What are the prayers recited by the congregants in the Mosque?
On October 22, 2017, the Toronto Star dedicated four pages, including its front page, to an attempt to exonerate Ayman Elkasrawy, an imam at “Masjid Toronto” mosque, from anti-Jewish and anti-infidel prayers during Ramadan 2016. It is filled with errors in fact and the gross omission of facts.
The article was written by Jennifer Yang and approved by Kathy English, the Star’s public editor.
I have sent several media inquiries to the Publisher, John Boynton; Bob Hepburn media inquiries; Kathy English and Jennifer Yang. None responded.
In my 12 previous investigative articles I’ve published on my blog, I showed that Toronto Star’s front page exposé spread over four pages contained major factual errors, rejected reliable contradicting evidence and ignored the social media posts of Ayman Elkasrawy that could have helped to understand the context of his supplications. Context was very important to Jennifer Yang, the reporter.
In this article I’m focusing on three of the taraweeh prayers at Masjid Toronto mosque during Ramadan in 2016. These are the prayers under contention.The prayers were analyzed minute by minute to better understand their content and context with regard to the Jews and the disbelievers.
Notice how often these words are shared.
Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
The chapters of the Quran recited by Masjid Toronto’s imams in the taraweeh prayers included verses condemning the Jews, Christians and other disbelievers reminding them that Allah annihilates the disbelieving people and Allah promises punishment.
After every segment of the taraweeh prayers the imams recited the first chapter of the Quran, Surah Al-Fatiha including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.”
Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
It should be noted that Wael Shehab, the head imam of Masjid Toronto, attended the prayer in which Ayman Elkasrawy recited a supplication invoking Allah to “destroy” the enemies of Islam and “slay them one by one and spare not one of them.” The congregants said Ameen as a sign of approval after every line of the supplications.
Here is another example showing that  the Toronto Star’s article ignored the context of the prayers.
Ramadan 1437 Hijri_2016 – 29th Taraweeh (July 4, 2016)
 
Imam leading the prayer: “Brother Murshid” / Chapters of the Quran recited by “Brother Murshid”:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Abas (80) including the following verses 17, 42: “Cursed is man; how disbelieving is he… Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.”
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah al-Takwir (81)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
 

Imam leading the prayer: “Brother Murshid” and next to him in the first line of the prayer Ayman Elkasrawy and Mostafa Hanoot, Clinical Fellow, Ocular Oncology at University of Toronto Chapters of the Quran recited by “Brother Murshid”: 

  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Infitar (82) including Verses 14-15: “And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire. They will [enter to] burn therein on the Day of Recompense,”
  • Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83) including verses 10-12, 16-17, 34-36: “Woe, that Day, to the deniers, Who deny the Day of Recompense. And none deny it except every sinful transgressor… Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire. Then it will be said [to them], “This is what you used to deny… So Today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, On adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?”
  • Surah Inshiqaq (84) including verses 22-24: “But those who have disbelieved deny, And Allah is most knowing of what they keep within themselves. So give them tidings of a painful punishment,”
  • Surah Al-Buruj including verses 10, 17-18: “Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire… Has there reached you the story of the soldiers – [Those of] Pharaoh and Thamud?”
  • Surah At-Tariq (86)
 
Imam leading the prayer: Mostafa Hanoot and next to him in the first line of the prayer Ayman Elkasrawy. Chapters of the Quran recited by Mostafa Hanoot:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ghashiyah (88) including verses 23-26: “However, he who turns away and disbelieves -Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment. Indeed, to Us is their return. Then indeed, upon Us is their account.”
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Fajr (89) including verses 6-13: “Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad – [With] Iram – who had lofty pillars, The likes of whom had never been created in the land? And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes? – All of] whom oppressed within the lands And increased therein the corruption. So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.”
  • Surah Al-Balad (90) including verses 19-20: “But they who disbelieved in Our signs – those are the companions of the left. Over them will be fire closed in.”
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
 
Fund-raising speech for expanding the Mosque.  Imam leading the prayer: Mostafa Hanoot and next to him in the first line of the prayer Ayman Elkasrawy. 
Chapters of the Quran recited by Mostafa Hanoot:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Ash-Shams (91) including verses 11, 14: “Thamud denied [their prophet] by reason of their transgression… But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].”
  • Surah Al-Layl (92)
  • Surah Al-Layl (92)
  • Surah Ad-Duhaa (93)
  • Surah Ash-Sharh (94)
  • Surah At-Tin (95)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-‘Alaq (96)
  • Surah Al-Qadr (97)
  • Surah Al-Bayyinah (98) including verses 1, 6: “Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from misbelief] until there came to them clear evidence… Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.” Note: “the People of the Scripture” refers to Jews and Christians.
  • Surah Az-Zalzalah (99)
  • Surah Al-‘Adiyat (100)
  • Surah Al-Qari’ah (101)
 
Imam leading the prayer: Ayman Elkasrawy and next to him in the first line of the prayer Mostafa Hanoot. Chapters of the Quran recited by Ayman Elkasrawy:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah At-Takathur (102)
  • Surah Al-‘Asr (103)
  • Surah Al-Humazah (104)
  • Surah Al-Fil (105) including verses 1, 4-5: “Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?… Striking them with stones of hard clay, And He made them like eaten straw.”
  • Surah Quraysh (106)
  • Surah Al-Ma’un (107)
  • Surah Al-Kawthar (108)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Kafirun (109)
  • Surah An-Nasr (110) including verses 1-2: “When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest,And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes”
  • Surah Al-Masad (111)
  • Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)
  • Surah Al-Falaq (113)
  • Surah An-Nas (114)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Baqara (2) verses (1-5)
 
Supplications recited by Ayman Elkasrawy that also included the following:
 
You are our Protector and give us victory over the disbelieving people. [congregation:] Ameen [declaration of affirmation]…
O Allah! Give victory to Islam and raise the standing of the Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
And humiliate the polytheism and polytheists. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Give victory (help) to your slaves who believe in the oneness of Allah. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Give them victory over the criminal people.
O Allah! Destroy anyone who killed/ fought against Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Destroy anyone who displaced the sons of the Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Count their number; [congregation:] Ameen, slay them one by one, [congregation:] Ameen, and spare not one of them.[congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Purify Al-Aqsa Mosque from the filth of the Jews! [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Purify Al-Aqsa Mosque from the filth of the Jews! [congregation:] Ameen.
 
 
Ramadan 1437 Hijri _2016 – 11th Night Taraweeh (June 16, 2016)
 
Imam leading the prayer: Wael Shehab, the head imam of Masjid Toronto. Chapters of the Quran recited by Wael Shehab:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ahzab (33) verses (38-44)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ahzab (33) verses (43-48)
 
Imam leading the prayer: Mostafa Hanoot. Chapters of the Quran recited by Mostafa Hanoot:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (47-64)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (65-79). Note: The verses tell the story of the tribes of ‘Aad and Thamud, ancient peoples annihilated by Allah because they didn’t heed the warnings of the prophets.
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (80-93.) The verses tell the story of the peoples of Lut and Madyan that were annihilated by Allah because they didn’t heed the warnings of the prophets.
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (94-116)
 
Khutbah and supplications by Wael Shehab. Imam leading the prayer: Ayman Elkasrawy and behind him Wael Shehab. 
Chapters of the Quran recited by Ayman Elkasrawy:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (117-137). The verses tell the story of Pharaoh and his punishment by Allah.
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (138-149)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (150-159)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’raf (7) verses (160-170). Verse 166: “So when they [Israelites] were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, “Be apes, despised.” Based on this verse the Jews are often portrayed by imams as the “descendants of apes and pigs”.
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Falaq (113)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah An-Nas (114)
 
Supplications recited by Ayman Elkasrawy that also included the following:
 
O Allah, we ask You for… victory over the enemies. [congregation:] Ameen,
O Allah! Raise the standing of Islam and the Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Give victory (help) to your oppressed slaves all over the world, east to west. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Give victory (help) to your slaves who believe in the oneness of Allah, O the Lord of the Worlds! [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Destroy the criminals. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Destroy anyone who inflicts injustice on your slaves, O the Lord of the Worlds! [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah! Count their number; [congregation:] Ameen, slay them one by one, [congregation:] Ameen and spare not one of them. [congregation:] Ameen
O Allah! Do not defer [it] from them, O the Lord of the Worlds! [congregation:] Ameen
O Allah! Seize them with the seizure of One Mighty, Omnipotent [referring to a Quranic verse that deals with the punishment Allah inflicted on Pharaoh and his people] [congregation:] Ameen
Ramadan 1437 Hijri _2016 – 8th Night Taraweeh (June 13, 2016)
 
Imam leading the prayer: Ayman Elkasrawy. Chapters of the Quran recited by Ayman Elkasrawy:
 
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ma’idah (67-77)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ma’idah (78-89) including the following verses “Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel… You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews… those who disbelieved and denied Our signs – they are the companions of Hellfire.”
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ma’idah (90-100)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ma’idah (101-108)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-A’la (1-19)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Kafirun (1-6)
  • Surah Al-Fatiha (1) including Verses 6-7: “Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” Note: Canadian Muslim scholars explain that “those who have evoked [Your] anger” refers to the Jews and “those who are astray” refers to the Christians.
  • Surah Al-Ikhlas (1-4)
 
Supplications recited by Ayman Elkasrawy that also included the following:
 
You are our Protector and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
[congregation:] Ameen [declaration of affirmation]…
O Allah, give victory to Islam and raise the standing of the Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah, give victory to Islam and raise the standing of the Muslims. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah, whoever wishes good for Islam and the Muslims bestow all goodness upon him
O Allah, whoever wishes ill for us and wishes ill for Islam and the Muslims, make his plot (tied) around his neck. [congregation:] Ameen.
O Allah, turn fate against them, [congregation:] Ameen, and destroy/ annihilate them as You destroyed/ annihilated [the peoples] of ʿĀd and Thamud [ancient peoples annihilated by Allah because they didn’t heed the warnings of the prophets]. [congregation:] Ameen.

Copies of the original videos are available here. 

 

The anti-Jewish message of the Muslim prayer and Surah (chapter) Al-Fathiha

The Muslim prayer (also known as salah, salat or namaz) is one of the Five Pillars in the faith of Islam and an obligatory religious duty to be observed five times a day for every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty.

On Fridays, the noon congregational prayer (salat al-Jum’a) substitutes for the regular noon prayer, and it includes the Khutba, or the Friday sermon, by the imam (religious leader) who gives the congregants guidance in Islamic teachings.

The purpose of the prayer is to demonstrate a total submission to Allah and a commitment to follow his path unconditionally.

At the start of each unit of prayer (rakah), Muslims must recite Surah (chapter) al-Fatihah (“The Opening”), the first chapter of the Quran. In total, Surah (chapter) al-Fatihah is recited at least seventeen times a day by a practising Muslim. The prayer also includes supplications to Allah.

The Friday prayer is performed in public schools across the US and Canada and also during Islamic events at the Federal, State and provincial legislatures and City Halls.

Surah (chapter) al-Fatihah – its text and meaning

The following is the translation of Surah (chapter) al-Fatihah as provided by Omar Subedar, Imam at Brampton Makki Masjid, The Islamic society of Peel, Vice President of Mathabah Institute and CEO & Founder of Bukhari Publications (seehereherehereherehere and here):

  • In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
  • All praise is for Allah, the Sustainer of every creation
  • The Most Merciful and the Ever Merciful
  • Master of the Day of Compensation
  • It is only You who we worship and only You Who we seek assistance from
  • Guide us to the straight path
  • The path of those you bestowed favours upon, not those who have incurred [Your] wrath and those who have deviated

American and Canadian Muslim religious leaders explain the context of Surah Al-Fatiha

Osman Haji Madad, Sahaba Masjid. Edmonton, Alberta:

“Who are those who earned the wrath of Allah?… They are the Jews… Those who were cursed by Allah. Allah was angry at them and turned them into monkeys and pigs.”

Muhammad Alshareef– Founder and President of Al-Maghrib Institute (Born and raised in Canada): “Adiyy ibn Hatim [one of the companions of Muhammad], May Allah, Exalted be He, be please with him, asked the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, he said: Who are the “Al-Maghdoubi Alaihim”? Who are those that evoked Allah’s anger? that made Allah angry at them? And the Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, said: “Houm Al-Yahood” [Arabic], they are the Jews. And so every time you’re reciting Surah [chapter] Al-Fatiha [first chapter of the Quran], and in fact is some Muslim countries they want to take out the verses because they want to have good relationships with Israel… they said let’s not teach in our curriculum the verses that deal of and speak about the Jews and praise be to Allah, the scholars said: what are going to do with “Ghairi Al-Maghdoubi Alaihim” [not those who have incurred [Your] wrath]? Are they going to take Surah [chapter] Al-Fatiha from the curriculum? They cannot take it out… And so because the Muslim youth aren’t growing up on the “Aqida” [Islamic faith] and most beloved people to them are becoming actors and actresses, Jewish actresses, Christian actresses, when they hear a speech about how Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, condemned the Jews, they say: What’s wrong with Seinfeld? Every Wednesday at 8 pm, prime time television, they’re watching Seinfeld and he’s funny. [They say:] Are you telling me Seinfeld is going to hellfire? And that’s in their mind. Because they have laughed and spent very joyous moments with the sitcom and now they cannot understand what Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, is telling them in the Quran… If the Jews evoked Allah’s anger then they did it for a reason and Allah page after page in the Quran shows us the reason why the Jews evoked Allah’s, Exalted and Glorified be He, anger.”

Omar Subedar, Imam at Makki Masjid in Brampton, Ontario and and Vice President of Mathabah Institute: “First I’m going to recite the verse. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed. In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful. Not the path of those who have incurred Your anger or the path of those who have deviated, who have fallen astray. Now, who are these people? Whomare these categories Allah (swt) is referring to? The first group, the prophet (pbuh) has identified as the Jews (اليهود), and the second group ‘those who have deviated’, the prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, has identified them as the Christians(النصارى).”

Musleh Khan, Toronto Police Muslim Chaplain: “Al-Timidhi reports in an authentic Hadith the the Prophet (PBUH) was asked by a companion: those who have earned your anger غير المغضوب عليهم, the Prophet (PBUH) says this refers to the Yahoudi [Jews] and then companion continue to ask والضاليينthe Prophet responds and says this refers to the Nasara [Christians] and those who have gone astray…”

Younus Kathrada, Vancouver, British Columbia: “Pointing specifically at different groups here. As we said, although the Ayat (verses) include all non-Muslims whether they’d be Christians or Jews or other than them. But we speak about المغضوب عليهم those who earned the wrath and the anger of Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, specifically here the scholars (علماء) speak of the Jews Al-Yahoud. Why? Well, if you look in the Quran, it’s because they are the ones who are the most argumentative. They’re the ones who knew, they have knowledge of things and yet they rejected it. So of course they earned the wrath and the anger of Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He… We find that even in the Sunnah [narrations attributed to Muhammad statement or deeds] the Prophet [Mohammad], peace be upon him, they, because they know and yet they reject. الضالينthose who went astray, you know, because they don’t base things on knowledge. It’s all about emotion. And Glorified be Allah, the more we think about it, look at today even, you know, if you look at many of the Christians today, they like to talk about, everything is love, it’s not based on knowledge. Nothing is knowledge-based. Everything is emotions, ok, and so they’ve gone astray because they refused to seek that knowledge and they refuse to act upon this knowledge that is present غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين.”

Sheikh Mashhoor Hasan explained in a lecture in a Toronto mosque the meaning the this chapter. The following are excerpts from his lecture translated by Abu Umar Abdulaziz: “Not those whom you have become angry on, not those who have deviated. The prophet [Mohammad], peace be upon him, said in Jami` at-Tirmidhi [collection of hadiths, narrations attributed to Mohammad], after he recited this verse, he said: Those whom Allah is angry on [are] the Jews, and those who deviated they are the Christians. Why were the Jews called the ones whom Allah is angry on? And why the Christians called the ones went astray? It is very easy, but most of the Muslims they resemble themselves with these ones [Jews] or with these ones [Christians]… The Jews have been called the ones whom Allah is angry on because they had knowledge. They have knowledge but they don’t act on this knowledge. And those who are astray [the Christians] are called astray because they do actions and they do acts of worship but they do have knowledge.”

Website: gloriousquranhistory.caQuran exegesis by Muhammad ash-Shawkani: “In this 7th and last Ayah [verse] of [Surah – chapter] Al Fatiha, Allah [SWT] mentions the Muslims who practice Islam, the Jews and Christians… Those who have evoked the Wrath of Allah [SWT] are the Jews [or Israelites] who knew the full truth through Prophet Mousa [Alyhi Al Salam: AAS] but deviated from this truth with selfishness, pride and prejudice. They thus deserved the Wrath of Allah [SWT]. The astray, on the other hand, are the Christians who deviated from the Message of Prophet Isa [AAS] out of ignorance and ill-knowledge…”

In his book “Commentary on The Holy Quran” (Volume 1, SURAH AL-FATIHA), Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad, the leader and the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, explained verse no. 7 of of Al-Fatiha. The following are excerpts from the book (p. 338-340): “All commentators are agreed that those who incurred Divine wrath and those who went astray are the Jews and Christians respectively. A prayer to be safeguarded against these mischiefs, not to be included among those who went astray, nor among those who incurred Divine wrath, has been taught. This must be repeatedly offered in the five daily Prayer services. It is thus clear that this is the biggest and most serious mischief which must be safeguarded against. It should be called the mother of mischiefs… Those who incurred Divine displeasure are the Jews and those who went astray are the Christians…”

The booklet “Muslim Prayer Handbook For Beginners” has being handed out at the Islamic booth at Toronto’s Dundas Square. Printed and distributed by the Walk-In Islamic InfoCenter located at Toronto (collectfreequran.org), the booklet introduces the daily prayers for Muslims. In some of the supplications dealing with the “Kafiroun,” the disbelievers or infidels, Muslims are ordained to ask Allah to help them overcome and defeat their enemies who are identified as the disbelieving people.

The following are the recommended daily prayers for Muslims in which the disbelievers are mentioned: “Du’a [supplication] to overcome enemies… Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions, establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (3:147)… The Witr (The Last Night prayer)… we also abandon and reject anyone who disobeys you… Your punishment surely overtakes the disbelievers… The most comprehensive Supplication… You are our protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”

The importance of the reciting supplications and jihad during Ramadan

Dua during the month of Ramadan – Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du’a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (SAW) saying: ‘When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Shaitans are locked up’ Thus, it is clear that du’a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened. [Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]

Get in high gear for the next 10 nights and days – Time is of the essence. Every moment counts. Whatever you need to do for the next ten days to make the most in Ibada, good deeds, reciting Quran, dhikr, making dua, etc., rewards are going to be multiplied. No one knew about the importance of these days more than the prophet (saws). Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would stay up at night, wake his family and tie his lower garment tight. According to Ahmad and Muslim: he would strive hard in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan as he did not do at other times. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said “When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.)” An-Nasa’i recorded this same Hadith.”

Mississauga based Al Ayam Arabic bi-weekly newspaper published (Issue 8, June 30, 2014, P. 10) an article on the month of Ramadan, which was written by Canadian Imam Ahmed Shehab. In this article, Ahmed Shehab emphasized the importance of Ramadan in the life of Prophet Mohammad urging Muslims to follow the path of the last messenger of Allah. The following are excerpts from the article (originally in Arabic):

[Title:] With the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, during the month of Ramadan… The [Prophet], peace and blessing be upon him, used to carry out the jihad during the [month of] Ramadan and to order his companions to strengthen themselves for encountering their enemy… The [Prophet], peace and blessing be upon him, was the greatest of the mujahideen. Fasting did not stop him from taking part in invasions. He took part in six invasions during nine years; all of them occurred during the [month of] Ramadan. He carried out formidable actions during the [month of] Ramadan such as destroying al-Darrar Mosque [built by the ‘hypocrites’], smashing the famous statues of the Arabs, meeting with delegations, marrying the mother of the believers Hafsah and conquering Mecca during the [month of] Ramadan. The bottom line is that the month of Ramadan was a month of diligence, jihad and sacrifice in the life of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and not as many Muslims in our time who do not understand this and turn it into month of indulgence, laziness, inactivity and idleness. O Allah, help us to follow the tradition of your Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, and bless us with his way of life [Sunnah], and our nation with his [Islamic] Law [Sharia].”

From the Ethics of the Fathers: “Rabbi Tarfon used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it.”