The month of October marks Islamic Heritage Month (IHM) in Manitoba, a time to recognize the history, culture and contributions of Muslims across the province. The legislation, outlined in Schedule 32.1 of the Statutes of Manitoba, acknowledges the growing Muslim community and its social, economic and political impact. This month serves as both a celebration and a reminder of the ongoing fight against Islamophobia.
On Oct. 30, the Esplanade Riel bridge and the Winnipeg sign at The Forks will be lit green, celebrating the growth and unity of Manitoban Muslims and the wider Manitoban community, a reminder of how deeply connected our lives have become.
Throughout the month, several events are being held across Winnipeg to celebrate and educate. Some highlights include Celebrating Muslim Women’s Contributions: Past and Present on Oct. 25, hosted by the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) and the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute; Celebrating Muslim Youth Volunteers on Oct. 26, organized by ISSA and Winnipeg Central Mosque; and Healing Across Centuries — Muslim Physicians at the Forefront on Oct. 29, hosted by the Muslim Medical Association of Canada. The U of M Muslim Students’ Association (UMMSA) is also planning an event during the first week of November.
Hussein Chokr, an executive member of Students for Justice in Palestine at U of M, said, “We are called to remember that our heritage is not only one of faith, art and knowledge, but also one of justice, compassion and unwavering resistance to oppression.”
He added that Muslims have “a legacy of standing with the oppressed.”
“Islam taught us that faith without justice is incomplete,” Chokr said, connecting IHM to broader struggles for justice, including the ongoing struggle of Palestinians. “In their steadfast, we see the spirit of Islam — the refusal to surrender one’s dignity no matter how great the hardship.”
Chokr also reflected on the teachings of Imam Hussein, which show that the stand for justice transcends time. “Our fight for justice doesn’t just stop at Palestine […] From the Indigenous people of Canada defending their lands, to the Black Lives Matter movement, to women demanding safety and dignity, to students calling for divestments from occupation and apartheid — as Muslims, our heritage aligns with all of these struggles.”
Ayesha Sultan, current executive member and immediate past president of UMMSA, as well as current universities and schools coordinator at Islamic Heritage Month Manitoba (IHMM), said she joined the committee because she wanted “to amplify Muslim voices and to celebrate their contributions that they have [made] within our communities.”
For Sultan, IHMM is an opportunity to apply what she has learned through her leadership at the U of M. “Over the years, my time at university and living in Canada as well, I learned a lot about Muslims and their impact in Manitoba, and across the world,” she shared. “At the same time, unfortunately, being part of university and in general, I have seen that there are challenges that Muslims face, either being underrepresented, or overlooked. That made me even more determined to be part of [IHMM].”
“This is just the first year of our committee. It’s really exciting to help lay the foundation,” Sultan said. “I really hope and pray it will grow and even make a greater impact in the coming […] years, for more youth, and elderly, and everyone, to learn from.”
Islamic Heritage Month is a reminder that there is so much we can learn from one another. By celebrating faith, contribution and justice, Manitobans are invited to grow together, share experiences and strengthen the bond that makes our community strong.
