Mary Jane Story
Mary Jane tells us how a refugee partnership program got her working with the Islamic Centre. And then a yearly cycling event brought her back!
In Her Own Words
I first encountered the Islamic Society of Kingston when my husband and I joined with the West Kingston Refugee Partnership (WKRP) in early 2016 to sponsor and help settle a Syrian family in Kingston. Until then I had no knowledge of the presence of the Islamic community (we had retired and moved to Kingston in 2014). What I realized immediately was how devoted the people I met were to helping others, and making them aware of the spiritual and practical resources of the Islamic community, and the Islamic Centre of Kingston. We worked alongside Dr. Bayoumi, Zuby Saloojee and others to welcome the Al-Salkhadi family in May 2016. They were always available for advice and help, and were offering the same to other sponsoring groups as well.
A further connection I have had with ISK is the partnership with the Kingston Velo club to host an event in 2018 and 2019. The Mother Ride was a spring cycling event for riders and families to travel the scenic roads north of Kingston, leaving from the Islamic Centre, and returning there for a feast of traditional foods prepared by members of ISK. These events were very successful and introduced many people to ISK and the generosity and warmth of its members.
Mary Jane Philp
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ
Only those shall maintain Allah’s mosques who believe in Allah and the Last Day and maintain the prayer and give the zakat and fear no one except Allah.
(Sūrat al-Tawbah, No 9, Āyat 18)