Kingston joins communities across Canada in opening Islamic History Month with city hall lights.
On Oct. 1, Kingston City Hall was lit green at 6:30 p.m. to recognize the start of Islamic History Month (IHM). This marks a continuation of a 19-year tradition of the city recognizing IHM, with Canadian Parliament also designating October as IHM since 2007. The colour, long associated with Islam, symbolizes the soothing greenery of paradise.
Mona Rahman, Queens research awards officer and national board member for IHM, explained in an interview with The Journal that the month is about more than symbolism. She mentions that with Islamophobia on the rise and the city’s Muslim elders growing older, she sees the celebrations as both education and invitation, a chance to confront ignorance with understanding while showing newcomers and students that Kingston has always been a place where Muslim history, culture, and community thrive.
Rahman adds that while there’s no single definitive reason for the colour choice, it’s widely associated with the Muslim community.
The Quebec City Mosque attack took place on Jan. 29, 2017, where six men were murdered in a mosque shooting, leaving another 19 injured. Since 2021, Jan. 29 marks the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, where the victims of the attack are commemorated.
Rahman also emphasized that the lighting isn’t just symbolic, but a reflection of the long-standing presence of Muslims in Kingston.
“It’s a tradition that shows the Muslim and Islamic community have been here for a long time,” she said, noting Kingston’s early adoption of IHM celebrations.
She hopes that the month’s events will educate the Kingston community about Islamic history and identity, helping to reduce misconceptions and prevent uneducated attacks.
This year’s programming reflects the increasing importance of community education. On Oct. 9, the Islamic Centre of Kingston will host an open house featuring a Human Library, where community elders will share stories about building Kingston’s Muslim. On Oct. 22, Queen’s will host Dr. Murray Hogben for a public lecture at Robert Sutherland Hall.
For Rahman, these events aren’t just about remembrance but also about connection. She highlighted that Kingston’s Muslim community began at Queen’s University, where the Queen’s Islamic Society was formed in the ’60s. Friday prayers on campus are the oldest continuous prayers in Kingston, a legacy she said today’s students should recognize.
“I think Queen’s students should realize what a vital part they are for the Muslim community in Kingston,” Rahman said. “Even if they can’t always make it to the mosque, the community will come to them.”
When asked about the core goals for this year, Rahman pointed to working on combating the rise of Islamophobia within the community.
“My dad once said that ignorance leads to mistrust, which leads to suspicion and hate, and one of the ways that we can combat that’s by just getting to know each other.”
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