On March 25th, the National Zakat Foundation (NZF) hosted its first-ever Grand Iftar Fundraising Gala in British Columbia, at Taste of Lahore’s Hall. The event was sponsored by Islamic Relief Canada and The Cookie Cutter, with approximately 100 people in attendance. During the Grand Iftar, guests were given a warm welcome by the National Zakat Foundation’s Regional Development Manager of BC – Husna Hussain, as well as NZF’s Program Director – Zaid Mirza, and Head of Outreach and Development – Adil Siddiqui who was attending from Mississauga, Ontario.
National Zakat Foundation’s Fundraising Gala focused on the importance of Zakat and giving Zakat locally to Muslims living in Canada, especially during these times of inflation, economic crisis, and high unemployment rates. The evening consisted of keynote speeches from NZF’s Shariah Advisory Board; Imam Taha Masood and Imam Nabil Khan. Imam Taha Masood spoke on the Sunnah and Prophetic teachings regarding the 3rd Pillar, emphasizing the requirement on every Muslim to pay Zakat not only as a religious obligation but as an honorable duty and opportunity to seek rewards from Allah Subhan Wa Ta’ala. Imam Nabil Khan led the fundraising segment of the event and discussed how the Sahabas in Islam even waged war to establish the Pillar of Zakat, further emphasizing the seriousness of Zakat education, collection, and distribution among Canada’s Muslim community. National Zakat Foundation’s Regional Manager of BC, Husna Hussain, also spoke of her heartbreaking experiences in dealing with cases and calls she had received across the province that impacted her, as well as the fact NZF’s team ran out of giving Zakat funds to the community nationally on March 13th, 2023.
British Columbia Muslim Association’s (BCMA) Vice President Iltaf Sahib, British Columbia Muslim Schools’ (BCMS) Principal Syed Imran Ahmed, Nisa Homes, Al-Ihsan Institute and Islamic Relief Canada’s respective teams were also in attendance, bringing together BC’s largest Muslim organizations for the sake of collecting and giving Zakat locally during this blessed month of Ramadan.
The event concluded with an Iftar, and dinner provided by Taste of Lahore Restaurant, and Salat-al-Maghrib.
