MAC Community Report 2022-2023

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COMMUNITY REPORT

BUILDING A RESILIENT COMMUNITY Impacting lives through justice & persistence

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01

Table of contents

04

Message from Presidents & Chair

05

Who we are

07

Section 1: Nurturing excellence & growth through education

15

Section 2: Coming together as a community

23

Section 3: Growing stronger, brick by brick

34

Section 4: Working with youth.....leading with justice

39

Section 5: Building bridges

43

Section 6: In the face of injustice and prejudice

51

Section 7: So what‘s new?

61

Section 8: Expanding our reach

65

Section 9: Financial Report

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENTS/CHAIR

Abdullatif Bakbak President - Executive

Sharaf Sharafeldin President - Strategy

Mourad M’hiri Chair of the Board

And just like that, we completed two more years of our community service with a lot to be grateful for. With the mercy of Allah SWT we can look back and feel a sense of accomplishment in how the years panned out, with many planned initiatives and several unplanned, unforeseen challenges. With COVID becoming a thing of the past, we were able to resume our normal services, improving upon them based on the post pandemic needs of the community.

Last couple of years brought with them the need for us to change the way the world views our community. With one of the most historic lawsuits against a government agency by a minority group organization, Muslim Association of Canada took a stand for justice for the entire community; once again, proving that Islamophobia has no place in Canadian society and will be countered at every level, big or small.

However, the ongoing battle against systemic Islamophobia did not impede the support and services provided through various programs offered by MAC. With extensive planning of Ramadan and Eid programs catering to all ages, we were able to restore the pre-pandemic norm that our community deserved. After a gap of 2 years, we resumed all of our in-person programs and services along with congregational salah, allowing our Masajid to be bustling with energy once again Alhamdulillah.

The growth in the learning portal offered by MAC is undeniable. Capitalizing the online platform, several new ventures including weekly live shows, Ramadan daily program as well as e-learning channel were introduced and developed upon. And to add to all this, the first ever MAC National Convention was a great kick start to summer 2022. It was a remarkable platform where scholars from across the country came together to share their valuable experiences and knowledge for the benefit of the community. The success of the first convention allowed us to bring it back in 2023, turning it into a much awaited annual event for the community.

On a more domestic level, our various chapters delivered numerous community engagement initiatives, addressing different needs of the various age groups, with a special focus on the youth. From camps geared towards elementary and middle schoolers, family programs and qiyam nights to providing necessary support for our young professionals, the needs of the entire community were successfully addressed, Alhamdulillah.

And with that we once again, thank Allah SWT for His endless mercy in allowing us to serve the community at such a large scale and pray that He continues to keep us in His service, keep us forever grounded in our faith and accept our efforts from us in His cause. And last but not least, we thank the community for their unwavering trust in our organization. We take this trust as an Amanah from Allah SWT and value it deeply. In Shaa Allah we can continue to deliver, facilitating development of the community on multiple levels. Ameen!

Living up to our mission of a balanced yet distinct Muslim presence integrated into the social fabric of Canada, our work continues to be a reflection of the same.

We are...

Promoting learning Our focus on educating the community has always been the centre of our work, leading to purchase of new school buildings while existing facilities were renovated. Our schools, rooted in implementing the Tarbiyah framework, continue to educate young minds to uphold their Muslim identity.

Promoting justice Fulfilling our Islamic obligation of standing up against injustice, the highlight has been MAC’s charter against CRA; a step was taken not only to defend MAC’s rights as an organization, but to stand up for all Muslim organizations facing prejudice and discrimination.

Strengthening our community We strive to provide the community with opportunities and resources to facilitate positive contributions, thus assisting Canadian Muslims to be productive members of society.

Bridging communities Living in a multicultural and multifaceted society, we are constantly striving to increase our reach outside of our community and maintain healthy relationships with other religious communities, coming together for the sake of a thriving society and a progressive nation.

Building leadership Our programs cater to different age groups, with a focus on the youth in our community. Providing our youth with a strong sense of belonging and strengthening their Muslim identity helps lay down the foundation for strong leaders of the future.

SECTION 1

Nurturing Excellence & Growth Through Education ‫ۡق ۡأ‬ ‫َل‬ ‫َل‬ ‫َل‬ ‫َّل‬ ‫ َخ َق ٱِإۡلنَٰس َن ِم ۡن َع ٍق‬. ‫ٱ َر ِبٱۡس ِم َر ِّبَك ٱ ِذي َخ َق‬

“Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging substance.”

(SURAH AL-ALAQ: 1-2)

MAC schools focus on strengthening our community by laying down a solid foundation, complete with holistic education built on a firm understanding of Islam and a strong sense of Muslim identity.

Our institutions are built upon an extensive, researchbased, Tarbiyah framework, that emphasizes practical Islamic character development that provides students with tools that allow them to successfully integrate Islamic values seamlessly into their daily lives.

Our ‘God-centered focus’ is meant to nurture excellence in our students through inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves, keeping Allah SWT at the core of everything they do.

Our schools aim for high academic achievement and consistently exceed the requirements of the Provincial curriculum, thus nurturing a strong culture of excellence.

FULL-TIME SCHOOLS: MAC has 10 full-time Islamic schools across Canada that aim to foster academic excellence, leadership and Islamic values. With hundreds of young Muslims graduating from our schools each year, we aim to build a strong community consisting of youth who are equipped to be contributing members of society, while meticulously balancing their Islamic integrity and identity.

Expanding high school education...

Catering to the growing needs of the community, many MAC schools have started to offer high school programs as well and are now seeing their graduates venture into the post secondary phase of their education.

MAC schools have reached thousands of families and students over the years. While MAC Abraar High School (Ottawa) has seen many graduating classes, MAC Olive Grove High School (Mississauga) had their first set of graduates in 2022. Achieving a 100% acceptance rate for universities was a great achievement for staff and students Alhamdulillah. In the next couple of years, MAC Islamic School in Edmonton will be enjoying this milestone with their High School students as well In Shaa Allah.

WEEKEND SCHOOLS MAC has 19 part-time Islamic schools that are run on the weekends, rooted in the following teachings: Islamic foundational traditions and rulings understanding of the Quran through the Arabic language instilling the love for the word of Allah and its implementation

Alhamduillah, our part-time schools have reached 4700 students across the country. These numbers reflect the trust the community has built with our institutions over the years, and its this trust that continues to propel us forward.

OUR RETURN TO IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING Since our in-person enrollment decreased substantially during COVID, it is essential to ensure we have reached the same pre-COVID levels if not exceeding it. Though the numbers still haven’t reached our target level, there has been a substantial increase across the board in the past couple of years Alhamdulillah, indicating a strong demand for our programs in the community.

VIRTUAL LEARNING

The pandemic has compelled us to explore unconventional learning modalities. The development of effective online educational platforms has given us a means to make quality education more easily accessible to many virtually.

The pandemic has compelled us to explore unconventional learning modalities. The development of effective online educational platforms has given us a means to make quality education more easily accessible to many virtually.

To leverage this opportunity and maximize our reach in the community, MAC Olive Grove Virtual School (OGVS) was started in 2022, allowing students from distant areas to enjoy Islamic and contemporary education. Complete with quality academics delivered by Ontario certified teachers, Quran, Arabic and Islamic Studies, character education as well as extracurricular activities, OGVS is a unique educational platform that facilitates the academic and spiritual growth of a larger number of our youth. The success of OGVS is evident from the increase in our enrollment in 2023 Alhamdulillah.

MAC iRISE TARBIYAH FRAMEWORK: “I rise to please Allah” After a substantial amount of research, our team of educators designed a unique character education framework: iRISE, that was introduced into all our schools over a period of time and was gradually implemented across all grades. The purpose was to help our students navigate through 21st century challenges while holding on to our core Islamic values by establishing Allah SWT as the center of our existence.

This framework essentially facilitates personal development in our students, by instilling in them the drive to always be a better version of themselves as they strive to live their lives guided by the following core values: Rabbaniyah Consistently prioritizing Allah SWT in our lives and allow our actions to be guided by His love and consciousness.

Integrity Becoming righteous young Muslims who stand up for justice, be fair in their dealings and consistently do what’s right.

Service Leading as compassionate & humble individuals who live by serving others and prioritizing their needs.

Excellence Aiming to always do our best in every aspect of our lives, leaving the results in the hands of Allah SWT.

Moreover, our Tarbiyah Project included: a revised Islamic Studies curriculum for high school development of an Arabic curriculum and resources workshops to address family values and gender identity issues were developed and delivered across schools a compilation of all these Tarbiyah concepts was made available to the public

SECTION 2

‫َو َتَع اَو ُنوا َع ىَل اْلِب ِّر َو الَّت ْق َو ٰى ۖ َو اَل َتَع اَو ُنوا‬ ‫َع ىَل اِإْل ْث ِم َو اْلُع ْد َو اِن ۚ َو اَّتُق وا َهَّللاۖ ِإَّن َهَّللا‬ ‫َش‬ ‫ْل َق‬ ‫ِديُد ا ِع اِب‬

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”

[Quran, 5:2]

Coming together as a community

As a minority group in a multicultural society like ours, the community we belong to is our primary source of identity. Muslim Association of Canada thrives on community strength and vibrancy. Our programs are strategically designed to bring communities together in various aspects of life.

Emerging from the pandemic, our mosques and institutions are once again bustling with activity and in person programs catering to all age groups and ethnicities.

The strength of the community is reflected not only in joyous moments but also in testing times and adversary. By the grace and mercy of Allah SWT, we continue to experience immense strength and power as a community every year, in festivities and challenges alike.

Together in worship RAMADAN

Ramadan is the month that definitely brings the community together, from all walks of life, all ethnicities and backgrounds as we are united in a single daily routine for the entire month. Despite struggling with restrictions early in 2022, we witnessed the return of energy and spirit back to our mosques. Daily Taraweeh (the nightly prayer) and weekly family iftars added to the Ramadan spirit for the whole family. By the year 2023, all programs had resumed with limited restrictions Alhamdulillah.

Special Ramadan camps as well as qiyam for different age groups allowed our children to engage with the mosque, while learning more about Islam each day in a festive environment.

Apart from in person activities, many online programs are also available during Ramadan, such as: weekly live shows on the MAC YouTube Channel daily Ramadan program providing consistent access to reminders by our renowned scholars

Celebrating together EID CELEBRATIONS

Our Eid Festivals came back strong after the pandemic with 7 chapters holding in-person Eid Festivals enabling us to once again reach thousands of community members. The Eid festivals were attended by several councilors and ministers, along with the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau who honoured the Ottawa Eid Festival with his presence. This gesture was a reflection of effective representation of the community by the organization over the years and a testimony of our efforts to bridge gaps with the wider community.

Our Eid Festivals provide an opportunity for Muslim families to enjoy the festivities, some of who are celebrating Eid away from extended families and friends in a foreign land. Thus, with these programs we are able to fill the void in their lives and allow more families to enjoy Eid celebrations and festivities.

Supporting each other UNITED WE STAND!

‫َيۡأُم ُر وَن ِبٱۡلَم ۡع ُر وِف‬

‫َو ٱۡلُم ۡؤ ِم ُنوَن َو ٱۡلُم ۡؤ ِم َٰن ُت َبۡع ُض ُه ۡم َأۡو ِلَي ٓاُء َبۡع ٖۚض‬

‫َو َيۡن َه ۡو َن َع ِن ٱۡلُم نَكِر َو ُيِق يُم وَن ٱلَّص َلٰو َة َو ُيۡؤُتوَن ٱلَّزَكٰو َة َو ُيِط يُع وَن ٱلَّلَه‬ ‫ٰٓـ‬ ‫ُۗه‬ , ‫م‬ٞ‫َوَرُس وَلُه ۚٓۥ ُأْو َل ِئ َك َس َي ۡرَحُم ُه ُم ٱلَّل ِإَّن ٱلَّلَه َع ِزيٌز َحِكي‬ “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another.

They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give charity and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have mercy upon them, for Allah is Almighty and Wise.”

(Surah Al-Tawba:71)

Immense strength is derived from uniting over a single cause; a single purpose.

And we have witnessed the community coming together to show unity on multiple occasions over the last two years.

STANDING UP AGAINST SYSTEMIC ISLAMOPHOBIA Earlier in 2022, MAC filed a charter challenge against Canada Revenue Agency for subjecting not only our organization, but several other Muslim organizations to prejudice, disguised under legal formalities. Through this charter challenge, Muslim Association of Canada aims to stand up for the rights of the entire Muslim community against faith based discrimination. This step has by far been a challenging experience for the organization. But as promised in the Holy Quran, “With hardship, comes ease” (94:6), the overwhelming support from the community was definitely a blessing of divine nature. Countless statements from various organizations such as the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI) in support of MAC’s claims is what gives us the strength to continue our pursuit of justice.

MAC, along with CCI and Islamic Center of North America (ICNA) also came together in response to the inappropriate representation of Islam in.

Anti-Homophobic campaigns in several public schools in Ontario. Once again, a joint statement issued by these organizations against such an insensitive move in the name of inclusivity, was a testimony of the disrespect felt by these young students whose religious values were undermined and distorted. The collective effort to hold the responsible parties accountable for their insensitivity resulted in the removal of the questionable material from all social media platforms.

Together against hate WE REMEMBER

In 2021, MAC launched the Islam Awareness website in response to the rising Islamophobia by creating awareness about Islam and eliminating misconceptions rooted in racial and religious discrimination. The Muslim Association of Canada received an Anti-Racism grant of $150K by the Ontario Government The rise of systemic Islamophobia is an undeniable reality of Canadian society, as defined in MAC’s charter challenge against CRA. However, two significantly heinous acts of terrorism against the Muslim community in the past few years that have remained etched into the minds of every Muslim Canadian, have led to a national campaign against Islamophobia and continue to haunt us to this day.

January 29, 2017, marked a dark day in Canadian history when six innocent Muslim worshippers were brutally and senselessly gunned down during an attack on a Quebec City mosque. Having played a role in pushing for the day to be commemorated as National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia, we vow to never forget the sacrifices made by these six martyrs and pledge to not let their lives be lost in vain. The day will continue to be a reminder of our responsibility towards our community and our obligation to stand up for our rights as a minority faith group so that such a heinous act is never repeated against any community.

Despite the government’s efforts against Islamophobia, our community was shaken up once again, on June 6, 2021 when 5 members of the Afzaal family were senselessly run down for merely being visibly Muslim. Marking the one year anniversary, MAC participated in ‘Our London Family’ June 6 commemoration, at the newly opened MAC Hyde Park Centre which was attended by dignitaries and guests and included an address by Ahmed Hussen, the Minister of Housing and Diversity & Inclusion. Moreover, on June 4, 2022, a new gymnasium, named the ‘Our London Family Gymnasium’, was unveiled in honour of the Afzaal family, officially opening its doors to a community space that is welcomed to everyone.

This facility was made possible with help from the Muslim Association of Canada in the hope of providing a safe place for people to come to, and as a reminder that the community will not accept hate.

SECTION 3

Growing Stronger...

Brick By Brick

Even though growth cannot merely be measured at a superficial level, the infrastructure that our institutions stand on play a crucial role in shaping the organization as it facilitates the work being done. Every year MAC invests in renovating and improving its facilities in order to cater to the growing need of the community and enhance their experience with MAC. RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS TO INSTITUTIONS:

“I never teach my pupils, I only provide the conditions in which they can learn” - (Albert Einstein) MAC believes that a safe and comfortable environment is essential for effective learning and hence, our schools and educational facilities are under perpetual improvement and renovations. Constant additions, renovations and expansion of MAC properties are key to promoting a healthy learning environment for young minds.

The notable upgrades to infrastructure in the last 2 years are as follows: Interior renovation at Abraar Daycare Flooring and roof changed at Abraar Secondary gym Preparation of premises for the RCIC School Edmonton MIS High School building renovations Flooring changed for Olive Grove School 2nd floor classrooms Construction of the second floor of Olive Grove High School

With the addition of new school facilities in Windsor and London as well as the infrastructural changes to existing facilities, we have seen a steep rise in enrollment and engagement with our institutions. While full-time school enrollment increased by 15% to 2,940 students, part-time school registration grew to 4,700 students, which, even though lower than our expectations, is yet a great recovery.

RENOVATIONS OF MOSQUES & COMMUNITY CENTERS: “He alone can keep the mosques of Allah in a good and flourishing condition who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and observe prayer, and pays the Zakat, and fears none but Allah; so there it is who may be among those who reach the goal” - (Surah Tauba: 18)

Mosques are special places for us Muslims and it is an honour to be trusted with the responsibility to care for it. In 2022, with the help and mercy of Allah SWT, we saw some major projects come to fruition.

Renovations at ICCO Revitalization project of the mechanical systems for the Edmonton MAC Islamic Centre The addition of two new centers; Hyde Park Masjid and Youth Centre in London and Qurtuba Islamic Center in Ottawa

The completion of Islamic Community Center of Ontario (ICCO) renovation plan, resulted in the following: a functional parking lot brand new flooring for the gym final touches to the exterior of the building

Face value of the property Capacity and use of the facility Number of programs offered

OF THE STRUCTURAL UPGRADES Apart from enhancing the face value and the use of the facility, the renovations aided in a smoother traffic flow during Taraweeh and Eid prayers.

These upgrades and additions to centers across different cities has allowed more programs to be offered all year round for various segments of the community.

We are forever grateful to Allah SWT for all these blessings and facilitation with our projects and also thank the community for engaging with the organization on different levels and inhabiting our centers, thus promoting and encouraging our programs.

SURVEY SAYS! From the 333 responses to our survey, the following were the sentiments expressed by community members:

“I am welcomed as part of the center community”

“As a Full-time school parent, I agree or strongly agree that my child feels like she/he belongs to the school”

“The center gives me the feeling that I belong there”

74%

81%

74%

Another measure of our growth has been the successful implementation of our Tarbiyah project. It is crucial for MAC, as an anchoring institution for the community, to remain true to the core values of Islam and establish all programs to be centered around these values.

In 2022, with the help and mercy of Allah SWT, we were able to exceed our expectations in terms of further investing in the Tarbiya Project across all schools and chapters; while 2023 saw the implementation and integration of these projects across all MAC schools Alhamdulillah.

Development of an Islamic Studies curriculum for high schools It is crucial for our youth to stay connected and well versed with their Islamic morals and values.

Hence, we have made Islamic Studies a mandatory course in all our high schools. This required the development of a curriculum that facilitated our students’ growth, both academically as well as in their knowledge of Islam.

Arabic curriculum and resources were developed and distributed to all MAC schools It is essential to have a clear understanding of the Quran in order to truly benefit from it. And for that reason, MAC schools have been equipped with an extensively designed Arabic curriculum and multiple resources to facilitate the learning of the Arabic language in our students early on in their academic journey.

Workshops were designed to address gender identity issues and delivered to all schools MAC schools play a crucial role in teaching our youth how to establish their distinct presence in Canadian society, while staying true to their Islamic values and morals. In recent years, gender identity and fluidity has become a pressing issue in our society and hence, needs to be addressed in order to educate our students about the Islamic rulings around this sensitive issue. In the last two years, an extensive series of workshops and resources have been developed and distributed to our schools, allowing a dialogue about what our stance is in the light of Quran and Sunnah.

A compilation of Tarbiyah concepts was produced for public use Part of our service to the community is to share the wealth of knowledge that we develop for our schools with the public in order to maximize our reach.

Hence, the concepts of Tarbiyah being implemented in our schools have been compiled and made accessible to the public so that a larger part of the community may benefit from it.

10 new eLearning courses were produced along with the introduction of weekly educational shows Building on our online accessibility, our eLearning channel was re-launched, introducing new courses and educational shows with the purpose of delivering our Tarbiyah vision to the public via an improved and advanced online platform.

HIRING AND RETAINING STAFF: Our organizational capacity is built through attracting and nurturing talent. Hiring the right people with the necessary skill set and being able to retain them is key to the success of any organization. In 2022, we saw the rebuilding of the Executive Team and a high rate of hirings, both at Head Office as well as project levels. Along with key positions such as Organizational Development Manager, Accounting Manager and HR Supervisor at Head Office, several principals, Imams and center managers were also hired to oversee individual projects.

The rising inflation in 2022-2023 was a huge challenge to attracting and maintaining talent. However, MAC responded to this by updating the pay-scale for our teachers, center managers and Imams.

TRAINING OF STAFF AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: To be able to effectively deliver our message and achieve our goals with the community, there needs to be a perpetual growth of our pool of qualified workers. For this reason, one of MAC’s goals is to tap into the community for resources, identify the talents and skill sets and recruit and train members to carry the message (Dawaah) forward in the different chapters.

This further facilitates leadership development and opportunities for our youth as well as young professionals, by providing them with venues to apply their strengths and skills for the benefit of the community.

Investing in our youth… our Ummah!

“He is not amongst us, who does not respect the elders and does not have mercy on youth.”

[Al-Tirmidhi]

SECTION 4 Working with youth… building leaders of justice Our youth is our future and MAC believes that an investment in their overall growth and development is the key to carrying forward our legacy rooted in the message of Islam. Though our organization is multigenerational, our focus on our youth is significant. We continue to groom them into future leaders with the aim that they will not only understand the essence of our values but also continue to stay true to them as well as promote them for the betterment of society in general.

Our youth programs are reflective of these endeavours in their planning and implementation.

MAC Youth Programs Despite some leadership transitions in the last couple of years, MAC Youth Department delivered an impressive selection of youth programs throughout the year.

MAC Youth Junior continued to expand across chapters, with the following initiatives during Ramadan: The Amazing Race successfully engaged different localities with over 500 participants.

MAC Youth Show addressed and engaged hundreds of students via social media platforms.

MAC OGS Youth Tarbiyah Conference, with speakers from various walks of life, covered the topic of Izza through different perspectives. In 2022, the program, being delivered in person while being live streamed to capture a larger audience, was a huge success with over 1200 youth in attendance across the nation. The following year, we were able to cater to similar numbers in an extensive in-person event with multiple Islamic schools participating Alhamdulillah.

Our community centers offer other activities including halaqas, family nights, story times and movie nights, bringing the whole family together by running parallel programs for the different age groups.

With multiple day and overnight camps throughout the year for different occasions, we served over 1800 children, providing families with great opportunities to keep their children busy and engaged while nurturing a love for learning.

Youth was a strong focus for the MAC Convention both the years, with parallel session streams and engagement programs designed specifically for youth. The program was very well received as approximately half of the convention attendees were youth, resulting in great engagement and networking with MSA’s and youth workers from across the country.

MAC YOUTH JR. MAC Youth Jr. is dedicated to nurturing and empowering Muslim Canadian youth aged 6 to 14, by equipping these minds with a sound understanding of Islam and thus, enabling them to emerge as strong community leaders. The six core aims that are meticulously infused into our activities are as follows: Love of Allah and Prophet Muhammad by building a strong connection with the Quran and Sunnah.

Love of Islam by educating them on the wisdom behind the guidelines of Islam.

Love of Self by fostering self-esteem and a strong sense of identity, rooted in the firm belief that Allah SWT loves us more than anyone in the world.

Love of Family by laying down a foundation of support and love.

Love of Community and Environment by fostering a sense of responsibility towards their community and the environment as our Islamic obligation.

Love of the Ummah by building strong bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood.

Along with weekly and monthly halaqah gatherings for both boys and girls, MAC Youth Jr. conducts several sports activities as well as Qiyam sessions on a regular basis.

Our annual activities include day and overnight camps, which are offered throughout the year and run at full capacity as they not only provide our families with an affordable childcare option during breaks, but are also an opportunity to build on their understanding of Islam in a fun learning environment.

Furthermore, our special retreats, promoting bonding between mothers and daughters; fathers and daughters; and fathers and sons have been extremely popular with the families. Periodically organized sports tournaments, promote healthy competition and physical wellness, with the intention to foster a sense of teamwork, friendly rivalry, and Muraqabah Mindset.

Ramadan is a very busy yet exciting month for our team as we prepare to cater to the spiritual development of our youth with the following: Ramadan Preparation Camp, aiming to getting our youth Ramadan ready.

Our daily Iftar gatherings provide a space for communal breaking of fasts, followed by Taraweeh prayers.

Distribute Ramadan packages and goodie bags in order to instil excitement in kids.

SECTION 5

Building bridges… justice with the larger community

‫ٰٓـَأ‬ ‫َي ُّيَه ا ٱلَّن اُس ِإَّنا َخَلْق َن ٰـ ُكم ِّم ن َذ َكٍۢر‬ ‫َو ُأنَث ٰى َو َجَع ْل َن ٰـ ُكْم ُش ُع وًۭبا َو َق َب ٓاِئَل‬ ۚ ‫ِلَت َع اَر ُف ٓو ۟اۚ ِإَّن َأْكَرَم ُكْم ِع نَد ٱلَّلِه َأْتَق ٰى ُكْم‬ ‫ِإَّن ٱلَّلَه َع ِليٌم َخِب يٌر‬ “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.”

[Quran, 49:13]

It is our Islamic obligation to fulfill the rights of people around us, regardless of their faith or religious beliefs.

Hence, aligninging with MAC’s mission and fulfilling our Islamic duty, we work very closely in cohesion with other organizations and groups making constructive contributions to society. We believe in working together for greater good and a bigger positive impact, thus affecting a larger population.

SHARING PRAYER SPACE WITH EDMONTON CHURCH Bringing interfaith communities closer At a time when Islamophobia is on the rise, some gestures from the outside community help restore our faith in the multicultural aspect and tolerance of Canadian society.

In 2022, every night in April, for the month of Ramadan, Muslim men and women used McDougall United Church in downtown Edmonton for nightly prayers.

And in a historic event, the McDougall Church hosted the two faith groups on Good Friday to help build community and understanding, where the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and McDougall's congregants came together to celebrate their respective faiths for the first time along with strengthening social ties between the faith groups.

This is a remarkable gesture from the Edmonton church community towards promoting love and tolerance in society and a testimony of the trust that Muslim Association of Canada has earned over the years with the larger community.

OPEN DIALOGUE AND COMMUNICATION Bridging Gaps MAC has always promoted interfaith dialogue and community-building initiatives. In a multicultural society like ours, solidarity and mutual support is key, especially when facing adversities. Being there for each other renders an undeniable strength that is needed to overcome challenges as a society.

Another means of strengthening ties and building understanding with other communities was Islamic Heritage Month, aiming to: Raise awareness about Islam Celebrate the contributions of Muslims to Canadian society MAC has worked to maximize this opportunity by hosting Open House events across different chapters, thus promoting understanding and appreciation of Muslim culture and history, and building bridges of understanding between communities.

ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE Every drop counts! “....and whoever saves one (soul), it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (Quran, 5:32) In June 2022, there was an urgent call by Canadian Blood Services in Vancouver as the city just entered an immediate need for blood donation. MAC Vancouver announced an emergency call to the Muslim community to donate blood, targeting at least 50 donors. On June 4 2022, 50 members of the Muslim community responded to our call and the target was easily met, Alhamdulillah.

Stephanie Pedersen, Territory Manager of Canadian Blood Services, Vancouver recognized the efforts made by MAC and the Muslim community and commended them for being excellent community partners by inspiring others to come forward as well.

SECTION 6 In the face of injustice and prejudice “O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for verily, Allah is aware of what you do.”

[Quran, 5:8)

A DAY IN COURT

MAC takes a stand against systemic Islamophobia Earlier this year, Muslim Association of Canada launched a charter challenge against the CRA for conducting biased audits, reeking of systemic Islamophobia.

HISTORY BEHIND THE CHARTER CHALLENGE: Muslim Association of Canada has been under a painfully scrutinizing 8 year audit by the CRA, stemming from baseless allegations. What drove the organization to eventually take the plunge was the fact that MAC wasn’t the first Muslim organization targeted by the agency. Hence this was a stand taken on behalf of the entire Muslim Community and all the organizations serving it. This blatant display of prejudice against a faith group was an undeniable proof of systemic Islamophobia seeping its roots into Canadian society, threatening its multicultural foundation to the core.

Over the past few years, it has become apparent that CRA has an agenda which has been very tactfully disguised under legalities when it comes to dealing with Muslim organizations. There is definitely a pattern with the way the agency audited several of these organizations and it was about time someone called them out on their hidden agenda.

To stand up for our rights has been among the foundational principles of MAC and hence, this blatant infringement of the rights of the entire community could not be ignored. And this was the driving force behind MAC taking a bold step forward in combating Islamophobia.

PROGRESS MADE: April 4, 2023 marked an iconic event in history, when one of the courtrooms in the Ontario Superior Court was packed with a group of concerned members of the Muslim Community, board members and employees of the Muslim Association of Canada along with their legal team as well as lawyers representing Canada Revenue Agency.

Our efforts are definitely making a difference and our message is heard, loud and clear, Alhamdulillah. And by the mercy of Allah SWT, we have been able to see the following results in various aspects of our work.

The Prime Minister’s request to attend our Eid Festival in Ottawa was a testimony of the recognition of our advocacy for the community.

The Federal NDP issued a statement in support of MAC’s claim against CRA and commended our work and efforts in standing up against blatant injustice.

We were invited to testify at the Senate of Canada’s hearings on Islamophobia and its impacts, which is a recognition of our effective propagation against discrimination of the Muslim community.

NEXT STEPS: Needless to say, this will not be an easy journey but to tread the path of truth has never been simple. Challenges have and will continue to be faced, however, to stand firm and rely on Allah SWT are our best options moving forward.

And of course, we are counting on the support of our community to keep us going on this arduous path paved out for us. Please help us stand up for Muslims across Canada by donating your time, wealth and prayers towards enabling us to be victorious in this challenge. May Allah SWT grant us victory and accept our efforts towards standing up for justice!

UNDER ATTACK!

MAC responds to biased media representation NATIONAL POST ARTICLE ON MAC CONVENTION: An article published in the the National Post on June 30, 2022 reeked of bias on the author’s part, who made absurd claims against the speaker line up at the first ever MAC Convention held on Canada Day. For someone calling out MAC on supposedly spreading hate, the words of the author ironically did the same. The intended hate towards the organization was undeniable, peeping through baseless allegations of MAC promoting homophobia, anti semitic rhetoric and misogyny through their guest speakers and condemning the liberal government for funding Muslim Association of Canada with grants over the years.

In response to such absurdity, MAC President-Strategy, Sharaf Sharafeldin denied the allegations by clarifying the use of government grants solely for the following: securing our mosques from vandalism and hate crimes empowering women educating youth combating Islamophobia He further established that the claims against the alleged speakers were either unsubstantiated or based on unreliable sources.

Mr. Sharafeldin also highlighted that the organization has robust policies in place regarding messages delivered via MAC platform to ensure that they align with the organization's principles and stay true to the values of Islam.

Thus debunking the allegations, Mr. Sharafeldin went on to highlight the various services provided by the organization for the Muslim community as well as initiatives taken outside the community, requiring collaboration with NonMuslim organizations and interfaith leaders in order to build bridges and promote tolerance amongst one another.

NURTURING JUSTICE

Building Muqsiteen….teaching youth to stand up for justice Abu Dharr (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: Allah the Exalted said, ‘O my servants, I have forbidden oppression for myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.’ (Sahih Muslim) Justice is a divine trait and loved by Allah SWT. Islam lays a great emphasis on establishing justice on macro as well as micro levels in order to build strong societies. And this realization needs to start young for it to be effectively incorporated into the social fabric. Recognizing this, Muslim Association of Canada works diligently to infuse the concept of justice in all our programs and be visible forerunners in supporting just causes and opposing any wrongdoing.

MAC Islamic schools across Canada capitalize on opportunities to instill the idea of standing up for what’s right in young students early on in their academic journey. MAC’s very own character education framework, iRISE, implemented in all of our schools, stands firmly on Integrity and Service; two out of the four crucial core values. Through the value of Integrity, students are taught to do what is right, while Service teaches them to care for others, both of which are integral components needed to build a strong sense of justice in these young minds.

iRISE JUSTICE CHALLENGE: MAC schools conduct an end of the year culminating challenge, bringing together all the schools from across the different provinces, collective and united in their effort to reflect their learning of Islam and its implementation.

In 2022, MAC schools participated in the iRISE Justice Challenge, which was designed to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, attitude and actions based on their learning throughout the year. Through this challenge, students were encouraged to live Islam and be people of justice, getting inspiration from our Islamic history.

It was extremely fitting in the light of MAC’s experience with its own Charter Challenge against the CRA, where our students learnt how to live up to what we believe in; how to stand up for our rights as well as the rights of others.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY: “Every Child Matters”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day is commemorated

by MAC schools all across the country. The day, marked by wearing orange shirts and recognizing the injustice committed by the Canadian Indian residential school system towards innocent children, is an opportunity for our youth to truly understand the concept of empathy and justice for all.

MAC schools participate by having different activities incorporated into daily lesson plans, learning about the Indigenous culture and their history and truly understanding the acts of injustice committed towards these innocent children. Through these activities, we aim to achieve the following: Create awareness through open discussions Build empathy and strength to stand up against injustice towards any group, regardless of religion.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: February is commemorated as Black History Month, celebrating the African-American culture and contributions to the world. Our students learn the following lessons: Appreciate their sacrifices Understand slave culture of preIslamic Arabia Learn how Islam gradually eradicated their unjust treatment and gave them equal rights.

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, and Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor, a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”

- Prophet Muhammad SAW

Through engaging activities infused into the daily lessons, workshops, bulletin boards and posters, our students are once again reminded of their Islamic obligations as Muslims towards others in the face of prejudice and injustice.

SECTION 7

The quest to improve and better serve the community

Highlights of 2022 & 2023!

As the organization grows, new initiatives in our approach and services add excitement and vigour to the work. The last couple of years saw the launch of several new projects regionally as well as nationally, addressing different needs of the community and filling in the gaps.

MAC Convention ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT July 2022, marked the launch of an annual convention by Muslim Association of Canada as a platform to further propagate our message to the public. Spread over the long weekend, the 3 day convention featured a rich and diverse program with clear objectives and outcomes, offering over 8 parallel tracks catering to all segments of the population. With 64 speakers and a strong youth focus, MAC was able to partner with 25 other organizations to achieve the objectives and deliver the message effectively. Attracting over 4000 participants and 400 volunteers, the convention was a huge success, especially in terms of community engagement and personal development for community members.

The success of the first convention in 2022 facilitated in making it an annual event Alhamdulillah and we brought it back for the community in September 2023. Learning from experience, the second convention was designed to overcome the challenges faced the previous year, ensuring a smoother flow of the program. The addition of an Educator’s Conference was the highlight of MAC Convention 2023, where educators from across the community got the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced in current times and learn how to overcome them from experts in the field.

MAC CONVENTION STREAMS

2022

Islam & Life (Shariah) Discussions about parenting, women’s issues, and mental well-being

Ummah

4

5 6

8

Sessions on business, entrepreneurship, finance and education

Civic Engagement

7

Da’wah Reflections and insights of scholars on topics related to the theme

Discussions about social justice, MSA leadership, dawah opportunities and lsamophobia

3

Professionals Advocating for social justice and building capacity

Family Issues

2

Youth A deeper look at racism, rights of the Indigenous community and environmental issues

A look into Islam’s contributions to philosophy, history and civilization

1

Discussing the role of Muslims and understanding the true essence of da’wah

Scholars’ Reflections

CONVENTION OBJECTIVES

1

Promote MAC Values, understanding and messages

2

Position MAC in the community (through leadership, services, and representative messages)

3

Creating new partnerships and collaborations

4

Present new wave of speakers to community

5

Engage and mobilize the community on issues of concern to the wider community

Overall, the convention was a great addition to the existing program portfolio and lived up to the expectations of the audience in terms of engagement, learning and development both on a personal as well as community level.

Youth was a strong focus for the MAC Conventions with a parallel session stream and engagement program designed specifically for youth. Approximately half of the convention attendees were youth which indicated the successful delivery of a clear message.

Furthermore, there were networking sessions for MSAs and meetings for youth workers, which is crucial for both personal as well as professional development of our youth.

The strongly structured children’s program, which ran full-day parallel sessions for children ages 1-13, allowed a smooth running of the sessions for the adult population by providing child care in a nurturing and loving learning environment. The program was complete with speakers, counselors and volunteers offering a wide range of activities and educational sessions.

Partnering with Smile Canada, the program also offered support to children with disabilities.

The Bazaar attracted several vendors covering a wide range of products and services for the community, thus promoting local Muslim businesses by providing an attractive platform and marketing opportunities.

MAC Post Secondary College ADVANCING IN THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE As the quest for knowledge never ends, so do our efforts with providing venues and opportunities for our community members in their journey to attain knowledge.

With over 30 full-time and parttime Islamic schools across Canada, the establishment of a post secondary college has been in the works for sometime now.

With the help and mercy of Allah SWT, in the year 2022, we successfully completed the application for a post secondary institution which was accepted conditionally by the government of Ontario, which once established, this new venture will provide an accredited, postsecondary institution for Islamic training and scholarship. As there aren’t any such notable institutions in Canada yet, once again, MAC intends to be the pioneer in expanding the realm of Islamic education for the community.

The inauguration of the Canadian Islamic College (CIC) was announced in December of 2023. The facility at 2380 Speakman Dr, Mississauga has been prepared to begin hosting post-secondary students eager to pursue higher Islamic education.

Islam & Life INCREASING OUR REACH VIA SOCIAL MEDIA As MAC works on improving the organization’s online presence, new notable additions include Islam & Life, which is a weekly live talk show brought to you by MAC Productions, where everyday issues are addressed, analyzed, and discussed in light of the Quran and Sunnah by our esteemed guests from different walks of life.

Islam and Life addresses the inquiries and challenges of Muslims living in North America as they navigate through: modern and complex societal issues keeping true to their Islamic morals and values the struggle to connect their religion to their realities figure out how current global issues impact Muslim Canadians

Mini MAC - Mommy & Me TARBIYAH STARTS YOUNG Recognizing yet another gap in the community, MAC launched an infant and toddler program early in 2022. Developed and run by a group of educators, Mini MAC - Mommy & Me is an interactive and engaging early years program catering to young children from infancy to 4 years of age and their mothers.

“Play with them for the first seven years (of their life); then teach them for the next seven years; then advise them for the next seven years (and after that).” – Prophet Mohammed (pbuh)

Following the prophetic model of child rearing and disciplining, Mini MAC - Mommy & Me provides Muslim mothers with: a safe space under the guidance of early childhood educators learning, growth and development of the child in an Islamic environment support for young/new mothers Currently being run by the Mississauga Chapter at ICCO, the program has the potential to go national and efforts are being made to make it accessible to Muslim mothers across the country.

SECTION 8 Expanding our reach

k

Our Comeback!

The pandemic caused a huge dip in our inperson programs, where the health and safety of our community had to be prioritized over the bustling of our facilities.

The post pandemic years have been spent meticulously planning for a smooth transition back to the norm. Alhamdulillah we can confidently say that this year we have seen our centers rebound to attain the pre-COVID numbers.

Even though the enrollment for MAC fulltime schools increase across all schools, special focus was needed on the program delivery and learning acquisition in order to deal with the impact of the pandemic on student learning.

Moreover, our mosques congregants and delivered maintaining all safety protocols.

welcomed programs

A SNAPSHOT!

15%

Full-time school enrollment

50%

Part-time school enrollment

7 chapters Organized Eid celebrations

Item 2 25%

of our congregants felt welcomed and experienced a feeling of belonging at our centers.

75% Item 1 75%

Item 2 27%

of our congregants also found staff to be friendly and approachable.

73% Item 1 73%

Item 2 27%

73%

agreed it fulfilled their spiritual needs

Item 1 73%

Item 2 28%

felt it motivated them to be a better version of themselves.

72% Item 1 72%

How do our Full-Time parents feel?

Item 2 9%

Item 2 11%

89%

Item 2 44%

91%

Item 1 89%

Item 1 91%

Appreciate the value MAC brings to his/her family

56%

Item 1 56%

Reported participating in at least one other MAC activity

Believe MAC is vital to the Muslim community in Canada

How do our centre patrons feel?

Item 2 21%

Item 2 28%

Item 2 33%

72%

79% Item 1 72%

Consider themselves supporters of MAC.

67% Item 1 67% Item 1 79%

Believe MAC is vital to the development of Muslim community

Consider themselves part of MAC

SECTION 9

Our Financials: A reflection of the community’s trust Alhamdulillah, our revenue streams continue to remain solid along with being diverse yet balanced.

A glimpse into our in-house audit financial statement

Donations exceeded the target Revenue from PT tuition improved to $2.82M Program revenue in chapters and centers exceeded $2M Increase in school enrollment, led to fee increase from $13.62M to $14.85M Operational costs (salaries, professional fees, etc) increased Net income from capital fundraising increased to $4.035M

REVENUE In the last two years, our overall revenue through donations, programs and services as well as other sources saw the following changes compared to each preceding years:

2023 )000(

Donations

14% increase in 2022 and 19% increase in 2023 in overall revenue

Program Fees

10% rise in 2022 and 24% rise in 2023 in donations

Other Income

24% increase program fees

both

years

2022 (000)

2021 (000)

$14,882 $11,975 $10,846 $27,145 $21,767 $17,460 $8,310

$8,568 $8,533

$50,337

$42,310

$36,839

2023

2022

2021

Management & Admin

$2,487

$2,253

$1,823

Fundraising Costs

$2,687

$2,216

$1,609

Programs & Services

$38,276 $33,347 $25,719

in

EXPENSES Expenses went up substantially in 2022, with a slightly lower increase the following year. This rise reflects an increase in our program delivery, which further indicates growth.

29% increase in 2022 and only 14% in 2023 in the cost of our programs and services Fundraising costs went up by 37% in 2022 and by 21% in 2023.

)000(

$43,450

23% increase in 2022 and only 10% the following year in management and admin costs

ASSETS

2022

Current Assets

$19,251

$13,119 $11,350

Capital Assets

$111,187 $87,000 $83,314

Other

$3,469

(000)

$37,816

(000)

$29,151

LIABILITIES

2023 )000(

(000)

2021 (000)

$3,711

$1,312

$133,907 $103,830

$95,976

2023

2022

$7,322

$7,695 $6,821

)000(

Current Liabilities

(000)

2021 (000)

Long-Term $30,382 $20,807 $20,192 Liabilities Other

$2,435

$3,483 $2,502

$40,139

$31,985

$29,515

The whole is larger than the sum of the parts...

Alhamdulillah, our organization continues to deliver to meet the needs of the community with the help and mercy of Allah SWT. Even though the impact of the pandemic can still be felt by most of us, we have successfully weathered the storm, putting our trust in Allah SWT, renewing our intentions at every step and overcoming the challenges through persistence and faith.

Supporting youth through programs & services

Community Infrastructure Footprint

Reaching 1000's of families weekly

Employing 100's of community members

Building FINANCIAL DIGITAL ORGANIZATIONAL

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

WEAVING NETWORKS PROGRAM DELIVERY

RISK MANAGEMENT The transformative change within the various layers of the organization is the result of an accumulative process and a unique blend of capacities that sets MAC apart from the rest of Muslim organizations.

It is important as we face new challenges to remember that commitment from a group of people is the key ingredient needed for a transformative change.

Why MAC? Connect With Us Engage with the community Build a stronger Muslim presence Carry out the duty to propagate authentic, unapologetic Islamic worldview Change the current narrative about Islam and Muslims in Canadian society Be part of social change and community development

Get Involved!

Volunteer with us Join our team of over 2250 volunteers nationwide. Visit macnet.ca/volunteer and contact your local MAC chapter.

Learn with us Benefit from our various educational and tarbiyah programs for all ages.

Become an associate Visit macnet.ca/associatesregistration to become an associate with MAC. Donate Visit macnet.ca/donate to donate and support our programs.

‫اَّل‬ ‫َأ َّل‬ ‫َو ن ْي َس ِلِإْل ن َس ٰـ ِن ِإ َم ا َس َع ٰى‬ “...and that each person will only have what they endeavoured towards” ( S U R A H 5 3 : 3 9 ) REACH US 905-822-2626 macnet.ca mac@macnet.ca