Canadian Muslims are embracing Ramadan with particular gratitude this year, because they escaped a possible disaster before the advent of the holy month. Muslims had joined their fellow citizens of other faiths all over the country to celebrate Canada Day. In Ottawa, the Muslim Coordinating Council of the National Capital Region - which includes Shia, Sunni, women's, youth and ethnic organizations from the Afar to Yemenis - arranged a picnic to bring Muslim families together to jointly enjoy Canada Day in a park. Federal, provincial and city politicians joined more than 500 Muslims, many of them children, as they had fun. Then came the chilling news that police had foiled a terrorist plot in British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated that John Stewart Nuttall, 38, and his spouse Amanda Marie Korody, about 30, had sought to set off an explosion to cause mayhem among the more than 40,000 people enjoying festivities, concerts, dancing and fireworks on the legislature's lawns. Nuttall reportedly converted to Islam two years ago, as did Korody. Their conversion was a riddle. They had been drug addicts, had had brushes with the law and were often on social welfare. Their motivation also seemed weird. They were reportedly upset by the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. But Canada did not attack Iraq. It did join the coalition's war in Afghanistan but contributed to building roads, schools, etc. and ended its combat role. In any case Canadians protesting against a policy can express their opposition democratically and through their vote. Furthermore, injuring or killing innocent human beings is totally against Islamic teachings. So why would converts violate a fundamental principle of their new faith? The BC Muslim Association was shocked. “It creates this ill feeling in your stomach. Here we go again,” said president Musa Ismail. “We do not know these people, we've never seen these people. We are proud Canadians. These two individuals have nothing to do with Islam, as far as we know.” Ismail was puzzled by the RCMP's statement that the accused were inspired by Al-Qaeda. He said that Al-Qaeda's actions contradict Islam and it is unfair to connect such actions to Islam. BC Premier Christy Clark told the Legislature: “We will not let suspicion darken our hearts. Instead we will remain open-hearted, depending on one another, trusting in one another and we will not be seized by anger.” Most Canadian commentators refused to link Nuttall and Korody to Islamic teachings or to the Muslim community. However, Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, while applauding law enforcement agencies, reiterated that “terrorism continued to be a real threat to Canada.” Most Canadians would agree, given that there have been several terrorist plots by Muslims in recent years in Canada. In April Chiheb Essaghaier and Ahmed Abbasi, former students in Quebec, were arrested for allegedly planning to derail VIA Rail to cause deaths and injuries. Raed Jaser of Toronto had been arrested for a similar terrorism plot. There were also others. Most Muslim organizations have strongly denounced such alleged plots. Such groups have been working with RCMP and other Canadian authorities to promote better cooperation and to thwart violent tendencies. Most imams also are conducting active dialogue with youth and students and they regularly emphasize that Islam strongly prohibits destructive acts and encourages good citizenship and that serving their country and countrymen is a religious duty. This is not a difficult message to send. Muslims of all ages see Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance and they are also deeply attached to Canada as a democratic, welcoming country. But some are angered by Canada's joining the Afghan war, as the case of the converts shows. Muhammad Robert Heft, a convert who heads the Paradise Forever Islamic Center in Toronto, says it is important to teach converts true Islamic values lest they become overzealous or get misguided by zealots. Canada has over a million Muslims. Even though only a few have attempted terrorism, the Muslim community recognizes that such attempts violate Islamic teachings, tarnish Islam's image and harm the entire Muslim community and Canada. In Ramadan, in particular, Muslim organizations such as the Islamic Council of North America, Human Concern International, Islamic Relief Canada, International Development and Relief Foundation and Muslim food banks throughout the country are providing food to people of all faiths through shelters, food banks and other agencies. Many Muslim organizations have arranged community iftars where they welcome Muslims and people of other faiths. Last year Toronto lawyer Ziyaad Mia decided to give the coffee money he saved during fasting to the needy. This caught on and $40,000 was given to the Daily Bread Food Bank of Toronto. Now the movement is spreading to other cities. Canadian Muslims are keenly aware that though they have problems, they are minor compared to those many other people face. In the blessed month of Ramadan when reward for good deeds is multiplied manifold, they want to assist their brothers in humanity in Canada and elsewhere.
— Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a retired Canadian journalist, civil servant and refugee judge.
