Thank You For Spreading Light: SeekersGuidance Toronto’s Fundraiser with Azhar Usman

On November 1st, SeekersGuidance Toronto held their Annual Benefit Luncheon, featuring Azhar Usman.

The event was attended by community leaders, activists, families, and students – all of whom came together to support the spreading of reliable Sacred Knowledge.

As we recap some of the memorable moments below, we want to thank you all for your continued support in spreading the Prophetic Light.

 

 

Light Upon Light

Brother Idrees Ally opened the event with a beautiful recitation of the Verses of Light from Surat al Nur.

God has ordained that they [houses of worship] be raised high, and that His name be remembered in them, with people in them celebrating His glory morning and evening: people who are not distracted, either by commerce or profit, from remembering God, keeping up the prayer, and paying the prescribed alms, fearing a day when hearts and eyes will turn over.

Sacred Knowledge and Comedy: A Candid Interview with Azhar Usman

 Shaykh Faraz Rabbani began introducing Azhar Usman with a narration of the Pillow Du’a. He explained that both he and Azhar (and, it appeared, every young Muslim they knew) were having trouble getting married.

As an act of desperation – because Allah answers the du’a of the desperate – Azhar taught Shaykh Faraz the Pillow Du’a:

O Allah, when will come the day,
When on one pillow, two heads lay?

The prayer – which is recited much more colorfully in Punjabi – did work, and both he and Brother Azhar were married within the year.

Following this, Brother Abdul-Rehman Malik interviewed Azhar Usman, who explained how his comedy is a deeply spiritual practice for him.

The Urgency of Spreading Prophetic Light

The afternoon continued with addresses from a number of people from the SeekersGuidance family – all expressing the urgency of spreading Prophetic Light.

Amongst them was Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, whose work as Muslim Chaplain of the University of Toronto has changed many lives.

When someone starts to become a bit religious we get worried about them. Which direction are they going to go? What are they going to learn?

Here at SeekersGuidance Toronto there is access to an entire curriculum and mentorship, reliable male and female scholarship, and community service — the needed resources and connections, so that seekers of knowledge don’t need to go somewhere that is unsafe.

But there are many who have not yet been connected.

This can’t just be our problem when it affects ourselves or our children. This is currently affecting our umma and our community, and is thus our responsibility.

Azhar Usman’s Stellar Performance

The event concluded with  Azhar Usman’s comedy set, in which he successfully discussed marriage, parenting, and the reality of Time and Space.

The performance was as funny as it was true, and we thank him both for making us reflect, and for his support.

We also want to thank Brother Amer Abdullah, who is a budding comedian in the SeekersGuidance Toronto community. Amer performed the opening set and introduced Azhar Usman, who is a good friend of his.