say that police personnel reached the IHC around 2pm and seized all of the letters, four of which had been opened by this time while the remaining four were sealed. He said that a “white powder” was found in the unsealed envelopes. He said that a police team arrived to conduct an initial analysis of the powder. The com-

plainant said the content of the letters that had been opened referred to an outfit, Tehreek Namoos-iPakistan, and criticised the judicial system and used the word “Bacilus Anthracis” to issue a threat. The anthrax germ Bacillus Anthracis sickens and causes death by proliferating in the bloodstream, where it releases powerful toxins. Infection

is usually treated by a long course of antibiotics. CJ Farooq had referred to the incident earlier today while hearing PTI founder Imran Khan’s appeal against his conviction in the cipher case. During the hearing, he had said the issue was one of the reasons for a delay in the proceedings... Source: dawn.com/

B.C. cracking down on ‘unfair’ evictions in Tenancy act amendments

The B.C. government is proposing amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act, which it hopes will better protect renters from “bad-faith evictions.” Premier David Eby says that while most landlords and tenants “play by the rules” and have respectful

relationships, “too many people in B.C. are still facing unfair rent hikes and evictions under false pretenses.”

“At the same time, many people who have chosen to rent part of their home are struggling to end problematic tenancies. That’s why we’re taking action to protect both renters and landlords with stronger rules designed to ensure the law is respected by everyone — and bring more fairness for everyone in the rental market,” he added.

Along with changes to eviction eligibility, the Ministry of Housing shared Tuesday that the changes will “protect growing families” by prohibiting rent increases when a child under 19 enters the household Source:citynews.ca

Biden considers $18bn arms transfer to Israel, including F-15 jets:

CJP says attack on judiciary’s independence won’t be tolerated, hints at full court for suo motu case

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday asserted that “any attack” on the judiciary’s independence would not be tolerated as he hinted at forming a full court to hear a suo motu case pertaining to allegations of interference in judicial affairs.

He made the remarks as the Supreme Court took up the case pertaining to allegations made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges regarding interference by the country’s security apparatus in judicial matters. A seven-member bench — comprising CJP Isa and justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Yahya Afridi, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan — presided over the hearing that was streamed live on the SC’s website and its YouTube channel. Last week, it emerged that six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges — out of a total strength of eight — wrote a startling letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members,..

Source: Dawnnews

Gaza ceasefire talks stall as Israel and Hamas dig in

US President Joe Biden’s administration is weighing whether to go ahead with an $18bn arms transfer package to Israel that would include dozens of F-15 aircraft, according to the Reuters news agency. The sale of 25 F-15s has been under review since the US received the formal request in January 2023, Reuters reported, citing one of five sources familiar with the plans, long before Israel’s six-month-old military campaign in Gaza. This sale would boost that number to as many as 50 F-15s. Accelerating delivery of the aircraft was among the top requests from Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, who visited Washington last week and held talks with US officials including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a second source said. Biden faces pressure from foreign partners, human rights groups and some of his fellow Democrats in Congress to impose conditions on arms transfers to rein in Israel’s offensive in Gaza where health officials say at least 32,845 Palestinians have been killed, many of them civilians. One US official said that even if formal notification were sent to Congress tomorrow and the deal was finalised immediately, the earliest the aircraft would be delivered would be 2029...

Source: aljazeera.com/

Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

The party member behind 2021 petition for a leadership review, Bert Chen, vehemently denies allegations. Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole believes foreign interference may have led to his removal as party leader, according to documents tabled before the foreign interference inquiry. In a document containing notes from an interview between O’Toole and lawyers act-

ing for the Foreign Interference Commission earlier this year, O’Toole is quoted as saying he was suspicious about the motives of the person behind the petition that called for a leadership review following the 2021 election. “Mr. O’Toole also believes foreign interference played a role in his ouster as party leader,” says the document. “In the immediate aftermath of the election loss, a petition and public relations campaign against Mr. O’Toole was initiated within 48 hours by a high-profile CPC party member who had served on the national council of the party.” That Conservative Party member was Bert Chen, who was suspended from the party’s national council after launching the petition to recall O’Toole as leader... .Source:cbc.ca/

‘Culture of complacency’ delayed Ibrahim Ali murder case: lawyer

Ali was found guilty of the 1st-degree murder of a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby’s Central Park. The lawyer for Ibrahim Ali, the man found guilty of killing a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C., said a “culture of complacency” from Crown and the court created so many unnecessary delays in proceedings that the verdict should now be stayed.

Kevin McCullough made the arguments on day two of a hearing in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver into a Jordan application filed on behalf of Ali.

A Jordan application seeks to have charges dropped for failing to meet the 30-month time limit to get to trial, as set by the Supreme Court of Canada in the 2016 case R. v. Jordan. Ali was found guilty of first-degree murder on Dec. 8, 2023. He now faces

a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. The body of the girl, whose name is under a publication ban, was found in Burnaby’s Central Park in July 2017. Ali was arrested and charged about one year later.McCullough said issues not associated with the accused caused delays of close to 60 months, about double that of the Jordan standard....Source:cbc.ca/

Qatar says the major sticking points remain the same as behind-the-scenes talks attempt to secure a truce in Gaza. Qatar says the major sticking points remain the same as behind-the-scenes talks attempt to secure a truce in Gaza. Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike on a building, Hamas says the return of all displaced people to their homes is one of its conditions for a ceasefire. Revived talks on a truce in

the Israeli-Gaza war appear to be making little progress with the two sides showing few signs that they’re ready to compromise on their demands.

Israeli objections to the return of displaced residents to their homes in Gaza is a key issue holding up the negotiations, Qatari officials said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hamas said that it will not budge on its conditions to release captives it holds in the enclave. Alongside the United States and Egypt, Qatar has been running behind-the-scenes talks in a bid to secure a truce and the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails after nearly six months of war. “The return of the IDPs [internally displaced people] to their homes, which the Israelis didn’t agree to yet … is the main point we are stuck on,” Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told a press conference. Source:ctvnews.ca

Turkey’s election authority reinstates pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner

Election authority reverses ejection of Kurdish winner of mayoral race in city of Van in eastern Turkey. Turkey’s election authority has reinstated a pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner in the eastern city of Van after the annulment of his victory provoked clashes. The Supreme Election Board (YSK) announced on Wednesday that it has overturned a decision by the regional election commission in eastern Turkey to remove Abdullah Zeydan, the candidate of the proKurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM). The reversal is viewed as another boost for the Turkish opposition following Sunday’s local elections, which dealt a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party (AKP), after their wins last

year in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Zeydan had garnered more than 55 percent of the vote in the municipal elections on Sunday, but the regional electoral commission claimed he was ineligible to stand due to a previous conviction, and handed the mayoral seat to a candidate from AKP who had won 27 percent of the vote... Source:aljazeera.com/

Iftar at White House ‘downgraded’ after boycott by Muslims

WASHINGTON: The White House converted an Iftar-dinner into a meeting on Tuesday night to appease American Muslim leaders frustrated with the administration’s Gaza policy. Originally slated as a dinner, the event was reshaped into a meeting format after a number of Muslim leaders declined the invitation, while others raised concerns over the situation in Gaza. CNN reported that the Iftar-dinner was changed to a meeting because “participants didn’t feel comfortable having a celebratory meal while hundreds of thousands in Gaza are on the brink of famine”. The meeting was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, administration officials, and a small group of Muslim community leaders. Later, Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian American physician,

told CNN he went to the meeting but left abruptly, as did some other guests. Explaining his decision, Dr Ahmad said he told President Joe Biden, “It’s disappointing that I’m the only Palestinian here, and out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave.” The development underscores the strained relationship between the Biden administration and the Muslim American community over the war in Gaza..Source:.dawn.com/

After Ramadan, How to Fight Shaytan & His Whispers

Have you ever started praying and then found yourself suddenly remembering an item you thought you’d lost or a message you’d forgotten to reply to?

The Prophet (SAW) stated that these recollections during Salāh are the work of Shaytān. Shaytān is always busy trying to preoccupy you with thoughts of everything other than Allah (Jazza wa jall). He (SAW) said, “When the call to prayer is announced, Shaytān takes to his heels and passes wind loudly so that he does not hear the adhān. When the adhān finishes, he comes back. When the iqāmah is proclaimed, he takes to his heel (again). When the iqāmah finishes, he comes back so that he can obstruct the person’s heart with his whispers, saying ‘Remember such and such, remember such and such,’ things which he did not remember before, to the extent that the person no longer knows how much he has prayed” (Bukhārī).

Salāh is a link (silah) to your Lord which your archenemy, Shaytān, strives to break by any means. Therefore, he comes to you with all kinds of whispers and doubts.

Shaytan: The Biggest Thief

Shaytan is like a relentless highway robber. The harder the slave tries to turn to Allah, the harder Shaytān tries to rob him and divert him from this noble path. It is for this reason that when one of the predecessors (rahimahullāh) was asked, “Indeed the Jews and Christians say that they do not experience these whispers (in their acts of worship),” he remarked, “They are telling the truth. What will Shaytān do with a demolished house?”

Anyone who turns to Allah (jazza wa jall) will be assaulted with these kinds of whispers, particularly during the beginning of your journey where Shaytān will try his best to divert you. At the start of your journey to Allah (jazza wa jall), Shaytān will have a greater ‘share’ of your Salāh than you. You will then compete with him, going back and forth, until you secure half of it. You must then continue to fight until you can secure all of your Salāh. The Prophet(SAW) said, “A man returns from his prayer and only a tenth, ninth, eighth, seventh, sixth,

Why Fast The Six Days Of

What is the significance of fasting the six days of Shawwal?

The well-known hadith by Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari relates that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he had fasted the year through.” (Sahih Muslim, 1163)

In an episode of IslamiQA from last year, Dr Samer Darwish talked about this hadith and the benefits of observing the six optional fasts after Ramadan.

“The Prophet (SAW) in this hadith has given us a very good news — a very glad tiding to those who still need to do more good deeds and it will be counted as if they did it in Ramadan,” said Dr Darwish.

How do the fasts count the same as Ramadan?

The Prophet (PBUH) said fasting 30 days of Ramadan is equivalent to 10 months and fasting a further 6 days of Shawwal is another two months, said Dr Darwish. And

Coninued from Page 3 to the day, including:

• Waking up early and greeting the family

• Performing Salah (prayers)

• Performing ghusl (ablution)

• Preparing clothes (often new attire) and getting ready for the day ahead

• Sitting down for breakfast with family and friends

• Ensuring Zakat-ul-Fitr is paid prior to Eid Salah

• Performing Eid Salah in congregation

• Greeting all fellow Muslims and exchanging Elid ul-Fitr greetings

• Visiting family and friends and celebrating

For those who successfully managed to fast, they should thank Allah (SWT) for giving them the strength to get through the trying month of Ramadan. Anyone who missed or broke the fast and is liable to pay Fidya or

so, when you add those together, it makes the full 12 months – the whole year.

Some scholars believed that just as the Shawwal fasting gets the same value as Ramadan fasts, so does any other type of worship during that month.

“The scholars said consequently any action of worship you will perform in the six days of Shawwal will be also seen and recorded and counted as if you performed them in Ramadan,” said Dr Darwish.

Voluntary fasting covers our Ramadan shortcomings

We’ve all seen the spiritual benefits of fasting during Ramadan and Shawwal allows us to continue that but also helps cover some of our shortcomings during the month of Ramadan.

“No one can claim that he fasted Ramadan 100% perfectly without any shortcoming without any deficiency,” said Dr Darwish. “And to complete those deficiencies, we need nafl or voluntary actions. And six days of Shawwal will be like that.”

Dr Darwish mentioned that the Prophet

fifth, fourth, third or half of it, is recorded for him” (Abū Dāwūd).

The initial stages of Salāh are the period when Shaytān will try to convince you that this is a lost battle and there is no hope. Do not give up. Remain steadfast and continue to work on your khushū in Salāh. Shaytan will not go near the person whose heart has khushū.” – Sahl al-Tustarī (rahimahullāh)

The Deep Concern of the Sahabah Uthmān b. Abī al-Ās(raziy Allāhu anhu) came to the Messenger of Allah(SWT) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed Shaytān comes in between me and my Salāh and my recitation of the Qur’ān and causes me to doubt.” The Messenger of Allah (SWT)told him, “That is a shaytān known as Khinzab. When you feel his presence, seek Allah’s protection from him and spit lightly to your left three times.” He says, “I did that and then Allah made him go away from me” (Muslim).

The aforementioned Hadīth indicates the importance the Companions (radiy Allāhu anhum) gave to Salāh and the matter of khushū. It also highlights the existence of a specific shayTān who is assigned just for this task, showing us the severity of this matter. Mentally prepare yourself before Salāh, and remember you are in a fight with Khinzab. Always be on guard and remember that your enemy is lurking, ready to ambush.

Shawwal?

(SAW) said that if a person’s prayer was incomplete or lacking, Allah SWT looks at any voluntary actions to mitigate the shortfall on the Day of Judgement.

“Similarly, we can apply the analogy here... so the voluntary fasting, like the six days of Shawwal, will complete the deficiencies of Ramadan,” added Dr Darwish.

The opinions on how to fast the six days of Shawwal

Dr Darwish mentions there are three opinions based on how the Prophet’s saying is interpreted.

Imam Hanbal believed the Prophet (SAW) fasted the six days of Shawwal in one go after Eid. “He doesn’t see it can be acceptable to fast separately,” says Dr Darwish. Most of the scholars though, Hanafi and Shafi, are of the view that you can fast any six days in the month.

“So, if you fasted immediately after it’s fine, if you fasted them separately still fine. If you fasted them on Monday, Thursday is still fine. And they said it’s more likely to be the correct opinion that you can fast them

How To Fight Whispers

1. Say: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his pride, and his poetry.

and spit lightly to your left three times as mentioned in the above Hadīth. Continue to do this whenever you feel his presence, and not just once in a while. (Avoid spitting during the congregational prayers).

2. Ignore the whispers and carry on praying. Fight back the whispers and do not let them drag you down.

3. Try hard not to yawn during prayer, and if this is not possible, then cover your mouth.

The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said, “If one of you yawns during Salāh, let him suppress it as much as he can as Shaytān enters (the mouth)” (Muslim).

4. Force yourself to think of what you are saying.

5. Work hard on the other ways of attaining khushū. They will all aid you in combatting the whispers during your Salāh.

Some people mentioned to Āmir b. Abdillāh b. Qays (rahimahullāh) that sometimes they lose concentration during Salāh. He went on to ask them, “Do you experience this?” They replied, “Yes.” He replied, “By Allah, I would rather be struck with spears in my stomach than for this to happen to me in my Salāh.”

“If you are inSalāh and Shaytān says to you ‘You are showing off!’ then make your Salāh longer.” – Harīth b. Qays (rahimahullāh)

Source: /lifewithallah.com

anytime in Shawwal,” Dr Darwish says. Maliki madhhab is different still. Imam Malik believed that you could fast any six days of the year – not just in Shawwal. “He understood it as any six days in the year,” adds Dr Darwish. “And as I said to be in the safe side, fast them in Shawwal no matter whether they are one go or separately.” Source: https://www.islamchannel.tv/

Significance of Eid al-Fitr

Kaffarah must ask Allah (SWT) for mercy and the strength to pay their owed dues.

Why is Eid ul-Fitr Important?

Eid ul-Fitr is important because it follows one of the most sacred months of all: Ramadan. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to strengthen their bond with Allah (SWT), recite the Qur’an and exercise great will power. As a reward, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated.

How Many Days is Eid ul-Fitr?

Eid ul-Fitr lasts for just one day, which is the first day of Shawwal.

What is Eid ul-Adha?

Following the Hajj pilgrimage comes Eid ul-Adha which is considered the great Eid because of its religious significance. Eid ul-Adha is a time to revere the devotion of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when he demonstrated his obedience through his preparation to sacrifice his son, Ismail, for Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) spared Ismail’s (AS)

life and swapped him for a ram at the last moment before the sacrifice, revealing that it had been a test.

This is commemorated during Eid ul-Adha in the form of Qurbani, the sacrifice of an animal in the name of Allah (SWT). This sacrifice is conducted immediately following the Eid Salah.

Although many of the activities undertaken during Eid ul-Fitr will also happen during Eid ul-Adha, there are some key and important differences. Most notable of all is the act of Qurbani which is the sacrifice of an animal – usually a goat. Prayers will be made and Eid ul-Adha wishes will be exchanged amongst the community. Gifts may be given to one another, and families will come together to feast across the three days. It truly is a period of great celebration and joy amongst the Muslim community.

How Many Days is Eid ul-Adha?

The Eid ul-Adha celebration typically lasts three days and, much like Eid ul-Fitr, is a period of pure happiness and rejoice amongst the Muslim community. In Muslim-majority countries, it is a national holiday.

What Links Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr?

Despite the two Eids having different meanings, both are united by charity. Zakat ul-Fitr is given during Eid ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and is used to provide food for those who are hungry.

Eid ul-Adha encompasses Qurbani which is the sacrifice of an animal. The animal is then divided into three parts, one of which is given to those who are living in poverty. The spirit of charity is crucial to Islam. It is a key expression of Allah’s (SWT) love for us and we are privileged to be able to celebrate with our brothers and sisters around the world. Source: muslimaid.org/

Land Day: What happened in Palestine in 1976?

Every year on March 30, Palestinians hold protests and vigils and plant olive trees to reaffirm their connection to the land.

Every year on March 30, Palestinians observe Land Day, or Yom al-Ard, recalling the events of March 30, 1976, when six unarmed Palestinians were killed and more than 100 injured by Israeli forces during protests against Israel’s confiscation of Palestinian land.

How much land did Israel confiscate?

Israel ordered the confiscation of 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of land belonging to Palestinian citizens of Israel in the Galilee. These plans were part of Israeli state policy to Judaise Galilee following the creation of the state of Israel.

The confiscated land is roughly the size of 3,000 football pitches or the area from the tip of Manhattan to Central Park in New

York, US.

What do Palestinians do on Land Day?

Palestinians, both inside Israel and across the occupied territory, mark this day by holding protests and vigils and planting olive trees to reaffirm their connection to the land. The protests are often met with brutal use of force by Israel.

Is Israel still seizing land?

Yes, Israel has continued to seize large swaths of Palestinian land, designating them as military zones, state land and other labels. Most recently, on March 22, 2024, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared Israel was seizing 800 hectares (1,977 acres) in the occupied West Bank, in a move that would facilitate building more illegal settlements. “While there are those in Israel and in the world who seek to undermine our right to Judea and Samaria and the coun-

try in general, we promote settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country,” Smotrich said, using Biblical names for the area that are commonly heard in Israel.

Settlements – illegal under international law – are Jewish-only communities built on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

On March 6, Israel’s settlement-planning authority announced it had approved the construction of some 3,500 new housing units in Maale Adumim, Kedar and Efrat within the occupied West Bank. From November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023, Israel has approved at least 24,000 illegal housing units to be built on Palestinian land. Earlier this month, the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said settlements had expanded by a record amount and risked eliminating any possibility of a Palestinian state.

Source: aljazeera.com/news

40,000 Palestinian flags erected in installation in Devonian Park in Vancouver’s West End

Coninued from Page 1

to healthcare and aid.

This Vancouver installation follows a number of displays across the country and internationally, including Portland and London. The Vancouver Palestinian organizer and community advocate, Tamer Abu-Ramadani said “This is a demonstration to represent

the conscience of many Canadians, the majority of whom are urging the government to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and to end arms exports. Yet Canada continues to fund the Israeli government’s ongoing and plausible genocide, as per the January International Court of Justice’s ruling; this is contrary to international law, and does not align with stated Canadian

Avalues of equity and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.“Vancouver citizens are welcome to explore the installation and to reflect on Canada’s role in funding and supporting the deaths, ethnic cleansing, starvation and harm to over two million civilians. As community members, we can take action by holding government officials to a higher standard, one where equity and

human rights are a fundamental value in all decision-making, with no exceptions.”

Many of the installation’s organizers have direct family ties to Gaza and spoke of their distress to both national and international responses to the Israeli government’s military action in Gaza.

Media contact: Tamer Abu-Ramadan

Email: tamer.aburamadan@gmail.com

How will the Baltimore Key Bridge debris be cleared?

The first vessel has passed through a temporary alternate channel created around the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which was damaged last week after a cargo vessel collided with it.On March 26, six people died when the Dali container ship hit the 2.5km (1.6-mile) long bridge in the early hours of the morning. Captain David O’Connell, the coastguard commander of the Maryland sector, said it

is “an important first step along the road to reopening the port of Baltimore”, one of the busiest in the United States. A secondary provisional route for deeper vessels will also open in the upcoming days, officials said, as attempts are made to remove debris. What happened to the Baltimore Bridge?

On March 26, at about 1:28am (05:28 GMT), the Singapore-registered vessel, en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, collided with one of the pillars supporting the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the city on the East Coast of the US. According to a report by ABC News, the

Trudeau Doubles Down On His Failed Housing Policy

worldwide income is required.

“If you arrived in Canada in the middle of the tax year, you need to report your income and assets from your country of origin,” advises Ms. Ricchio. This includes any employment income earned outside of Canada even after the day you relocated, foreign assets over $100,000, the market value of any assets you brought to Canada, as well as details for your spouse or children.

Tip: TurboTax’s Canada Tax Checklist helps you get organized for this all-important first step.

2. Don’t wait until the last minute

Be aware of upcoming deadlines to ensure you’re not scrambling. The deadline for individuals to file taxes for 2023 is April 30, 2024, while the deadline for self-employed people is June 17, unless you owe tax, in

which case the April 30 deadline stands for you to submit payment to the CRA. If you miss the deadline or don’t file your taxes at all, you may face penalties and the CRA will apply interest of up to 10 per cent to your tax bill. When you file online via TurboTax, you know how much to expect for your refund or how much money you owe. Once the CRA has processed your return, you receive an official Notice of Assessment (NOA), which confirms the details. To easily make tax payments, access past returns and keep your tax information accessible, register for CRA My Account.

3. Take advantage of tax credits and deductions

Tax deductions – sometimes referred to as “write-offs” – are eligible expenses that can be subtracted from your income. Examples

of tax deductions can include work-fromhome expenses and even losses from the sale of investments.

Tax credits, on the other hand, directly reduce the amount of tax you owe or are amounts refunded to you by the government. Non-refundable tax credits like medical expenses will reduce your total income tax payable. Refundable tax credits like the GST/HST credit will be paid to you if you are eligible. “There are many tax credits new Canadians can take advantage of,” says Ms. Ricchio. Three of the most common tax credits are:

GST/HST Credit. This is a rebate on the sales tax you paid on goods and services. “If eligible, the amount of the credit is calculated based on your family’s net income, plus the number of dependent

ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port, and its crew notified Maryland officials they had lost control of the vessel.

Cars using the bridge fell into the Patapsco River and six workers died. Two bodies have since been recovered from the water while the other four remain missing.

Local pilots were guiding the ship at the time of the accident, according to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. Authorities said all 22 crew members on the Dali and the two pilots were accounted for and there were no reports of injuries.

Source: aljazeera.com/news

Info: Do you know why we enjoy saturated holidays? What is Good Friday and Easter sunday?

Good Friday is March 29 and is a day when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

On the third day, Easter Sunday is celebrated, and is the high holy day and foundation of the Christian faith. Easter is a Christian feast day that celebrates the resurrection of Christ as described in the New Testament.

What is Good Friday and how is it connected to Easter? What you should know?

By: Cheryl McCloud & Julia Gomez

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the day Christ was crucified

and died on the cross at Calvary after being sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate.

“Good Friday is part of something else,” Gabriel Radle, an assistant professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, previously told USA TODAY. “It’s its own thing, but it’s also part of something bigger.”

What’s the connection between Good Friday and Easter?

Easter marks the day Jesus was resurrected, or emerged from the tomb in which he was laid after being cruxified. His resurrection three days later, the day we

observe as Easter, is said to prove Jesus was the living son of God.

Easter follows Good Friday as the “glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith,” according to Christianity.com. Note: This information is just for the knowledge of everyone, for what, we enjoy the Saturated holidays in Canada, it is not the concern of our Muslim faith. Thanks

temporary route for vessels has opened in Baltimore following the collision of a cargo vessel with a major bridge last week.

From Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and your Liberal MPs, Aïd Moubarak Eid Mubarak

De la part du premier ministre Justin Trudeau et de vos députés libéraux,

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau Papineau

Parm Bains

Steveston—Richmond East Parm.Bains@parl.gc.ca

Ken Hardie

Fleetwood—Port Kells Ken.Hardie@parl.gc.ca

Taleeb

Noormohamed

Vancouver Granville Taleeb.Noormohamed@parl.gc.ca

Randeep Sarai

Surrey Centre Randeep.Sarai@parl.gc.ca

John Aldag

Cloverdale—Langley City John.Aldag@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Terry Beech

Burnaby North—Seymour Terry.Beech@parl.gc.ca

Wilson Miao

Richmond Centre Wilson.Miao@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Carla Qualtrough

Delta Carla.Qualtrough@parl.gc.ca

Patrick Weiler

West Vancouver—

Sunshine Coast—

Sea to Sky Country

Patrick.Weiler@parl.gc.ca

Sukh

Dhaliwal

Surrey—Newton Sukh.Dhaliwal@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Joyce Murray

Vancouver Quadra Joyce.Murray@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Harjit Sajjan

Vancouver South Harjit.Sajjan@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

North Vancouver

Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca

Eid al-Fitr or Meethi Eid is here and it’s time to indulge and celebrate, here are some legendary dishes you cannot miss to include in your spread.

Eid ul-Fitr The festival is also known as Meethi Eid, because the desserts are a major focus of the festive feast. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the day when the first crescent moon is spotted in the sky, in the evening. The celebrations are characterised by gettogether of family and friends, exchange of gifts and feasting on rich delicacies as well as delectable desserts like seviyan, sheer khurma, etc. From plates brimming with juicy, meaty starters to pots overflowing with slow-cooked rice and mutton dishes and some really divine desserts, Meethi Eid feast is hard to resist.

Here are some special dishes you must prepare for Eid.

Kabuli Pulao Recipe – Afghan

Kabuli pulao is the Afghan national dish. Unmistakable in its appearance with its glistening carrots and large tender chunks of lamb, Kabuli pulao is an unforgettable dish. Kabuli palaw is considered a festive and important dish due to the price and quality of the ingredients as well as its tradition of being Afghanistan’s national cuisine. The dish is traditionally placed in the center of the meal with other foods making up the rest of the perimeter.

Yes some spell it kabuli palaw, kabuli pulao, or qabli pilau. However you spell it, this will be a family favorite soon enough.

INGREDIENTS

2–4 tbs char masala (recipe here)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, 1.5 lb lamb

350 grams julienned carrots, 250 grams of raisins, 1/4 C sesame oil, 2 sliced onions

4 chopped garlic cloves, salt

2 Tablespoons of sugar

3 Cups Rice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark INSTRUCTIONS

1. Rinse your rice. You want to make sure the water runs clear. This cloud water is the starch you that don’t want. Makes for sticky rice. (Good for other dishes, not this one) Let the rice soak.

2. Next, we are going to prepare the lamb. Break out your instapot, pressure cooker, or regular pot. Add your sesame oil and heat. Add your onions. Add your roughly cut garlic. Cook for 30 seconds and then add cumin.

3. Next we will add our lamb. Then add tablespoon of salt. Finally, add 3 Cups of water. I cook in my instapot for 25 minutes on high pressure. If you cook in a regular pot it

Special Dishes, You can Prepare On

will probably take about an hour. You want the meat to be fork tender.

4. While your meat is cooking, next cook your carrots and raisins. Add to pan some vegetable oil. Then, add your shredded carrots. This will not take long, cook until soft. Place on your foil.

5. Next, your raisins. I soak mine in hot water for about 5 minutes. Then, you will drain and add to the same pan you cooked the carrots in. This will go quick. Only cook for about 30 seconds. Then add them to the foil with your carrots and wrap into your foil packet to add to rice later.

6. Boil a large pot of salted water. Take your rice that you have rinsed and soaked and add to the boiling water. This is a step you have to watch. I can’t give you an exact amount of time to cook the rice. But, you are only partially cooking your rice. If you fully cook it you will have mushy pulao. On average 4 minutes should get you there. If you can break the rice in your finger you are done. Then, drain your rice.

7. Next, we are going to make our sugar solution to add a caramel color to our rice. In a pan add quarter cup of vegetable oil. Add your sugar. Let the sugar darken. Add 1/2 Cup of water, set aside.

8. Take your meat out of the broth when done cooking. Now it is time to assemble everything. Take a big pot and add half of your rice to the bottom. Then, add your lamb. Then add last of the rice. After that, use a few scoops of the lamb broth, add the sugar mixture, and char masala.

9. Poke some holes in the rice with the handle of a spoon. This will allow steam to release better. Take your packet of raisins and carrots and place in pan on top of your rice. I cover mine with more foil then put lid on rice. 10. Cook on stove top on medium-low heat for about 25 minutes.

Enjoy this Afghan national dish, Kabuli Pulao. Source: https://afghancooks.com/

Tangri Kebabs

Another spectacular starter, tangri kebabs are very easy-to-make and are an instant favourite with everyone. The appetiser has tandoor-cooked chicken drumsticks served with onion rings, and lemon wedges, and it’s difficult to pick up just one! Your guests are surely going to love this delight.

Tangri kebabs are spectacular starters

Shahi Biryani

Is any feast even complete without the showstopping biryani? The shahi biryani is a traditional recipe of a dum-style biryani. It has alternating layers of cooked, creamy mutton and saffron rice, and is sure to make you win the Eid-party game, without contention!

Sheer Khurma

Sheer khurma is the biryani of desserts, when it comes to Eid feasts. The flavour-

ful vermicelli and milk pudding is prepared especially during Ramadan and Eid and is relished by the young and the old with equal delight.

Meethi Seviyan

Also made of vermicelli, meethi seviyan is a typical Eid al-Fitr food menu fixture. The vermicelli is soaked in milk and cooked with nuts and dry fruits. It makes the celebration of Meethi Eid, complete and how!

Eid al-Fitr is here and it’s time to indulge and celebrate, not just the end of a monthlong period of fasting, but also the rich and diverse legacy of non-vegetarian dishes

Source: ndtv.com/food

Beet and Blood Orange Salad with Mint

To give this refreshing salad Palestinian flavor, Sam Mogannam seasons the dressing with ground sumac, a tangy Middle Eastern spice. While the color of golden beets contrasts nicely with dark red blood orange sections, any beet variety — from standard red ones to the white-and-pink striped chioggia — will be delicious.

Chicken Karahi?

In the context of a curry, a Chicken Karahi is a tomato and ginger based, thick masala curry which is though to originate from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The original, authentic method of making it is a very specific one. As a general rule, Karahis are made from a base of ginger, garlic and tomatoes and also contain fresh green chillies, julienne-cut raw ginger and coriander. It’s a rather thick, jammy gravy and concentrated in flavour – yum!

Grilled Chicken with Banana Pepper Dip and Fattoush

“The banana pepper dip in this recipe is perhaps my favorite recipe that my partner’s mother Bonnie Attea makes,” says Anita Lo about her recipe. “It’s a three-ingredient wonder that makes a weeknight chicken breast exciting. Banana peppers can vary on the heat scale so taste a little before mixing, and mitigate with a little cayenne per your taste.” Leftover banana pepper dip works well as a spread in sandwiches, or as a dip

with pita crackers or crudités. While precrumbled feta may be used in the dip, blocks of feta crumble easily, and result in a richer, creamier texture.

Tandoori Chicken

This South Asian chicken dish is popular throughout the world for the deep flavor that comes from cooking chicken in a tandoor, the deep, urn-shaped clay oven. Legendary cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey adapted the recipe for a charcoal grill to make it accessible to home cooks. The chicken is dressed with lemon juice and salt before it marinates in a mixture of onion, ginger, garlic, chiles, and the North Indian spice blend garam masala. Source:foodandwine.com/

Bukhari Rice and Chicken (Ruz Bukhari)

It is the perfect kind of dish to wow family and any guests as it is packed with flavor. It is topped with a delicious, golden, saffronflavored chicken. You’ll end up impressing yourself with how good Bukhari Rice and Chicken tastes.

This delicious rice has fragrant and sweet carrots mixed in, along with sautéed and fragrant onions, garlic, ginger, and spices. The hints of saffron in the rice and chicken make for a perfectly delicious wholesome dinner. You can serve it with yogurt, cucumber yogurt salad, or a chopped salad. Top the rice with black raisins for ultimate flavor. This Bukhari Rice recipe is honestly one of the best dishes you’ll ever have and one of the best Bukhari recipes you’ll ever try.

Tips and Notes

Since this recipe uses Sela Basmati rice, be sure to use the correct ratio of water or broth to the rice. Each cup of soaked and washed basmati rice needs 2 cups of broth, whereas 2 cups of rice needs 4 cups of broth, etc.

If you believe the rice is undercooked, add a few tablespoons of water at a time then let it steam on low heat. You can cook the chicken with or without skin. Before steaming the rice, you can remove the skin. The skin contributes to the chicken pieces’ crispy exterior if you prefer to grill or bake them. I think Ruz Bukhari is best with skinless chicken. You can serve it as it is with yogurt and fresh salad. You can also prepare a bowl of hot fresh tomato sauce, or daqoos made by blending diced tomatoes, green chili, and a garlic clove in the food processor. Then, add salt to taste. It takes Bukhari Rice to the next level of deliciousness. Source:falasteenifoodie.com

2-5-10 years New Home Warranty.

Luxury with this Brand-New over 8000 sq ft lot, 7-bed, 7-bath 4200 Sq Ft + built home. Discover the pinnacle of sophisticated living in Cloverdale. Turn your dream home in Reality. High Ceiling, Grand Entry The Open-concept main floor is perfect for entertaining, featuring a great room, chef’s kitchen, and a convenient spice kitchen. Radiant in-floor heating adds comfort throughout, Central Air Condition, Security Camera’s, Upstairs 4 beds and 4 baths offer spacious living + Huge Private Deck (480 Sq Ft). The Main Floor Boasts a 2-bedroom legal suite and a 1-bedroom suite. Home has stainless steel appliances throughout and 3 laundries.

Great Family Home - This 5 bedroom 3 Full Washrooms, 6000 Sq Ft flat leveled lot, Fenced backyard, home perfect for Entertainment or Gardening, Extra Storage Area. It also has a separate entry 2 bedrooms rental suite. Bright Living Room, Dining Area, Kitchen with Back Slash. Newer Paint, Newer Laminate in Main Floor Bedrooms & Kitchen, Newer Garage Doors. Central location, close to schools, transit, shopping and very easy access to Hwy 1! Open House Feb 10/11 2-4pm

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un

We have lost a beautiful soul of our community. A very pious brother who dedicated his life for our Ummah a true servant of Allah.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved brother, *Fikret Akkurt* of Richmond (father of Tamer Akkurt).Originally from Türkiye, Br. Fikret was a pioneering member of the Richmond Jamia Masjid, and he is best known as the brother who held the donation box and the back of the Masjid every Jumu’ah for many years, where he also helped organize the prayer lines and gave out candy to the kids.

Haji Kasim Ali, born and raised in Sabeto, Fiji Island, passed away peacefully at his home in Delta, on Sunday night, March 31st, at the age of 78, He was known for cooking at the Fiji/Indian weddings, and social and religious functions. He was the Pioneer Member and Former Director of the Fiji Islamic Center and served as a volunteer member for over 20 years at Fiji Center.

Mst Hamida Khatoon, mother of Khadija Naseer, Safia Sultan and mother-in-law of Naseer Pirzada (Miracle Media) passed away in Pirzada’s House Suurrey on March 19, 2024. age of 93.

May Allah grant peace and mercy to the departed souls.

May Allah comfort all family members heart and grant them peace amid this great sadness. We ask Allah, the Most High, to grant them in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and give patience to theirsfamily and friends. Ameen.

By: Asma Ayyaz

Ramadan is a time for intense re-focusing on what is really important to us as Muslims. We use this month to engage in increased prayer, charity and reading of the Qur’an. During Ramadan we also engage in a rigorous 30-days of fasting from dawn to sunset which tests our resolve, but also quiets our body’s systems so that we can focus on our spirituality. We do this because it teaches us practical lessons of self-control and empathy for those who have little to eat or drink; but most importantly, we do it because it nourishes our spirit and gives us a chance to work on things that are often back-burnered because of other daily distractions. During Ramadan we find

LIFE s TYLE

Last 10 days of Ramadan

ourselves challenged in unique ways. The fasting tests our patience and ability to be kind even through discomfort; the increased prayer forces us to think about God more often and the role He plays in our lives.

But it’s not all tough lessons and selfdiscipline. A Jewish friend recently asked me why people say “Happy Ramadan” or “Ramadan Mubarak”. (In the Jewish tradition, of course, the fasting day of Yom Kippur is not a happy one; it is a solemn occasion.) But the reality is that Ramadan is a joyful time for us, despite the challenges it presents.

For one thing, I find that I develop an increased sensitivity during this time. If you’ve ever gone a few too many hours without eating, you might notice that when you’re hungry you become emotional, angry or otherwise sensitive to things people say or do. When I’m fasting I become very sensitive to things around me. This includes things I read or see, or simply interactions I have

with others. It makes me realize just how often I use food to distract myself or engage in ‘emotional eating’ to numb some of those feelings. Not eating forces me to face those feelings and explore their causes. I find myself having revelations all the time about my relationships with other people, and as a result these relationships are strengthened and clarified in beautiful new ways. Another blessing of Ramadan is that my community becomes stronger. We’re all in this together, and during this month there are increased opportunities to meet and break our daily fasts, engage in extra nighttime prayers, and attend other community events. I find myself appreciating those around me in the Muslim community and forging deeper connections with them that are based on the shared experience of fasting together. I rediscover joy in community during this time, and it sustains me throughout the year. Finally, Ramadan blesses me with time.

In order to fast and manage all of my regular responsibilities (like a job) I have to seriously rearrange my life for 30 days. It’s an exercise in simplifying almost everything I do, and the result is that I find I have more time to think, read, rest and reflect. As a person who is known for chronically taking on too much, this month forces me to slow down, become more methodical and experience things moment to moment.

I look forward to Ramadan every year because it gives me a chance to recharge – mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.

The benefits of Ramadan might be hard to fathom for someone who is not practicing Islam. It is most definitely a challenge, especially this year with 15 hour fasts. But Muslims are engaging in this exercise with a great deal of joy. So next time you meet a Muslim during Ramadan and their lips are chapped, their eyes a little droopy and they seem to be moving a little slower than usual give them a big smile and wish them a “Happy Ramadan”. They’ll consider it just another blessing.

The last 10 days of Ramadan

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it:

Take a Vacation for Allah

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshipping and thanking our Creator. If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This will also make I`tikaf easy.

I`tikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan

The Islamic Relief Canada team in BC hosted a grand iftar

By: Mujahid Ahmed

The Islamic Relief Canada team in BC hosted a grand iftar on March 23, 2024 in Surrey at Aria Banquet Hall. The keynote speaker Imam Siraj Wahaj delivered a powerful keynote speech to the attendees about the gift of giving and how we can help our brothers and sisters in Islam. The purpose for the iftar was to raise funds

for Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship program particularly in Palestine. Islamic Relief has had an office in Palestine since 1997 and is on the ground in Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah, Zawayda, and Rafah, delivering daily ready-to-eat hot meals in Gaza. We have distributed 8 million hot meals thus far. We are also distributing hygiene kits, clean water via water tanks, and psychoso-

cial support for children–but the enormity of the crisis means that much more is needed.

Over 600 community members attended the event ranging from donors, partners, organizations, local business owners, and volunteers. Through their fundraiser and with the support of the community, Islamic Relief were able to sponsor over 300 orphans for a full 12 months. IR Canada strives to allevi-

ate suffering, hunger, illiteracy, and diseases worldwide regardless of color, race, religion, or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief Canada aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects allowing communities to better help themselves.

Community Iftar dinner by PCCA BC at Afghan Chopan.

On April 2, The Pakistani Canadian Cultural Associatio(PCCA) had an incredible evening at our recent Iftar dinner at the Afghan Chopan, Surrey. It was

organized at short notice to introduce vibrant new leadership to the community! It honored to have Consul General of Pakistan Janbaz Khan as our chief guest, alongside esteemed

representatives from various community organizations. As PCCA welcomed new leaders.PCCA took the time to recognize the outstanding service of our outgoing directors

with Excellence awards for their invaluable volunteer contributions.

Miracle Congratulates the youth leadership of the New PCCA Board.

ceptable and a full court bench should be constituted.

He also demanded that the matter should be heard by the full court and the proceeding should be televised live.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) openly rejected the seven-judge larger bench of judges headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to hear a suo motu case with regard to a letter by six judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC), involving spy agencies’ interference in judicial matters.

Speaking at a presser here, the PTI spokesman Raoof Hasan along with former chief minister Khalid Khurshid, said it point blank: the seven-judge SC bench is not ac-

He said that the party would not accept any such bench comprising the “likeminded” judges handpicked by Chief Justice Isa, to hear an all-important case, which needs to be addressed on war footing. “We want a full court comprising all the judges of the apex court to be formed. The chief justice is quite fond of a live broadcast of the cases, and I’m sure he will also allow live broadcast of the proceedings of this important case, as it’s the need

of the hour,” he maintained. He demanded that the matter should be investigated through full court and the court proceeding should be live telecasted, adding that a judicial conference should also be convened where all judges should be allowed to tell their stories. Hasan went on to say that it would be a travesty of law to task a person to form a commission to probe the matter in which he was a nominated accused, as the premier showed his intent during his meeting with former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani as the former wanted a decision of his choice.

He noted that Jilani was a credible person and he took the right

decision to recuse himself from heading a one-man inquiry commission to probe the interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs. He said that Jilani stated in the letter “since the letter is addressed to the members of SJC and its chairman the chief justice of Pakistan, it would be violative of judicial propriety for me to inquire into a matter which may fall within the jurisdiction of a constitutional body which is the SJC or the Supreme Court of Pakistan itself.” He said that Jilani endorsed the PTI legal team’s stance as it also advocated for investigating the matter through a full court.

Source: brecorder.com/

Govts dole out uplift funds to MNAs as development spending falters

ISLAMABAD: As development spending continued to falter in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, successive governments kept doling out funds for the discretionary schemes of parliamentarians, according to official data. In the past eight months, parliamentarians consumed Rs38 billion out of the allocated Rs90bn in the budget for their schemes, as per the latest data on development expenditure released by the Planning Commission.

The development activities under all the other 34 federal ministries during the 8MFY (July-February) kept struggling with a combined expenditure of just Rs107bn.

The total expenditure under the entire Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) stood at Rs237bn in eight months, over Rs13bn less than Rs250.3bn in the same period

By: Khalid Zakha

Who bears responsibility for the soaring electricity bills? Is it attributable to electricity theft, corruption, the cessation of subsidies due to pressure from international financial institutions, the allocation of free units to employees of the electric corporation, mounting debt, a shift in policy from state to private ownership, or the policy failures dating back to the Pakistani government’s decisions in 1958? Political parties have been engaged in point-scoring for political advantage by claiming success in eliminating electricity load shedding, yet they fail to disclose

last year.

This also included spending on corporations, special areas like Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and merged districts of the formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas

Parliamentarians get 42.22pc of allocated funds in 8MFY24

In absolute terms, special areas, including Azad Kashmir, GB and merged tribal districts, received the most funding with Rs46.6bn in eight months, followed by Rs37.98bn for the parliamentarians’ scheme. The funding for special areas was around 27.4 per cent of their budgetary allocation of Rs170bn. Meanwhile, MNAs schemes have already received 42.22pc of funds out of their allocated Rs90bn.

In October 2022, the then Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government increased the allocated amount for schemes — dubbed the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) — to 87bn, ensuring that all of the coalition’s then 174 members of National Assembly get Rs500m for implementing small projects like sewage lines, gas, water and electricity connections, and repair and maintenance of streets in their constituencies. The same government subsequently enhanced the funds by Rs3bn to Rs90bn for the current fiscal year and authorised the release of Rs61bn before leaving office in the second week of August 2023. By Aug 31, only Rs14.4bn had been utilised. The amount jumped to Rs22.9bn by the end of Q1 on Sep 30 and crossed Rs35bn by Decend, accounting for 39pc of the annual allocation.

In January 2024, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the National Economic Council (NEC) decided to cap SAP funds at Rs61bn, which were already authorised for disbursement and save the remaining Rs30bn for deficit financing.

Source:.dawn.com/

a Perspective On Brutal Electricity Bills In Pakistan

the associated costs: the exploitation of the public’s hard-earned money by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Their emphasis consistently leans towards privatization, constructing a narrative that nationalization is a curse responsible for Pakistan’s social woes, poverty, and underdevelopment. Many Pakistanis buy this narrative.

However, there appears to be a reluctance to engage in discussions about policies aimed at alleviating poverty, unemployment, exorbitant utility bills, lawlessness, and deteriorating economic and social conditions. This reluctance likely stems from vested class interests. Instead, political parties endeavor to divide the masses, fabricate trivial issues, and distract them from real issue. There’s a notable absence of dialogue regarding the economic, political, and social pol-

Last 10 days of Ramadan

in the mosque for I`tikaf. In Itikaf one makes a spiritual retreat in the mosque all the time, performing various forms of Zikr (the remembrance of Allah),doing extra Salat, recitatio ,study of the Qur’an. One does not go outside the mosque except in case of emergencies.

Make This Special Du`a’: Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are Oft-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’”

(By: Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

Recite the Qur’an: Perhaps one can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which one has

icies that have led Pakistan to the brink of bankruptcy.

The issue of IPPs has contributed to circular debts and financial strain on the people of Pakistan for nearly three decades. Questions linger regarding why contracts were signed with IPPs for 4500MW when the electricity shortfall was merely 1200MW, and why taxpayer money is being squandered on unused electricity. The identities of these IPPs, as well as their financiers and overseers, remain obscured.

Returning to the origins of the staggering electricity bills, it appears that they are intertwined with policies implemented by the Pakistani government in and after 1958. This marks the inception of international financial institutions’ influence in Pakistan. This influence aimed at institution-building, creating agencies with financial

Continued from Page 14

heard in Taraweeh this past Ramadan to recite. Get Your Sins Wiped Out

Abu Hurairah quoted Allah’s Messenger as saying: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [by Bukhari and Muslim).

Evaluate Yourself

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going.

Make Long, Sincere and Deep Du`a’s

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, quoted the Prophet as saying: “When the last one-third of the night remains,

autonomy from local governments and political institutions, thereby serving as conduits for the agendas of international financial bodies.

Furthermore, the Harvard Group, led by Dr. Mahbub ul Haq, played a significant role in aligning Pakistan’s economic strategies with the global capitalism. This trend persisted across successive regimes, including military dictatorships and civilian governments. The legacy of borrowing from international institutions, particularly the IMF, traces back to General Ayub Khan’s era in 1958 and has continued through subsequent administrations. Over time, what began as grants and soft loans evolved into high-interest loans with stringent conditions, culminating in the implementation of Structural Adjustment Policies (SAP) in 1981. These policies have exacerbated poverty and economic

our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that and I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?” by Bukhari, Muslim).This means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) time to invoke.

Have Iftar with the Family: The last few days you’ll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.Take the Family to Taraweeh

Have your spouse and kids missed Taraweeh most of Ramadan do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Taraweeh in these last ten nights. Du`a’ After the Completion of the Qur’anic Recitation Almost all the mosques where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Qur’an in Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan will now be approaching

instability, perpetuating a cycle of borrowing to service existing debt, compounded by currency devaluations. The privatization drive initiated in the late 1970s and early 1980s has contributed to unemployment and reliance on external entities. The collective outcome of these policies is reflected in the unbearable electricity bills, unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, economic insolvency, and social deterioration plaguing Pakistan. Mere changes in leadership are unlikely to effect meaningful change; a comprehensive reassessment of policy with a focus on pro-people initiatives is imperative.

They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Du`a’ at the end of reading the Qur’an. Attend this particular night’s Taraweeh prayer with your family. See if you can attend different mosques’ Taraweeh prayers the night they finish reading the Qur’an.

Finish Reading a Book on the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

Read about the Prophet’s life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah’s sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice. All these are just some hints on what is recommended for a Muslim to do in during the last ten nights of Ramadan. May Allah Almighty accept our worship and devotions, Amen.

Email: asmashums@gmail.com

7867 124 A STREET, SURREY, B.C. V3W 8P1 778 878 7864

humancarebcsociety@gmail.com

BRING THE JOY OF RAMADAN & EID TO THE LESS FORTUNATES

You may E-Transfer: humancarebcsociety@gmail.com

• YOUR $1 a day will support an orphan's livelihood

• $40 will buy basic groceries for a family for a month;

• $1,800 will provide a water well for numerous thirsty villagers get a Water Well for eesal e thawab of your late relatives or for you own Sadaqa e Zaariya PLEASE CALCULATE & SEND YOUR ZAKAAH TO REACH BEFORE RAMADHAN

Sadaqatul-fitre is $20.00 per person

Feediya is $10.00 for each fast missed GIVE YOUR ZAKAH, LILLAH, SADAQA or DONATIONS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PAIN AND SUFFERINGS OF THE ORPHANS IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA. Yes, We Care !!!

Eid Ul Fitr

Prayer @ 8AM

At Bullay Shah Academy

0n April 9 0r 10th (Subject to Moonsighting)

Astana-e-Alia

Shahensha-e-Weelayat Hazrat QiblaSheikh-ul-Hadith Gujrat-Pakistan

From: Pir Afzal ahmed naqashbandi s.R. Pirzada syed Wali Hussain shah

Bullay Shah Academy of Canada

Pir Afzal Ahmed Naqshbandi

at Unit 102-8268 Scott Road, Surrey Anjuman Khudam-e-Suffia

Friday Prayer at 1: 40pm (All the seasons)

Ph: 604-592-9416 & Cell:604-760-0096