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Keffer posted:
Chief posted:

I will be arriving this morning for the weekend.

I will be at IMO for Jumaah insha Allah.

There are so many clean, attractive, well-managed, decent masjids all across Toronto and you chose the most filthy, corrupt, worst-managed place to offer your prayer ? Buddy, you really need to have your head examined !

We doing we rounds Bro.

I was at IIT  in Scarborough  this evening.

Right now having dinner at Sizzling Skillet.

 

Chief
Chief posted:
Keffer posted:
Chief posted:

I will be arriving this morning for the weekend.

I will be at IMO for Jumaah insha Allah.

There are so many clean, attractive, well-managed, decent masjids all across Toronto and you chose the most filthy, corrupt, worst-managed place to offer your prayer ? Buddy, you really need to have your head examined !

We doing we rounds Bro.

I was at IIT  in Scarborough  this evening.

Right now having dinner at Sizzling Skillet.

 

Brief/key information on IMO:                                                              1) incorporated as a charity in April 1997,                                                2) board of directors remained virtually unchanged since inception,            3) no board member has university degree/qualification,                        4) except for 1 individual, no director has ever attended high school,  5) membership only allowed to relatives/friends/associates of president          and secretary,                                                                                6) continuing decline in attendance over time,                                          7) premises very poorly maintained; literally stinks, and                            8) continued declining annual revenue. 

There has always been strong pre-occupation with power and control by the president and secretary, both of whom are largely uneducated as neither has had the benefit of even high school tuition. More than 90% of the people who supported IMO opening were Guyanese, however, most of them have since moved off to other mosques because of the complete absence of transparency and lack of changes to the board of directors over the past 20 years. Canada Revenue Agency website clearly indicates ongoing decline in revenue and it is rather doubtful that the organization will be able to continue with the existing lot of 'permanent' board members and continuing decline in donation revenue. The 'clique' at IMO continues to claim, however, that they are the best in Toronto .......the saga continues; but for how long ??

K
Chief posted:

Zed

Nothing lasts forever.What you have said there seems correct.

 

Give me a little history of IIT. First time I visited there and I am impressed.

 

 

Who is Zed ?

There is much to be said about the Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT); all positive ! IIT was registered as a charitable organization as at Jan 1, 2000. It has since grown and expanded exponentially. The key admin. individuals are Fareed Amin and Farhad Khadim, both university educated individuals and both originally from Guyana. IIT is recognised as a seat of Islamic learning in Toronto as they provide facilities for education for virtually all ages. The IIT property is very well maintained and attracts people from all across the Greater Toronto Area; particularly during weekends. Both of the two individuals named above are very people-oriented and they each give considerable amounts of their time to the management, operation, maintenance of the facility and more significantly to Islamic education. IIT frequently invites prominent world-renowned Islamic scholars to teach and lecture to the large audiences which they attract from all around the GTA. The management body of IIT is very generous and frequently support activities by prominent Islamic humanitarian organizations like Human Concern International which works in numerous countries around the world.

K
Chief posted:

Keffer

I had dinner last night with Farhad . 

You should come and as it us to collect here in Toro to this morning .

How is Imamdul?

Had I known earlier, I would have been more than happy to join and assist you. I have no doubt that Farhad and Fareed will do everything they can to support/assist you. These guys have always been pleasant and helpful to Islamic and humanitarian causes and I know for sure that they are loved and respected in the community here. Is there a telephone number that I can call to get in touch with you ?  The Imdadul guys are also wonderful people, however, they recently acquired a neighboring property and I know that they are also looking to the community for financial support for their needs.    

K
Abu Jihad posted:
Chief posted:

Keffer

My digits 

9175536836

Going to Forum this evening.

Oh Skites, I cant wait to hear Kefs summation on the Forum 

I am so sorry, Brother; I only just got to my computer and it is much to late to call you; you are probably now in dreamland anyway. I hope you have had positive responses to any other organizations/groups that you might have approached. I will call you tomorrow morning, Insha Allah. 

K
Abu Jihad posted:
Chief posted:

Keffer

My digits 

9175536836

Going to Forum this evening.

Oh Skites, I cant wait to hear Kefs summation on the Forum 

I know very little about 'Islamic Forum'; primarily because my initial and only experience with them was very 'different'. With group of friends, I visited their rented unit at Dixie Road, Mississauga one Saturday evening about 12 years ago but never went back because I was quite 'uncomfortable' with what I saw. To begin with, we were directed where to sit; which I initially thought was their expression of courtesy or accommodation to us as guests. Some of the folks who were there before us were reading or reciting Qur'an; perfectly normal stuff, I thought. The atmosphere, however, was sort of eerie or strange because everyone kept looking in one direction and, although I wondered about this, I did not ask or say anything. Eventually, after we had been there for about 30 minutes, all of the 'regulars' suddenly rose to their feet and signaled to us visitors to do so too. About 30 seconds later, 'his eminence' entered and as he approached those close to him, he extended his clenched fist ....which each individual dutifully leaned forward and kissed ! I had never previously seen anything even remotely close to this and, needless to say, I and all of my friends immediately left. My understanding is that this guy is quite well educated but I seriously question his failure to 'move forward' or progress as many others have done in GTA. I am aware that 'the Forum' bought a plot of land; 10 or maybe 12 years ago, and I believe they had started construction of a building but I have no idea what their current situation is. Others organizations; like Sayeda Khadija Centre which is very effectively lead by Dr. Hamid Slimi, started in July 2009 and has made spectacular progress; not only as a mosque but, very much like IIT, also as a prominent center of Islamic education and a wide variety of other activities. To all/any who read this, I wish to make it very clear that I am not attempting to be critical or negative about anyone or any organization because there could well be factors which 1) I am unaware of or 2) mitigate against planned progress or advancement.        

K

"I am aware that 'the Forum' bought a plot of land; 10 or maybe 12 years ago, and I believe they had started construction of a building but I have no idea what their current situation is."

I think the land was acquired with the unfinished structure and it remains that way to this day.

I dont visit too often, but once again, you were spot on with your summary.

AJ
Abu Jihad posted:

"I am aware that 'the Forum' bought a plot of land; 10 or maybe 12 years ago, and I believe they had started construction of a building but I have no idea what their current situation is."

I think the land was acquired with the unfinished structure and it remains that way to this day.

I dont visit too often, but once again, you were spot on with your summary.

No, Brother; there was no unfinished structure on the property when it was purchased. I clearly remember that I and two others passed by when the basement was being excavated. I wish them well but, as I indicated in my previous post, I am quite uncomfortable with the manner in which these folks operate; no transparency like IIT, Sayeda Khadija Centre, ISNA, Islamic Foundation, Brampton Sunnatul, etc.  

K

"No, Brother; there was no unfinished structure on the property when it was purchased. I clearly remember that I and two others passed by when the basement was being excavated."

Just like you I visit on an infrequent basis but I was told by family members who are active members that it was purchased some type of existing structure (not sure what stage).

I was also surprised one day when I drove by to see a lot of activity there, thinking that construction will start only to see it abandoned a few months later (its now more than 5 years later).  

i think the unfinished structure is a source of income

There is now another finished masjid less than half a mile away which was started and finished within the past 5 years or so.  

 

 

 

AJ
Last edited by Abu Jihad
Abu Jihad posted:

"No, Brother; there was no unfinished structure on the property when it was purchased. I clearly remember that I and two others passed by when the basement was being excavated."

Just like you I visit on an infrequent basis but I was told by family members who are active members that it was purchased some type of existing structure (not sure what stage).

I was also surprised one day when I drove by to see a lot of activity there, thinking that construction will start only to see it abandoned a few months later (its now more than 5 years later).  

i think the unfinished structure is a source of income

There is now another finished masjid less than half a mile away which was started and finished within the past 5 years or so.  

 

 

 

I know for sure that Sayeda Khadija Centre, popularly known as SKC, on Edwards Blvd, immediately north of Derry Road, is going fabulously well. Imam Dr. Hamid Slimi, is brilliant, very highly educated in Islam and a number of other subjects, is multi-lingual and has exceptionally strong inter-personal skills and connections. On the other hand, it is so sad to note that the I.M.O. idiots (and that is a very mild/charitable description) are once more mired in debt and do not appear to have even a clue about how they will extricate themselves from their predicament ! I.M.O had a diamond in their hands when Imam Slimi was there but their combination of ego, ignorance and arrogance saw to it that he left and, as they say, the rest is history! I.M.O, from all indications and reports is once again heavily laden with debt is quite evidently sinking further and further into oblivion. I personally know of numerous people who, as a matter of principle, are no longer prepared to 'set foot' there ....so sad but unfortunately, many of us forget the lessons of history !   

K

Oi Chief had I known you were in the Rexdale neck o de woods I woulda meet up. My family live about 5mins from where you were and I visit on occasion.

There was a masjid at Birchmount and Comstock in Scarberia..this was torn down and now it seems to be rebuilding. Looks like dem guys got the bucks.

cain
Last edited by cain
cain posted:

Oi Chief had I known you were in the Rexdale neck o de woods I woulda meet up. My family live about 5mins from where you were and I visit on occasion.

There was a masjid at Birchmount and Comstock in Scarberia..this was torn down and now it seems to be rebuilding. Looks like dem guys got the bucks.

Next time when I visit we will catch up. If you here in the big apple at any time let me know.

Chief

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