Assalamu Alaikum.
Thank
you for giving me the opportunity
to be a part of this year's
Iftar Mahfeel.
Congratulations to you
students for your academic achievements.
You are future leaders
of our nation.
Morley Callaghan said
this: "the real friend
of this country is the [person]
who believes in excellence,
seeks it, fights for it, defends
it, and tries to produce it."
This is my challenge
to you.
Ramadan is a very significant month in
the life of Muslims, a time
to renew and reshape one's spiritual
outlook on life.
Muslims focus on Allah
and the true purpose of life
without the normal distractions
and by sharing with others.
As Nazreen Tareen writes
in her article, 'Fasting and
Ramadan:' "Fasting teaches
us self-control, patience, perseverance,
selflessness, salvations and
self-restraint. Fasting is direct
communication between God and
the individual."
Striving for excellence is part of the
process of reshaping one's outlook
on life.
We all know what the
recipe for excellence is: working
hard and never giving up.
It is not always easy;
it is certainly not always fun.
Sometimes we have to
deny ourselves the pleasures
of life.
Sometimes we need to
push ourselves to work beyond what we think is possible. This is the spirit of Ramadan: the idea
that self-sacrifice can and
will bring you closer to Allah.
Ramadan and the striving for excellence
go hand in hand.
Excellence is extremely
important for our daily lives,
whether at work, in school,
or in our relationships.
The goal of excellence
is important in faith.
What better time to strive
for excellence in spirituality
than during Ramadan?
Canada bears the imprint of differing
beliefs in the existence of
God, each of which in their
own way have shaped Canada’s
character. Our society has the
values, ways of thinking and
living inspired by numerous
religions. Our national character
owes its roots to a pluralist
religious education based on
numerous concepts and attendant
ethical systems.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to
take part in discussions on
Muslim beliefs and traditions,
and I have learned a lot from
the members of your religious
community. We are fortunate
to live in a country that promotes
multiculturalism. We all learn
from one another’s
differences, and grow
collectively as Canadians.
Ramadan, and the lessons of Ramadan,
are not confined to one month
of the year.
The patience, selflessness,
and self-restraint that is so
important during this month
continue to be important elements
of everyday life. I trust that you have been both encouraged
and challenged this evening.
Recently I was reading an author who
says that in the post Cold War
world, religion will be the
only ideology that motivates
people.
Communism, facism, socialism,
liberalism, conservatism: they
have all lost their appeal.
Also, religion motivates
people to love others–of all
faiths–and to work for peace.
First, we must learn
to understand each other. God will help us.
Assalamu Alaikum.
Dhannabad.
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