After Hardship, Comes Ease: A Message from Itrath Syed

Salam all,

The most overwhelming thing about this experience has been the emotional roller coaster aspect of it. I have experienced deep sorrow and powerful joy and courage from the solidarity I have received.

Last night, a meeting was called at the campaign office by one of the editors of a local Muslim newspaper. He had asked me to be available to some people from the Muslim community who wanted to talk to me. I expected a handful of older men to come and question me about my views. My parents and I arrived and found the room to be full of nearly 50 people. Most of them older community members, from many of the first Muslim families to come to Vancouver. These are people I have known since I was a child but have not spoken to or seen in years.

They all arrived there and the editor, Nusrat Hussein, who organized the meeting asked them all to speak and one by one they stood up and gave me their support and their solidarity. I can not possibly explain how overwhelming it was. I was completely speechless. They filled out volunteer forms, took lawn signs and made campaign contributions.

The most amazing moment for me was that the Imam from the other Mosque in this area, a newly built Shia Masjid, came along with the president of their community organization. I had been invited to speak there to that community at the beginning of the campaign before all this controversy had broken out. At that event I had been asked my position and I had explained it, and though many remained unconvinced they were kind and welcoming and warm.

So this Imam came to the event last night, spoke in my support and then closed the evening with a long and beautiful recitation of the Quran and a dua. There are no words to explain how powerful that was for me. Later on in the evening I thanked him and told him that since I was no longer welcome in my own Mosque, I hoped to be able to come and pray with him. While I am sure he does not support my position specifically, his act of coming was about asserting my right to be a Muslim and to continue to have a safe space in a Muslim community. It was an incredible and indescribable solace and comfort to me and my parents.

It is strange how the world works and how paradigms intersect. My campaign team and the NDP riding memebers have been very distraught and protective of me through this process. Yesterday's show of support from the Muslim community was completely surprising for them. Later on as people mingled and ate samosas, the campaign team hurried around taking donations and helping people sign up for volunteer tasks. Amidst all of this I looked over and saw a group of Muslims who had not ben able to pray Asr before coming to the meeting, holding a small jama on one side of the office. Directly to the side of them were NDP posters and one old style poster with the words, "Relevant Socialism" written on it.

Truly one can never anticipate how the world will unfold, and how Allah will bring people together. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the mercy of my Rabb in revealing how much love and solidarity there is in the world.

There is beauty in every passage and indeed, after hardship, comes ease.

Itrath Syed