Stories

Muslim Link is continuing its series Muslims of Ottawa. At the Arabian Canadian Bazaar, we asked Arab Muslims from Ottawa the question: What Do You Want The World to Know about Arab Culture?. Here is Heba Jallad's response.

Muslim Link interviewed Arab Canadian political science student Sara Elhawash about her experience studying Political Science at York University.

Recently, concerns have been raised within Ottawa's Muslim communities about how many of youth that seemed to be involved in gang-related violence, both as victims and as perpetrators, are from Muslim families.

Sheikh Ismail Albatnuni was born in 1964 in Tripoli, Libya. From an early age, he sought out Islamic knowledge, memorizing the Quran, and eventually studying Maliki fiqh (a school of Islamic jurisprudence) from local scholars. However, he knew if he ever wanted to take his studies further it would mean having to leave his homeland.

"In Libya at that time, it was very difficult. Qaddafi shut down all of the Islamic universities," Sheikh Albatnuni explained. Instead, Albatnuni made the practical choice to study engineering and computer systems. However, in 1992, he left Libya to study at a branch of Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) because he was "very eager to study sharia." After graduating, he went on to teach Islamic Studies at Khalifa bin Zayed Air College.

"The fact that I grew up in Canada, I kind of grew up with Islamic values at the same time – accepting people, multiculturalism, people from different faiths and that's what Islam really teaches. We're in an environment where people are fundamentally good. Being a Muslim in Canada I see people as generally good and letting everyone have their own freedom."

"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."

"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

"Being Muslim, Canadian and Palestinian is in many ways a microcosm of Canada as a whole, with its beautiful capacity for coexistence and constructive integration. My personal ability to seamlessly be all three is nothing but a proof that Canada is the best place in the world. Being Muslim is about God and about giving to humanity while making the world a better place. Canada gave the world things like insulin, sonar, and the prosthetic hand. If we are good at something, it's improving the lives of people. Being a Canadian Muslim is a unique privilege and offers a huge opportunity for adding good to the world, through our Canadian values, and through Allah's spiritual guidance. I think in many ways, being Canadian has made me a better Muslim."

"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.

Fashion designer Assma Galuta, best known to her YouTube Fans as Asoomii Jay, is recovering from Thyroid Cancer. Muslim Link is grateful to Assma for sharing her very personal story with our readers in the hopes it will raise awareness about Thyroid Cancer and will help more young women coping with this experience know that they are not alone.

This letter is in response to "The Do's and Don'ts of Bringing Your Kids to the Mosque"

Muslim Link interviewed Egyptian American Dalia Mogahed when she was in Ottawa speaking at the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM)’s fundraising dinner.

"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

"I was born in Georgetown, Guyana. I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 6 and was diagnosed at age 10. I grew up with a condition but it never held me back. I like studying and education – I have a degree in psychology, I'm continuing with another degree and I'm working full time in the government [laughing]! I'm pursuing my second degree in sociology and anthropology and I'm really enjoying it. I'm a strong advocate for education. I have never felt held back by my condition and I hope I can be an example for others. Like they say, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!... Make sure you tell them that I'm a very independent person!"

~ Bibi Majeed

“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

Friday morning I found out that an Ottawa mosque was vandalized. Someone had broken a couple of windows and the double-paneled glass door at the sisters' entrance. How do I know that this was the sisters' entrance? Because this is my mosque. I would know that bench and shoe rack anywhere.

"I don’t know want to get political. I don’t like the mentality of my community. I was married young and divorced young. I felt ashamed, and traumatized about what society thought of me after that. I struggled a lot. But I finally came out of that phase, with God’s support. I feel like now I stand with confidence. Like, I’ve been divorced and I accept it. I mean, the Prophet married women who had been divorced. Now I walk into community events with a different mindset. I don’t care what people think anymore."

“Have you thought of re-marrying?”

“Maybe when I’m 40 [laughing]! I’m happy now, and I want to empower myself as a single individual first before even thinking about that.”

~ Sarah