Muslims are among the most challenged sections of the New Zealand community.
From the early settlers dating back to 1874 to later arrivals, they have suffered and continue to suffer some form of discrimination.
Terrorist attacks in the US, UK, Europe, India and Pakistan (not to overlook many countries in the Middle East) have made them targets of attack even as they go about earning a living as honest citizens or doing social and community work.
Unfair treatment
It is unfair that a community of people, a majority of who are moderate and modest, should be singled out to the disturbances that occur elsewhere in the world.
True, there have been instances in which some Muslims have breached the law, given vent to their internal differences differently, but most of them are hard working, simple, honest and peace-loving people.
Branding all of them as terrorists or treating each of them as the villain of the piece does not bode well for New Zealanders who are known as compassionate and friendly people.
We have lived and worked with Muslims over the years and have always found them to be humane and peace-loving people.
Their spirit of goodwill and understanding has never been properly understood or appreciated. They belong to this country as much as we do and some of them have in fact been pioneers in a number of areas.
Early settlers
The first group of Muslims is reported to have arrived in New Zealand soon after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1870 and a mention is made of their residence in the Census Report of 1874. Three Gujarati Muslim men arrived in New Zealand between 1907 and 1911, although migration in sizeable numbers (from India) continued through the 20th and 21st Centuries. Muslims of Fijian origin arrived from 1920s and their numbers increased to thousands after the two coups that occurred in Fiji in 1987.
Muslims from other parts of the world including China, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Singapore, Somalia, China and South Africa also migrated to New Zealand during this period and they continue to grow.
Muslims today are successful lawyers, barristers, solicitors, accountants, consultants, manufacturers, traders, shippers, medical practitioners, media executives and other professionals. Among them are also writers, scholars, and lawmakers. Muslim women are active in various professions and speak out on issues of concern to the community and the country. The community today comprises people of various beliefs such as Sunnis, Shiahs, Ahmadiyyas, Bhoris and Sufis, to mention a few.
Pillars of Islam
All of them follow the five Pillars of Islam that includes performing the Hajj during the season and the Umrah, when they visit Mecca and Medina, the two Holy Cities located in Saudi Arabia.
