"We believe that it is necessary that people understand that Muslims are a loving and caring people, you can't be a Muslim unless you understand that helping others, respecting all faiths is integral."
Source/Credit: The Enterprise-Bulletin
By JT McVeigh | April 29, 2016
What's the best way to clear up any fear or misunderstanding?
Fear can drive communities apart, but hopefully talking about it will help.
Imam Ghalib Baten and his group from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association have travelled the province in the past year to try and quell fears and misunderstandings that can spread between generations.
Last fall, members of the Toronto-area association group came to Collingwood and talked about Islam to an appreciative group.
They are coming back Saturday to the Collingwood Public Library to do the same, but this time they want to talk about equality and the position of women in the Islamic faith.
Worried by a few attacks on women wearing head scarves in Toronto, they are talking about how they know women are an integral an equal part of society.
"We believe that it is necessary that people understand that Muslims are a loving and caring people, you can't be a Muslim unless you understand that helping others, respecting all faiths is integral," said Baten.
The group will be discussing Mother Mary, a prominent figure in both Islam and Christianity.
"We are mentioning Mother Mary because, I believe that it was an Italian legislator who said "how can we condemn Muslim women for wearing head scarves, when our own Mother Mary is never depicted without one," said Baten.
Mary has been depicted in the Quran as an example of the great status of women, he continued. She has been mentioned as a prime role model for all Muslim men and women. Her purity and piousness has been preserved in both religions.
Women are an integral and equal part of our society, he says, and their right to choose their religion and religious attire comes under the rights and equality owed to women. Dictating on attire not only raises the questions of oppressing women, but is a sign of creating imbalance in the status of women.
"We came up to Collingwood in the fall, but it is not the case that we can just visit once and think that there won't be any misunderstanding, it's important we keep talking." said Baten.
The open house on Mother Mary in Islam is at the Collingwood Public Library on Ste. Marie St. from noon until 4 p.m. on April 30, and all are welcome.
Read original post here: Muslim youth to discuss women in Islam
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