July 31, 2025
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيدنا محمد، وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our hearts are heavy with grief and our eyes filled with tears for the unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe our brothers and sisters are enduring in Gaza. For nearly two years, relentless bombardment, siege, and displacement have devastated every facet of life. Homes, hospitals, schools, and entire families. Now, with food and clean water deliberately restricted, widespread hunger and the threat of starvation loom over hundreds of thousands, especially children.
This is not a natural famine. It is a man-made humanitarian crisis; a systematic denial of basic necessities to a besieged population. The human cost is staggering, and the silence surrounding it is devastating.
Allah ﷻ says:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ…”
“O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah—even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or your relatives…” – (An-Nisa 4:135)
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“المسلم أخو المسلم، لا يظلمه ولا يسلمه”
“The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim: he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him.” – (Bukhari, Muslim)
To remain silent is not an option. To feel helpless is not an excuse. As an ummah, we are bound by ties that transcend borders. And as Canadians, we are called to raise our voices, open our hearts, and act in every way we can, through prayer, advocacy, charity, and unwavering solidarity.
As the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), we affirm that standing for truth and justice is a religious duty. Guided by the Qur’an and the Prophetic model of mercy, we commit ourselves to the cause of our oppressed brothers and sisters in Gaza. In this spirit, we:
- Stand unwaveringly with the oppressed, demanding an immediate end to every form of aggression, occupation, and blockade that robs people of their God-given rights.
- Partner with trusted relief organizations to deliver lifesaving food, medicine, and shelter.
- Raise awareness in our communities through education, advocacy, and civic engagement, fulfilling our role as witnesses to the truth.
A Call to the Entire Community
- Fast in solidarity with Gaza
- Individually: Dedicate at least one voluntary fast each week, reflecting on the hunger endured by those besieged.
- As families: Invite every family member, including children old enough to understand, to join occasional fasts. Teach them empathy and the virtue of sharing others’ pain.
- As a community: Coordinate mosque-wide or chapter-wide days of fasting followed by a collective, humble ifṭār.
- Pray consistently for the people of Gaza, especially in the quiet hours before dawn, beseeching Allah for mercy, relief, and victory.
- Give generously to reliable relief agencies working on the ground.
- Speak out with wisdom and courage in your homes, workplaces, social media, and civic spaces; echoing the Prophetic command to oppose injustice.
May our fasting, duʿāʾ, charity, and advocacy unite us as one body, sharing both the pain and the steadfast hope of Gaza.
وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ
“Allah is in the aid of His servant so long as the servant is in the aid of his brother.”
– (Muslim)
Allah ﷻ says:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَ
والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Abdullatif Bakbak
MAC President-Executive