Muslim Media Hub had the honor of hosting a meeting of the Canadian Council of Imams where they discussed important issues of relevance to the Muslim community in Canada. We had a chance to ask imams what their daily life is like and what inspires them to do what they do. Here are their answers! If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally explores Quran 5:45, which prescribes "an eye for an eye" and similar retributive justice principles. He explains that while the verse may appear to demand literal retaliation, such as exacting physical punishment, a deeper understanding reveals a more nuanced approach. Dr. Shabir emphasizes that the verse also encourages forgiveness and charity, which can be expiatory. He argues that in modern times, such verses should be interpreted contextually rather than literally, advocating for monetary compensation and other forms of justice, such as rehabilitation, rather than strict physical retaliation. Dr. Shabir also reflects on how literal interpretations can be problematic, especially when considering complex cases like unequal social statuses or the potential psychological harm inflicted on the person seeking retaliation. He highlights that the Quran allows for flexibility, encouraging forgiveness and compensation over exacting mirror punishments. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally elaborates on the Quran 5:5, which states, "This day are all good things made lawful for you." He explains that "all good things" primarily refers to permissible foods and aligns with the broader concept of purity in Islamic law. Dr. Shabir says that among the lawful and good things is the food of the "People of the Book" (referring to Jews and Christians), provided it meets the criteria of purity and goodness from an Islamic perspective. Dr. Shabir clarifies that this doesn't mean all food consumed by Jews and Christians is automatically lawful; instead, it must fall within the intersection of Islamic dietary laws and what is considered "good" or pure by these religious communities. For example, Christians may eat pork, which is explicitly forbidden in Islam, so that would be excluded from what Muslims can eat. Furthermore, Dr. Shabir discusses the four categories of food explicitly prohibited in the Quran, drawing from Surah 2:173 and Surah 6:145. These include: dead animals, which refers to animals not properly slaughtered; blood; pork; and anything slaughtered in the name of other than God, such as animals sacrificed on altars to idols. He emphasizes that Jews and Christians, despite differences in theological beliefs, share a monotheistic tradition. Since they do not invoke any name other than God's during slaughter, the verse in question permits Muslims to consume their food, as long as it does not fall into the prohibited categories, such as pork or improperly slaughtered animals. In summary, the verse "all good things" is broad and inclusive. The allowance for the food of the People of the Book is a reflection of their shared belief in one God, and as long as their food falls under the umbrella of purity and goodness, it is permissible for Muslims to eat. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Safiyyah Ally addresses the common misconception that Islam was spread by force, particularly "the sword". She explains that while military conquests were part of early Islamic expansion, as was normal and accepted at the time, forced conversions were rare. Instead, Dr. Ally emphasizes that Islam's spread was largely peaceful, facilitated by trade, cultural exchange, and marriage, with non-Muslims often being allowed to practice their own religions. She also highlights that many people were attracted to Islam due to the fair and just behavior of Muslims, and that this peaceful spread continues today, as evidenced by the religion's growth in unexpected places like Canada. Dr. Ally encourages viewers to question the oversimplified narrative of Islam's spread by force and to recognize the diverse and peaceful ways in which the religion has expanded. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks

Dr. Shabir Ally examines Quran 5:3, which states: "This day have I perfected your religion for you and have chosen for you as a religion, Islam." Dr. Shabir explains that while this verse is often interpreted as indicating the finality and unchangeability of Islam, it was not the last verse revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. He emphasizes that Islam, at the time of the verse's revelation, was still in development, with more Quranic revelations and prophetic teachings to follow. Dr. Shabir argues that the verse signifies a milestone in the development of Islam rather than a static state of perfection. While the religion was perfected for the circumstances of that time, it was still subject to growth and evolution as new revelations and teachings were imparted. This suggests that the principles of Islam, though fundamentally sound, are not meant to be frozen in time but should be interpreted and applied in a way that is responsive to the changing needs and contexts of different societies. Just as a baby is considered perfect at birth but continues to develop and grow into different stages of perfection, Islam too was perfect in its initial form but was expected to evolve. This growth is necessary for Islam to remain relevant and effective in guiding its followers through various challenges and circumstances across different eras. Therefore, the perfection mentioned in the verse does not imply that the religion must remain unchanged, but rather that it can achieve new forms of perfection as it adapts to the evolving realities of the world. This dynamic understanding allows Islam to be continually applicable and meaningful in diverse situations and societies, rather than being rigidly bound to the context of its early revelation. If you enjoy this video, please support our work financially by: Visiting our website http://www.QuranSpeaks.com OR Sending an etransfer to iGive@QuranSpeaks.com OR Subscribing monthly at Patreon.com/QuranSpeaks ► DONATE: http://www.quranspeaks.com/ ► SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=quranspeaks Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/LetTheQuranSpeak Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/QuranSpeaks.tv Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/Quran_Speaks