Assalam u 'alikum wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu

 

As per the announcement from Hilal Council of Canada, the new crescent for Ramadan has not been sighted!  

Accordingly, Pickering Islamic Centre declares the 1^st of Ramadan to be on Thursday, March 23^rd, 2023.

 

InshaAllah the first night of Taraweeh will be on Wednesday, March 22^nd, 2023.

 

Pickering Islamic Centre management and administration wishes everyone a blessed Ramadan!

Click Here to Download Ramadan Calendar

Ramadan Programs
Several programs will be aired through our live stream (click here) channel on weekly basis. The schedule will be available soon.

Daily Iftaar
Insha'Allah, there will be a daily iftaar for brothers and sisters. No food will be allowed from outside for Iftaar.
You may contribute by donating any amount you may like.
Click Here to donate

Program:

• Break your fast in the prayer area with dates and water
• Maghrib prayer - five minutes after Adhan
• Proceed to basement for dinner

Salatul Taraweeh
Masjid Usman (29 days) - Taraweeh prayer led by Mufti Abdulmannan, Qari Ismail Kazi, and Hafiz Huzayfa Jasat

Memon Super Market (10 days) - Taraweeh prayers led by Maulnaa Hassan Rahman, Hafiz Hammad Younas, Maulana Ibrahim and Hafiz Talha
Click Here to register

Note: Taraweeh at Memon Supermarket will start from Wednesday Night whether we sight the moon tonight (Tuesday) or not.

Khatmul Qur'an 
Khatmul Qur’an will be on the 29th night of Ramadan 1444/2023, insha’Allah.
A live telecast of the Khatam-ul-Quran and Dua will be aired.

I’tikaaf
Please call 905-426-7887 or email [email protected] to book your spot. Limited spots available

Qiyamul Layl
To be announced.

Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers for the month of Ramadan. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer, please sign-up at the Volunteer Page.

Zakah
Zakah (Almsgiving) is the third pillar of Islam. The Arabic word Zakah means to purify (i.e. wealth). The Zakah is to be disbursed to the poor and needy once a year on savings in excess of the nisab threshold at the rate of two and a half percent (2.5% or 1/40). This rate applies to cash, bank savings, all forms of gold and silver, investments and business inventory and stock. (There are other rates for certain types of agriculture and livestock.)

The payment is due at the end of the year once all expenses have been paid. Through the payment of Zakah, the rich share their wealth with the poor and thus the concentration of wealth is checked, and a fair distribution of wealth is ensured. It should be noted that Zakah is an act of worship independent of Ramadan and Muslims should make haste in distributing Zakah to the poor as soon as it becomes due and not defer it to Ramadan. However, there is no harm in deferring the payment of a small portion if one wishes to acquire the blessings of Ramadan. 

 If you have questions regarding Zakah or would like to learn more, please click here to contact our Imam.

Sadaqatul Fitr (Fitra Payment)

Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Prophet (saw) made the payment of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr compulsory; to purify the fasting person from sinful speech and indecent acts, and to provide food for the needy.” (Abu Dawud) 

Sadaqatul Fitr is to be paid to the poor at the end of Ramadan before the Eid prayer so as to enable them to partake in the joys of Eid. Sadaqatul Fitr is compulsory on every adult male or female that possesses savings beyond the nisab threshold on Eid. It is to be paid for every member of the family including children and infants. This year, the minimum amount for Sadaqatul Fitr is $5.00 per person. Those wishing to give more are encouraged to do so. 

Coming soon

Fundraising

Coming soon

 
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month of fasting for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam; the others are confession of faith, five daily prayers, Zakah (almsgiving) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah). Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon, which is determined by the regional hilal (crescent) committee.

Why Muslims Fast?
According to the Qur’an “Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may learn self-restraint”. Fasting, which is recognized for its health, spiritual and psychological benefits, is considered by Muslims to improve their moral character and provides an opportunity for a spiritual renewal. Fasting helps one, grow closer to the One God, Allah.

Purpose of Fasting
The real purpose of fasting is not to make us hungry and thirsty, or to deprive us some of our comfort and conveniences but to be conscious of Allah. It is to do one's best to live by His commands and to avoid His prohibitions, fear of Allah, worship of Allah, sincerity in faith, and avoid the disobedience to Allah. Fasting is an invisible act. Only Allah and the person who is fasting know whether he or she is fasting or not. Fasting teaches how to control and discipline our desires. During fasting we learn how to say "no" to things that are otherwise permissible and good but are forbidden during fasting. When one learns how to say "no" to that which is generally permissible, then one can easily control oneself to avoid that which is forbidden. Through fasting we taste—to some extent—the pain and suffering of those who are poor and destitute. Fasting teaches empathy and sympathy, and it takes away some of our selfishness and self-centerdness.

How Muslims Fast
Muslims fast from early dawn to sunset every day throughout the month. The fast requires Muslims to abstain from food, drink, marital relations and ill-conduct during the fast.

Who Fasts
Fasting in Ramadan is compulsory on all Muslims, who are physically and mentally healthy and matured. Those exempted from fasting are the sick, old, pregnant and menstruating women and travelers. Pregnant and menstruating women and travelers make up the missed days by fasting at a later time.

Typical day during the Month
The day of fasting begins with an early morning meal before dawn and ends at sunset. The evening activities include a simple traditional meal of a few dates and water (iftar), the sunset prayer followed by dinner. Muslims would then go to the mosque for congregational prayers in which at least one-thirtieth of the Qur’an is recited. The congregation would have listened to the recitation of the entire Qur’an by the end of the month.

End of Ramadan
This year, Ramadan will conclude on April 22 or 23, 2023 depending on the sighting of the moon. The celebration marking the end of Ramadan is called Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two major celebrations in Islam.