At an Iftaar get together that Muslims working at Canadian International Development Agency arranged I and two other Muslims spoke on Islam and Canadian Muslims. A CIDA official asked us to comment on an Ottawa Citizen article that he said he found very convincing. Two Muslims had written about “the rising tide of jihadi radicalism that is sweeping like a contagious disease among Muslim youth” and that “there could be as many as 100,000 Muslim Canadians who are hostile to Canada and western civilization.”

We said the article was inaccurate, as Sheema Khan’s letter the next day in the Citizen stated, and that most Canadian Muslims were loyal and productive citizens and that, even if the law found those accused in the recent arrests to be guilty, they are only a few of the million or so Muslims in Canada.

Nevertheless, I have been thinking. What would happen to the image of Islam, and to the Muslims of Canada, if the Canadian security agencies faltered and a real terrorist incident killed innocent Canadians and caused widespread damage?

So why would a Muslim violate the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, doom himself to hell by planning to kill himself and innocent people, endanger his own family and all Muslims of Canada and harm a country that provides him food, shelter, security and dignity?

I’m not saying that the accused in the recent arrests planned terrorism. Of course they are presumed to be innocent till they are found guilty by due process. But it is equally true that not all those who were presumed innocent in past cases were found to be innocent by the judicial process. Some Muslims accused of plotting terrorism were found to be guilty by our judiciary system, including the majority of the Toronto 18, Momin Khawaja of Ottawa and Said Namouh of Quebec. Some had planned to harm the innocent in Europe, others targeted Canada. And of course terrorists kill innocent Muslims every day in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It is disturbing that some Muslims are suggesting that the Canadian security agencies, having bungled in the past in the Maher Arar and other cases, have framed the present accused and that they are targeting innocent Muslims.

Canadian security agencies have blundered in the past. No security agency in any country has been error-free.  Human beings make mistakes. But our security agencies have a job to do – protect all Canadians. It is not an easy or a clean job, but it has to be done for the protection of all Canadians, including and particularly Canadian Muslims who could be endangered physically and in additional ways if a major terrorist attack took place in Canada. It is the religious and civic duty of all Canadians to help security agencies protect Canada. There is no trustworthy evidence that they are targeting Muslims in particular.

Canadian imams are emphasizing that Islam promotes peace, justice, compassion and security for everyone. I heard excellent khutbas by Ottawa Muslim Association Imam Khaled Al-Azhary and by Br. Ehab El-Komy. An excellent khutba by Imam Mohamed Jebara was brought to my attention. I’m sure other Imams are conveying the same message.

So why would a Muslim violate the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, doom himself to hell by planning to kill himself and innocent people, endanger his own family and all Muslims of Canada and harm a country that provides him food, shelter, security and dignity?

Canada offers all its citizens religious and other freedoms, human rights and enviable social benefits. It accepts not only immigrants but Muslim refugees fleeing persecution from fellow Muslims. Millions of people around the world, including Muslims, would give anything to be able to live in the world’s best country, Canada.

Canada refused to join the U.S. attack on Iraq. But it is participating in the NATO war in Afghanistan to fulfill its treaty obligations. Canada is in Afghanistan to help the Afghans, not to exploit or harm them. Many Canadians oppose Canada’s military involvement in Afghanistan. They can voice their opposition democratically. There is no justification for trying to harm Canada or Canadians. I love Canada and consider it my Islamic duty to protect it with all my strength and with my life, if necessary.

Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a retired newspaperman, refugee judge, public servant and community volunteer. His views are his own and do not represent those of any organization.