Muslims In Canada

During the last twenty years, public interest in Islam and how Muslims express their religious identity in Western societies has grown exponentially. In parallel, the study of Islam in the Canadian academy has grown in a number of fields since the 1970s, reflecting a diverse range of scholarship, positionalities, and politics. Yet, academic research on Muslims in Canada has not been systematically assessed. In Producing Islam(s) in Canada, scholars from a wide range of disciplines come together to explore what is at stake regarding portrayals of Islam(s) and Muslims in academic scholarship. Given the centrality of representations of Canadian Muslims in current public policy and public imaginaries, which effects how all Canadians experience religious diversity, this analysis of knowledge production comes at a crucial time.

Despite Islam's long history in the "new world", the majority of Muslims in Canada are relatively new immigrants. How do Muslims in Canada cope with living in a non-Islamic environment? Are they able to maintain their Islamic values or do they prefer to become assimilated? To what extent does observance of the "five pillars" of Islam influence their identity? What effect do Canadian values such as drinking alcohol, eating pork, celebrating Christmas, premarital sex, bank interest, etc. have on a Muslim's identity, particularly since many of these are forbidden by Islam? What role do Muslim's community groups and organizations play in the adaptation of Muslims immigrants to their new homeland? How are Muslim's living in Canada affected by the political structure at the community, national and international level? This book examines these questions as well as many others, in an attempt to determine the extent to which Muslims in the Canadian multicultural mosaic are able to maintain their identity.

To those who study the integration of immigrants in Western countries, both Muslims and Canada are seen to be exceptions to the rule. Muslims are often perceived as unable or unwilling to integrate, mostly due to their religious beliefs, and Canada is portrayed as a model for successful integration. This book addresses the intersection of these two types of exceptionalism through an empirical study of the experiences of Muslims in Canada. Replete with practical implications, the analysis shows that instead of fixating on religion, the focus should be on the economic and social challenges faced by Muslims in Canada.

To those who study the integration of immigrants in Western countries, both Muslims and Canada are seen to be exceptions to the rule. Muslims are often perceived as unable or unwilling to integrate, mostly due to their religious beliefs, and Canada is portrayed as a model for successful integration. This book addresses the intersection of these two types of exceptionalism through an empirical study of the experiences of Muslims in Canada. Replete with practical implications, the analysis shows that instead of fixating on religion, the focus should be on the economic and social challenges faced by Muslims in Canada.

Muslim communities have become increasingly salient in the social, cultural, and political landscape in Canada largely due to the aftermath of 9/11 and the racial politics of the ongoing "war on terror" that have cast Muslims as the new "enemy within." Featuring some of Canada's top Muslim Studies scholars, Islam in the Hinterlands examines how gender, public policy, media, and education shape the Muslim experience in Canada. A timely volume addressing some of the most hotly contested issues in recent cultural history, it is essential reading for academics as well as general readers interested in Islamic studies, multiculturalism, and social justice.

A significant number of Canadian-raised children from post-1970s immigrant families have reached adulthood over the past decade. As a result, the demographics of religious affiliation are changing across Canada. Growing Up Canadian is the first comparative study of religion among young adults of Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist immigrant families. Contributors consider how relating to religion varies significantly depending on which faith is in question, how men and women have different views on the role of religion in their lives, and how the possibilities of being religiously different are greater in larger urban centres than in surrounding rural communities. Interviews with over two hundred individuals, aged 18 to 26, reveal that few are drawn to militant, politicized religious extremes, how almost all second generation young adults take personal responsibility for their religion, and want to understand the reasons for their beliefs and practices. The first major study of religion among this generation in Canada, Growing Up Canadian is an important contribution to understanding religious diversity and multiculturalism in the twenty-first century. Contributors include Peter Beyer, Kathryn Carrière, Wendy Martin, and Lori Beaman (University of Ottawa), Rubina Ramji (Cape Breton University), Nancy Nason-Clark and Cathy Holtmann (University of New Brunswick), Shandip Saha (Athabasca University), John H. Simpson (University of Toronto), and Marie-Paule Martel-Reny (Concordia University)

Problems – of integration, failed political participation, and requests for various kinds of accommodation – seem to dominate the research on minority Muslims in Western nations. Beyond Accommodation offers a different perspective, showing how Muslim Canadians successfully navigate and negotiate their religiosity. The authors critique the model of reasonable accommodation, suggesting that it disempowers religious minorities by implicitly privileging Christianity and by placing the onus on minorities to make formal requests for accommodation. Through interviews, Muslim Canadians show that informal negotiation takes place all the time; scholars, however, have not been paying attention. This book proposes an alternative picture of how religious difference is woven into the fabric of Canadian society.

Manitoba Muslims: A History of Resiliance and Growth is both a look back at the history of Muslims in the province of Manitoba, and a look forward into the future. The Muslims of Manitoba have a presence that reaches back beyond a century. They are a fast-growing demographic and continue to make many positive contributions to their community and country. The history of Manitoba Muslims is an integral part of the history of Manitoba and Canada; with a better collective understanding of our history, all Canadians can work together to create a more respectful, tolerant, and welcoming nation. This book opens with a history of the community, beginning in 1900. The second section examines some of the issues and challenges facing the Islamic community in Manitoba. The author examines the challenges faced by specific segments of the community, such as women, youth, and converts. In addition, address affiliations, controversies, social issues, halal alternatives, integration, and Islamophobia. This book will appeal to members of the public interested in learning about Islam and the Muslim community in Manitoba. It will also serve as an informative resource for historians, faith groups, and governing bodies.