Are there halal restaurants close by?

Please check the Zabihah list for restaurants in Ottawa. The registration fees include breakfast and lunch on both days, as well as a networking dinner.

I do not have a credit card. Do you accept other methods of payment?

Please mail a Canadian dollar bank draft payable to Ansarco Inc to the following address:

Ansar Group Ltd.
105-1825 Markham Road
Scarborough, Ontario, M1B 4Z9, Canada

Also if you need a letter of invitation, please fax us a copy of your bank draft to :
001 416 609 3579

How do I get a letter from you to apply for the visa?

You can request a letter when you're registering for the conference, or email us at: conference@ansargroup.com and upon receipt of your payment (whether you pay online or send us a draft/money order by post) we will email you a letter stating that you have registered for the conference.

I would like to attend the conference from overseas. How do I apply for the visa?

Please visit the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship website to obtain the forms and information on your nearest visa office.

Please make sure when applying for the visa, all your documents are complete and all requirements fulfilled so as to ensure no delays in the process.

I have to apply for the visa right away, what can I do to get the letter faster?

If you have paid online, then we will send the letter through email within 48 hours. If you choose not to mail your payment, please fax us a copy of your bank draft or money order to this number: 001-416-609-3579 (Toronto, Canada).

I have registered for the conference, but not paid yet. Should I register again?

If you are a single delegate, please click here to make the payment through the paypal website.

If you registered as a student, please click here.

If I'm not able to obtain the visa, can I get a refund?

Please email us about your situation, and we can give you a refund inshallah.

My group consists of students/seniors and adults. How do I register?

If your group consists of a mix of seniors/students and adults, please email us with your request, and we will send the invoice directly to your email. Please do not email us your credit card information.

What dates should I book my flight for?

Please see the programme page and you can book your flight accordingly.

Is there carpooling option from out-of-town?

Depends on where you are coming from. Please check the website in early May for any updates on this. We should have more information.

What is Sharia law?

Under Sharia Islamic law, making money from money, such as charging interest, is usury and therefore not permitted.

Wealth should be generated only through legitimate trade and investment in assets.

But investment in companies involved with alcohol, gambling, tobacco and pornography is strictly off limits.

How does Islamic finance work?

The overarching principle of Islamic finance is that all forms of interest are forbidden.

The Islamic financial model works on the basis of risk sharing.

The customer and the bank share the risk of any investment on agreed terms, and divide any profits between them.

The main categories within Islamic finance are: Ijara, Ijara-wa-iqtina, Mudaraba, Murabaha and Musharaka.

Ijara is a leasing agreement whereby the bank buys an item for a customer and then leases it back over a specific period.

Ijara-wa-Iqtina is a similar arrangement, except that the customer is able to buy the item at the end of the contract.

Mudaraba offers specialist investment by a financial expert in which the bank and the customer shares any profits.

Customers risk losing their money if the investment is unsuccessful, although the bank will not charge a handling fee unless it turns a profit.

Murabaha is a form of credit which enables customers to make a purchase without having to take out an interest bearing loan. The bank buys an item and then sells it on to the customer on a deferred basis.

Musharaka is an investment partnership in which profit sharing terms are agreed in advance, and losses are pegged to the amount invested.

What types of Islamic financial products are currently available?

Nearly all the traditional retail banking services expected from established High Street banks are available in a Sharia compliant format.

The Islamic Bank of Britain offers a Sharia compliant current account, mortgage and even personal loan.

HSBC offers a Islamic current account and mortgage.

A handful of other banks - including some of the biggest international names and the Middle East's biggest traditional banks - also offer financial products in the UK tailored for Muslims.

How strong is the demand for Islamic finance?

Banks are hoping to attract business from Britain's two million Muslims, many of whom do not use established banking services because they are in conflict with Sharia.

Why is interest forbidden in Islam?

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), many people made gains by lending money at extortionate rates. They made financial gain at the expense and misfortune of others. As a result, the payment of interest was forbidden because it was unjust. Islam teaches that money must be used in a useful way. You can’t make money from money. But you can generate wealth through legitimate trade in goods and items. But you must share the risks and rewards.

(Source: http://www.lloydstsb.com/media/lloydstsb2004/pdfs/ltsb_islamic_faqs.pdf)

What is Takaful Insurance?

Takaful is an Arabic word meaning “guaranteeing each other” or joint guarantee.

The Tabarru' system is the main core of the Takaful system making it free from uncertainty and gambling. Tabarru' means "donation; gift; contribution." Each participant that needs protection must be present with the sincere intention to donate to other participants faced with difficulties. Therefore, Islamic insurance exists where each participant contributes into a fund that is used to support one another with each participant contributing sufficient amounts to cover expected claims. The objective of Takaful is to pay a defined loss from a defined fund.

(Source: http://www.icmif.org/services/takaful/whatis.asp)