Sikander Hashmi – Vote Care KMA Friday Message
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AI: Transcript ©
Respected elders,
dear brothers and sisters, my young friends,
It is a great blessing of Allah
that he has blessed us
in countless ways,
in so many ways that we cannot fully
appreciate, we cannot fully count.
You will not be able to count, you
will not be able to enumerate. You will
not be able to fully appreciate
all the blessings of Allah
if you try to do so.
So we must indeed be grateful for each
and every blessing of Allah
One of the ways one of the many
ways that Allah
has blessed us
is that he has given us the opportunity
to live
in a land of peace and stability.
When we look around the world, and we
see what is happening,
much of it in many Muslim countries, Muslim
majority countries.
And we compare
the the peace and stability that Allah
has granted us here. This is a great
namah of Allah
The ability that we are able to gather
here to offer Surat Al Jum'ah that we
are able to establish this masjid, and all
the other masjid,
and the Islamic schools, and the institutions,
and we are able to gather to worship
Allah
freely and openly.
This is a great blessing of Allah
Being able to do so even though that
we are minorities,
even though that we are only a small
percentage.
We make up only a small percentage of
the population of this locality, of this city,
of this province,
this country.
Another blessing, Alhamdulillah,
is that he, has
protected us from tyrannical rulers and oppression that
is seen in many other places.
Allah
has given us the opportunity.
Even to participate in the running of the
affairs of our country.
To be able to express
our views
and have our say on important matters
that concern us and that concerns everyone who
lives here. And subhanallah. It's a very
strange feeling, you know, to be able to
participate.
And let's say a parliamentary committee hearing.
You know when you go there and you
are testifying
And had the opportunity to do that on
few occasions, you know, and the parliamentarians are
there, and everyone is paying attention and is
listening to whatever you have to say. And
for all the guests who are invited or
people who come to speak.
Regardless of how
you know ridiculous their views, maybe, or whatever
they wish to say. They can say it
in front of the parliamentarians. They could say
it in front of the people who are
making laws and the rules in this country,
and there are listening to everyone. And when
they compile reports, they try to include something
from every single person that testified.
So whatever it's worth, it's not a perfect
system. But there is a system at least
where we have representation
and we are able to speak to the
rulers. We are able to speak with those
who are in power and are able to
share our views. Now starting today,
millions of Canadians
will be marking an X
Beside a name.
Now it normally takes less than 15 minutes,
approximately 15 minutes or so, perhaps even less.
And it appears to be something very small.
You have a little piece of paper. You
have a list of names. You have a
little pencil. This time they're using single use
pencils. Or they say you bring your own
pencil or pen if you like. So it's
just a little thing. It's a little pencil.
It's a little piece of paper, and you
just put it into the box.
But it represents something very important.
It represents something very important. You see, As
I said, the system is not perfect.
But what it attempts to fulfill is actually
part of the Islamic
teaching
of shura, of consultation.
In the Quran, Allah
highlights the characteristics
of those who believe
That amongst them, they are those among the
qualities, the characteristics,
those whose affairs are determined by consultation among
themselves.
And this is something we all like to
vouch for to ask for to demand from
our rulers. But I ask you, my brothers
and sisters.
How about your home?
Are you a tyrannical ruler in your home?
Are you an oppressor in your home? Or
do you actually do Mashwarah? Do you do
Shura in your home? Or do you demand
it for yourself from the authorities and the
leaders? But when it comes to your situation,
when you have some authority that Allah has
given you,
what is the situation? So this is something
to ask ourselves, our brothers and sisters. The
prophet
was instructed,
and consult them in the matters.
And when you have decided, when you have
made the decision after consultation, then rely upon
Allah
He loves
those who rely upon him. So, yes, you
consult and, yes, you try your best and
you make the decision,
then you entrust the matter and the affair
to Allah
and he loves those who do that. May
Allah
make us from amongst them. So consultation
and asking stakeholders
and those who are capable
of giving an opinion for their opinions before
making a decision,
this is an Islamic
Now for the one who is giving the
opinion
The opinion should be based.
On fairness and justice.
It should be based on truth
and sincerity. It should not be based on
self interest.
But rather it should be based on the
greater good and the public benefit you see
to be asked of your opinion is actually
a major major responsibility
as well. It is not something light that
we just give whatever
we we say that whatever we feel like,
or we give an opinion based on whatever
we feel like.
Just for our own self interest. No when
it is a communal matter when it is
a matter that involves the community
society as a whole.
We must ensure that our opinions are those
which are balanced, which are fair and which
look at the public benefit and the greater
good and not just our own self interest.
Because
Allah tells us to be just to be
fair, and this is one of the beautiful
teachings of this deen that we find in
the holy book of Allah
in the Quran al Kareem. Allah
tells us to stand up for justice.
And he makes it clear even if it
is against ourselves.
Even if it is against ourselves, even if
it is against those who we love,
Including those who are we are instructed to
respect and to love like our parents.
Those who are close to us, even if
it is against the rich or the poor.
Yes, we are supposed to support the poor.
We are supposed to be charitable. We should
always be compassionate. But when it comes to
justice
Allah tells
us it doesn't matter.
Doesn't matter if
The truth is going against the one you
love or whether against yourself or your parents
or the rich or the poor. It doesn't
matter.
Justice is justice. Fairness is fairness, regardless
of who it is going against.
So we must be fair and just regardless.
Of who it is about, even if it
goes against our own interests, our own affiliations.
Sometimes we have taken a stand. Perhaps you
supported a particular candidate or a party.
Or you were on a certain side with
regards to an issue.
But then you realize
What the truth is. You realize
that perhaps who you were supporting or what
you were standing for was wrong.
So to stand up and make that take
the right position is not a sign of
weakness, but rather it is a sign of
truthfulness
and honesty.
To be asked who should be ruling over
us and to have an open debate in
discussion. This is
A big thing. It's not a small thing.
So when we look at the ballot, you
know it lists the names in alphabetical
order is by the last name, by the
way. Okay, so my last name first and
then first
name. And you get to choose who should
be representing
you from this area representing us from this
area. In essence, my brothers and sisters, we
are being asked to judge
Between these candidates as to who we feel
is the best person for the job.
It's as if you're being asked that these
are the names. These are the people who
are interested who have come forward who is
the best person for the job. Allah
tells us with regards to judging
whenever you judge between people You should judge
with justice. You should judge with fairness.
You must be just and fair when having
to judge between people. So what do we
look at? A candidate's
character.
Their track record.
Their honesty.
Their qualifications,
experience,
aptitude for the job, for the position.
All of these things should play a role
in our decision.
Right? It shouldn't be just blindly
sometimes people get confused.
They say x y z x y Zed
is the acronym of a party back home.
And there's a similar party in this country
that also has x y Zed as their
acronym. So I'll just vote for x y
Zed because I used to work for x
y Zed when I was back home.
It's not a way to go around about
doing this. My brothers and sisters. Okay or
I like this color. I like that color
or my family always has done this. So
that's why I'm just going to do it.
I don't know what's going on. Okay, So
this is not the way we should be
approaching this. So pay attention to the candidate,
their character, their track record. What have they
done? What are they capable of doing? How
do they speak? How do they meet with
people?
What are the qualifications, experience or aptitude? All
of these things should play a role in
our decision. And, of course, there's other considerations
as well. And sometimes they're actually contradictory because
of the system here.
Because of the system, because you are voting
for the candidate,
but the candidate is then part of a
party which has a platform and which has
a leader. So you don't vote directly for
the prime minister. You vote for the candidate.
And whichever party gets the most wins the
most seats. The most candidates get elected than
they are the ones whose leader becomes
In most cases, in almost all cases, the
prime minister right? So perhaps the candidate is
a good person, but the leader is not.
Or maybe the leader is good, but the
candidate but the candidate is not
Or you know they have done things which
are good or which are also bad.
If we study the platforms
of each party
And we look at the record of each
party. We also find that there's no party
that stands for everything that we want. There's
no such thing as a perfect candidate. There's
no such thing as a perfect party. There's
no such thing as a perfect human being
alive today. Right? Everyone is gonna have weaknesses.
Everyone's gonna have shortcomings. Everyone's gonna have some
good and some bad. So, for example, some
may be promoting peace
and standing up for our rights
And the rights of other minorities, but they
may also be promoting things which were considered
to be haram.
Farahish immoral.
On the other hand, some may be perhaps
a bit better in this regard.
But then perhaps there are supporting oppressors.
As part of their foreign policy.
Or they are promoting or at least condoning
mistrust
and hatred against Muslims and against others.
Other factors to look at is what they
have done. In the past. You know what
are they promising? Have they lived up to
their promises in the past and also the
impact of your vote, right? Because
In some places
Actually, it hardly matters if you vote because
it's almost known historically
who's going to win 50% 60% 70% vote.
For a certain single candidates for a particular
party or a candidate. So in some places,
it doesn't really make a huge difference, right?
Even though you should still participate.
But perhaps the impact is not as great
and other places. It can be very close
and vote for a particular party.
May or candidate
may may help them.
But it may also hurt others or it
may support others, right? Like it gets a
little bit complicated sometimes.
So you also want to consider the impact
of your vote that by voting for a
particular party or candidate
Who are you supporting?
And who are you stopping?
Now all of these different factors should be
considered and should be waited.
But in the end, what should it be
based on?
Because there's a lot of different factors here
that we've discussed.
Should we say we should select the choice
that is likely to be most beneficial.
And this goes for any decision. We have
to take where the matter is a bit
complex.
Okay, where there's some pros and some cons.
There's some good here. Some bad there. It's
a mixed bag.
So
We should always try to select a choice
that is likely to be the most beneficial
overall.
Meaning for everyone in the country and for
around the world.
And the least harmful for our community and
for everyone. So we were trying to find
the option, which is likely to be most
beneficial
and the least harmful for us, but also
for everyone else as well.
And also
Remind you that in the end Remember that
no party
or candidate is going to be perfect as
I mentioned
and all parties. Most politicians are going to
play politics. Okay? That's just the nature of
politics. So no one's going to give you
absolutely everything that you want.
Although they might try to act like they
will.
So there's no such thing as the perfect
party to be blindly supporting
100% of the time because there will always
be good and bad. There will always be
things which, which are right and which are
also wrong. Now in the past, the scholars
disagreed
on the juristic position.
Regarding participation in this process.
Right. So if you read some of the
fatwa, and this is one of the interesting
things is when you read fatwas and you
read rulings and books and websites and things
like that.
The context matters.
And the time also matters because when it
comes to issues, which are not clear cut,
in many cases, you will see a progression.
You will see,
evolution almost in the way that issues are
treated.
Okay? So if you read a fatwa from
some years back from some particular places,
perhaps it has a particular position. Saying something
is haram or something, you know, shouldn't be
done, shouldn't be involved in. K. But over
time, as the effects become clear, as the
situation continues as the situation changes,
then the fatwa can also change from the
same scholars from the same group. So we
must be very, very conscious of this that
when we are trying to find a ruling,
we try to find a ruling
from a source that we can trust that
understands
the current context understands the current implications.
So there have been disagreements in the past,
but most who of scholars who are aware
of the ground realities.
In Democratic countries agree that if It can
benefit the community
if it lessens
harm and evil and promotes general and greater
good.
Then participation
in this process can and should be done
because if we don't vote, we're actually supporting
the worst candidate and by not voting. It's
one less vote for the best candidate, which
improves the chances of the worst candidate
winning. So even if we feel that okay,
there's not much
You know, impact, perhaps
like in this area. It is most likely
very close. So you know your vote is
probably very impactful compared to some other places,
But, nonetheless,
engaging in the process is important because it
also shows how engaged and how serious our
communities are.
Right? They're not able to see who you
voted for, but they're able to see the
names of people who voted.
Okay. So if you notice that there's a
lot of, you know, there's a lot of
Mohammed and Abdul Rahman and Fatima and Zainab
who didn't come show up vote, then perhaps
they don't care. Right? So why should we
care about the issues that are important to
Mohammed and Abdul Rahman and Fatima and Zainab?
Now another question that comes up is by
voting. Are we responsible for something negative?
That the candidate or the party that we
voted for may end up doing after they
win because we help them win. We voted
for them. They won, and now they end
up going doing something which is wrong, which
is immoral, which is Haram, which is whatever.
And the answer is no, because the Nia
the intention
when we are voting is that we are
trying to look for the most suitable or
we're trying to support the most suitable candidate
out of all available candidates.
Does not mean that we are in agreement
with every single
action and every single belief and ideology of
theirs, so that should not be our intention
when we're voting. It is simply to find
The best person at that particular
time in that particular area.
In the past, there was only about 40%.
Of Muslims who would vote.
Alhamdulillah
last couple of elections. That number has gone
up considerably.
But we want 100.
What do we want? We want 100 percent
So this means that anyone who is a
Canadian citizen
18 years and older. It is crucial
for them to go vote. Right? So this
means you
It means you your spouse.
Your Children who are 18, plus your parents,
your grandparents, whoever it is, take everyone.
Try to
Understand the issues. Try to meet the candidates.
They're outside again.
We give an equal opportunity to all candidates
to come here and to meet us.
So speak. Do your homework. Do your research.
We can have disagreements amongst ourselves. There doesn't
have to be 1 party 1 candidate for
the entire community. Right That's perfectly fine. You
disagree. That's what
for the entire community. Right That's perfectly fine.
You disagree. That's okay. We keep it respectful.
In the end. We know that Allah is
in control, and nothing can happen
without his permission and his grace.
So we improve our connection with Allah
as well while making our best efforts, and
this goes with anything that we do. We
take the means.
And we turn to Allah
So we increase our dua. We increase our
istighfar.
We increase our salaw with Jamaa. We increase
our tajid and are coming to the masjid,
right? We increase our spiritual connection with Allah
While working for betterment in this duniya, whether
it is for ourselves for our families, but
also for our community and for society
as a whole. So we ask Allah
to continue to make this land a place
of safety. And prosperity for all. We ask
Allah
to protect us and all people from all
types of hate and oppression.
And to protect them from hateful and oppressive
leaders and unjust leaders. May Allah
guide us towards the best course of action
and grant us that which is best and
protect us that from which is harmful.
Advanced polling has started today.
The voting day actually is Monday, September 20th,
but you can vote on the advanced days
if you like. On September 20th, it's from
9:30 AM to 9:30 PM.
If you are not registered, you can register
online at elections dotca,
or you could also do so on-site, but
it's better if you do it online and
go to elections dotca. You can put in
your postal code or you can find out
where you're able to vote In advance, falling
and also on election
day. We have some sad news. So the
mother of our brother, Cameron, has passed away.
And also the passing of Sister Sabia Hanzada.
So we make dua for both,
of those, of our sisters, our elder sisters,
and for all of those who have passed
away.
To increase their ranks. Grant them.
May Allah
shower his mercy,
and forgiveness upon them. May Allah
grant relief and beautiful patience to all loved
ones at this difficult time. We ask Allah
to turn their resting places, their graves into
gardens
from
We also ask
Allah to cure all of those who are
ill physically, mentally, emotionally.
Grant,
health to all of our brothers and sisters,
loved ones who are suffering from cancer and
other illnesses.
You Allah, please grant relief to our brothers,
our elder sister who is living with pain
and weakness. Yeah, Allah. We ask you to
grant relief to our brothers and sisters living
with long term pain and injuries. Yeah, Allah.
We ask you to grant relief and cure
all of our brothers and sisters who are
ill. Yeah, Allah. Those who are suffering from
mental illnesses and depression and anxiety
and all other types of pain and grief,
you all love. Please remove all of those
illnesses and harms and pain and replace it
with peace and happiness and joy.