Islamic fervour begins to catch up with Canadian Muslims

The world-wide wave of renewed Islamic fervour is beginning to catch up with the Canadian Muslims. With the religion's entry into the 15th century of its existence, the community leaders are striving hard to impress on Muslims the dire need to live by the rules of the Holy Koran and explaining to others the true significance of Islamic culture, society and other traditions.

Although there are an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims in Canada, so far they have remained largely isolationists except for those living in bigger cities like Montreal and Toronto. But this low-profile approach is now being shed in favour of emerging from the cocoon to become part of the multicultural and multiracial mosaic of the society.

To begin with, the Muslims have won a major victory in that at the time of the next national census they will be enumerated as a separate religion. The computer digit that had so far labelled them as part of 'other religions' has been broken up to indicate the numerical strength of the followers of Islam region-wise.

The task of harnessing the Muslims of Canada and seeking closer cooperation - particularly in the field of expansion of Islamic teaching centres with those living across the border in the United States, has been taken up by the Council of Muslim Communities in Canada. According to a spokesman for the council, this cooperation is likely to result in more structured and better equipped Islamic youth centres in North America.

Ambitious Goals: The council, which came into existence in 1973 is just beginning to make its presence felt. The national body chairman Mum Muinudein a 52-year-old school-teacher from Toronto, claims that the council represents 90 per cent of all mosques and prayer halls. But working through 45 associations, numerically, it has on its rolls no more than 20 per cent of all Muslims in Canada.

Asked if the question of faith (Shiites and Sunnis) and the fact that Muslims in Canada come from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran and Africa, could have proved to be a stumbling block in securing more members for the council, Muinudein was categorical in his denial. But another council member, who did not want to be identified, said that the fact Shiites are relatively a minority has affected membership drives. He added that in Toronto alone there were several organisations catering to special interests of Muslims from particular regions.

The council has set before it some ambitious goals. Among other things such as organising annual conferences, youth workshops, seminars and exhibitions, the national body plans to establish a school for Muslims in Toronto. A feasibility study of the project has already been completed and a final decision is to be taken soon. The institution is expected to be patterned after the more exclusive private schools.

Another idea being explored by the council is to seek the enrolment of young intelligent Muslims with leadership qualities into private schools under an agreement that they would be spared some school time to pursue Islamic studies. It is an area where, some council members think, financial help from some of the oil-rich countries would come in handy.

Foreign Help:Already some council members have been in touch with Islamic organisations and aid agencies in the Middle East. According to Dr Ahmed Sahin. former chairman of the council and Mohammad Quadri, editor of the monthly Islam Canada, they have approached oil-rich nations like Satidi Arabia for financial assistance for special projects and to support the education of Muslim youth in Canada.

Sahin a practising urologist from Niagara Falls, is of the firm belief that Muslims in this country and around the world must fend for the education of their youth in the best Islamic traditions. He disfavours the idea of approaching the secular school-system in the country and doing at taxpayer's expense what the members of the community must do for themselves. On the subject of seeking petro-dollars from abroad. Sahin said: "I was trying to convince the Saudi people that you cannot have peace by buying tanks and planes but by intelligent Muslims explaining Islam to the West."

Obviously, the efforts of Sahin and others are bearing dividends. Last year the Organisation of Islamic States (OIS), based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, donated $20,000 (Rs 160,000) to the council and more funds are to be channelled in future depending on specific requirements. While, the OIS has not made any donations to the council this year, this might be done later to coincide with a national convention scheduled to be held on the subject of Muslim Family in Canada in mid-May.

Problems:In an interview Muinudein disclosed to India Today that another conference entitled Interface of Culture, which was to be held in May, had been postponed to 1982. This conference would be attended by 30 noted scholars from different parts of the world, including 15 Muslims and 15 non-Muslims. The University of Toronto has agreed to support this venture with a $20,000 grant.

But, despite all the Islamic fervour generated in recent months and the optimism of people like Muinudein, the road to success for the Canadian Muslim community is littered with a myriad of problems. For one thing, keeping the faith and keeping the practice of Islam are becoming a nightmare for many Muslims, particularly in the context of a predominantly non-Muslim atmosphere. Secondly, it is the problem of youth, and the compromises that people have to make in their family and personal lives.

Complained one faithful:"We're required to say our prayers five times a day but the employers do not spare us the 10 minutes for this purpose each time. For us Jumma or Friday noon-hour prayers are holy, but we cannot always manage to do this. We get together and observe this ritual every Sunday."

The employers make no bones about their objections. Henderson of Toronto, who employs five Muslims in his workshop, says: "I agree that these people want time off for their prayers but I cannot permit this. It costs me a dollar a person in the minimum to give them 10 minutes each time and this may happen three times a day. Who is going to run the machines while they are away?"

Dilemma:Life is particularly hard for the Muslim women living in Canada. Take the case of a 30-year-old working mother who is raising her son as a single parent. She buys a money order every alternate month and sends it to her mosque in Aligarh. She says her Friday noon-hour prayers, fasts in the month of Ramadan and observes other religious festivities.