The Olive Tree Foundation: A Fearless Attitude Towards Constructing Something Positive

Written by Khaiam Dar | September 26, 2012 |  http://portraitoftheprophet.wordpress.com{Blogger Khaiam Dar reflects on the Olive Tree’s Foundation Annual Gala held on 15 September, 2012 at the Delta Toronto East Hotel}Getting to the event on time meant it started off on a positive note. I’m not a journalist, or even much of a writer, so this was a good sign. I didn’t see anyone I knew, and my contact said she’d be running late, so I took the time to start noting my observations.With a very eclectic crowd of young professionals, families, and some seniors, I started to wonder how these people could be connected to the event, why they were there, or what their relationship to the Olive Tree Foundation (OTF) could be.I only realized near the end of the event.The first thing to note is what the OTF is; a group dedicated to investing money (donations) in ways compatible with Sharia economic guidelines to generate annually renewing funds for projects like scholarships/bursaries, endowments for social  and academic projects, and funding of non-profit groups like Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Toronto (BBST).       Amina Khan was the night’s winner of the Mohamed & Opheera Leadership Scholarship; Awarded annually on the basis of exceptional leadership qualities and social conscience as demonstrated by involvement in community service and/or charitable organizations as well as academic achievements. Amina is now attending University of Toronto.The first group of speakers were involved in a joint effort of a pilot program of a high school in a predominantly Somali community and the BBST. The program helped to engrain mentor pupil relationships in the community in order to nurture youth leadership among high risk students. It is now a functioning model that other schools in the area are considering emulating to help their own at risk students and their communities as well.When a young Somali student took the podium to speak on behalf of being a part of the BBBT project, I did not know what to expect. I felt humbled and empowered when he exuded confidence, not arrogance; pride, not in his own accomplishments, but in his contribution to a community; and a warmth of honesty in his words that came from his heart.       Mohamed Shahid was the winner of the Academic Excellence Bursary and is currently attending University of Toronto.I must confess that I had gone into the evening expecting myself having to really put effort into forcing a positive non-cynical spin on things - ‘I won’t have to lie, just focus on the positive and not be a jerk when I write this.’The speakers throughout the evening weren’t selling or spinning, but told stories for the most part. They shared facts; they shared successes, and they shared thanks. It was a display of the payoff when people come together with the courage to hope and the will to enact change. (No, I can’t believe those are my words either, but that is what I experienced firsthand).       Bushra Siddiqui was the winner of the Women's Advancement Bursary will be attending the University of Toronto.The evening’s keynote speaker was Sheema Khan, known best for her book, On Hockey and Hijab, and columns for the Globe and Mail, but has humbly tucked under her belt other accomplishments like her degrees from Harvard. As she spoke about righteousness not originating or belonging to either the east or the west, I took a moment to observe what it meant for someone having a room full of people hang on her every word. She spoke of the progress that Muslim communities have made in the West and the progress that has yet to be made. Captivating her audience, she praised the OTF for investing in the future for Canadian Muslims by investing in Canadian Muslims.I couldn’t write this article without including my jubilation to her denouncing of current conservative Muslim attitudes towards inequity of genders, violence over stupid movies, death threats for people who left Islam, and discrimination against people of different sexual orientations. She spoke of a group called the Alliance of Virtue; a religiously diverse group brought together by the Prophet Muhammad who embodied honesty and justice to give agency to those who could not survive in Arabia of the time. I don’t know if she was alluding to the OTF, or the youth being rewarded for their public service and good works.The night wasn’t about simply having good intentions but it was about honouring an up and coming generation that we all hope will continue to advance and positively influence and contribute to the communities they’re a part of as Canadian Muslims.       Saad Amjad made a positive impact on his community to help him win the Youth Action Bursary. He is now at McMaster University.It didn’t take me long to realize what I was witnessing and maybe even why I was so uncomfortable with it at first. This was a display of community. These people are never going to be on the front page in the news, or on primetime television, they’ll probably only get some tacky self-indulgent blogger have a grown up moment to discuss how moved he was by something he has yet to name. These people aren’t doing this for themselves; they’re doing it for the communities.       Zuhaib Ahmed was the winner of the Abdullah ibn Umm Makhtum Student Bursary for students with a physical, psychological, developmental, intellectual, learning or sensory disability.I realized something else about the people in that hall that night. They were willing to give themselves in some capacity to the community. They took money out of their pockets, or time out of their day to put effort into building something. That takes courage. To develop a project like this doesn’t just happen with good intentions; it takes a fearless attitude towards constructing something positive. I know this because I don’t have the courage to do something remotely this awesome.And some of you may wonder, ‘So what has this got to do with your blog? What does it have to do with the Prophet?’ Simple, the sense of fearlessness and the desire to build community are embodiments of the Prophets traditions. That is why it was an eclectic group; this wasn’t an event for a demographic, it was an event for a community. It was a humbling experience because I saw people from all walks of life living the example of the Prophet by trying to make the world around them a little more livable for everyone. I saw their connection to the Prophet and they honor it through their deeds.For one night I didn’t have to look into my books to connect to the Prophet, I saw his actions living in everyone around me in the Annual Gala hosted by the Olive Tree Foundation.About blogger and writer Khaiam Dar:Khaiam Dar was born and raised in Toronto Canada. He has an HBA from York University in Religious Studies, and is earning his Masters of Pastoral Studies in the new Islamic Stream offered by Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. He is currently working with the Multi Faith Center of the University of Toronto. When he is not drawing comics for '22 Pages' or 'True Colours', he works to update his blog 'Portrait of the Prophet' (http://portraitoftheprophet.wordpress.com).___________________