Who from the Scholars and Du’aat Are Supporting this Treachery and Corruption in Toronto?

[Abu.Zubaydah.Yusuf]

An Open Letter to the Muslims of Masjid al-Furqaan (Toronto, Canada) from Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson (Summer Courses Instructor)

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Ever Compassionate...

OPEN LETTER TO THE MUSLIMS OF MASJID AL-FURQAAN IN TORONTO

Praise be to Allaah alone. May He raise the rank of our Messenger Muhammad and grant him peace.

From Moosaa Richardson to the Muslims at Masjid al-Furqaan in Toronto, Canada

As-Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

I pray that Allaah the Exalted blesses you and your families with increased sincerity and firmness upon the Truth, and that He unites your hearts this blessed month of Ramadhaan as true brothers worshipping one Lord, following one Path, with one goal - Salvation in this life and the Next.

"And hold fast all of you together to the Rope of Allaah, and do not be divided amongst yourselves. And remember the favor of Allaah upon you, that you were once enemies and yet He joined your hearts together, and by His Grace (alone) you became brothers, after having been at the brink of a pit of Fire, He saved you from it. Like this, Allaah makes His signs clear to you, so that you might be rightly guided." [meaning of 3:103]

When splitting occurs amongst those striving to follow the way of the Salaf, it is ONLY because the Shaytaan has led some or all of them to neglect important Islaamic principles, that protect and foster their brotherhood.

The Salafee call, the way of the Prophets, Companions, and righteous early imaams, is a path of honesty and clarity. Lying and deception does not aid the truth ever, dear brothers.

The Salafee call is a path of brotherhood, patience, and mutual advice. Stick with your brothers, and do not be divided. If you truly intend to see your brothers improve, then stick by them and patiently advise them. Our Messenger (sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam) said, what means, "The Deen (Religion of Islaam) is Naseehah (sincere advice)." We are all obliged by our religion to be patient, offer good advice, and receive it well from others. May Allaah grant us success with this.

In Toronto, as you know, there is a group involved in underhanded acts of treachery against your community, like initiating the freezing of the centre's bank accounts, issuing documents claiming leadership of the centre for themselves, trying to seize property from the very store that funds the community, and other misguided attempts to remove the current administration, harm them, or drive them away.

While only Allaah knows the extent of damage they have already caused the community and what they have planned for the future, they have managed to gain support from some of the honest everyday Muslims of Toronto, who are unaware of their real agenda. They play on emotions and capitalize on bad dealings, disputes, and arguments of the past. They misrepresent themselves as people who seek islaah (correction), claiming support from scholars and students of knowledge.

I have advised them directly on a number of occasions, in person, by phone, and by email, with clear and direct advice (that they sought from me), asking them to take the path of the Salaf, be patient, advise, work with the community, and not to cause division, disputing, and animosity. This remains to be my advice to them, if they are sincere and want islaah in truth.

In my opinion, the last month or more of ongoing strife, animosity, splitting, closing of the masjid, police in the masjid, etc. has been initiated and fueled by their stubborn neglect and abandonment of the advice they have requested. I plea to them to return to the advice they have requested from me, advice that will only lead them to good by Allaah's Permission.

I further advise the Muslims of Masjid al-Furqaan with the following:

1) Turn to Allaah alone, sincerely, repenting to Him alone, asking Him for guidance and stability. These trials are from our own sins! Allaah says, what means, "Corruption (evil, sins, disobedience, fitnah, etc.) has appeared on land and at sea because of what the hands of the people have earned, that He (Allaah) may cause them to taste some of what they have earned, so they might return (to Allaah from their wrongdoing)." [30:41] Flee to Allaah alone and seek refuge with Him from these trials.

2) Stand by your brothers in your community who have shown years of hard work and have built much for the blessed Da'wah of the Salaf in Toronto and elsewhere. Work with them, be brothers, correct their errors and advise them personally with what will benefit them.

3) If you are approached by one of the takeover activists, admonish him directly and clearly to fear Allaah and stop creating and perpetuating strife in the community. Many of you have already done this, and continue to do so, and I ask Allaah to bless you for your good deeds. Do not engage in debates or exchanges of bad manners with them, especially in or around your masjid. Simply advise them sternly, and then pray for their guidance in their absence.

In closing: Do your best to repel fitnah and rid your community of quarrels, disputes, and animosity, to the best of your ability. Work together in every good way, as Allaah commands us.

Allaah says, what means, "And cooperate (all of you together) in acts of righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in acts of sin and transgression." [5:2]

And He says, what means, "O you who have eemaan! When you meet secretly, do not hold secret counsels of sin and transgression, and disobedience of the Messenger! Rather, hold secret counsels of righteousness and piety! And fear Allaah, the One unto Whom you shall all be gathered!" [58:9]

And Allaah swears by the passing of time itself that "Surely mankind is in a state of loss, except for those who have eemaan and perform righteous actions, advising each other with the Truth, and advising each other with patience." [Meaning of Soorah al-'Asr]

And Allaah knows best.

I pray that Allaah keeps all of you safe, and that your community can resume thriving with great cooperative efforts to spread our beloved da'wah. May Allaah raise the rank of our Messenger and grant him peace. Was-salaam.

(Written on the eve of Ramadhaan: 8/30/1432)

Moosaa