On September 16, 2017 at the Taalim Ul Islam Masjid, Irshad Institute held its first open to the public event which served as a grand introduction to its vision and discussed its plan to serve as a trailblazer in combining religious and social programming.
The event, aptly titled ‘Youth for Youth’ was organized by students of Irshad. Numerous families and leaders in Toronto’s Muslim community gathered to introduce and fundraise for Irshad Institute. Taalim Ul Islam’s recreational hall reached capacity and was brimming with the sound of families, children and elders socializing.
Operating since October 2015, Irshad Institute is the product and passion of Sheikh Abdalla Jama. Sheikh Abdalla Jama is a Somalia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) educated Imam whose expertise is Quranic education and dissemination of Islamic knowledge (Dawah). He has earned one of the shortest chains or Sanads (authentic chain of narration that is connected to the Prophet ﷺ) in several Qira’aat from leading scholars in the U.A.E. including Sh. Mustafa Mansoor hafidhahuAllah.
Irshad Institute describes itself as a faith based mentorship organization that focuses on creating spaces where Muslim youth can build relationships and feel supported in their visions and dreams. The emphasis is on offering students access to spiritually uplifting Islamic content, while academic support, counselling and social programming in the creative arts are avenues that Irshad has committed to actualizing.
The evening showcased various student recitals, speeches and performances. These included beautiful recitations of passages from the Quran and creative re-enactments of what they have learned.
In a moving performance, guest poet Arafaat shared a piece about the Qur’an that left the audience in awe of both the miracles of the Qur’an and his lyrical abilities.
The keynote speaker was educator and activist, Abdourahman Bachir. In his address he highlighted the importance of education and more specifically the need to tailor curriculums to the intellectual development of children.
Several prominent members of the Canadian Muslim Dawah leadership were present including Sh. Abukar Sh. Husaan of Khalid Bin Walid Masjid, Abdullahi Elmi and Hassan Osman of Abu Huraira Centre, Sh. Said Rageah, the founder of Sakinah Centre, and Sh. Musleh Khan, an affiliate of the Islamic Institute of Toronto. Each speaker shared his support for Irshad Institute’s vision and highlighted the need for culturally sensitive, supportive, and Islamic-centered community programming to addresses the struggles and experiences of Muslim youth in Toronto.
The event successfully concluded with a short fundraiser followed by a late dinner and hints of new program announcements to be expected from Irshad Institute in the new year.
