[Scene: A modest but serene mosque in East Vancouver. The walls are painted white and light green, with calligraphy of the 99 names of Allah glowing softly in the evening light. Worshippers sit cross-legged on the carpet after prayer. Jusuf the Janissary stands at the front, a tall, composed figure in a simple vest and Ottoman-style cap. He carries the calm authority of someone who’s fought and fasted, both in the world and within himself.]
JUSUF (raising his voice gently):
“Brothers, sisters… the economy may collapse, but our adab — our manners — must not.”
[He gestures to a wooden box labeled “Zakat & Sadaqah” near the mihrab. It’s mostly empty.]
JUSUF:
“The world runs on riba — interest. A snake that devours the poor slowly, invisibly. And now they tell us: ‘There is no money.’ That is their excuse to starve us.”
[Murmurs of agreement ripple through the room.]
JUSUF:
“But Islam is not capitalism. It is not communism. It is submission to divine justice. So if there is no money, then we shall run this mosque — and this community — on the honor system.”
[He pauses. Looks each person in the eye.]
JUSUF:
“Take only what you need. Share what you have. Let us revive what the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught:
‘To each according to his ability, and to each according to his need.’“
[He begins to walk among the congregation, motioning to the small food bank in the corner, the free bread shelf, the job board.]
JUSUF:
“Some of you are strong — carpenters, drivers, electricians. Others are elderly, raising children, or healing from trauma. But all of you have value. No one here is disposable. No one should go to bed hungry because a banker raised the interest rate.”
[A young man raises his hand: “But will it be enough?”]
JUSUF (smiling):
“There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed. Gandhi said that — and he didn’t even have the Qur’an.”
[Light laughter.]
JUSUF:
“Greed is the fire. Need is the truth. If we build this community on trust, we will have barakah — blessing. That cannot be printed or loaned. It must be earned — with mercy, with honesty, and with prayer.”
JUSUF (concluding):
“If the banks collapse tomorrow, we will still feed each other. If the ATMs go dark, we will still give salaam. This mosque is not just bricks. It is Ummah. And Ummah means we don’t leave each other behind.”
[He bows his head. The congregation says Ameen.]