        
To help make a mosque in Cold Lake a reality contact Ajaz Quraishi 780-826-0045 ajaz@telus.net
MUSSLAH |
 
As this guide was being written, I spoke with a reporter working for one of Canada's largest daily newspapers. He had been assigned to write a five-paragraph item about a series of information sessions in his city about Islam. Although he considered himself conversant with religion, he had little understanding of Islam. "I didn't even know whether I should write Moslem or Muslim," he recounted. Despite the fact that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in North American, few journalists understand it. Even fewer know where to go on deadline to obtain accurate and balanced information about one of the world's major faiths. For the uninformed, it is sometimes difficult to separate religious belief from the influence of politics and culture. There is considerable confusion as to who speaks for Islam. In fact, too much misinformation about Islam is passed along as fact. Too often harmful stereotypes that breed intolerance are being reinforced. This guide is intended to clear up some of the confusion and make it easier for journalists to prepare informed stories. This Journlist's Guide to Islam is not intended to be comprehensive. But it covers most of the areas that a general assignment reporter might encounter during the course of preparing a story with an Islamic angle. Nor is it intended to serve as either a defence or an apology for Islam. Rather it is written for any journalist who requires some ready and timely resources about Islam. It begins with some quick facts and guidelines for covering Islam, followed by an overview of Islamic core beliefs and the Muslim presence in Canada. The guide also looks at a few important themes, including jihad and the role of women in Islamic society. There is also a section about some of the sensitivities required in covering Islam. As well, there are some useful resources. Finally, there is a list of media contacts in every major city across Canada. Every contact is conversant with the demands and deadlines facing journalists. In short, we hope this assists journalists in doing their job more easily and effectively.
Gordon Legge,
Some Quick Facts about Islam
Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. It is estimated that there are as many as 1.3 billion Muslims throughout the world. Of those, an estimated 580,000 live in Canada, and another 6 to 7 million in the United States. Contrary to popular perception, however; Arab Muslims make up only 15 per cent of that total. Furthermore, not all Arabs are Muslims. Some are Christian or belong to other religious groups. Of the world's 220 million Arabs, about 10 per cent are non-Muslims. Anyone whose native tongue is Arabic is considered an Arab. Muslims the world over learn Arabic so they can read the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, and understand its meaning. They also perform their ritual prayer in Arabic. Islam is one of the world's three major monotheistic religions. Muslims, along with Jews and Christians, believe in one God, whom Muslims call Allah, Creator of the universe and all that is in it. Islam was revealed to the world through Allah's messenger; the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. From its beginnings in the 7th Century C.E. (Common Era), it spread from France to China within a century. The revered Golden Age of Islam kept intellectual inquiry alive during the height of the European Dark Ages. There were 36 public libraries in Baghdad when the Mongols devastated it in 1258. Today it is considered the fastest growing religion in North America. Among the most famous adherents are boxer Muhammad Ali and Cat Stevens, a British rock musician who changed his name to Yusuf Islam. "It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media," says Islam (Stevens). "It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk and he bangs it into the wall. Islam guides all human beings in their daily life - in its spiritual, mental and physical dimensions. We find the sources of these instructions in the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet. There we can see the ideal of Islam."
Islam arose in 7th century C.E. (Common Era) Arabia. The region was a melting pot of religious beliefs. There were pockets of Judaism and Christianity but, for the most part, they were overshadowed by the cults of the tribal gods that indulged in some barbaric practices. Muhammad, Islam's Prophet, was born in Mecca in the Arabian peninsula in what is now Saudi Arabia, in 570 C.E. Raised in a trading family, at the age of 25 he married an older widow who had employed him as a trading agent. At the age of 40, during one of his periodic meditative retreats in a nearby cave, he began to experience visions and auditory revelations. The angel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to "read". Initially, he shared the message with his family and friends. But over time he began to meet daily with a growing circle of people to share the message of Peace (Islam). A major part of Muhammad's mission was devoted to ending the vicious cycle of murder and warfare perpetrated by pre-Islamic tribes engaged in bitter blood feuds. As might be expected, Muhammad's message faced opposition forcing him to flee to the neighboring city of Medina, a town 400 Km north of Mecca. This event, the Hijrah (emigration) marks the beginning of the Islamic era and its dating. Eventually, following a period of intense conflict, Muhammad and his followers returned to Mecca. Muhammad died in Medina in 632 and left no male heir. Islam is an Arabic word. It means peace, greeting, obedience, loyalty, allegiance and submission to the will of the creator of the universe. The name of the Creator of the universe is Allah, an Arabic word which means God Almighty. Allah, the one and only God, has 99 names and numerous attributes. He is the Merciful, the Protector, the Mighty, the Forgiver, the Provider, the Loving, the Wise, the All-Knowing, the All-hearing, the All-seeing , the First, the Last, the Eternal. Muslims believe that Muhammad was chosen by Allah (god) as the final prophet and messenger to humanity to deliver his message of Peace (Islam). They do not worship Muhammad, only Allah. Muhammad was both a Prophet and a statesman. This message was recorded in the Qur'an, the Islamic Scripture. It is considered the exact words of Allah revealed to Muhammad through Gabriel over a period of 23 years. The language of the Qur'an is Arabic. It contains 114 Suras or chapters. It's read and recited according to a set of rules and regulations. In order to read the Qur'an, a Muslim must be clean and in a state of cleanliness. In addition, the sayings and practical guidance offered by Muhammad were compiled and collected shortly after he died. Known as Hadiths, together with the QUr'an, they provide Muslims with a comprehensive and practical guide to daily living. The Qur'an teaches that people are called to live in submission to Allah and in peace within one's self, with other people, the environment and the cosmos. Therefore, the goal of life is to worship Allah, obey His commandments by striving to go to Heaven and escape Hell in the life hereafter. Muslims trace their beginnings back to the Prophet Adam, who is also recognize by both Jews an Christians. Muslims recognize Abraham to be the founder of the three monolithic faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. They also believe Abraham established a house of worship in Mecca. This house, the Ka'bah, is believed by Muslims to be the first one devoted to the worship of one God. It is believed that Allah sent different messengers to humanity throughout history, all with similar teachings. But over time, people misunderstood and misinterpreted them. Nevertheless, Muslims believe in the prophets commonly revered in Judaism and Christianity, including Noah, Issac, Jacob, and David. They also regard Jesus as a prophet but, unlike Christians, do not consider him divine. Muslims also respect the original Hebrew and Christian scriptures. The followers of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are sometimes referred to as "the People of the Book." Muslims do not believe in religious coercion. People must be allowed to follow their own beliefs. Muslims also believe in angels and a Day of Judgment and are commanded to combine their beliefs with practice in their daily lives.
In order to bring people's lives into daily submissions to Allah, Islam has five pillars of faith which are incumbent on all adult Muslims.
1) Declaration of Faith:
2) Prayer:
3) Fasting:
4) Almsgiving:
5) Pilgrimage to Mecca:
During the 100 years following Muhammad's death, Islam spread to many parts of the world, including West Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia, as well as large parts of what had been the Roman and Persian empires. It has been commonly said that Islam was spread by the sword, a claim that dates back to the time of Christian crusades in the Holy Land. More than anything, that depends upon the perspective. Because Islam historically combined the roles of spiritual and political leader in one person, political and territorial aspirations often were confused with missionary zeal. Moreover, because Muslim beliefs and values were often at odds with the prevailing culture, Muslims found themselves as much under attack, as on the attack. More to the point, Muslims believe it was their witness of faith that accelerated the spread of Islam across most of the known world. "...I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life", Mohandas Gandhi wrote in Young India. "It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regards for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These, and not the sword, carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble." The Qur'an encourages followers to acquire knowledge and explore the universe. Islam made tremendous contributions to the intellectual, scientific and cultural progress of humanity during a time when Europe was regarded as being mired in the Dark Ages. The period from the 10th century to the 13th century is often known as the Golden Age of Islam. Muslim scholars contributed to a variety of fields: art, music, physics, medicine, education, literature, astronomy, geography, mathematics and architecture. Cairo, Baghdad, Cordoba and Samarkand were centres of scientific research. Their universities in Spain, Egypt and elsewhere, were unequalled. Islam is credited with opening the way for the European Enlightenment.
For a variety of political reasons, over time the Muslim community broke into different branches. It is here that a journalist must be particularly diligent. A reporter must be careful not to rely for information on a religious organization that lies outside what is regarded as mainstream Islam. For the purposes of this guide, it is not essential to know the origins of the various groups but simply be sensitive to the various groups within the framework of Islam. The principal groups include: Sunnis: The Sunnis make up about 85 per cent of the world's Muslim population. In all major Canadian cities, the Sunni community is the predominant Muslim community. Shi'as: They comprise the majority of the remaining 15 per cent of the Islamic community, coming primarily from places such as Iran. Ismaili's: This is a branch of the Shi'as, led by the Aga Khan. There are several Ismaili communities in Canada, mostly comprising refugees who fled East Africa in the 1970s. Sufis: This is the mystical branch of Islam and perhaps the best known of all the Muslim groups. In Canada, the Sufis were popularized by famed singer/songwriter Sylvia Tyson during the 1970s. Small in numbers, Sufis can be found among both Sunnis and Shi'as. Other Groups: There may be other groups in the community who regard themselves as Muslims, some even going so far as to use the word Muslim or Islamic in their name. Mainstream Muslims consider some legitimate; others heretical. It is best to check to determine whether a group is considered part of mainstream Islam. Furthermore, Muslims may appear to the outsider as being a single, monolithic group. They are not. There are several schools of thought within Islam. Like other religious movements, they carry on an active dialogue and may be regarded as classical, traditional, modern or reformist in their interpretation of Islamic teachings. Another caution is also in order. The word "fundamentalist" is often used concerning Islam. It is a shorthand way of equating Muslims with movements within other religions. In fact, all Muslims are, by definition, fundamentalists since they adhere to the teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet. Therefore, to use the word fundamentalist in association with Islam is misleading at best, harmful at worst.
News organizations often use major celebrations to focus on religious activities, such as Christmas and Easter for Christians, and Passover; Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for Jews. So it should be, for these are important events in the lives of believers.
Eid Ul-Fitr:
Eid Ul-Adha:
The roots of modern day Islam were sown a couple of centuries ago when once proud Muslim empires began to be overwhelmed by expansionist movement dominated by European Colonialists. Much of the Muslim world is still suffering the impact of those exploits. Now Muslims the world over are looking to reassert themselves after a long period of humiliation and oppression, sometimes at the hands of foreigners and sometimes at the hands of their own leaders. Muslims regard the fall of Islam as their own fault for they succumbed to spiritual laziness. The question then becomes, how is that accomplished while adhering to the principles of the Qur'an? The Muslim community world wide is wrestling with that delicate but complex question. Muslims are not a monolithic group. Further; there is no centralized authority within Islam. That is why contradictions often catch the eye of reporters looking for an angle. Unfortunately, while there are a variety of interpretations, media accounts headline the extremes without paying attention to the viewpoints of the moderate, mainstream Muslims across North America and elsewhere, who comprise the majority. It is a complex situation that, all to often, is over-simplified for the benefit of readers and viewers to the point where news accounts are distorted. This does an enormous disservice to the broader Muslim community because reporting trends to be alarmist, reinforcing stereotypes and setting the stage for racial or religious profiling. It is important to put the apparent tensions and contradictions within the muslim community into context. Reporters must seek out Islamic scholars and commentators, especially in North America. Journalists reporting on Islam must cultivate trustworthy sources to help them sort out the social,cultural and political factors that have become interwoven with the Islamic beliefs and customs in different countries around the world. It is also important to avoid the temptation to label terrorists' activities as "Islamic" or ascribe responsibility to "Muslims." Simplistic , sensationalized reporting loaded with "newspeak" or jargon must be replaced with clear, accurate and nuanced reporting."
In 1996, Daood Hassan Hamdani, one of the country's foremost authorities on Islam in Canada, gave an address on Parliament Hill marking Eid Al-Adha. In it, the Ottawa engineer noted that the 1991 census showed there were more than 250,000 Muslims in Canada compared with 98,000 in 1981 and 33,000 in 1971. Most came to Canada to escape racial or ideological intolerance, flee religious and political persecution, escape famine and pestilence, and most of all, to seek a better living in one of the best countries in the world.
The recent 2001 census numbers Canadian Muslims at 579,000. Muslims make up the largest non-Christian community in 10 of 25 metropolitan areas across Canada. They have settled everywhere but that said, about 85 per cent live in six major cities. In fact, Metropolitan Toronto has more Muslims than all of Canada's provinces and territories combined, excluding Ontario. Two-thirds have settled within 350 miles of each other.
Before Islam, women in Arabia were often treated worse than animals. Pagan Arabs sometimes buried their female children alive. Women were made to dance naked near the Ka'bah during annual visits. They were treated as property and objects of sexual pleasure with no rights whatsoever.
There is no term in Islam that is so misused or abused as jihad. Contrary to popular understanding, jihad does not mean holy war: The concept of holy war does not exist in Islam. It is a term that originated during the Crusades by the Christians. Nor is jihad a war to force Islam on others. The Qur'an states, "There is no compulsion in religion." (2:256) Rather jihad means to struggle or strive for a better way of life. It refers to the difficult task of implementing Allah's will at every level of life- personal, social and political. The most urgent task for a Muslim is to remove injustice and wrongdoing from one's heart and from society. The most important struggle is purifying the heart. The only time that jihad is permitted in a combative sense is in self-defence - as a defensive war waged against unjust leaders, not against the people of a country. Furthermore, only a recognized or governing authority can declare jihad. Islam condemns suicide, terrorism, kidnapping and hijacking. All such acts are regarded as criminal and should be punished. People who undertake such actions in the name of Islam have hijacked the religion for their own political purposes In wartime, Islam prohibits soldiers from harming civilians, children, women, the elderly and religious men, including priests and rabbis. It also prohibits removing trees, burning crops and polluting drinking water.
In covering Canada's Muslim community, it is important to be aware of
cultural and political differences that may affect news gathering.
It is especially important for journalists to cultivate long term contacts
within the Muslim community in their area. As hosts, Muslims are extremely
gracios and self-effacing. But to dig beneath the surface it is important to
develop relationships and build trust in order to enhance understanding.
Furthermore, North American culture centers on the cult of the individual.
Conversely, in Muslim culture the community takes precedence over the
individual. That is why Muslims are less inclined to be critical and
outspoken about others in their community, regardless of disagreement. They
are also less inclined to air their displeasure in public, particularly via
the news media.
Certain courtesies ought to be followed when covering Islam and Muslims. For
instance, when visiting a mosque, remove shoes upon entering. Further, it is
inappropriate for a stranger to shake hands with a member of the opposite
sex due to Islamic etiquette requiring modest behaviour between genders.
When taking photographs of Muslims at prayer, do not film or photograph them
from behind. It is offensive. Do not enhance racial profiling by simply
running images and photographs of Muslims who, because of the way they
dress, fit the stereotype. Most do not conform to the stereotype.
Do not seek out the Muslim community only when there is a crisis or major
problem where a reaction is required. Help the local community learn more
about their Muslim neighbours. Islam offers a rich bounty of feature
stories. Examine the traditions around major celebrations. Compare the
marriage and funeral customs. Look at their dietary restrictions. Outline
how Muslims conduct business when charging interest is forbidden.
Conversely, avoid labeling militant, extremist or terrorist groups as
Islamic, even if they describe themselves as such. Journalists do not refer
to white supremacists as "Christian," even though they will cite the bible
to justify their actions.
If the term is essential to the story, strive for a balance and seek out an
opinion and context from the local Muslim community. Be particularly careful
in headlines. Finally, do not rely on non-Muslims for information about
Islam. And do not rely on Muslims for information about other faiths. By and
large, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Christians know little about the others'
faith and what they may know be erroneous. Dig deep to get it right.
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