|
Salat ul Jumma exceeds 2,000.
The issue of Gulf Weekly of 25-31 May 1995 says "..The TARIC
Islamic Centre, probably the most vibrant and effective in
reaching out to non-Muslims is, perhaps the premier Muslim
outfit in Metropolitan Toronto. Founded in 1977, it opened
in 1991 the first of a two-phase complex of buildings.
Today, it has over 2,000 worshippers, a library, a gymnasium
and a school that teaches Arabic and the Muslim religion. It
also puts out a bulletin called Community News. Unlike some
other Islamic organisations, those at the helm of affairs
here seem to have succeeded in projecting Islam to the
Canadian public in a very favourable light."
 The policy makers at TARIC
realize that many Muslims are unaware of the basics of Islam
and therefore do not have the knowledge to practice their
faith. Consequently, the power and confidence that comes
from prayer and the remembrance of Allah is absent in their
lives. Peace and serenity that is the promise of Allah to
those who worship Him is unattainable, and stress, conflict,
confusion, alcoholism, drug abuse and suicides become the
alternatives.
TARIC's goal is to bring the
simple, honest message of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims
alike. This means, stressing the importance of the five
pillars of Islam encouraging Muslims to read the Qur'an, and
to constantly practice zikkir (the remembrance of Allah).
The TARIC Islamic Centre has
established a full time school from Junior Kindergarten to
Grade 8 in a school building leased from the Toronto
District School Board. In addition to the school, a weekend
madrasssa for other students is run from the Islamic Centre.
A large number of programmes are
carried out at the Centre. Some of these are:
-
Tae Kwon Do martial arts
classes
-
Adult Tarbiya class on Sundays
-
Arabic language classes
-
A marriage introduction
service
-
Marriage and family counseling
-
Conducting marriages and
funerals
-
An Islamic bookstore
-
Interfaith dialogue
-
Dawa programmes for non
Muslims
-
Mosque visits
-
Political and social awareness
programmes
-
Seminars on Islamic and
secular subjects
-
Family nights
-
Summer camps
-
Weekly youth activities
-
Women’s programmes
The message to Muslims,
therefore, is enjoy the pleasures of the world within the
boundaries placed on us by Allah while being grateful to Him
for His bounties. Praise Him in Salaat five times a day,
seek His pleasure by doing anything which will benefit one's
family, one's community and one's environment, and remember
Him always in our every word and action.
At the TARIC Islamic Centre we
emphasize the simplicity of Islam and the hope i t offers
without any complicated rituals. We encourage Muslims to be
guided by the Qur'an, which says that Islam is the religion
of the middle road. We may not be hermits withdrawing from
the society to pray and meditate continuously nor should we
become enamoured by the attractions of the material world.
The organization aims at
perfection in all aspects of its activities and announces
them one year in advance.
|
