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Love, peace and harmony.
That’s how Mubarik Syed described the religion of Islam on Tuesday, two days after the horrific attack on a Muslim family in London, Ont.
In the attack, four members of one family were killed while out for a walk in the Ontario city in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as an act of anti-Muslim terrorism.
One member of the family, a child, was left injured by the attack.
Syed said racism is present here in Saskatchewan, something he has experienced in his 11 years in Saskatoon.
“I find people of Saskatchewan very generous, very understanding, very accommodating. A big majority is such,” he said. “Every now and then, you will run into somebody who would be the opposite.
“I think this is because they do not understand the traditions. They do not understand the religion and the ignorance, basically, is the mother of this confusion, this fear, and this hate,” continued Syed, who is in external affairs with Saskatoon’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama community in the city.
“There are a tiny minority of people who do not understand the values and the traditions of Islam and the Muslims. They have hatred towards Muslims in their hearts. Every now and then, they do show that in many different ways. I have personally experienced that.”
At the same time, Syed said this nation is special.
“Canada is one of the most wonderful and the greatest country in the world — if not No. 1, I would say. I think Canada is a country that is second to none in many, many ways. We, Canadian Muslims, are proud to call this country our own,” he said.
Within Saskatoon’s Muslim community, Syed said he has heard from a few about their feelings on the horrific attack.
“Most of the community members that I’ve been talking to since yesterday, they are very sad. They are very disturbed. And as a matter of fact, I think they’re frightened by the fact this happened,” he said. “They are worried (that) anything can happen like that, closer to home.”
Syed said moving forward, education is the No. 1 factor, but so is prevention by policy. He didn’t suggest a law against Islamophobia, but laws and policies geared at protecting the rights of minorities throughout Canada.
He explained a bit more about the education aspect, and how important it is for all parties involved.
“That is absolutely vital,” he said. “We take every opportunity to reach out to our fellow Canadians, non-Muslim Canadians, (and) try to teach them whatever we can about our religion. Our religion of Islam is nothing but love, peace and harmony. That’s what I learn from my religion.”
Syed said there are currently more than one million Muslims living in Canada, and he had a message for the community as a whole.
“Islam teaches us to be resilient, to be steadfast. Of course, it is a heartbreaking tragedy,” he said. “This is not the only incident that happened in Canada … We as a community, we have to stand together. We have to be steadfast and we have to get out there and try and teach.”
At the same time, Syed had a message for non-Muslim Canadians.
“We love this country to our core and we are willing to do anything and everything to serve and to protect this great country and this great nation of Canadians,” he said. “We are here to stay and we are here to do the best that we can for Canada and Canadians. Let us learn about each other; (that) is the only way forward.
“That will make this great country even greater.”
