In a bid to create stronger connections between their community and other Canadians, Ahmadiyya Muslims across the country are inviting complete strangers into their home.
The Ahmadiyaa Mosque in Winnipeg is discreetly tucked away on a residential side street in South Osborne, but draws members from across the city.
The imam says when he sees images from overseas, or hears people talking about Parliament Hill shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau being associated with Islam, those kind of acts don’t represent his values.
"It is a negative image which is being portrayed, but we want to show the world the truth and the perfect picture of Islam and that is why we have launched this campaign,” said Zulfiquar Ali.
As part of the Meet a Muslim Family campaign, 20 to 25 families from the mosque have agreed to open their homes to anyone who has questions about the Islamic faith.
"I think it will be a good idea to have some time and sit together and talk about what are their concerns about Islam,” said Mahmood Nasir, whose family is participating.
He thinks non-Muslims that take him up on the offer will discover a family not all that different from their own, with two working parents trying to navigate a very typical Canadian life.
"My wife, she's in the same profession like me,” said Nasir. “We are both family physicians. And I have two kids, 15 and 14 years old. And my dad is living with me too."
The formal campaign runs for two weeks but leaders of the Ahmadiyaa Mosque in Winnipeg say they will be happy to make arrangements for non-Muslims interested in learning more about the faith and meeting the people who practice it even after that.
More information on the campaign is available online at www.meetamuslimfamily.com.
