Justice toward Indigenous peoples is worship
“We cannot stand for justice only when the victims share our religion, or our ethnicity, or our language, or our political concerns, or our own tribe.”
As Muslims in Canada, we must treat justice toward Indigenous peoples as worship, learn their history by listening, and build responsible relationships that honor local customs and shared responsibilities.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Introduces Indigenous history in Canada through three Islamic lenses: justice, ta'aruf, and urf.
- Explains that justice is nonselective worship, supported by Quranic commands and warnings against oppression.
- Connects residential schools, intergenerational trauma, and child-welfare disparities to present responsibilities.
- Defines ta'aruf as deep knowing and listening rather than tolerance, isolation, or proselytizing.
- Calls Muslims to treat their presence as an amanah and make mosques places of learning, hospitality, service, and reconciliation.
In the khateeb's words
“We cannot stand for justice only when the victims share our religion, or our ethnicity, or our language, or our political concerns, or our own tribe.”
“We should ask, how do we enter responsibly, responsibly into a land where people were here before us?”
For the dinner table
The khutbah asks Muslims in Canada to see justice toward Indigenous peoples as part of worship, not merely a social preference. It explains that residential schools caused deep harm whose effects continue, so we should learn this history and listen to Indigenous communities. The speaker says ta'aruf means genuinely knowing one another, while the Prophet's example in Medina teaches newcomers to build trust with local people and respect compatible customs. We should treat our presence, relationships, and justice as an amanah, or trust from Allah. Our mosques can become places of learning, hospitality, service, and sincere reconciliation.
- What is one way our family could listen and learn before speaking about Indigenous communities?
- How can we help our mosque become a place where neighbors feel respected, welcomed, and heard?
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