Ramadan has arrived. As ishq, a word for love in Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu.
The Rhoda Foundation invites you to the Rhoda Sufi Garden for Spiritual & Community Growth, where Ramadan is Ishq, an experience to be shared with everyone, in celebration, with love for togetherness.
Our programs this year have shades and hues of the Divine and the Prophetic Guidance and the collective, the with-in, and the without.
From
Stepping into Oneness
On 28th February, 2025, welcoming Ramadan with zikr and shukr and song
To
Spiritual Expansions
Led by Shaykh Hamdi Ben Aissa, from dust to star, a prayer and meditation every night one-hour after sunset (maghrib).
Followed by
The Quest
A nightly exploration of Surah Al-Qasas, right after the Tarawhuniyyat.
To
Nuits Blanches
On Friday Nights, we encourage staying back for Nuits Blanches, to rest and relax and reminisce beautiful memories, and create community together, with music and sema, and zikr, and laughs, and a splash of community bazaar, from 10:00 PM until 1:00 AM.
From South Asia, Pan Africa to Europe, and North America, people are part of Ramadan is Ishq, in the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people (known as Ottawa) and on the connective threads of the internet and the world wide web. We welcome you to Ramadan, for a sense of community and comfort for the ruh.
Creating Tradition: A Fundraising Iftar
On the 13th of March and Ramadan, we invite you to "Creating Tradition: A Fundraising Iftar" to celebrate spiritual & community growth together. Let's create a new tradition in unison, exchanging thoughts and wonders. Help us carve out a sanctuary where all are welcome to grow and thrive!
Beyond the Veil: Charity Concert & Sema Night
Say farewell to Ramadan on the 28th of March, for Beyond the Veil, in the company of:
Amir Amiri mastering the Santur (سنتور) a hammered dulcimer of Iranian origin,
Alongside Saeed Kamjoo, strumming the kamānche (کمانچه, kamança, քամանչա, کەمانچە, kemançe) an Iranian bowed string instrument.
Welcome Abtin Ghaffari with tombak {تمبک, tonbak (تنبک) or zarb (ضَرب)}, an Iranian goblet drum, the principle percussion instrument of Persian music, and Daf (دف), a Middle Eastern (mainly Iranian) frame drum musical instrument.
Witness the Sema Space Dervishes embody and express the divine whirling to bid farewell to Ramadan, followed by a call for community, and a screening of the Rhoda Sufi Garden community film, and a call for charity.
Colours of Eid
And embrace the Colours of Eid on Sunday, March 30, 1st Shawwal. Bring your kids to paint, craft, and celebrate Eid with hands-on art workshops and creative fun! And partake in an art bazaar, with wonderful vendors.
A Call for Creating Tradition
Tradition is often seen as a bridge between the past and the future—a collection of rituals, practices, and shared meanings that bind communities across generations. It carries the wisdom of ancestors, the poetry of lived experiences, and the prophetic vision of what could be. Yet, tradition is not static; it is alive, evolving, and responsive to the needs of the present. In a world that is rapidly changing, where communities are fractured and the very fabric of society is under strain, we must ask ourselves: Why do we need to create a new tradition? What is the change we seek, and why is it necessary?
The answer lies in the challenges of our time. We live in an era marked by division, uncertainty, and a pervasive sense of disconnection. Communities across the globe are shaken by conflict, inequality, and a loss of shared purpose. The traditions of the past, while valuable, often no longer address the complexities of our modern world. They can feel distant, irrelevant, or even exclusionary. This is why we must reimagine tradition—not as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing force for unity, healing, and growth.
The Tradition We Propose
At the Rhoda Sufi Garden for Spiritual & Community Growth, we envision a new tradition rooted in love, inclusivity, and collective well-being. This tradition is not about discarding the old, but about building upon it to create something that speaks to the needs of today. It is a tradition that celebrates diversity while fostering a sense of oneness, that honors the wisdom of the past while embracing the possibilities of the future.
Our proposed tradition is built on three pillars: community, compassion, and connection. It is a tradition that invites everyone—regardless of background, belief, or circumstance—to come together in a spirit of mutual respect and shared purpose. It is a tradition that prioritizes small acts of kindness, deep listening, and the nurturing of relationships. And it is a tradition that seeks to heal the wounds of our time by creating spaces where people can gather, grow, and thrive.
Why This Change is Needed
The need for this new tradition is urgent. In a world where fear and division often dominate, we must actively cultivate spaces of love and unity. The Rhoda Sufi Garden is one such space—a sanctuary where individuals can reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with the Divine. Here, we believe that community is like a forest: each tree is unique, yet all are nourished by the same soil. By sharing our time, talents, and resources, we create an ecosystem of care that sustains us all.
This tradition is not just about preserving the past; it is about shaping the future. It is about creating a world where love is the guiding principle, where kindness is the default, and where every individual feels valued and supported. It is about building a legacy that our descendants will look back on with pride, knowing that we chose to act with courage and compassion in the face of adversity.
Join Us in Creating a New Tradition
This Ramadan, we invite you to join us in this journey of transformation. Let us come together to deepen our sense of community, to grow in love, and to create a tradition that reflects the best of who we are and who we can be. Let us plant the seeds of a new way of being—one that is rooted in faith, fueled by passion, and dedicated to the well-being of all.
The path ahead is not easy, but it is necessary. Together, we can create a tradition that heals, uplifts, and inspires. Come, whoever you are—wanderer, wonderer, worker—and be part of this movement. Let us grow in love, together.
What is Rhoda?
Rhoda refers to the "Garden of the Roses," a name historically associated with the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him. Symbolically, it represents a space of beauty, growth, and spiritual nourishment.
Why Rhoda?
Inspired by prophetic teachings, Rhoda signifies any place that cultivates spiritual growth and vitality. Just as a garden nurtures seeds to bear fruit, Rhoda embodies the idea of fostering individuals and communities to flourish in their faith and purpose. The people of God are likened to seeds planted in fertile soil, destined to grow and thrive.
Why Foundation?
In Ontario, Canada, the term "foundation" is commonly used by nonprofits and charities for several key reasons: it reflects a strong legal structure, enhances credibility and trust, aligns with historical context, and ensures regulatory compliance. By adopting the term "foundation," Rhoda effectively communicates its mission and operational focus while resonating with the charitable landscape in Ontario. This choice underscores its commitment to building a lasting, impactful presence in the community.
Why Sufi Garden for Spiritual & Community Growth?
Over the years we’ve hosted many prayers, ceremonies, meditations, special guests and teachers, seekers, and humans from all walks of life at the Rhoda. We kept hearing ‘what a beautiful space you have’ and ‘this is unlike anything I have ever seen’ from every visitor, every soul that found repose here. The Rhoda has offered a sanctuary for prayers, a garden for individual and collective spiritual growth.
We want to put forward and celebrate today the Sufi Culture that has always been the foundation since the beginning of the Rhoda. We see it pragmatic, coherent, and useful to put that under our description that we are a Sufi Garden for Spiritual and Community growth to attract more seekers of this spiritual knowledge and those who are curious about this path. And, of course, our commitment remains the same as it was on our first day back in 2012 - nurturing spiritual growth in all its forms and in all human beings.
Like a garden that provides space for solace, beauty, and flourishing growth, The Rhoda offers a nurturing environment for spiritual seekers on their journey. We embrace the universal link that connects all the communities we serve and connect with as we deepen our connection to Sufi traditions from around the world and the Legacy of The Spirit of Guidance.
The Rhoda holds space for sharing holistic spiritual teachings rooted in the universal Sufi Tradition and aiming to empower the soul and help the seeker on the path of spiritual development; offering an opportunity to develop a positive social network and to make enriching connections.
Comments