Yesterday night I had an opportunity to speak on the topic of the “Role of Scriptural Manuscripts in Islam and Christianity”, at the al Fauz Islamic Center in Scarborough, Toronto. Alhamdulillah, it was well received and to be quite honest I was taken aback by the sheer amount of brotherhood, sincerity and love I felt with this community. I witnessed people of all kinds sit together in harmony and engage in indepth study of the Qur’an and the New Testament. The result of the lecture can be summed up in this gift card I received thereafter:

The card reads:

Brother Ijaz,

Assalaam alaikum.

Thank you for everything…

Your visit to our Al Fauz Islamic Center was enlightening and we were honoured.

“The most grateful to Allah are those who are most grateful to other people…”

– Prophet Muhammad
(Peace and blessings be upon him)


Ubaid
Aug 6, 2016.

Here’s a photo of the packed center (do note, ladies were in another private section):

I had a wonderful opportunity to engage with the attendees:

The members of this community were keen, motivated, sincere. Their passion for knowledge left me in awe. This is most certainly not a normal community, it’s a community that exemplifies the Prophetic Sunnah, that seeks to improve itself by engaging in scholarship, humanitarian efforts and community outreach. It was an honour to spend time with these wonderful and amazing people. I took the opportunity to meet as much people as I could have, and tried my best to exchange a few words when I did so. They prepared a very tasty, spicy, delicious Biryani for us afterwards. Everyone seemed to want their brother beside them to eat before they themselves did, bringing sauces and passing plates to each other. That camaraderie was beautiful to witness and insha Allah, I pray and hope that one day I can once again engage with these amazing Muslims. May Allah preserve them, Ameen.

and Allah knows best.