Press Release
Date: March 17, 2020
(Calgary) We pray to almighty God to protect every Canadian and every person on the planet from this dangerous outbreak of COVID-19. As people of Faiths we must remain hopeful, peaceful and careful during this crisis. Insha-Allah (God Willing) we will defeat this pandemic with the strength of our faith and by following the directions of health experts.
The Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (ISCC) appeals to all Canadians to take care of each other especially, the elderly, sick and those who are impacted by the virus. Our sympathies and prayers are with the families of those who died because of COVID-19.
We must be responsible and follow the directions of our governments and health authorities. But neither governments, nor the health authorities can control this pandemic alone. As responsible citizens we must support and help each other. Islamic Supreme Council of Canada has taken the following steps to prevent the community spread of the COVID-19.
1. All affiliated mosques must have sanitizers at all the entrances of the mosques and in the Wudhu (ablution) areas.
2. The prayer carpet in the mosque must be steam-washed with sanitizer on daily basis.
3. Imams must educate worshipers not to shake hands, avoid hugs and physical contacts.
4. All mandatory (Fardh) prayers should be completed within 10 to 15 minutes. Sunnah prayers should be prayed at homes.
5. Elderly people, sick and people with heart, diabetes and other chronic diseases should pray at home. They are not required to pray at the masjid during this crisis.
6. All women and children should pray at home including Friday prayer during this crisis.
7. All children’s Qur’an and Islamic education classes should now be held on-line instead of at the mosques. Imams are contacting parents and making arrangements for on-line Qur’an classes.
8. For Friday prayers no more than 40 people should be gathered at one time. Therefore, multiple prayer services should be held instead of a larger gathering of worshipers.
9. Worshipers should be asked to bring their own prayer mats for prayers.
10. ISCC and its affiliate mosques have postponed or cancelled all other gatherings. However, on March 21, 2020 which is one of the holiest nights in Islamic calendar called Al Isra Wal Me’raj gatherings in mosques should be limited to maximum 40 people. We encourage Muslim brothers and sisters to worship at home during this holy night.
11. Imams have been instructed to make Friday sermon short and conclude the entire prayer within 15 minutes.
12. ISCC affiliate mosques have arranged the following helplines for those people who cannot go out due to quarantine OR elderly OR sick for the delivery of food or medicine.
a. Montreal: Noman Safdar 514-690-4039
b. Mississauga: Jaweed Din 416-418-5298
c. Brampton: Imran Inamdar 416-822-9026
d. Oakville: Saeed Iqbal 416-707-3247
e. Milton: Saeed Zafar 416-875-7734
f. Hamilton: Shawkat Bhatti 289-700-6646
g. Ajax: Zahid Rafique 647-404-3050
h. Toronto (Scarborough): Muhammad Younus 416-834-7587
i. Vaughn: Ahmed Nawaz 647-400-8004
j. Winnipeg: Farhan Siddiqui 204-390-8393
k. Saskatoon: Asad Siddiqui 306-262-1023
l. Regina: Ahmed Sultan 306-581-5447
m. Calgary, NE: Muhammad Rehan 403-970-4373
n. Calgary, NE: Moiz Ahmed 403-585-9192
o. Calgary, NW: Ali Shah 587-703-8779
p. Calgary South: Dr. Atthar Mahmoud 403-708-1055
q. Airdrie: Salman Khan 403-689-1677
r. Chestermere: Malik Ashraf 403-966-0071
s. Edmonton: Mobin Saeed 780-668-5149
t. Edmonton: Hafiz Arqum Riaz 780-231-2427
u. Surrey, B.C.: Arjumand Tahir 778-863-3331
v. Maple Ridge, B.C.: Imam Aamir Hussain 236-818-5112
In case of difficulty with any location please contact Imam Syed Soharwardy at 416-994-5467.
For any inquiries please contact Imam Syed Soharwardy at 416-994-5467 OR 403-831-6330.
Thanks
