Sheikh Said Rageah is the Imam and founder of Sakinah Islamic Community Centre in Scarborough, Ontario.
According to his official bio:
Sheikh Said Rageah was born in Somalia, raised in Saudi Arabia and in the late 90s found his way to North America. He is married and has four daughters and two sons. He enjoys spending quality time with his family.
Said Rageah hold B.A. And masters in Sharia. Over the years, he has held several posts including founder of Masjid Huda in Montreal, Masjid Aya in Maryland, Muslim Youth magazine and the Aqsa Association.
After serving as an imam in Maryland and Calgary, Saeed moved to Toronto with his family and when he is not discharging his various duties at the Masjid, he travels the globe extensively as a lecturer.
Before establishing Sakinah Center, Sheikh Said was serving as an Imam at Abu Huraira Islamic Center. He teaches and travels for Al-Maghrib Institute and he also holds the post of Chairman for the Journey of Faith conference.
The following are excerpts from a Friday sermon delivered by Sheikh Said Rageah at Abu Hurairah Centre in Toronto on February 6, 2009:
With four, five [hundred] thousand Muslims you can create the most powerful lobby in Canada… with that number of Muslims you can create one of the strongest Muslim business in Toronto…
If you just put our resources, if we put our resources together, if we can work together as an Ummah [Muslim nation] we can change a lot…
As Muslims, we are scattered all over the city. You have people living in Brampton, you have people living in Mississauga, you have people living in Whitby, you have people living in Richmond Hill. Imagine if we all get together in one area.
In the City of Edmonton, the Sikh, Sikh, they live in one neighbourhood and nothing can be changed or done without their approval. We here we may as well benefit from the system that they have here.
What can you do with unity? A lot. You can change a lot. You can change the foreign policy of this country. You can change how the Muslims think. You can even when need help, when you need help if you call Muslim for your need you will help the Muslim community…
Brothers in the masjid [Mosque] right now, they are coming up with the magazine or newspaper called Ummah Times. What Ummah Times is that? Ummah Times is advertising all your businesses all the Muslim businesses [are] Ummah.
All you need to do – I will never advertise with a kafir [unbeliever, infidel], there you go.
I hear some advertisements giving to 680 News $5,000. Before your Muslim brothers $50 and $80 or $100 we think twice before we do this.
Unless brothers and sisters, unless we work together, the day we need a truck driver we know where to find truck drivers.
The day that I need a cab I should have a number of a Muslim cab it’s ok, pick me up.
When I want to see a doctor, only Muslim doctor.
When I want to hire someone only Muslim worker.
Then we can strengthen ourselves. This is the way and this is the only way we can exist in the society, living according to Islam.
When the Sharia [Islamic Law], when the government of Toronto, Ontario decided to give us a break and said: deal your internal affairs based on your Sharia [Islamic Law] we did not go and say: Those few people are Ismailis and Ahmadis, they are not even Muslims. Why would they speak on behalf of Muslims. But, we say no, we keep quiet and see and watch what happens, and then the result was that they said: will they revolt? They said: No, we will never allow you to rule yourselves, your internal affairs based on the Shariah…
My brothers in faith [اخوتي في الله], anything that happens in your Muslim community, in the City of Toronto, anything that can be done, five hundred thousand Muslims that is a great number, large number, you can do a lot, work together. Let’s be an Ummah [nation]…
Take your children to Islamic schools.
Take your vehicle to Muslim owned business.
If you buy a vehicle make sure there is a Muslim business or car dealer that sells cars.
If you want to do anything just ask if that individual is a Muslim or not. If he is not, then look for a Muslim, because I’m sure you’ll find a Muslim. I’m sure you’ll find a Muslim in that field…
O Allah, Raise the standing of Islam and the Muslims [اللهم اعز الاسلام والمسلمين], and humiliate the disbelievers and the polytheists. [اذل الكفرة والمشركين]