‘We are grateful for their sacrifices:’ Muslims for Remembrance Day raises money for veterans

Muslims in Saskatoon are coming together to raise funds for veterans through Ahamadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s 12th annual Muslims for Remembrance Day campaign.

On Friday, the Saskatoon branch invited individuals to visit the Baitur Rahmat Mosque to make donations and to get poppies. A portion of the weekly Friday worship sermon mentioned the importance of Remembrance Day.

Mubarik Syed, spokesperson for Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, places a poppy on a worshipper at Baitur Rahmat Mosque on Nov. 4, 2022. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Mubarik Syed, a spokesperson for Ahamadiyya Muslim Jama’at, says the purpose of the campaign is to collect money for veterans and their families past and present.

He said the reasoning behind the collection of donations is simple: “We are in love with this country.”

“We are grateful for their sacrifices,” Syed said, noting one of the reasons he has the freedom to practise his religion is because of those who served in the wars. “In Islam, if you are not grateful to fellow human beings, you cannot be grateful to God.”

Abdul Rehman, a volunteer for the Ahmadiyya Youth Association in Saskatoon, said he has attended every event since he moved to Canada, and they have been wonderful experiences. One of his jobs as a volunteer is to communicate with veterans attending the event.

“Muslims for Remembrance Day” is important for people like Rehman, who said everything he has learned about the military comes from his grandfather — himself a veteran.

“I’ve known the importance of what it means to him, and what it means to just serve your country for every man who has done it,” Rehman said.

There has been positive support for Muslims for Remembrance Day from the community, and Rehman says they are seeing more volunteers wanting to participate.

He says veterans are also thankful of the campaign.

“They appreciate it in the sense that we are not forgotten,” Rehman said.

Syed said it’s important for the next generation to remember and acknowledge those who served for Canada.

“It means that we show our love not only for Canada but the sacrifices of the people that gave us this beautiful country,” Syed said.

The Muslims for Remembrance Day campaign is not only happening in Saskatoon but at more than 150 mosques and prayer centres coast to coast. It collects thousands of dollars every year, Syed says.

Ahamadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada is the leading Muslim organization to voice its support for those who have served.