The Association of Progressive Muslims

The Association was founded in May 1998 by Mobeen Khaja . His vision to have an organization with the objective of projecting a positive image about Muslims and promoting core Islamic values of peace, justice, respect, understanding and equality, has appealed to people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Association's mandate is to build bridges of understanding among communities and faith groups, and to serve the social, cultural and educational needs of the Muslim Community of Canada. It does so by organizing various events and undertaking projects to raise awareness and encourage dialogue and interaction. The Association elects the Executive Officers and the Board of Directors every two years. Mobeen Khaja has been elected president since the inception of this non-profit organization. Mr. Mobeen Khaja received the Order of Ontario in January 2011 for his work in building bridges of understanding. The word "Progressive" in the Association's name refers to the "progressiveness' in Islam and is clearly explained in the Preamble of the Constitution as follows: WHEREAS WE BELIEVE THAT ISLAM IS A DYNAMIC LIVING AND RELEVANT RELIGION IN OUR LIVES IN CANADA, RELEVANT AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HEREBY RESOLVE TO FORM THE ASSOCIATION OF PROGRESSIVE MUSLIMS OF CANADA, IN ORDER TO RESPOND POSITIVELY AND CREATIVELY TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE MODERN AGE ( OUR TIMES). IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THEREFORE, THAT THE TERM "PROGRESSIVE" IS DEFINED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DYNAMISM, RELEVANCE AND APPLICABILITY OF ISLAM AS A RELIGION AND WAY OF LIFE FOR ALL TIMES AND FOR ALL PLACES.