Delvinder Zamir converted to Islam and then began the journey to learn more about her new faith.
“I needed to learn the basics,” said the 34-year-old, who converted from Sikhism.
In 2021, Zamir took an introductory course about Islam through the Manitoba Islamic Association.
“It was about how Islam came to be, about the Prophet and about the basic obligations for Muslims such as prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage,” she said.
Zamir has gone on to become the organizer of the introductory course for new Muslims and others who might want to know more about that faith.
“It’s for those who are new to the faith, curious about Islam or those who want to reconnect with the essentials,” she said, adding that no background knowledge about Islam is required.
Titled “Being Muslim: Introductory course to Islamic beliefs and practices,” the course takes place May 8 to June 5, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque, 2445 Waverley St.
As for her own participation in the course several years ago, Zamir — who grew up in Singapore before coming to Winnipeg to study at the University of Manitoba — said it helped her deal with stereotypes she had about Islam and Muslims.
“I had seen and heard a lot of propaganda about Muslims,” she said, noting the negative impressions came from the media and from the attitudes of some family members. This included the idea that all Muslim women were oppressed and treated unfairly, she said.
“I had to unlearn a lot of things I had learned about Islam,” she said.
Participants will learn that Islam is about more than what Muslims can and can’t do.
“It’s about your character, about living a healthy and good life as a Muslim, about being a good and kind person,” Zamir said, adding participants will come away with “an understanding of the vision and spirit of Islam.”
Along with learning the basics about Islam, participants will also talk about what it means to live as a Muslim in Canada.
“It’s about how to deal with the culture, knowing your rights, how to respond to misperceptions,” she said, adding that “being a Muslim and being a Canadian are not separate things. You can be a Canadian and a Muslim.”
The course costs $40 per person. Need-based scholarships are available for those who require assistance. For more information, or to register, contact the Manitoba Islamic Association at office@miaonline.org.
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John Longhurst
Faith reporter
John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.