By: Ismael Mukhtar*

On the 27th of November 1969, the small Muslim community in Manitoba took a bold step of formally incorporating the first Muslim organization in the history of Manitoba. The new organization was named Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA). As early as the mid- sixties, the newly emerging Muslim community had been taking baby steps towards organizing itself and creating a formal structure. A constitution was ratified and the first President for the MIA, Br. Khalil Baksh, was elected in 1967 for a one-year term. The formal incorporation of MIA came as a necessary step towards the establishment of an officially recognized Muslim presence in Manitoba. The Muslim community at that time was made up of a small number of families; it had no mosque, no place of gathering or any institution of any sort. The founders of MIA set in motion an ambitious vision articulated in the MIA constitution preamble. Stated in the preamble is: “WE, THE MUSLIMS OF MANITOBA, HEREBY JOIN TOGETHER TO FORM AN ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERED IN THE CITY OF WINNIPEG TO BE CALLED THE “MANITOBA ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION” WHOSE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE, NOURISH, AND MAINTAIN A TRULY ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN MANITOBA FOR THE MUSLIMS”.

By: Dr. Idris Elbakri*

The Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) was established over 40 years ago to serve the interests and represent Muslims of Manitoba. The pioneers who established the association had the foresight to structure it as a membership-based organization. Membership is a right to every Muslim in Manitoba who adheres to the values and constitution of the organization and chooses to join and pay the membership fee. The membership of MIA holds the ultimate authority over the affairs of the organization and it delegates, through elections, management of the affairs to an executive council consisting of seven people.

By: Hussain Guisti*

By the grace of Allah (SWT) history was made over the summer. The Western Hemisphere's most northern Mosque has been established in the Canadian Arctic. The 'Little Yellow Mosque' or 'the Arctic Mosque' as it has been called left Winnipeg on September 1 and against the odds and through rough terrain, arrived in the city of Inuvik, NWT, 23 days later after a 4,500 km trek over land and water.
The mosque was built in Winnipeg as it was most cost effective to do so, then moved thousands of kilometers to reach its final destination. The Foundation approached several companies in the town of Inuvik itself but the prices quoted to build a similar size mosque in the arctic town averaged a half a million dollars. By constructing it in Winnipeg, then sending it by truck 2,400 km to Hay River and by barge 1,850 km to Inuvik, the Foundation sought to save $150,000.
While construction was not yet completed, the mosque had to depart no later than September 1st to catch the last barge of the season that was due to leave Hay River on Sept. 10. The un-finished construction material (inside doors, carpet, kitchen cabinets, fixtures, plumbing and heating apparatus) were sent along with the mosque to be completed in Inuvik.

Determination of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
And the Universal Islamic Calendar

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The Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar. It contains 12 months that are based on the motion of the moon. Each month of the Hijri Calendar is either 29 days or 30 days. The Hijri Calendar was introduced by the second rightly guided Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab.

Years of the Hijri Calendar are counted since the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.  

With the birth of modern age which is characterized by freedom of thought, there has been a change in the approach of the western authors who have studied the prophet’s life and characteristics. We would like to quote some of their views so that the seekers of the truth can proceed with an objective attempt to better understand prophet Muhammad and his message.

Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuh

We would like to congratulate our community with the blessing month of Ramadan and we pray to Allah to accept from us our righteous deeds and to forgive our sins.

The following are some questions and answer regarding Ramadan 1426 H (2005)