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Canadian Muslims have many reasons to celebrate Canada 150
6-29-2017
As we approach a historic Canada Day celebrations, Canada 150, some people still have reservations about celebrating the Canada Day. Whether as Muslims should they be celebrating Canada Day or not? Fortunately, these are few in numbers. While most of the Canadian Muslims, could not wait till the celebrations to commence, and Canadian Muslims have just as many reasons to be in celebratory mood than any other Canadians. In fact, Canadian Muslims have more to celebrate than any other Canadian, and we shall share some of our thoughts and reasons why we feel that way.
First, freedom of religion. If anything, the Canadian Charter provides an unconditional support to all Canadians, regardless of faith, colour, creed, and race to practice the faith if their choice. Many would agree that Canadian Muslims in Canada enjoy greater freedom on practicing their faith than they would in some of the Muslim countries. Take Turkey for instance which bans Muslim women with head scarves or Hijab from working in Public Service, and similar ban applies to men with beard. Egypt also has similar rules as Turkey. Saudi Arabia restricts women from driving. There are number of things in number of Muslim countries which Muslims can and cannot do, or are forced to do against their will. Fortunately, in Canada, as Quran states, “There is no compulsion in faith.” We as Canadian citizens can practice our faith as we wish without enforcement, or restrictions.
Second, as Muslims Canadian government does not restrict our ability to teach and preach about Islam to fellow Canadians. This is important because some Muslims feel that we can only live in a non-Muslim country for propagation. We have absolutely no excuse not to engage in preaching or teaching about Islam. We don’t necessarily need to start on a propagation mission. Islam is a beautiful religion and it spread to majority of the current Muslim nations simply by small number of Muslims migrating to non-Muslim land and living their lives in accordance with Islam. The beauty of faith drew other to accept Islam as their way of life.
Third, stronger Canada means stronger Muslim community globally. Canada has one of the strongest economies in the world. In 2016, Canadian GDP per capita was $43,248.53 USD. With strong Muslim presence right here in Canada, according to Stats Canada, in 2016, were 1,053,945. Collectively, Canadian Muslims contribute close to $4.6 Billion USD to the Canadian GDP. This has not only lead to a higher than average standard of living for the Canadian Muslims here in Canada, but also millions of dollars in foreign exchange, sent to friends and families overseas to assist. In addition, the Canadian government fully supports both legally and financially for Muslims Welfare Organizations to collect and distribute money to Muslim countries. In fact, many of us have seen video of our Honourable, Prime Minister, Justine Trudeau, packing food packs with Islamic Relief Canada, past Ramadan.
It would be important to share some of our PM speeches and quotes on diversity and how it makes all of us strong. He has repeatedly stated, “Canada has learned how to be strong not in spite of our differences, but because of them, and going forward, that capacity will be at the heart of both our success, and of what we offer the world. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion isn’t about Canadians being nice and polite—though of course we are. In fact, this commitment is a powerful and ambitious approach to making Canada, and the world, a better, and safer, place.”
Indeed, there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the fourth and most important aspect about Canada, and especially for Muslim Canadians, is the safety and security all Canadian enjoy. As large part of the world is consumed with security concerns, and especially Muslim nations. It would not be out of place to state that Canadian Muslims are in fact among the safest Muslim community in the world. Yes, there are cases of Islamophobia, but at compare to other nations, they are far and few, and when ever such incident does rise, there is condemnation from the political leadership, all the way up to the PMO.
As PM stated, “While a few allow themselves to be overwhelmed by anger and outrage, as a society, cooler heads and warmer hearts ultimately prevail.
Whenever, or wherever, a few seek to threaten those who look, or dress, or pray differently; many others stand up and say: “No. Not here. Not in our community, not to our neighbours.”
Fifth, the Canadian democratic system provides us with an opportunity to elect our leaders. A right denied to many citizens of other nations around the world, and especially among Muslim nations. This has allowed Canadian Muslims to have a stronger voice where decisions are being made.
As PM Trudeau, points out, “The last election campaign provides a good example. It was, in part, about whether Canadians still believe in those values. Many had their doubts. But let me tell you this. I’m standing here today as Prime Minister of Canada because Canadians rejected the forces that would divide us against ourselves. But we don’t need a national election to see Canada’s commitment to diversity in action.”
Simply stated, Canadian Muslims have millions of reasons to celebrate Canada 150 and not a single reason not to celebrate, and we should wholeheartedly as there is no other nation in the world that can provide safety, security, freedom of expression, and religion as Canada does, and it is our obligation as Canadians to celebrate its high points as this nation and its people has stood alongside with Canadian Muslims when we needed them the most, and they will if such occasion arises.
We close with the words of our PM Trudeau, “our history was also filled with many positive moments.
The Underground Railroad. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Multiculturalism Act. The Official Languages Act. The welcoming of Ismaili Muslims. The freedom for Jews and Sikhs, Hindus and Evangelicals to practice their religion as they choose.
These positive changes can never right historical wrongs. But they can serve to remind us that, in the phrase so beloved of Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
Like many other nations, Canada faces a constant debate between those who would have us restrict, close ranks, and build walls—and those who remind us that we are who we are precisely because we are open diverse and inclusive.”
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