Islamic people of the Pembina Valley invited members of the community to the Winkler Arena last week to learn about the Islamic faith and the many different cultures within it.

Muslim Heritage Exhibition Day was held last week as part of Islamic History Month in Canada, to open discussions and share about their culture and beliefs.

Special Guests invited included an Imam for the Manitoba Islamic Association, Winkler Mayor Martin Harder, Minister of Finances Cameron Friesen, and President of Islamic Social Services in Winnipeg Shahina Siddiqui.

“I’ve never really liked the word tolerance,” said Friesen. “Tolerance sounds like it has a bubbling point and when I think of seeing through someone else's eyes, seeing the world through those eyes, then somehow tolerance doesn’t seem to describe that.”

Harder agreed, saying the words 'mutual respect' are a better way to describe understanding others.

One of the many reasons Siddiqui was invited was to inform people about the Islamic practices and beliefs and hopefully dispel some of the fears that have grown from misinformation.

“After 9/11 things changed. What was once curiosity became hate. As a grandmother now I am so concerned what I’m leaving behind for my grandchildren, what kind of Canada.”

One of the words she hoped to shed more light on was 'Jihad' which is often associated with terrorism.

She explains Jihad is an Arabic word which means struggle and striving.

“Jihad is not terrorism,” says Siddiqui. “Terrorism is not Jihad. This is a big mistake we have done in confusing the two terms are synonymous.”

She says this misconception has given power to terrorist groups, who are recruiting Islamic youth and claiming terrorism is Jihad.

One of the many questions involving terrorism is the percentage of Islamic terrorist groups involved in terror attacks.

“If you look at the stats, the majority of terrorists in the world today are not Muslims, less than one percent ascribe to a terrorist group.”

The Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism through Homeland Security and Maryland University, has collected over 45 years of data. Islamic terrorist groups make up less than one percent of the over 170 thousand attacks over this time period.

One of the many other topics Siddiqui talks about is the Qur'an.

“If you really want to know the Qur'an, sit down with a person who speaks the Arabic of the Qu’ran. Rely on the exegesis of the Qur’an by both Muslims and non-Muslims. Some of the best books on Islam are by non-Muslims."

She explains Islam teaches equality between men and women, but in some Muslim countries with a patriarchal society, women are denied their rights.

When it comes to terror attacks in the Middle East, many are on Muslim people says Siddiqui.

“Terrorists don’t discriminate, they are against humanity, not race, not culture.”

She explains extremist groups from all sides have historically manipulated communities to turn on each other.

This is why Siddiqui says we need to learn about each other's culture. Difference isn’t a weakness, she says, suggesting it’s what makes the best parts of our communities.

“God made us different, diverse," she says.