05/14/2025
Good day everyone,
I stand here today not just as a Muslim but as a proud Canadian.
People often ask, "Since when have Muslims been living in Canada?" The answer is for more than a century. The first known Muslim Canadian came here in 1854. And today, there are over 1.7 million Muslims living peacefully across this great country.
We are not guests we are part of the Canadian family.
We are your doctors, your engineers, your teachers, your shopkeepers, your taxi drivers, your nurses, your caregivers. We are small business owners creating jobs, volunteers helping at food banks, and neighbors helping shovel snow in the winter. We pay taxes, we follow the law, and we raise our children with values of respect, hard work, and honesty just like you.
We didn't come here to recreate where we came from we came here to start a new life. Many of us left behind war, corruption, or poverty. We came because we believed in Canada’s promise: a land of peace, freedom, and fairness. We came so our children could have a better future with safety, education, and dignity.
And no matter how many times we’ve been misunderstood, called names, or judged by the mistakes of a few we never gave hate in return. Because we believe that hate only breeds more hate. But love, patience, and understanding that brings change.
Yes, it hurts when people say "Muslims are criminals" or "Muslims don’t belong here." Because the truth is: Islam doesn’t allow crime, hate, or injustice. Those who lie, cheat, steal, or hurt others in the name of Islam they are not following Islam. They may have been born Muslim, but their actions go against everything Islam teaches.
Islam teaches us to be kind to our neighbors, to speak the truth, to give charity, to protect the innocent, and to work hard for an honest living. These are not just Muslim values they’re human values. Canadian values.
We celebrate Eid. You celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, or maybe none. That’s okay. We don’t want to change you. We just want to live peacefully with you.
Muslims are not here to take over we are here to take part.
We don’t want special treatment. We want equal treatment. Just like you, we want to feel safe, be heard, and be respected for who we are not feared for what we look like, or what we eat, or what we believe.
So before judging an entire community by the actions of a few, I ask you look at your Muslim co-worker, your Muslim neighbor, your Muslim classmate. Get to know us. You might just find we’re not so different. And in some ways, we might even surprise you.
We’re not here to divide we’re here to build.
That’s what being Canadian is all about.
Thank you.
