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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 30, 2006 - 7 15-24 Years old? Need a Summer Job? Summer Job Service at Sheridan is Open · Job Postings on site · Résumé writing assistance · Employer subsidy Call 905-845-9430, ext. 8160 or drop in and join! Sheridan, Skills Training Centre 407 Iroquois Shore Road, Room A13 Oakville, ON www.sheridaninstitute.ca/services/jobconnect Funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. check us out at www.oakvillebeaver.com TARA WALTON / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER MESSAGE OF FAITH: Safiyyah Ali was one of the nine speakers featured at an open house at the AlFalah Islamic Centre on Sunday. Religious followers urged to celebrate their similarities By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER MATH SPELLING GRAMMAR There are more similarities than differences between Muslim and Christian faiths. And to clarify widespread misconceptions, the Al-Falah Islamic Centre opened its doors on Sunday inviting the public to ask its religious scholars, leaders, elders and youth as many questions as they'd like about their beliefs. "Let's know each other as a community," said emcee Omer Chaudhary during an afternoon of presentations from Anglican and Catholic religious leaders, who provided mini theological lessons about the shared beliefs between both faiths. "Islam is a faith that seems strange to people," said Junaid Mirza, one of the more than 2,000 members of the Al-Falah congregation. The worship centre is located at Burnhamthorpe and Trafalgar Roads. Yet, eastern and western religions both believe in one omnipotent power, but call each by different names such as God, Allah and Yahweh. And each has their respective prophets whether Mohammad, Noah, Adam, Lott, Moses or Jesus, said Mirza. Also, Christians and Muslims both believe that our earthly existence is only temporary and that there is eternal life for those who live their lives well, she added. Like Jesus, Mohammad spent his days preaching to all of humankind teaching them to turn the other cheek and that all are created equal. Reverend Don Shield, a chaplain at Markham- "The greatest work that can be done by society is to build faith bridges and not to get stuck on the negative." Reverend Don Shield Stouffville Hospital, said there are even similar miracles contained in the Qur'an and the Bible such as Mohammad and Jesus each turning water into wine and feeding masses of impoverished by multiplying food. "If Mohammad and Jesus met, they'd be friends," added Shield. "The greatest work that can be done by society is to build faith bridges and not to get stuck on the negative." Mayor Anne Mulvale compared world religions to a tapestry. "In the back the threads that bind it together are a mass of confusion, all mixed up but together, when turned around to its front, beauty is created from the collection," she said. Mulvale urged the crowd of 125 people present to concentrate on what unites us, not divides us. "Oakville is a symbol of what Canada is about. Knowledge frees us from fearfulness created by ignorance," added Mulvale. To this end, Taha Ghayyur, an organizer with the Young Muslims of Canada, pointed to the misuse of words such as jihad and fatwa in mainstream media reports. They are referenced to battles and holy wars, respectively. "What other religion is forced to defend its faith and language in such a way, where their faith is put on trial," he said. The translation for jihad, explained Ghayyur, is struggle. As in a student's jihad is to study and pass their test, or a parent's jihad is to ensure he/she raises their children well. A fatwa is mistakenly referenced as a holy war but there is no such term in the Qur'an and such an idea is contradictory to the Islamic faith, added Ghayyur. "There is no reference in the Qur'an that condones fighting," he added. SUMMER CORE PROGRAMS READING WRITING FRENCH STUDY SKILLS BETTER GRADES ARE JUST A SUMMER AWAY. A SUMMER TO REMEMBER ­ BETTER GRADES IN THE FALL! Summer is the ideal time to catch-up or get ahead for the next grade at Oxford Learning. First, we pinpoint how your child learns. Then, we create an individualized program that goes beyond tutoring to teach your child to learn and study more effectively. For better grades, motivation and confidence this fall, keep your child's mind sharp with just a few hours each week at Oxford Learning. Contact us today for complete details Contact us for more information or to book your no-obligation assessment. Little Reader Summer & Fall Registration NOW OPEN Maple Grove Village 511 Maple Grove Dr. Suite 2, Oakville (905) 849-4027 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville (905) 469-1929 380 Dundas St. E. Oakville (905) 257-1207 Voted Best Learning Centre www.oxfordlearning.com