Muslims in North America have to deal with hatemongers just as Aboriginals, Jews, Chinese, blacks and others had to do earlier. But the racists and bigots are comparatively few. Most North Americans are welcoming and Muslims generally are doing well. The media recently reported some gratifying developments. Ottawa's Muslims helped out an old friend in his hour of need. Jamie Fisher was a member of the Ottawa City Council and deputy mayor. He met Idrees Ben-Tahir, a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, 50 years ago. The two became friends and Ben-Tahir sometimes brought Fisher to the Ottawa mosque, which was in Fisher's ward, and to Muslim functions. Fisher helped the Ottawa Muslim Association to buy a patch of land in 1988 for one dollar, which provided worshippers access to their parking lot. Ben-Tahir also introduced Fisher to Imam Samy Metwally of the Ottawa mosque. Fisher had stumbled onto hard times, lost his seat on the council and died at his home alone at the age of 70. Ben-Tahir contacted Imam Metwally. The OMA brought Fisher's body to its morgue and arranged proper burial through the Presbyterian church. Imam Metwally said it was a “religious obligation” to “help any person to be buried or to be honored after death if there is no one to take care of him.” He called Fisher a very good man who served the City of Ottawa and Muslims. From Vancouver came a report, through bus driver Surjit Singh Virk, that a stranger gave his shoes and socks to a passenger who was only wearing plastic bags. “It made my heart melt,” driver Virk stated. He just took his shoes and socks off and said: “You can take these, don't worry about me. I live close by and can walk.'” Virk has been a bus driver for 16 years and he said: “People usually don't care or even look at other people on the bus; they didn't even want to sit beside this guy because of how he was dressed.” The 27-year-old benefactor was coming from the British Columbia Muslim Association mosque. Association spokesman Mufti Aasim Rashid said: “Whenever we do a good deed, even if it's to help someone out, Islamic teachings maintain this should remain for the pleasure of God. It's nice to see people practicing the teachings.” Virk said the recipient was shocked by the kindness. “What a nice guy!” was all he could say. The media reported that Iskander Van Doorn has embraced Islam. He is the son of far-right Dutch leader Arnoud Van Doorn, who detested Islam and participated in making a movie Fitna that insulted the faith. He studied Islam to find its faults but was attracted by its teachings and became a Muslim last year. Iskander is quoted as saying: “I saw my father become more peaceful after converting to Islam. That's when I realized there is something good in this religion.” He began studying Islam and accepted it this year. Muslim and Jewish leaders have also welcomed the decision of Brandeis University of Massachusetts to withdraw its offer of an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The former Somali citizen had suffered genital mutilation and a forced marriage. She renounced Islam and has been condemning the religion as a “nihilistic cult of death” and labeling all Muslims as extremists. The university said it respected Ali's work to “protect and defend the rights of women and girls” but that it “cannot overlook certain of her past statements that are inconsistent with Brandeis University's core values.” It expressed “regret that we were not aware of these statements earlier.” Educational institutions generally honor people of outstanding achievements or services to mankind. Then there is Tariq Farid, whose love of mangoes has turned him into a business tycoon. His father Ghulam Farid moved to Connecticut in the 1970s from Sahiwal, Pakistan, and worked as a machinist. He brought his family to the US in 1981 when Tariq was 11. One day his mother spotted mangoes, which Pakistanis and Indians love, at a store. His father asked his mother to put the fruit back, they could not afford it. Tariq mowed lawns and worked at McDonald's. In 1999, he and his brother Kamran opened the first Edible Arrangements store in East Haven, Connecticut, blending fresh fruits with attractive floral arrangements. They now have 1,100 stores worldwide, including Canada and the Middle East. To honor his mother who died in 2005, Tariq and his brothers opened the Salma K. Farid Academy, an Islamic school in Hamden, Connecticut, in October 2008. He also tried to build a mosque in Wallingford, Connecticut, to honor his mother but was denied zoning approval. Farid faced other disappointments as well. One hundred and seventy franchisees launched a suit against his company in 2010 alleging unfair practices. That matter is pending. Still, his success is another illustration of North America being a land of opportunity for those who work hard and have ability and the determination to succeed.
