Kingston lit up City Hall in green on Oct. 1, marking the 18th annual Islamic History Month Canada (IHMC).
Since 2007, Parliament has designated October as IHMC, dedicated to reflection, celebration, and learning about Muslim communities throughout Canada. Green is symbolic of IHMC and has been long associated with Islam, symbolizing the soothing greenery of paradise.
“IHMC in October aims to celebrate, inform, educate, and share with fellow Canadians the rich Muslim heritage and contributions to society: Contributions in sciences, humanities, medicine, astronomy, and other disciplines that have greatly benefited human progress. IHMC believes that through education and sharing positive stories, all Canadians can grow and connect in the best way possible,” the official IHMC website says.
National Board Member of IHMC and participant since its inception, Mohamed Bayoumi, a professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Queen’s,and a founding member of the Islamic Society of Kingston (ISK), sat down with The Journal to reflect on the IHMC’s ongoing dual objectives. The first being of education and building bridges between different communities and groups to create a harmonious society.
“One of the objectives of Muslims is to try not to live in a cocoon but to try and interact with the community at large. [By] having a program that would help build bridges, I think in this way, people can live peacefully amongst one another,” Bayoumi said in an interview with The Journal.
Mona Rahman, research awards officer at Queen’s and national board member of IHMC, said “this month serves as a reflection of the longstanding presence of Muslims in Canada.” According to the IHMC website, the first recorded Muslim communities in Canada emerged during the state formation period in the 1860s, and Islam is now considered the second most declared religion after Christianity across Canada.
“I think one of the things that we want to emphasize is that when we’re talking about the history of Islamic history and Muslims in Canada, is that a lot of people think that we are a new population. Part of IHMC is to highlight that Muslims have been here for almost as long and even some possibly longer than Canada,” Rahman said in an interview with The Journal.
The diversity within the human race, Rahman explained, is meant to enrich humanity.
“Unfortunately, humanity tends to focus on differences, but one of the principles we have in the Quran is we are created from a man and woman and created in tribes so we may know each other better,” Rahman said.
Bayoumi remains hopeful amid global conflicts people come to the realization that the only way to resolve issues is by talking to one another.
“Islam is against double standards and is pro-justice,” Bayoumi said. “Talking is always better than fighting one another.”
“I am hoping, indeed, that we won’t continue to fight, that indeed the best way to resolve issues is by talking to one another and indeed talking to those who have been against you, not only talking to your friends but talking to those who have taken your rights,” Bayoumi said.
Each year, IHMC is celebrated with different overarching themes that resonate with the community. Previous themes have highlighted the contributions of Muslim women in the arts and science fields. This year, the focus shifts to health and healing.
“Throughout history, the Muslim world has been home to remarkable physicians, scientists, and scholars whose pioneering work in medicine laid the foundation for modern healthcare practices,” the IHMC website reads.
The IHMC website highlights influential figures in thought, including Ibn Sina, commonly known in the West as Avicenna, renowned for his seminal work, The Canon of Medicine, and Ibn al-Nafis, whose discovery of pulmonary circulation significantly advanced the understanding of the human cardiovascular system. These scholars exemplify the rich legacy of Islamic contribution to health and healing.
As celebrations and events continue to take place on- and off-campus, students and community are encouraged by Bayoumi and Rahman to take the time to reflect and make an effort to learn while having conversations which progress toward a more harmonious society.
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