10:30

Shawn Kazubowski-Houston
Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement

10:35

Michelle Voss Roberts, Principal, Emmanuel College
Opening Remarks

10:40

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

10:45

Ruby Latif and Sanaa Ali-Mohammed
Presentation 1: Trends in Muslim-led and Muslim-focused Philanthropy in Canada

11:00

Irshad Osman
Presentation 2: Donor Stewardship Practices of Muslim Religious Institutions in Toronto

11:15

Mahdi Qasqas
Presentation 3: An Islamically Integrated Volunteer Human Resource Management Model (IIVHRM) 

11:30

Nadia Hasan
Presentation 4: Government Environment for Muslim Charities in Canada

11:45

Question and Answer Session

12:30

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

12:35

Abu Noman Tariq & Nighat Nabi
Presentation 5: A Case Study of Syrian Refugee Settlement through ICNA Relief

12:50

Memona Hossain
Presentation 6: Exploring the Muslim-Canadian Environmental Philanthropy Narrative

1:05

Sarah Attia
Presentation 7: The Leading Role of Muslim Youth in Philanthropy

1:20

Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Presentation 8: Charitable Activities in the Shi‘a Muslim Community of Canada

1:35

Mohammed Abu Asaker
Presentation 9: UNHCR Global Zakat Fund in Canada

1:55

Question and Answer Session

2:30

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

2:35

Muneeb Nasir
Presentation 10: Olive Tree Foundation–A Canadian Waqf Foundation Working to Enhance Community Life

2:50

Anver Emon
Presentation 11: Waqfs and Academic Freedom: Structuring the Freedom of Inquiry

3:05

Randi Deguilhem
Presentation 12: Waqf Endowments in the Canadian Context: New Uses for a Traditional Islamic Philanthropic Institution

3:20

Nuzhat Jafri
Presentation 13: Four Decades of Determination:  A Story of Muslim Women’s Agency and Perseverance

3:35

Question and Answer Session

3:50

Shawn Kazubowski-Houston
Closing Remarks

10:30

Shawn Kazubowski-Houston
Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement

10:35

Michelle Voss Roberts, Principal, Emmanuel College
Opening Remarks

10:40

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

10:45

Ruby Latif and Sanaa Ali-Mohammed
Presentation 1: Trends in Muslim-led and Muslim-focused Philanthropy in Canada

11:00

Irshad Osman
Presentation 2: Donor Stewardship Practices of Muslim Religious Institutions in Toronto

11:15

Mahdi Qasqas
Presentation 3: An Islamically Integrated Volunteer Human Resource Management Model (IIVHRM) 

Muslim philanthropic bodies guided by Islamic principles often have the goal of enhancing the spiritual, physical, psychological, social, and/or economical health and well-being of all humans. Nonprofit Islamic organizations (NPIO) are one such body that rely heavily on volunteers for their survival and productivity, especially their volunteer leaders. Volunteer leaders are often witnesses to both the radiance and dark-side of civic engagement and both are required for a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the risk, protective, and resiliency factors associated with organizational commitment.

To that end, we draw on a sample of 216 surveys and 36 interviews with volunteer leaders of NPIO across urban Alberta, Canada. The results of this study provide insight and practical strategies to enhance and prevent the erosion of organizational commitment which may be useful to other NPIOs. In particular, organizations that are able to enhance intrinsic motivation, position satisfaction, and role clarity can expect higher degrees of organizational commitment. Quantitative and qualitative data from the study are also synthesized within the context of an Islamically integrated volunteer human resource management model (IIVHRM).

Furthermore, three core themes emerged reflecting undesirable experiences that would normally diminish organizational commitment. These themes are related to factors that thwart the basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, which in turn cripple motivation. Despite such stressful experiences that would theoretically predict turnover, some volunteer leaders continued to persevere utilizing remarkable spiritual coping resources. The faith-based mechanisms at play are further discussed and provide the impetus for the Psycho-Spiritual First Aid training portion of the IIVHRM model.

11:30

Nadia Hasan
Presentation 4: Government Environment for Muslim Charities in Canada

11:45

Question and Answer Session

12:30

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

12:35

Abu Noman Tariq & Nighat Nabi
Presentation 5: A Case Study of Syrian Refugee Settlement through ICNA Relief

For children and families living in refugee camps, having no access to education, healthcare or possibilities, refugee sponsorship can become a transformation from a state of no identity to one of hopes and dreams being realized. Refugee sponsorship and settlement work is deeply embedded in the history of both Canadian society, and Islamic traditions. A 200-year history of sponsorship and settlement exists within Canada, and a large amount of this work is through churches in Canada. Within Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself experienced loss of status and seeking refuge in Makkah. For Muslims in Canada, there is a history, culture, and practise of refugee sponsorship that is taking shape. It is informed by geopolitics; economic stability; media influences; an understanding of the process of sponsorship and settlement within the framework of the Canadian government; donor behaviours; and the social realities within which settlement takes place.

This paper is based on a case study of the sponsorship and settlement experiences through the ICNA Relief Canada. This paper will explore the historical context of sponsorship and settlement within Islam as well as tracing its history in Canada amongst the Muslim Community. This paper will then address some of the issues that may impede sponsorship and settlement behaviour amongst Muslims in Canada including education, collaborative practises, connecting with donor behaviour, and meeting expectations between donors, refugees and the government. Finally, this paper will offer practical solutions based on the lessons learned on the ground over the past twenty years.

12:50

Memona Hossain
Presentation 6: Exploring the Muslim-Canadian Environmental Philanthropy Narrative

From an Islamic perspective, every entity on earth exists in a perfectly balanced, interconnected, and interdependent relationship. Quranic verses, Prophetic examples, and Islamic traditions intricately weave this principle. A Muslim’s journey towards Allah is a daily practise of worship and actions to deeply understand and nurture these connections.

In the Quranic verse, “It is He who made you khalifas on the earth…” (Quran, 6:165), Khalifa is translated from Arabic as a ‘sacred responsibility bestowed by Allah.’ It is upheld through honouring and respecting the earth directly in connection to Allah. Over the past decade, Muslim-Canadians have been developing and participating in an environmental philanthropy that is rooted in Islamic principles and practises. Their philanthropy is informed by the Muslim-Canadian identity narrative. That is, the social, political, economic, and historical elements of the Muslim-Canadian experience.

Institutional projects within mosques and Islamic schools such as earth-day or sustainability programs; Islamic-traditions adopting green themes, such as green Ramadan or sustainable eid gifts; inter-community dialogues on environmentalism; youth-focussed events such as tree-planting, Muslim scouts Canada programs; charity projects focussed on water sustainability; and online education, social media, blog and awareness campaigns are a part of this environmental philanthropy.

This paper explores the relationship between Islam, eco-consciousness, and its manifestations in environmental philanthropy in Canada. Centered on the narratives of Muslim-Canadians currently leading and involved with environmental philanthropy, the paper also connects with the implications of the current environmental crisis. Finally, this paper offers insight on future considerations for environmental philanthropy within the Muslim-Canadian context.

1:05

Sarah Attia
Presentation 7: The Leading Role of Muslim Youth in Philanthropy

Muslim youth in Canada face daily challenges which impact their sense of identity and belonging, mental health and well-being, and faith. National research, commissioned by the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), into this area indicate that the primary challenge facing urban Muslim youth in Canada is identity crisis or the problem of seemingly irreconcilable dual identities. This is exacerbated by generational gaps in families and Muslim communities and the contingent burdens of codeswitching and ambassadorship of Islam. Direct and structural Islamophobia adds additional stressors on Muslim youth, including mental health issues, financial or job insecurity, a lack of belonging and the experience of vicarious trauma from witnessing atrocities against Muslims globally, among other factors. Muslim community organizations must lend credence to youth-proposed solutions for their own challenges, centering youth voices in such discussions and community decision-making.

This paper explores how MAC, a grassroots, national organization with 13 chapters, serving over 100,000 Muslims across Canada has developed a youth-based model that fosters a sense of purpose and develops resilience, through the service of others and philanthropy. Philanthropy is a central tenet of Islam and MAC brings this to the forefront its youth work.

This paper will examine a specific case-study focusing on a COVID-19 response initiative that was conceived and driven by Muslim youth across the country will be used. It will also provide an overview of the challenges facing Muslim youth in Canada; MAC’s approach through philanthropy, and provide some recommendations and insight for future directions on engaging Muslim youth.

1:20

Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Presentation 8: Charitable Activities in the Shi‘a Muslim Community of Canada

Two recurring themes of the Qur’ān are ṣalāt and zakāt. Ṣalāt, the ritual prayer, symbolizes the vertical relationship of humans to God while zakāt, the general charity, symbolizes the horizontal inter-personal relationships. The horizontal human-to-human relationship places the tradition of charity at the centre of a Muslim’s personal and communal life.

This paper focuses on charitable activities as it pertains to the Shi‘a Muslim community of Canada. The first group of Shi‘a Muslim immigrants to Canada came in the early seventies when Idi Amin expelled the Asians from Uganda. Many of them were placed through the UN Refugee Agency in Canada. They were welcomed and helped by the local agencies to settle down in their new homeland.
It took the Canadian Muslims (including the Shi‘a Muslims) some time to plant their roots as a community in this new land but once they were settled, the human and Islamic impulse moved them to contribute to the well being of the society at large.

The sense of gratitude towards Canada and the spirit of charitable giving ingrained in their Islamic values encouraged the Shi‘a Muslims to help not only their fellow Muslims but also the less fortunate members of the society as a whole regardless of race or religion.

Although humanitarian causes in the third world countries have strong appeal among the children and grandchildren of the Muslim immigrants and they indeed give in big numbers, they have not been oblivious to the local needs of the society. Using the concept of ṣadaqah, rather than the technical zakāt which is limited in its application among Shi‘a Muslims in Canada, the community has participated in various charitable causes beyond the bounds of its own members.

1:35

Mohammed Abu Asaker
Presentation 9: UNHCR Global Zakat Fund in Canada

This paper presents the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) recently implemented global Refugee Zakat fund. The UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives and protecting the rights of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people—operates in 135 countries, working closely with governments to protect and assist refugees in major capitals to remote areas.

Currently, the number of forcibly displaced persons is a staggering 70.8 million—1% of the world’s population—and over 60% are Muslim or are from Muslim identifying countries. As the reality of wars, persecution, and climate continue, these numbers are expected to increase.

1:55

Question and Answer Session

2:30

Katherine Bullock
Introducing the chair and panelists

2:35

Muneeb Nasir
Presentation 10: Olive Tree Foundation–A Canadian Waqf Foundation Working to Enhance Community Life

2:50

Anver Emon
Presentation 11: Waqfs and Academic Freedom: Structuring the Freedom of Inquiry

From the premodern waqf to the modern university endowment, private philanthropy has been central to the development, structure, and delivery of education. But with each structure comes distinct understandings of what happens in the course of academic research and the design/delivery of a curriculum. This presentation will explore the shared and distinct features of philanthropic endowments in the premodern waqf and the modern university setting at a time when Canadian universities are increasingly looking to the private sector to enhance their capacity to innovate and advance our collective commitment to knowledge creation and dissemination.

3:05

Randi Deguilhem
Presentation 12: Waqf Endowments in the Canadian Context: New Uses for a Traditional Islamic Philanthropic Institution

Chronicles from the early centuries of Islam have documented that waqf endowments were used since the beginning of this civilisation as a means for individuals (and groups) to finance specific philanthropic and religious objectives in their society (waqf khayrî). Parallel to that, men and women of the first Islamic generations used a similar configuration to implement strategies to transmit clusters of patrimonial and matrimonial wealth within the immediate or extended family as well as to individuals outside the biological family such as to members of a professional network, manumitted slaves, etc. (waqf dhurrî/waqf ahlî).

These two types of endowment structures, inlcuding others situated between them which financed both public/religious beneficiaries as well simultaneously financing family members or other individuals (resulting in a waqf mushtarak), increased so quickly during the first two centuries of Islam (effectively removing endowed land and built assets from public coffers, i.e. from taxes) to the point where Umayyad and Abbasid political authorities commissioned jurists to produce codifications to systematize their use. By the 9th century A.D., Islamic jurisprudential treatises, in particular, that compiled by al-Khassâf, gave detailed frameworks within fiqh usages, combined with political decrees and edicts (qânûn) in addition to customary (‘urf) pratices to regulate waqf endowments.

As a historian of the institutional development of waqf in modern and contemporary Muslim-majority regions (especially in Syria) but also in Muslim-minority countries, I focus, in this proposal, on the development of waqf in contemporary Canada. Using a comparative approach with the development of waqf specific to Muslim communities in Europe (waqf urûbî, Islamic Relief waqf) as well as in the United States (NAIT: North American Islamic Trust) and South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand where waqf occupies an increasingly important role in philanthropic projects in Muslim communities (within a Muslim-minority context) where it is often coupled with zakat, especially within Islamic finance, this presentation offers the opportunity to explore the development of waqf in the Muslim Canadian context, both from a sociological as well as a legal and juridical perspective.

3:20

Nuzhat Jafri
Presentation 13: Four Decades of Determination:  A Story of Muslim Women’s Agency and Perseverance

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is one of the oldest national Muslim organizations in Canada. It was founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1982 by the late Dr. Lila Fahlman and a group of determined Muslim women who sought to channel their passion for faith-centred social justice work and create a more inclusive Canada for all.

CCMW promotes Muslim women’s identity in the Canadian context and encourages mutual understanding between Canadian Muslim women and women of other faiths. CCMW is a national not-for-profit organization with 17 chapters across Canada comprised of Canadian Muslim women and girls of diverse race, age, ethnicity, sexuality and ability. This paper chronicles the experiences of CCMW to continue its work and thrive on the strengths of its volunteers and commitment to improve the lives of Canadian Muslim women and girls. The need for an organization like CCMW continues to grow as Islamophobia and gender-based violence become more pronounced. Raising funds for causes that focus on issues facing Muslim women has been challenging, yet CCMW has survived while many other Muslim organizations have come and gone.

The paper will share CCMW’s experiences in seeking and acquiring grants to carry out projects without charitable status and plans for long-term sustainability. Through the case study of CCMW’s Lila Fahlman Scholarships as a philanthropic endeavour, the paper will illustrate successes and struggles to raise funds specifically for Muslim women and girls. The paper will share CCMW’s journey in applying for charitable status and insights on the application process. 

3:35

Question and Answer Session

3:50

Shawn Kazubowski-Houston
Closing Remarks