Montreal, Canada, July 6, 2026.
As part of the “Halaqah Across America and Canada with Madam Ani” event series, the founder of Sakinah Finance—affectionately known as Madam Ani—delivered a seminar on Ziswaf (Zakat, Infaq, Sadaqah, and Waqf) and Islamic inheritance laws. Accompanying Madam Ani were Nina Marliani from the Sakinah Finance team, Sitti Sahro Locke from Dompet Dhuafa USA, Thomas Locke from Comfasion.
The event was attended by 30 members of Syiar Montreal—a group led by Faridudin Rifai, comprising professionals, business people, and students. Also present was the event host, Sigit Afrianto, an aerospace professional based in Montreal who currently works as a Pneumatics Principal Engineering Specialist at Airbus Canada. “The Indonesian community and diaspora in Montreal frequently participate in Canada Day celebrations and parades. They often showcase cultural performances such as traditional dance and Keroncong music and wear batik attire to introduce Indonesia amidst Canada’s diversity. There are also summer diaspora gatherings; organizations like PERMIKA Montreal (Indonesian Students Association in Canada, Montreal chapter) and various religious or social communities affiliated with the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa often organize summer gatherings and picnics to strengthen community bonds. Furthermore, Montreal is renowned for its summer cultural and culinary festivals. The Indonesian community frequently participates in fundraising for Zakat Fitrah, Qurban (sacrificial offerings), and Sadaqah (voluntary charity) to assist orphans, fund water well construction, and aid disaster victims in Indonesia (such as in Aceh, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Yogyakarta, Sukabumi, NTT/Flores, etc.). They also engage in ASEAN cultural events such as ‘SEA Night’ at McGill University, held in collaboration with student representatives from neighboring countries to introduce the flavors of Indonesian cuisine and coffee to the Canadian public,” Sigit explained in his remarks. Sitti Sahro Locke, Executive Director of Dompet Dhuafa USA, invited attendees to support the humanitarian programs and Islamic guidance for converts that the organization has been conducting.
Madam Ani explained the concepts of ZISWAF, noting that the true impact of these acts benefits the givers themselves, not merely the poor and needy. She also discussed Islamic inheritance law, a strict set of rules governing the transfer of assets from a deceased person to their heirs. “Islamic regulations regarding gifts (hibah), bequests (wasiat), and inheritance aim to foster justice and prevent conflict. While they provide legal and economic certainty for families, a proper understanding is essential to avoid disputes,” said Madam Ani, who was hosting this educational gathering in Canada for the third time.
Madam Ani is scheduled to travel to several locations, including Kingston and Toronto, before heading to the United States to visit Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Florida, and Baltimore. In addition to conducting study sessions (halaqah), Madam Ani who is also a professor at Tazkia University is actively involved in organizing the second International Islamic Economics and Finance Conference for Sustainable Development (IFESDC) 2026. This event is set to take place at the World Bank in Washington D.C. on July 15–16, 2026, in collaboration with IMAAM, Tazkia University, Sakinah Finance, and EDS16. Ahmad Juwaini, Dompet Dhuafa Executive Director from Jakarta is expected to deliver his speech during the conference.
Source: Sakinah Finance Public Relations
