"You can be both and one doesn't conflict the other. You can be a good citizen being both." - Bashir Mustafa

"Diversity. Different cultures from different backgrounds coming together and living peacefully. Taking care of each other and being kind to each other." - Zoulfira Miniakhmetova

"Muslim-Canadian is the happiest person in this world. Despite what is happening in the world and how we're being blamed – we are the happiest. Because we know we were created to struggle. Without struggle we cannot enter the highest paradise with our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). He was the best example for us. He was the one who faced the most difficulties in this earth."

"Being a Canadian-Muslim I have the freedom to express myself without being harassed. Well, I mean, there was that one time, but that's okay. I can say whatever's on my mind. I can express who I am through what I wear. I can do whatever I want to do because I am a Canadian-Muslim and nobody seems to mind."

I won't pretend that last week's video by John Maguire didn't shake me. It did. You see, besides the petrifying idea of someone attacking my countrymen in the name of my religion, it suddenly hit me that that individual who is preaching violence in the name of my religion is also targeting Me, my family, my friends, the teachers who shaped and encouraged my intellectual development, my coworkers who hired and supported me in my career, my neighbours who've helped when those snow trucks create a snow bank on my driveway after I've spent an hour breaking my back shovelling it!
Everyone I know. Everyone I've ever known.

Currently, Dr. Scott Flower from the University of Melbourne in Australia is looking for Canadian converts to Islam to particpate in his study of the Canadian Muslim Convert experience. His Canadian-based research collaborator Megan Ryder Burbidge contacted Muslim Link so we could promote the study within our networks. We wanted to know more about the study's objectives and funding first. Here is what we learned.

Condemn video message as "abhorrent and un-Islamic"

(Ottawa – December 8, 2014) Following the release of a video message attributed to ISIS, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim civil liberties & advocacy organization, reiterates that Canadian Muslims categorically condemn the terror group's calls for violence against Canada and other nations.

"With our last post, we marked the end of our Muslims of Ottawa photography project. We've come across twenty very extraordinary people, heard their challenges, sorrows and driving influences. The purpose of this project was simply to connect with Muslims in our local community and give back by simply revealing their humanity. We're so inundated with political and skewed social narratives, the fundamental building block of our community is obscured from view: you, the loving, salt-of-earth people that make up the Muslim community.

Whether it was Abu Ahmed talking about his love for his farm and Arabian horses, Bibi and her steadfast determination to not let any "disability" deter her from her love of education or Nicole sharing with us the very heartfelt story of the loss of her father – we learned that these people can be defined by no one other than themselves. And despite the diversity in the cross section of people we encountered, we observed some interesting commonalities such as a steadfast commitment to social justice, a deep and abiding appreciation for being Canadian, a love for family and most common, a strong belief in giving back to the wider community.

This was a deeply humbling and reflective experience for us and we're extremely grateful to have met these wonderful people and the opportunity to share their photographs and stories. Thanks to everyone for supporting this project, for your likes, comments and ideas. We're going to do our best to bring you more interesting and fun projects and hope we can continue to count on your support."

~ Batoul & Ali of abcreatives

“What I love about Canada is the human rights. People always respect each other. That’s why I’m so proud to be Canadian. Even more than Indonesian. I feel secure for my future. Especially for my kids.”

~ Titin

"The main thing is the crime. The sad thing for me to see is a neighbourhood I grew up in is always in the news for the wrong reasons, especially with names similar to mine. We need to be more proud of ourselves and fight for a better future rather than being known for terrorism around the world. We need to have more youth involvement and get our youth off the streets, doing more positive things, playing sports and representing our community in a better light."

~ Hussein - ran for city council for Ottawa-South

"I grew up in a small, rural village in India. And at the time, education was not easily available. We had to struggle, walk long distances and work hard. Our parents supported us very much. And then, I made it to study at Aligarh Muslim College, a prestigious university in India, and the day before I graduated, my father died. It was so difficult because I had so many plans. I was always thinking of what was after my school so I could support and help them like they did for me in my education. It was very difficult.

When I left India, I was flying to New York City. This was my first time coming to North America. Sitting next to me was an American and an Irishmen. The plane was descending and we could see the cars on the streets as we came close to landing. They asked me what I thought about America. We hadn't landed yet and I had never been to America before but I saw that the cars were driving on the right side of the road. In India, the direction is from the left. So I told them, 'America is always right'!"

~ Mazhar at the Intercultural Dialogue Institute