Making Friends

To make friends one engages in a friendly attitude with friendly overtures. Who knows when one won't make use of the friendly auspices of a neighbour, an acquaintance, even strangers? But to be seen in a kindly light the effort must also be made to be kindly, open to relationships however slight. To be a part of the community in which one lives. To be as accommodating as possible.

However, when ardent religionists of a fundamentalist stripe seek to practise what they preach the result can be startlingly dismissive of engagement in the society at large. Creating an obsessively-private and decidedly separate parochialism that will admit to no exchanges of a friendly nature with one's neighbours.

And here's a prime example, out of a mosque in Toronto where Muslims are sternly being warned not to become involved in even slight recognition of other religions' traditions by acknowledging that they occur. Where wishing a neighbour a Merry Christmas is seen as tantamount to congratulating a murderer in one's midst.

No kidding. This is the mindset of the Khalid bin Al-Walid Mosque, which has issued an injunction to its members to "avoid participating" in dinners, parties or greetings on Thanksgiving because it is a kuffaar (non-Muslim) celebration. It is then, not only religions other than their own which are forbidden recognition, but secular traditions of the society as well.

Why reside in that society to begin with if its social mores, traditions and celebrations are so heinous to one's own traditions? Bearing in mind that it has become so common of late for Muslims to complain that a society comprised of adherents of many other religions, and none at all, demonstrate no understanding of Islam. Hmm.

"Stay completely away from Halloween trick and treat nonsense", the congregants are warned. Hey, I'm with them there. But there's more: Christmas, New Year's, anniversaries, birthday parties, even Earth Day recognition are all forbidden activities for affiliates of this mosque to attend to. Let alone recognize and wish a cheery goodwill aside to those who do attend to these events.

"How can we bring ourselves to congratulate or wish people well for their disobedience to Allah? Thus expressions such as: Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, etc., are completely out" according to the instructions emanating from the mosque to its fervid believers. The mind boggles; "disobedience to Allah"?. Ah, the disobedience comes into play because these people at large in the greater community are not Muslim, have not submitted to His ineffable will.

These are Canadian citizens, taking their place in an accepting, inclusive society. One that, furthermore, agonizes over its perceived lack of sensitivity to Islamic ideals and traditions, making sincere efforts to become ever more accommodating and 'understanding' and accepting of the differences. Embracing them as adding yet again another valuable dimension to the diversity and quality of life in this country.

Little wonder that it's from among this particular mosque's adherents that suspicions arise, which have been confirmed by actual quasi-terrorist events of intentions inimical to the well-being of the country. These are not people anxious to make friends, reaching out to the community, eager to be accepted and to embrace Canadian values.

Their self-imposed reclusiveness and distrust of the greater society around them mark them as unfit for Canadian society, as a matter of fact. Incredibly, other activities which have joined the banned list are as innocuous as watching sports or soap operas, walking dogs, family photographs, wedding bands, Western headgear, mingling and shaking hands with the opposite gender.

"Allah and His messenger have warned us against following or imitating non-Muslims in things which are characteristic of their religion or beliefs. This is more emphasized in the case of their festivals or occasions, which always hold some religious or ideological non-Islamic meanings, and on which the kuffaar indulge in many evil practises."

An on-line advice (question-and-answer) segment of the mosque advises its members that Muslims are permitted to join political parties only if they are "able to exert some influence on the direction of the party so that it will take an Islamic direction." Clearly, all the makings of a sound citizen.

Wait, there's more: the same web site encouragingly states that "with strong determination and patience, the world will, God-willing be under the Muslims' control." Yes indeed. The mosque has gained federally-registered charitable status. The mosque represents a number of rival factions within the Somali community.

Just think for a moment of the harm this religious community is doing to the larger community of Muslims in the country diligently and earnestly immersing themselves - while retaining the fundamentals of their religious adherence - in Canadian life. Chilling, to say the least.