Cyclists stop to answer questions about Islam
Tour that aims to address misconceptions many people have about Muslims spends a few hours in Penticton
Long-distance biking trips are not uncommon, but one that worked its way up the valley drew particular notice. The “Ask Islam” bike team stopped in Penticton for several hours last week in an effort to address misconceptions many people have about Muslims.
“We experienced every kind of weather today, except summer weather,” joked Salman Khan in describing his team’s ride from Princeton to Penticton, which ended later that night at an open house in Summerland.
The ride began in Delta with three cyclists plus a car with two support staff. Various others joined the team along the way for short treks over the six-day journey.
In total, about 20 people were involved with the unique ride that ended Saturday in Salmon Arm — where they were scheduled to attend conferences on youth and seniors.
“The riders have been stopping in various towns and spreading the message of Islam and removing misconceptions regarding our faith,” said spokesman Tariq Azeem, Imam/Missionary at Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, a mosque with more than 2,000 members.
“Since it’s the 150th year of Canada, the riders are celebrating by going across British Columbia and saying thank you to the beautiful people of this country and showing our appreciation for the good nature that the majority of Canadians have.”
Azeem said they were well received throughout the trip as they randomly spoke with people they encountered during rest breaks.
“People assume our faith teaches violence because of the action of the extremists,” Azeem said when asked to explain the most common misconception he experiences.
“In reality, when you study the scriptures and faith, you realize the book only teaches peace. There are extremists and terrorists out there who twist the words of the scripture to benefit their own agenda, and that has nothing to do with the religion. Islam, as a whole, teaches love for all, hatred for none. That is what we try to live by. It teaches, if you kill one person, it’s as if you killed entire humanity.”
On the situation in the United States, Azeem said: “There were a lot of misconceptions, and Donald Trump’s presidency and his campaign didn't help.
“We’re trying to eradicate those misconceptions by inviting people to come and talk to us, ask about our faith, what we believe, and if they have any concerns or fears we’re more than happy to answer their questions. Governments should not be creating divisions, they should be uniting people.”