Not permissible for Muslims to live in Canada?
Yahya Abdul Rahman Responds

Montreal, March 11, 2003 - (MMN): I received a very infuriating e-mail today. After sending out a Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) action alert on the MMN mailing list calling on Montreal Muslims and their well-wishers to support Muslim students' fundamental Human Rights  under Canadian, Quebec and International  law to offer their prayers and freely practice their faith without harassment at the Ecole de Technologie Superieure (ETS), a local college, I got a message in response which read, "Get real, it is not even permissible for you to live in the land of the Kuffar (non Muslims)."

Let me put aside for a moment that I, along with many people who received the action alert, were born in this country and that my ancestors have been living here for well over 400 years, I would like to know why this person, who lives in the UAE, which is packed with many non Muslims thinks that I, and presumably all other Muslims, are not allowed to live in Canada.

Allah knows best, but if it were not for the presence of Muslims in this part of the world I may not be Muslim today. I became Muslim 10 years ago after being introduced to Islam by Muslims. In addition, many people I know around me, from all walks of life, have embraced Islam by choice as adults and Islam is growing on a daily basis in this country. A good friend of mine, after studying Islam for over two years, has just recently made his declaration of faith, and my wife knows numerous new Muslim sisters. These new Muslims are some of the best and most sincere and active Muslims I have ever met anywhere and, in addition, have made significant contributions to the spread of Islamic knowledge to their fellow Canadians. In their unique capacity as new Muslims, they are playing a crucial role of  bridging the gaps between our community and mainstream Canadian society.

In addition, Muslims in Canada are working hard to establish solid and lasting Islamic institutions and are working diligently to defend the Islamic faith with their words, mouths and actions to the best of their abilities so as to convey a proper image of their religion to their fellow Canadians. It would be a blow to the future of Islam in this country if we were to listen to the advice of someone who tell us to all make immigration to the Muslim countries. In addition, many Muslims are making valuable contributions to the well-being of this nation.

Yes, Muslims are facing some very specific challenges due to reactionary and racist elements in our society, but with the help of Allah we are dealing with these challenges utilizing the resources which Allah has provided and we expect the best from Allah and trust we will be able to weather the storm in the days ahead. Many very decent fellow Canadians, who are non-Muslim, have also been very supportive of our community in these rough times and we have appreciated their outstanding assistance.

I want to also remind my readers that many Muslims came to this nation not to flee from their religion, but to flee with their religion. Many so called Muslim countries do not allow Muslim to freely practice their faith, and are severely persecuted for even wearing the Islamic Hijab (head scarf) or wearing a beard! I have personally spoken to many of my immigrant brothers and sisters, who are now wonderful Canadian citizens, and who have informed me that they are better Muslims now than when they were while living in their land of birth. This is so because they really had to work extra hard to preserve their faith here as they could not take it for granted.  Now their children, along with hundreds and hundreds of new Muslims, who are Canadian born, are taking up the challenges of leading the Canadian Muslim community into the future and are doing a superb job. I expect to see even greater things in the future as Muslims improve their efforts.

Not permissible to live in Canada? I will hear nothing of it. My faith in Allah and his messenger is stronger than ever and although not everything is perfect here, Canadian Muslims will shoulder their responsibilities to ensure that Canada becomes a more just society for all of its citizens.
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Yahya Abdul Rahman is the editor of the online Montreal Muslim News Network (MMN). He can be reached via e-mail at: montreal@montrealmuslimnews.net

Source: http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net/permissible