The history of Muslim population in CanadaThe industrial revolution, scientific advancements, technological dexterity, the democratic and socially sound western societies at first became a heavenly abode for the entire populations of the poorer countries of the southern and eastern parts of the world. Canada being the most welcoming western country for the refugees and economic emigrants with its enormous potentials was not an exception.The earliest records have revealed the presence of only 13 Muslims in Canada during 1871.
In Edmonton the first mosque was built in 1938 when there were about 700 Muslims in the country. In the postwar years the numbers of Muslims in Canada increased significantly but remained below 100,000 till 1981 census.The Muslims are an integral part of the East and stand equal if not worse in terms of social oppression, economic depravity, ignorance and disease to the other communities of the East and the traditional South like China, Korea, Japan, the Middle East, Africa and India.Terrible social, economic and political conditions are a common factor for the people of the East to migrate to the world of opportunity in the west.
Canada, though a far situated country yet offered all the facilities and opportunities not only to the Canadians but also kept no discrimination in settling the migrating large population groups from the eastern world bringing a large number of Muslims along with.While Chinese took oriental habits the Muslims took their faith with a set of Islamic believes with them to Canada.Since the early fifties this migration is continuing ceaselessly even the numbers are increasing by every passing day. Demography: Muslims in Canada and 2001 censusThe 2001 census in Canada reveals the population of Muslims as 579,640 in numbers that comprises 1.
96% of the total Canadian population. This population of Muslims in Canada is estimated to increase to 783,700 i.e. 2.
5% by 2006.The Labenese Civil War during 1980s and the Somali Civil War in the 1990s resluted in major arrival of muslim population to Canada as refugees. Before these refugees, skilled proffessional emigrated to Canada for decades.The muslim community is divided into many linguistic, cultural and intellectual groups.
Canadian muslims live mostly in the province of Ontario.Somali muslims are living in large proportion in Toronto though this region houses diverse muslim population. The Scarborough region of Toronto has considerable muslim residents. Lebanese and Somali muslims specially reside in the Ottawa region.
Mississauga has large Pakistani muslim community. Waterloo houses the muslims from Bosnia and Albania mostly. While Monterial,Page-1Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax are also well known to have significant muslim populations.The Muslims in Canada are mostly living in the urban city centers.
As mostly deprived of agricultural lands farms and livestock business activity the Muslims have negligible presence in the large and vast countryside of Canada. This concentration of one religious group in selected locations makes matters reflect a demographic imbalance. Canada is the most populous country among the G8 in terms of the percentage of population born outside the country. A carefully collected data reveals that 35 percent of the population is born outside Canada.
Some Canadian scientists like Mr. McRoberts a seasoned social scientist opine that the shift in official discourse from biculturalism to multiculturalism has had a neutral effect on relation between Quebec and the rest of Canada, McRoberts believe that it was disasterous for Canadian nationalism, as it offended Québecois and their dualistic vision of Canada as a blingual and bicultural society. In this way a divide in different demographic sociological groups is felt in the handeling of migration issues by the rest of Canada sans Quebec. This stiff thinking of a large portion of Canadian society is also effecting the muslim migrants.
Yet unlike Australia Canada doest not experience the level of concern by the white population who want the cultural values associated with whiteness to be a dominant feature of the mainstream society. And the rest must assimilate with this white skin based cultural voices in Australia as raised by One Nation Party. Canada’s unique position among the West to offer better livingAfter the Muslims reached and started contributing into the Canadian society they were indebted to the country to offer them enormous prospects of earning wealth with dignity. The social structure was friendly and it never became a hindrance in gaining prosperity.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom (CCRF) offers equal opportunity to the muslims of Canada to florish with out any official discrimination. The charter permits the wearing of hijab under section 2(a) of the CCRF. During the early sixties Canada started to have its own interests in the muslim world and the muslims. Its booming economy needed oil and the oil was available with the Muslim Middle East.
In this way Canada’s encounter with the Muslim World became more likely. Nearing the Middle Eastern oil would not have been possible with out having a benign attitude towards the Muslim Immigration to Canada. “Canada’s economic interests in the region were relatively minor at this stage, given its limited dependence on Middle East oil” (Noble 85).Unlike other western countries like Britain and Germany the people in Canada were all settlers old or new.
There were no considerable indigenous populations left to threat a nationalist movement in order to protect the ethnic values of Canada. The Muslims considered themselves to be the late settlers as compared to the Europeans who came to Canada some centuries ago. The social status, as considered by the Muslims, was at par with the Europeans (the early settlers). The Muslims thus never thought themselves to be lesser Canadians than any body else.
Though the Islamic rules againest usury are not being observed yet. The halal food is scarce out side the major urban areas. Adaptation to the Canadian Life Style and CultureThough the Muslims considered themselves to be the equal contributors and stake holders of the Canadian society they were different in the style of living and remained starkly oblivious of the ways and means of leading a westernized life. This caused a debate in the society thus prejudices escalated.
People in the West thought Muslims as not civilized enough. “In a piece carried in The Ottawa Citizen on April 1980 Milton Viorst of the Washington Post exposits the popular image of Muslims: “For decades, the contrast in character between Israel and the Muslim world was a fact, at least to the West.Page-2Israel was modern, democratic, ruled by reason; the Muslims were medieval, autocratic, ruled by passion.” Although Viost goes on to characterize the “Judiac resurgence,” epitomized by the Gush Emunim, in the same pejorative terms as the “anti-rational Islamic resurgence,” it is noteworthy that he sees the latter, not as an aberration, but as consistent with the prevailing ethos of the Muslim World” (Ismael 70).
Muslims being lesser in number and politically marginalized in a western style democracy developed herd’s feeling. Having virtually no representation in the political arena the Muslims started to develop organizations and parties, became closer to each other and failed to acquire adhesive capabilities to extend their cultural and social relations with the majority component of the Canadian society by adopting at least commonly available ethics in the life style. The absence of social reformers adds to the situationThe absence of social reformers needed in the Muslim populations of Canada caused misunderstandings and differences both within the Muslim minority and between the Muslims and the majority Christian population. The Muslim attire especially Burqa, Hijab, Turbans, Qmeez Shalwar and Caftans (a Turkish version of long coat) had never been criticized as vehemently as after the 9/11 incident.
It is clothing that identifies even the non-Muslims of India like Sikhs with Muslims and are being discriminated against some times.The distances caused by the different ways of life among the dominant part of the Canadian society and the Canadian Muslims could have been mitigated had there been an earlier reformist and congeniality movement.The failure of all Canadian portions of society including the political leadership to recognize the importance of developing intentional social linkages through arranging social reformers and assigning them the targets of keeping the society in good relations with all the ethnic and religious groups. In the Arab-Israel conflict the Muslims considered Canada siding with the Israel unjustifiably.
The evidence is provided in the books and articles written by the Western intelligentsia itself. “Canadians are becoming more aware of their nation’s stake in the Middle East, and less oblivious to the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian Arabs. At the same time, however, Canada’s diplomatic role in the area has become less imaginative and constructive, and it remains flawed by its bias in favor of Israel”(Lyon 26).The majority of Canada should have been given orientations regarding the newly coming Muslims as well as the Muslims also should have been briefed about the likings and nuisances of the majority population.
Contribution of the Muslims to the Canadian societyThanks to the abundant resources of Canada that kept every body reasonably satisfied with the financial development and this averted the conditions that usually cause destruction among the multiethnic societies. The financial performance of the Muslims remained remarkable thanks to the equality based social and legal structures of the country.The Muslims, no matter from which part of the world they had arrived, got ample opportunity to prosper and to grow by all standards of a successful and happy life. The Muslim workforce played a vital role in making and keeping Canada among the eight most developed countries of the world.
Had there been a destructive role of Muslims of Canada the country could not have been succeeded so far and for so long. The Canadian Muslims not only excelled in business and services but in education and research as well.The Muslims like other social components of the Canadian society established business empires andreached the zenith of productivity and prosperity. The manufacturing industries, process industries,Page-3transport, broadcasting and media, tourism and leisure, construction and farming, housing and real estate are the usual areas of interests as far as the business interests of the Muslims in Canada are concerned.
While major Canadian businesses like timber and oil exploration could not attract the attention of the Muslims of Canada. The Small and Medium Enterprise of Canada has been accommodating scores of Muslims in almost all the parts of the country. In the field of research though the index of patents of new inventions and discoveries does not show satisfactory performance by the Muslims yet the contribution as second tier knowledge based research shows remarkable contribution. The Muslims are working in almost all the knowledge based industry even in the arms and ammunitions industry and have revealed excellent potentials of performance.
The Canadian universities and research laboratories are packed with Muslim scientists and teachers. Though the Muslims are not that recognizable as senior scientists yet they are esteemed as dedicated and sound deputies of the senior scientists.The Muslims have not considered higher education so important until recently. During the last two decades the Muslim students have shown considerable rise in taking admissions in the universities and the institutions of merit.
That would certainly set the pedestal of Muslim social status higher in the foreseeable future in Canada.The problems that thought to be caused by the presence of the Muslims in the Canadian society needed to be analyzed very carefully. There are problems pertained to the social status and some traces of social segregation on the level of the Canadian society developing which the Muslims could be considered an equal partner. The lowly educated Muslim youth is not only dissatisfied with living conditions, has started showing off their resentment over the hopelessness.
Some of these ill educated and jobless youth have certainly resorted to the lap of religion Islam. It has been observed that the adolescent, ill-educated minds are deprived of proper analytical skills. These minds could be easily seduced to commit unsocial and uncivilized acts wherever and whenever they found it necessary. They may declare a country as ‘Dar-ul-Harab’(fit to be waged jihad against) without having known the Shria canons about the term ‘Dar-ul-Harab’.
Despite of studying in the common schools they are building schools with the aim to teach Muslim students. This departure from Canadian ordinary schooling to religion specific schooling causes uncomfortable feelings among the ordinary Canadians. These Muslim specific schools are not necessarily the ‘madressahs’ but they create a sense of alienation among the fellow Canadian citizens both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The conversion factor Like other parts of the world the conversion of people from other creeds to Islam has been a major factor that has drawn attention of other religions to the Muslims.
The rate of conversion of Canadians into Islam is the highest as compared to any other religion. These new Muslims have to co-op with the situations by some times entirely give up their social relationships, professions and household. Professional problems Especially after the 9th September 2001 in the neighboring United States of America terrorist incidents the Muslims of Canada were put to test by the government and the society alike. As not the terrorists but Islam was seemingly termed as a religion of hatred and terrorism.
All the Muslims of Canada were considered to be the practitioners of a religion that teaches terrorism and hatred. The Muslims were reportedly expelled or marginalized at their work places, business andPage-4jobs. This added the fuel to the fire of already deprived minority population of Muslims in Canada. The identity issuesThe Muslim minority had been suffering from the fear of losing their identity since long.
As their numbers increased and they started gaining economic momentum in the country it became difficult for them to go back to their countries. They had to live inside Canada while maintaining their identity as Muslims.They were not only Muslims but had the traditions of their respective countries. The Muslim intellectuals are not only defending their presence in the West but they have started criticizing the previously one-way criticism of some Western intellectuals.
“AbuKhalil: Spencer (whose book I read and did not enjoy) never fails to show the extent of his ignorance about Islam, and more. He cites for his knowledge of Islam either Western journalists or a fanatic cleric in a jail in the US. This is akin to establishing David Koresh or Ted Bundy as authorities on Christian theology. It is important to stress the following: none of the three religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism) has clean hands in terms of absolute peace and equality (certainly not gender equality).
The religion that has the bloodiest records (in actuality and deeds and in verse) is without a question Christianity. Spencer cannot expect to bash Islam and expect that the Christian record not be scrutinized with his same brush. As for the question, people are equal around the world: and there are fanatics in every religion, and even among the secular humanists (a group to which I proudly belong). It is time that we recognize that each group and nation has its share of kooks, crazies, and terrorists, and that the fact should not be blamed on an entire religion, or people or culture”(Glazoy).
They were not ready to dine the way the Canadians dined. They remained aloof from fast food culture mainly because of the food at the restaurants was not prepared according to the Islamic recipes. This was though a little important issue but it kept the Muslims came from almost all the areas of the world, away from the majority population unlike Sikhs and Chinese. The prohibition of liquor in Islam added to the factors that caused Muslim disintegration more difficult into the Canadian society.
Cultural and ethnic diversitiesThe difference in the cultural backgrounds and the ethnic divide is another important factor that played its part in the failure of Muslims to integrate into the majority Canadian society. Though the Muslims have their own set of differences on culture but these are compensated by other common factors that contribute to the Muslim integration. Yet there is balanced and welcoming attitude of most of the Westerners that keeps the matters smooth for the Muslims in Canada. “Depending on their direction, composition, and social underpinnings, migrant streams can promote ethnic consolidation or disintegration.
For example, migration may strengthen ethnic solidarity in work and school domains by changing racial/ethnic density of communities or institutional settings” (Tienda & Wilson 163). Islamic institutionsThe Islamic institutions are designed in a way to suite the public and private lives of all the Muslims. These institutes also care for the needs of a minority Muslim population in a country like Canada. Whether the Muslims of Canada are aware of these institutions; their usage and functioning is doubtable.
The Muslims in Canada are mainly economic émigré they had not had the idea of the ethic and religious problems that could be faced from time to time in a country like Canada.They never paid a proper heed to the issues and remained busy in earning money without establishingthe Islamic institutions for proper guidance in the times of need. Though there are mosques in almostPage-5every Muslim quarter of the Canadian cities but these mosques are not equipped with the scholars who have ample knowledge of Canada specific issues. Muslims gather in a mosque at east five times a day.
Whenever they gather they naturally discuss daily life problems and share views on different issues. But the absence of a trained scholar at this place leaves them from reaching to fruitful findings even after hours of deliberations. If this institution of mosque would have been utilized with attention the integration of Muslims in the Canadian society could have had better prospects. The absence of political leadership among the Muslims of Canada also kept them away from mainstream political parties.
Islam does not prohibit the political activity. Rather politics being a civilized way of addressing problems and providing solutions to the issues of daily routine life are welcomed in Islam. This is a common institution that has equal esteem as a forum of social development in Islam and the Canadian majority society. Family structureThe family structure in Islam though is not different from that of a Canadian Christian typical family.
Usually it is the duty of the father to spend whatever he earns on his children and wife. He is responsible for the provision of the necessities of life food, heath, accommodation, education etc. like a Canadian mother the mother in a Muslim household cares for her husband and his property and possessions and spends for herself and family whatever money is given to her by her husband. In Islam husband is not allowed to access wife’s money or property.
The violence against women at the hands of male Muslims has been a major concern of the Canadian majority. The press is evident of such concerns. “We wish to inform these new arrivals that the way of life which they abandoned when they left their countries of origin cannot be recreated here,” said the declaration, which makes clear women are allowed to drive, vote, dance, write checks, dress how they want, work and own property” (Jafee). Organizations, associationsApart from the religious institutions the Muslims of Canada have learned to develop organizations and associations to voice their concerns on certain issues of the Canadian society.
It is observed that the Muslim contribution in the labor associations, business associations and other social congregations in Canada have been increased considerably. The Muslims are no more shy of mingling with the majority white Canadians frequently. Their contribution to the associations in Canada is bringing job and social security as well as social soundness among them.There are Muslim specific associations too, working for the common interests of Muslims within the Canadian society.
Canadian Islamic Congress is supported by most of the mosques in the country. Council of American Islamic Relations Canada (CAIR-CAN-Council)is among the most vocal muslim civil liberties group. Muslim Canadian Congress is a progresive and libral group of muslims founded in 2002. Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and Islamic Circle of North America(ICNA) are some important organizations working in Canada for the cause of muslims.
The Muslim Students Association (MSA) at the University of Toronto was inaugurated in 1966 is largest student organization of muslim students of Canada. MSA is working hard to achieve the end of more and more itegration of muslims into the canadian society arranges Reviving the Islamic Spiritconferrence and MuslimFest regularly the largest Islamic events in Canada. Multiculturalism and Muslims of CanadaCanada was a bicultural society comprising of initially the English speaking and the French speaking populations. But with the influx of the people from Asia and Africa Canada like other modern societiesPage-6opted for multiculturalism as a public policy in order to embrace distinct cultural groups with equal cultural and political status.
In contrast to the monoculturalism where all the cultures are coerced to adopt the culture of the majority the multiculturalism has started shown its results. The Canadian society’s nationhood or cultural identity is based on multiculturalism. The nation-state paradigm of the early nineteenth century required normative cultural unity, which in Canada was deemed as not recommended and in 1971 Canada adopted multiculturalism. The social intelectuals of the west played vital role in propogating multiculturalism like Wiliam James said in his ‘Pluralistic Universe’ (1909) that he “believed that the idea of a plural society would be crucial in the formation of philosophical and social humanism,”.
The multiculturism has its critics yet in Canada multicultural society is widely understood as better and more agelitarian. But like Europe some people in Canada though fewer in numbers still fear that multiculturalism would creat cultural ghettos and would undermine national unity. But unlike Europe there is no aprehanssion that the multiculturalism would be turned into a conpiracy to Islamize Canada. The muslim leadership like prince Karim Agha Khan are admirers of this policy as it creating “dynamic coherence in public life”.
He said in his speech once at the Leadeship and Diversity Conference Gatineau, Quebec, “Canada has so successfully constructed, predicated on the ethic of respect for human dignity. This coherence recognizes and builds on difference, enables a spirit of compromise and consensus in public and legislative policies, and marks out a healthy space for the role of civil society as a sound – indeed an essential – bulwark for democratic processes”(Khan). The proposal of Sharia Law in CanadaSome Muslims are vociferously advocating the introduction of Sharia law in Canada. According to these Muslim leaders it is their basic right to lead their life according to the Sharia principles.
Sharia covers the Islamic civil justice system and encompasses all the spheres of a Muslim livelihood and society. The main proponent of Sharia law to Canada is a Muslim lawyer of Toronto Mr. Mumtaz Ali. The government of Ontario is contemplating to implement the Sharia law.
But some women from Iran who had fled from their country after the bloody revolution of Khomeni in Iran, are strongly opposing the Sharia implementation in Canada. They say that the Sharia laws are repressive to the women and only cater for the rights of men over women. Yet there are no shortages of women who stand by Mr. Ali in the support of the introduction of Sharia law in Canada.
While some Muslims are of the view that some more tolerant and progressive form of Sharia should be developed that fulfils the needs of the day. The Muslims of Canada are of the view that if Jews can have their personal courts then why not Muslims. An other factor the introduction sharia law faces in Canada is the mind set of the majority of canadians mainly againest the muslims as an aftermath of 9/11 incident in the United States a neighboring country of Canada and a country that domiates in Canadian policy, public openion and economics. The muslims in favour of the Sharia law are of the view that Canada is a country built on tolerance sine its creation and would allow sharia courts to function for the benevolence of the muslims.
ConclusionThe Muslims of Canada are semingly not ready to take a departure from their resolve to continue livingin Canada. Despite the fact they have created strong aprihenssions regarding their alleged disliking bythe majority Canadian population; Muslims are in a constant contemplation to invent ways and means in order to make themselves acceptable to the Canadian majority population. They are taking interests in the social and economic associations of the majority. The political representation is increasing in the political institutions from top to bottom.
Several Muslims are now found taking interest in the practical politics at national and local government levels. The social integration into the society is beingPage-7considered as a backbone of the policy of the Muslim social and political leadership in Canada.This report at CTV.CA – June 11, 2006 reveals the mind set of Canadian Muslims exhaustively.
The report “Muslim leaders want ‘radical elements’ removed”: Muslim religious leaders promise to report any suspicious behavior from their followers to authorities and abide by a zero-tolerance policy against preaching hatred in the wake of last week’s terror arrests.Leaders representing more than 30 mosques and Muslim organizations throughout Canada gathered in Toronto on Saturday to deliver the message — and remind Canadians not to discriminate against Muslims.The leaders admitted there are pockets of radical fundamentalists within their community who believe in violence, but said co-operation by the Muslim community led to the arrests of 17 terror suspects.The alleged bombing plot in southern Ontario was a wakeup call to Muslims, leaders said.
“They were sleeping and didn’t realize it was a real issue,” said Ahmed Amiruddin, who taught at a Mississauga mosque where some of the accused men worshipped.”They would sometimes appear in the mosque with military fatigues, and there’s more than one witness for this. Many people have seen them,” he said.”The only thing that concerned me is they tried to shut themselves out to anything we tried to preach to them,” added Asad Dean of the Canadian Council of Ahl Sunnah wal Jamaah.
“Canadian youth of Muslim faith have been unduly influenced by radical thought,” said Yasmin Ratansi, a Liberal MP.The alleged ringleader, 43-year-old Qayyum Abdul Jamal, was a role model for teenagers at the Al-Rahman Islamic Centre in Mississauga, which was also attended by six of the other terror suspects.”Let’s make sure that we take a second look at who we are allowing to come and preach, what books are allowed into our centres,” said Dean.”We will have to become more vigilant as well in the Muslim community, that if we see any signs of this that we immediately pay attention and take action to address this issue.
“The Council of Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah (CCAS) blamed the Toronto terror plot, as well of terror attacks in London and Madrid, on a small minority of Muslims who subscribe to a “vile doctrine of literalistic ideology.”The group emphasized the “vast majority” of Canadian Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam.”The (CCAS) is convinced that the time has come for Muslim Canadians to adopt a different approach in view of the reality it now finds itself in,” said spokesman Akbar Khan.Liberal MP Wajid Khan said he is tired of hearing Muslim speakers emphasizing that Islam is not to blame for the arrests.
“Nobody is saying it is (Islam),” he said. “Why are we talking about these 17 people based on faith?”Let’s not take the temperature up so high,” he said. “There is an issue and we have to address it as a nation.”At a Saturday night speech in Toronto to Indo-Canadian business leaders, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said terror threats must not divide Canadians.
“Let us never forget that such people today, as in the past, make use of symbols of culture and religion but represent neither,” he said. “They represent nothing but hatred.” Page-8Works Cited PageSpeech by His Highness the Agha KhanLeadership and Diversity ConferenceGatineau, Quebec, Canada, May 19, 2004 Canada and the Arab WorldBy Tareq Y. Ismael Herouxville, Quebec: No[Sharia] Violence Againest Womenhttp://netwmd.
com Jan. 31, 2007 by Andrew L. JaffeePosted on 01/31/2007 Pluralistic Universe by William James Canada’s national interest and the Middle EastDr. Peyton Lyon From refugees to a people? Canada and the Palestinians 1967-1973Dr.
Paul C. Noble Migration, Ethnicity, and Labor Force ActivityMarta Tienda and Franklin D. Wilson Symposium: Islam, a Religion of Peace or War? Part IBy Jamie GlazoyFrontPageMagazine.com Posted on March 4, 2003
