"When a Muslim person gets up and does something wrong, that does not mean they do it according to Islamic teachings. They have their own agenda."
Source/Credit: The StarPhoenix
By Sean Trembath | January 21, 2014
The public needs to be better educated on the real teachings of Islam, according to the organizers of an event planned for tonight.
"Muslims are peace-loving, and we cherish Canadian values," said Zahid Abid, a local imam who is one of the panellists for STOPthecrISIS.
The event, which starts at 6 p.m. in the Health Science Building at the University of Saskatchewan, is intended to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together for a discussion on the sources of radicalism and the peaceful nature of Islam.
"What's being portrayed by extremist groups like ISIS is contrary to the teaching of Islam," noted Noman Hassan, an organizer.
"In the Qur'an it states very clearly that if you kill one person, it's like you have killed the whole of humanity."
STOPthecrISIS is a Canada-wide movement that has held more than 47 events, Hassan said. It was founded in the wake of the terrorist shooting on Parliament Hill last year, in anticipation of anti-Muslim sentiment.
"When a Muslim person gets up and does something wrong, that does not mean they do it according to Islamic teachings. They have their own agenda," Hassan said.
At the same time, both Hassan and Abid acknowledged the Muslim community's responsibility to prevent youth from becoming radicalized.
Abid said in his congregation, special attention is paid to making sure children are following "the real teachings of the Qur'an."
"Starting around the age of seven, we have them coming to the mosque weekly, and we give them moral teachings," he said.
The recent terror attacks in France once again turned the world's eyes toward those who use Islam as justification for savagery. While there was concern, Abid said as far as he has seen, Saskatoon's Muslim community has not been targeted since the Paris attacks.
Tonight's event will begin with an interactive video presentation, a panel and a question-and-answer session, Hassan said. Abid will be accompanied on the panel by imams from Edmonton and Lloydminster.
"The whole purpose is to bring Muslims and non-Muslims onto one platform, and start a discussion about what is causing the problem," Hassan said.
The overarching message is one of tolerance. Hassan referenced a story about a woman who would throw garbage at the prophet Muhammad every day. Not only did he not retaliate, when the woman fell sick, he visited her.
Abid called for the same sort of tolerance from non-Muslims. When asked about the cartoons drawn by the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, he said free speech is an important value, but so is respect.
"We do accept their opinions of trying to express themselves, but they should be mindful of the millions of Muslims. It hurts us when they portray depictions of the prophet," Abid said.
strembath@thestarphoenix.com
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