Milton Muslim Moms marked Eid by giving back with a Qawali Night on June 24th. It was also fundraiser for Milton District Hospital Foundation. “We talked to Milton District Hospital Foundation (MDHF) and they loved the idea of doing it jointly,” Milton Muslim Moms President Maliha Khan Ahmed said.

The evening started with awards presentation recognizing contributions to the community. Glass Shields were given by Milton MP Lisa Raitt. It was followed by a brief presentation on the Milton District Hospital, and then a dinner. A cheque for $5,000 was presented to MDHF.

The result was a Qawali night. Qawali refers to a type of Sufi spiritual music played by a group of seven musicians. The group performing was led Shahid Ali Khan. “It’s an old traditional form of music, inspired by the works of Sufi poets like Rumi, Hafiz and Ameer Khusro,” Khan described. The group seated themselves on stage following dinner and began playing. The singers are trained from birth to hold notes sometimes for minutes at a time. It can be used to lull listeners into a peaceful mindset.

Milton Muslim Moms started as a Facebook page. They’ve been organizing events in Milton since 2014. They registered as a notfor-profi t in order to help sponsor Syrian refugees. Ahmed sees the role as helping south-Asian women to adjust to life in Canada. “We want to build bridges, so their transition can be smoother and they can be a vital part of mainstream Canada,” she said. The organization helped raised funds for the United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation.

The Milton District Hospital has just completed its $20 million Our Home, Our Hospital campaign. The expansion including new Emergency Room, Surgical facilities, and Maternal/ Newborn unit opened in October, 2017. For more information visit: www.mdhf.ca. MDHF is responsible for fundraising to buy medical equipment for the hospital.
Photos by: Denise Cooperwhite

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