MAC Recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Mississauga, September 30, 2021 – This year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as “Orange Shirt Day,” is a day that the Muslim Association of Canada will be recognizing to reflect on the legacy of residential schools in Canada.
Justice is a core concept in Islam, and standing up against oppression of all people is our responsibility as Muslims. The Muslim Association of Canada recognizes the brutality and traumatic realities that the Indigenous community has endured and continues to endure. We are committed to achieving reconciliation. Wearing orange shirts today shows our solidarity with the Indigenous community and helps us take the first step toward healing. However, the effort of reconciliation and truth-seeking should not end here. We are a people of both seeking beneficial knowledge and enacting the knowledge acquired. As persons living on Indigenous territories, we hope that everyone makes a commitment to learning about the different Indigenous cultures, languages, traditions, and the realities of the residential school experience. As Muslims, we have a responsibility to stand with our Indigenous brothers and sisters when injustice occurs.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So, follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. (Translation – Qur’an, 4:135)
We call on the Canadian government to actively execute the numerous recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that have not yet been implemented. We stand in solidarity and support our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Though we cannot erase the past, we pray that our Indigenous brothers and sisters will find support in their path to healing and reclaiming justice.
For Media Inquiries please contact communications@macnet.ca or 905-822-2626 ext.233
About MAC:
The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) is the largest Muslim organization in Canada. MAC brings a balanced, constructive and engaged understanding of Islam that aims to inspire Muslims in Canada.
