What Canadian Muslims are concerned about. The narrative.

The following is an article from Muslimlink, an Ottawa based on-line community newspaper for Muslims. The article is a summary of the “major concerns facing the Muslim community in Canada”, written by Yahya Abdul Rahman one of the papers’ columnists and blogger. It is a response to a request from the organizers of the ‘Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference’ that was held in the Toronto area this past December 24-26.

This is the narrative, the same one echoed throughout most western nations. It contradicts the truth and seeks to manipulate. It brands free and welcoming nations as places of intolerance and racism.

What kind of magazine is Muslimlink? Blazingcatfur sums it up nicely.

WRITTEN BY YAHYA ABDUL RAHMAN FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2010 18:56 I was asked by the organizers of the upcoming Reviving the Islamic Spirit conference (24 – 26 Dec.) to write a brief summary of the major concerns facing the Muslim community in Canada which would be handed to all of the scheduled speakers in advance. I asked several people for their thoughts on this issue and what follows is a summary of responses from about ten people. It is hoped that this document will provide the speakers, many of which are coming from overseas, a snapshot of the many areas of concern for Canada’s Muslim community.  It is also hoped that by publishing this document in the public domain it can be expanded upon as well as further sensitize readers to the many challenges for Canadian Muslims in the days ahead.

Many of the major concerns facing Canada’s Muslim community reflect the concerns of Canada’s population at large including employment, health care, the rising cost of living and education. Other concerns specific to the Muslim community include, but are not limited to:

  • The increasing right-wing positions of the Canadian government on a host of issues which are hurting Canada’s international reputation. Canada’s one-sided support for Israel, for example, its military presence in Afghanistan and increasing anti-Iran rhetoric from the current government is a major concern for Canadian Muslims.
  • The lack of voice for Muslims in Canada’s political system. There is no Muslim group which the current government meets with on a regular basis to discuss issues of concern to Canadian Muslims. In fact, existing groups, such as the Canadian Islamic Congress, are being marginalized and unfairly labeled as extremist.
  • Discrimination against Muslims serving in Canada’s military.
  • Ongoing spying in Mosques by Canada’s security agencies.
  • Restrictions on religious liberties. The Quebec government has announced plans to ban government agencies and public institutions from offering services to veiled women. Bill 94, when it becomes law, will effectively eject the niqab from Quebec’s public sphere in the name of ensuring gender equality and maintaining secular values in public services.
  • The general feeling that the so called “war on terror” has made Muslims an easy target. In the current social and political environment the most innocent of activities seem suspicious to the authorities. Racial and religious profiling is also a major concern.
  • Negative attitudes, stereotypes and assumptions about Muslims, Arabs and South East Asians in the media which lead to rising Islamophobia.
  • There are also calls for Muslims to integrate into the wider society and accusations that they have not properly embraced “Canadian values”. Yet it is unclear what it is meant by the terms “integration” and “Canadian values”. How do Muslims properly integrate into the surrounding society while keeping a balance between being effective citizens and realizing their distinctiveness in issues that do not align with their values as Muslims? Is Islam compatible with “Canadian values?” If so, how? If not, why not?
  • Inadequate riba (interest) free options for Muslims.

Based on the feedback received in preparing this document, it appears there are also a host of internal issues within the Muslim community, including:

  • Divisions and infighting based on ideological and ethnic considerations which divide the community.  Somalis, Pakistanis, South Asians and Arabs from various countries, for example, have failed to developed a cohesive community and each group tends to associate with people from their own ethnic background or country of origin. Is it possible or even desirable to formulate a uniform code of ethics for us to deal with one another especially on issues of differing opinions and multiple Islamic jurisprudence? We also lack team spirit and tolerance for differences that are resident within our community. These issues are causing divisions between Canadian Muslims and causing long term harm.
  • Related to the previous point, Canadian Muslims have no national representative organization which would be instrumental in uniting them. Due to this shortcoming, Muslims lack coordinated thinking or action to deal with a large number of challenges (including helping the needy among us), and our relations with the larger society. While some organizations and individuals are doing constructive work, this is not coordinated or done on an organized basis.
  • Making Mosques more inclusive. The ideal role of the Mosque is to be the center of the community. We know that. But how can that actually happen when the community is divided along ethnic and sectarian lines? What compromises can and should be made for the sake of unity? What steps can individuals and the leadership take to improve inclusiveness in the Mosque while taking into consideration preferences and traditions? Or is it just better to let everyone have their own mosque?
  • Many of our youth feel that their organizational input is not welcomed or appreciated by the older generation that run the mosques. Similar sentiments are expressed by women who feel that important decision making is dominated by men.  These key demographics — youth and women — are being driven away from the mosque as there is little encouragement for them to be involved in meaningful ways.
  • Access to a strong, steady support network for the Islamic upbringing of Muslim children.
  • UnIslamic ideas that are creeping into the community and disguising themselves as “Islamic.”
  • Marginalisation of new coverts, particularly women, and single mothers.
  • Many Muslims also feel that Imams are out of touch with the daily concerns of the community and that many of the Friday khutbahs (sermons) lack relevance.
  • Too much emphasis on constructing more mosques – which are extremely expensive – and not enough resources being channeled towards providing social services, involvement in media and advocacy work.
  • Only a tiny percentage of Muslims are actively involved in community work. Most are not involved. Why is this so? What can be done to encourage greater involvement?
  • Training for Muslim speakers — whether as imams, khateebs, media spokespeople —  to communicate effectively so that they understand the language of the public discourse and have sound debating skills.
  • Adjusting to new realities. Much of the classical literature on religious matters was produced during the glory days of Islam. How can those classical teachings be adjusted to today’s reality? If Muslims get the opportunity, should they aim to go back to the ideals as understood by the early scholars (in terms of governance, law, relations with other faiths/cultures, etc.)? If not, then what approach should they take?
  • Addressing jihad head on. We’ve heard the explanations of the greater jihad, the personal struggle, and how the extremists take the Quranic verses/ahadith (Prophetic traditions) about jihad out of context. But what really is their context? Are they abrogated? If not, then what rulings/lessons are to be derived from them? What are the rules of engagement and how would they apply in our world today? It is feared that by shunning the topic, the mainstream Islamic preachers will end up leaving a void that others are way too eager to fill. The oft-quoted explanations offered by the mainstream may not be enough for enquiring minds, it is feared.
  • Marriage, dating and maturity. On one hand, youth are encouraged to steer clear of dating and pre-marital sex. The solution is marriage, they’re told. But their families may disagree or may not like their choice of a partner. Or they might just be way too immature. If they do go ahead and get married, many end up in divorce due to their immaturity and hastiness. So what’s the solution? Get married early with greater risk of divorce, or hang in there while engaging in dating or virtual dating (i.e. chat, sexting, etc.) and get married later when they’re ready for the step?Finally, but by no means conclusively, one astute observer made these observations — some of which have been mentioned above — but are worthy of consideration. He writes:

“I think we should place our emphasis on concerns from inside instead of outside of the community. I think the main problem is that we need four types of community members: good volunteers, good managers, good thinkers and media workers and good leaders. Our problem is that we lack people in all of these areas. In addition, those who are working in this fields are very confused; many managers act as leaders, many volunteers act as managers, and so on, without being able to distinguish between the proper roles of the various titles.

“Second point: Our community is not able to build specialized organizations and all of our energy goes to building mosques. We need to build media-watch teams and social work associations and think-tanks for strategic studies. We need to raise the consciousness of our people about the importance of developing and delivering these kinds of services. We need to convince people to donate generously to such projects.

“Third point: We need to encourage our youth and students to specialize in law, philosophy, social sciences, politics and medicine with a view to creating a balanced professional profile for the next generation of Muslims living in this country. Currently we have a great lack of people in these crucial fields.

“Fourth and final point: We need to emphasize the importance of, and invest in professional leadership and management training programs for those actively involved in working for the Muslim community.”

7 Replies to “What Canadian Muslims are concerned about. The narrative.”

  1. I’d like to know when muslims will stop their whining, seething and moaning, join the 21st century and embrace Canada rather than marinate in perpetual hurt feelings, ill-perceived victimhood and toxic jihadism.

    I don’t trust a single one of them and the more they moan and seethe, the less I care.

    Go pound sand.

  2. What do they mean they don’t understand what people mean by assimilation? Are they really that dumb or are the playing a game trying to fake us out?

  3. There are also calls for Muslims to integrate into the wider society and accusations that they have not properly embraced “Canadian values”. Yet it is unclear what it is meant by the terms “integration” and “Canadian values”. How do Muslims properly integrate into the surrounding society while keeping a balance between being effective citizens and realizing their distinctiveness in issues that do not align with their values as Muslims? Is Islam compatible with “Canadian values?” If so, how? If not, why not?

    He is asking us “Is Islam compatible with “Canadian values?” That is a question Muslims should be asking themselves. It is abundantly clear that Islam is not compatible with Western values. It must be obvious to Muslims as well. But they stay here, for their mission is not to assimilate but to conquer with demography and causing social unrest.

  4. I was talking on the phone while reading it so I missed that one, no Islam isn’t compatible with western values. Of course it isn’t compatible with Buddhist values, or Shinto values. Islam will tolerate no other value system, as the attacks on Jews and Christian in Moslem nations.

  5. The nerve of these aliens demanding they be allowed a voice in a Christian lands.

    Let the offending Muslim invaders answer the following questions first of all.

    1. Are Christians/others afforded equal human rights with Muslims in Muslim lands?

    2. What is likely to happen to the religious leaders and lay people of Christian/other communities who dare to make political and social demands of Muslim governments and their host populations?

    3. Are non-Muslims permitted to build houses of worship, community centres , denominational education institutes and hold Christian/other festivals in public, in Muslim lands?

    4. Are non-Muslims compelled or not compelled to adhere to Islamic law in Muslims lands?

    5. Does playing the persecuted minority role, victim and/or race card work in Islamic countries?

    6. Are non-Muslims in Muslim lands permitted free speech in relation to Islam, ie, to question its political , religious, cultural practices and human rights record(s)?

    7. What is likely to happen to Christians/others were they to break any Islamic laws or refuse to adhere to them on the grounds that to do so is against their own religious beliefs, cultures and personal conscience?

    8. Are non-Muslim communities permitted to set up self-interest organisations both religious and political, in Muslim lands?

    9. Are Christians/others permitted to compete for across-the-board leadership positions within Islamic societies without first renouncing their own beliefs and cultures?

    10. Is non-Muslim citizenship and attendant voting rights guaranteed and guaranteed unconditionally in Muslim lands?

    The lesson for the Christian West is this,

    it’s time the Christian West stopped behaving like conquered dhimmis and gutless wonders in its own backyards and start taking the lead from out of the Islamic book of religious edicts and related juris prudence itself as decreed and practiced in Muslim lands.

  6. Tilly you said, it’s time the Christian West stopped behaving like conquered dhimmis and gutless wonders in its own backyards and start taking the lead from out of the Islamic book of religious edicts and related juris prudence itself as decreed and practiced in Muslim lands.

    Things are changing, people are starting to organize and fight back, these actions are taking time, and will always take more time then we wish they would.