For Night 12 of Ramadan 2022,

My brother Amir & I chose to pray Isha & Taraweeh at Islamic Forum of Canada in Brampton.

The listed address is 200 Advance Blvd, but it’s more easily found when looking on the east side of Dixie Road north of Highway 407 and south of Steeles Avenue.

Upon entry, having shelved our shoes, we were almost immediately welcomed by an elder member of the congregation who greeted us.

That was our first greeting of the night.

I’ve sometimes written and often said that Masjids are essentially empty rooms with a carpet.

Sometimes these empty rooms have bookcases.

Stepping into the Islamic Forum of Canada, we find the expected carpeted room with an unexpected studio set up for livestreaming in the middle of the prayer hall.

Everything is transparent.

…Computers, cameras, control room.

Feels more like Mission Control than any television broadcast control room.

We spread our prayer mats and sit down in the second line to the right side of the studio set up.

There are still a number of minutes before Salat Al Isha, The Night Prayer begins.

A younger brother, Rashad, introduces himself to us and greets us.

This is our second greeting of the night.

Brother Rashad, now 23, has been attending the Islamic Forum of Canada since he was 14.

So he grew up with this Masjid.

He tells me that he encouraged the elders running the masjid to get online and be up-to-date communication-wise with intentions of reaching the younger generation, his generation.

Printed newsletters, telephone numbers, and xeroxed posters on the notice board and VHS video cassettes and audio tapes might have been state of art when the Islamic Forum of Canada began.

Website, YouTube recordings, social media graphics and livestreaming are how the Islamic Forum of Canada continues today.

To their credit, the first generation leadership have given space and encouragement to their second generation to go ahead and experiment.

At least one experiment seems to have succeeded.

In my travels of blogging 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan since 2011, I’ve visited numerous masjid organizations who experience Founders’ Syndrome.

Founders’ Syndrome is what happens when the founder(s) of a masjid, or Islamic organization, doesn’t allow space for new ideas, new voices, new board members, even new board members who are Women(!), or youth board members.

It looks like the youth are behind the scenes running the show.

But they can’t be behind the scenes, because everything is transparent and out in the open.

It only looks like they are behind the scenes if you only watch online.

Watch online and you will quickly realize this is a Sunni Sufi Masjid.

And what Tariqah of Tassawuf is followed here ?

Whenever I enter a Sunni Masjid, I never ask if it is Maliki or Shafi’i or a Hanafi observing congregation.

Likewise tonight, I learned Islamic Forum is a Sunni Sufi Masjid. Full stop.

Most worshippers tonight were not wearing masks.

My brother and I having spread our prayer mats before us were the odd Muslims out.

Double Triple Quadruple Hospitality from the Islamic Forum of Canada.

Shaykh Faisal acknowledged me twice, once after Salat Al Isha, and again during the break in-between rakats six and seven of Taraweeh.

Bringing the count to four.

I was welcomed to the Islamic Forum of Canada a total of four times tonight.

Salat Al Taraweeh is being lead by a Qari from Turkey, I could type up a little bit about him, but it’s easier to listen to Shaykh Faisal…

My brother Amir & I would wonder afterwards how the Islamic Forum was able to get such an esteemed reciter of the Qur’an to commit to Ramadan 2022 in Brampton ?

Brampton, that city north west of Toronto, with a Muslim population of around seven percent within the city’s overall count of 700,000 ?

The day before tonight, during IIT’s Monday evening Resilient Hour livestream, Shaikh Dr. Jasser Auda took us on a deep dive in understanding Dreams and when they are Wahy.

Tonight, during the break in-between Taraweeh Rakats, Shaykh Faisal retold the story of Prophet Yusuf (upon whom be peace), with some emphasis on the part of the story dealing with dream interpretation.

For a certain number of the next generation of Brampton’s Muslims, the Islamic Forum of Canada is already a dream come true.

“Using public art as a platform,

we hope to improve the visibility of Muslim identities in urban spaces.

Public art adds meaning to our cities and character to our neighbourhoods.

A project we’re working on transforms traffic signal boxes.

We applied to #OutsideTheBox2022

Our project “Geometric City” is inspired by Zellige tiles,

a type of mosaic tilework in which each tile piece is individually hand-chiselled into a colourful mosaic.

These tiles can be found on the columns,

doors and walls of Mosque,

Madrasas and other built forms.

learn more about the project & at Zellige tiles.

— By Muslims in Public Space, Toronto, Ontario

Jamiat Ul Ansar of Brampton,

also known as the Great Lakes Masjid,

is our 30 Masjids stop for Isha and 8 Rakats of Taraweeh on Night 11 of Ramadan 2022.

Why the name Great Lakes Masjid, when Brampton doesn’t even touch Lake Ontario?

Jamiat Ul Ansar’s address is 291 Great Lakes Drive in Brampton, Ontario.

We arrived early tonight.

Isha Prayer time had advanced to 9:45 p.m.

If you ever wanted to see a sea inside a masjid, visit Great Lakes Masjid in Brampton…

Jamiat Ul Ansar‘s carpet of green has been covered over with blue plastic vinyl you might use to cover your outdoor swimming pool in the off-season.

We then cover the covering with our prayer mats.

Prayer lines have be re-demarcated with generous spacing in-between each using black electrical tape.

Worshippers are still being asked to bring their prayer mats for Jumah and and Taraweeh Prayers.

Physical distancing on both the x + y axis is easily achieved using both these measures.

Adhan Al Isha, The Call to Night Prayer.

Look on the mimbar, those are HUGE prayer beads!

Salat Al Isha, followed by Taraweeh.

The windows were slid open, allowing for cross-flow of outside air inside the prayer hall.

The hanging ceiling fans remained spinning, creating a cool breeze for worshippers, but not so much that you felt cold.

Everyone has to wear masks to attend Jumah or Taraweeh.

I spotted at least one N95 worn by an elder worshipper.

The recitation of the Qur’an by tonight’s Qari was clear, easy to follow along, and the prayer time flew by.

Safety protocols, circulating fresh air, wonderful Qur’an recitation, praying Isha and Taraweeh tonight at Jamiat Ul Ansar of Brampton, the Great Lakes Masjid, was such a pleasant experience.

The main prayer hall was filled for Isha and the first 8 Rakats of the 20 Rakats of Taraweeh.

After praying 8 Rakats, most worshippers began to make their way to the exit.

The overflow or outer prayer hall in-between after 8 Rakats of Taraweeh and the start of the 9th Rakat.

By then we had started our way towards the front steps and walking down them, then home for the night.

We weren’t the only ones.

Tonight’s Resilient Hour with Dr. Jasser Auda was a Dream come true.

Literally.

Watch, listen, and learn about Ru’ya as-Sadiqa, true dreams.

This is Al Wahy.


Tonight’s Iftar was a belly come full.

Literally.

Okay, one third full, one third liquid, and one third air.

This is The Way.

Alhumdulillah.

Another day in Ramadan 2022, another indoor community Iftar.

This is not something to take for granted.

Rather it is something to be grateful for.

Day 9 / Night 10 of Ramadan 2022 finds us at Bramalea Islamic Cultural Centre for an Iftar sponsored by Islamic Relief Canada.

Brothers enter through this door, Sisters enter around the side then down a number of steps.

Stepping stones along the pathway towards the Sisters’ entrance seem recently placed.

We arrived around 7 p.m.

Iftar places were still being set up in twin basketball half-courts.

Last time I was here at BICC, these spaces weren’t part of their centre.

Three ways to sponsor Iftar : Cash donation in the box, Sign Up Sheet on the wall, QR Code.

Not every night has Iftar Dinner sponsored yet.

The Mihrab here is a representative prayer niche rather than a curve designed into the wall.

Islamic Geometry within the niche is a nice touch.

Tonight is a very different experience than last night’s Iftar at ISNA Canada.

Many more are wearing masks. There is a LOT of space between people.

The main prayer hall has a multi-storey ceiling height.

I constantly felt air being circulated from giant metal HVAC tubes hanging from the ceiling.

This air purification system remained on, its sound became ambient. Quite reassuring.

Bramalea Islamic Cultural Centre livestream.

They were ready for about 250 people at tonight’s Indoor Iftar.

Elsewhere on the Sister’s side, about 50 were here at BICC for tonight’s Iftar.

Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Prayer after Sunset, and time to break the fast according to Brampton local time.

Bramalea used to be its own city until it merged with Brampton.

Unlike the vastness of Toronto’s geographic boundaries, where Sunset time on the very east side of Scarborough can be some moments earlier than Sunset on the very west side of Etobicoke,

Bramalea local time is the same as Brampton local time.

Something different tonight…

Not difference in food, difference in when we got the food.

We were handed Iftar Dinner Trays as we entered the gym, where the brothers would be sitting to break the fast.

We broke our fast with dates and Rooh-Afza made with milk(!), then we had enough time to at least begin eating our dinners.

Many brothers finished their Iftar Dinners quickly, but tonight, I was the slow eater.

For the Holy Month of Ramadan 2022, Salat Al Maghrib, is scheduled for 15 minutes after sunset.

Many Muslims live within walking distance of the masjid, making BICC a Neighbourhood Masjid.

15 minutes is enough time for people to break their fast at home then arrive in time for Prayer.

Which is what many did tonight…

We began our Maghrib Salat at 19 minutes after Sunset.

BICC is also a Commuter Masjid.

One block over is Brampton Transit’s Bramalea Terminal, a major hub connecting Bus Rapid Transit Züm Buses, GO Transit, local buses, even the express bus to Pearson Airport.

Many more worshippers were wearing masks than not.

Some brought their own prayer mats, here’s mine.

Ramadan 2022 / 1443 Timetable.

Childmade Zakat-Al-Fitr collection box, I can’t recall ever seeing one before.

In Previous Ramadans, this multi-purpose room would pendulum sway between basketball half-court, Iftar dinner hall, overflow prayer area, then back to basketball.

Because BICC is renting the twin half courts on the other side of the hallway, this multi-purpose hall remains a carpeted prayer space throughout the current Ramadan.

These rented courts are being well used.

A little girl asked me if there were any more balls so she could play too?

Sorry little one, I don’t know.

This wooden three step had me wondering if it was a mimbar ?

In the front of the prayer hall, no wondering is needed, there is the mimbar.

Adhan Al Isha, The Call to Night Prayer.

When the call to prayer is made, the hall though not empty, is still far from full.

And just like that, many worshippers arrive all at once, the hall is nearly full for Isha Prayer followed by Taraweeh.

Masks and personal Prayers Mats are visible.

One of the brothers from the Masjid’s management reminded the teenagers speaking at the back there is Pray Time and then there is Play Time  and now it was Pray Time.

I can’t recall hearing words like that spoken directly to teenagers before.

Pray Time, Play Time.

Earlier in the day, Imam Omar Subedar lead a session of their “YARI Program” on Muslim Identity.

YARI = Youth Against Racism & Islamophobia.

The question of “Who Am I?” is something all youth ask.

This session helped with how one goes about answering that question.

You can still watch the recorded livestream.

Taraweeh for me tonight was 8 Rakats.

Who might guess there is an entire community behind this unassuming industrial door in Bramalea ?

Without the sign above the door, only those in the know would know this is the Bramalea Islamic Cultural Centre.

And now you know too.

I don’t know that Sister Arshia ever got her answer.

ISNA Canada’s most recent tweet was June 29 2021.

So, when social media goes silent,

Why not attend the Saturday night Iftar at Islamic Centre of Canada in Mississauga and find out In-Person !

We entered the ISNA driveway as the final Drive-Thru Iftar Picker Uppers had checked in at the booth in the front parking lot.

Our timing was spot on, Alhumdullilah.

ISNA is doubling down during our third Ramadan of the pandemic…

Fridays to Sundays, are Pre-Registered Drive-Thru Iftar Pick ups.

With a bonus Drive-Thru Iftar on Easter Monday April 18 2022.

Friday and Saturdays are In-Person Iftars.

Drive Thru and In-Person Iftar Walk through

We arrived about 7 p.m., early enough to wander around without gettting in anyone’s way.

A number of volunteers were still self-organizing their duties for the evening.

We entered the main prayer hall moments after recitation of the Qur’an began.

Listening to this Qari, this reciter of the Qur’an, was enough, make that more than enough, to make tonight’s 30 Masjids visit worthwhile.

Ramadan is The Month of The Qur’an.

Here’s the recorded livestream, listen for yourself…

Daily Recitation with Shaikh Mohamed Abdelaziz

Some people collect rare items, or buy plastic action figures and keep them in the original packaging, while some people are natural hoarders.

Me, my weakness is Prayer Mats.

Beautiful prayer mats, Geometric Design prayer mats, soft fluffy-feally prayer mats.

This prayer mat is brand new.

A gift from my mom from earlier in the day.

Fluffy, soft, maroon, I am grateful for the gift.

Only been prayed on once, and that was the Asr prayer, made just about an hour ago.

Another first for this prayer mat, is its first breaking of the fast.

Youth volunteers have been making their way around the prayer hall.

One holds the large open box of Medjool Dates, the other youth hand out napkins.

It was a reflex done without thinking, I picked up the date out the box with my right hand fingers.

Moment later I witnessed another brother taking the napkin first, than using that to pick up his medjool date.

Why didn’t I think to do that ????

As that great unsung sage of the ummah, Homer Simpson might say,

” D’oh! ”

Sitting down on our prayer mats spread out before us, my brother Amir and I, are standing out in this sea of alternating green that is the carpet of the prayer hall.

People are sitting hodge-podge close and common to one another.

I don’t feel comfortable. Isn’t it still too early to be this close?

Especially with the sixth wave now locally confirmed and in-progress?

Our prayer mats being spread out before us, while sitting atop the bottom ends of them, affords my brother and I an amount of personal space we likely would not have had otherwise while waiting for Adhan Al Maghrib and the time to break the fast.

There seemed to be some natural distance formed between us and other worshippers, perhaps done automatically without thinking about it.

So…

30 Masjids Pro-tip : Bring your own prayer mat to EVERY Masjid in-person visit for the foreseeable future.

Now the masks.

Are people wearing them?

Maybe one in ten worshippers were wearing masks.

This ratio stayed consistent during our entire time here tonight.

A brother who was sitting in the row ahead of us, suddenly got up and walked around me quickly.

His mask fell off his person somehow and I hestitated to turn around and let him know it had.

In the moment I hesitated he was already almost at the exit into the hallway.

I assumed he’d return and I could then point him towards his dropped mask.

While waiting for this brother to return to his spot in the row in front of us, I realized he had brought this mask, yet he was not wearing a mask.

In the end, he didn’t return.

This mask stayed on the carpet exactly like this until after Adhan Al Maghrib was called and we had all broken our fast.

That mask on the carpet created an additional amount of empty physical distanced space on my immediate left.

SubhanAllah.

8 Minutes until Maghrib and Iftar time.

Okay, it’s Maghrib. Iftar Time. Where’s the Muezzin ?

Is anyone coming to Mic ?

Is that brother going to make Adhan ?

No. Okay, maybe that brother is… nope.

Hmmm….

Well…

Some brothers are looking down at their devices, others I notice turning their heads looking around.

Still others are asking each other if it’s time yet?

I see at least one brother already biting into his oversized Medjool date.

Okay, it is Maghrib Sunset Time according to Mississauga local time.

My brother and I break our fasts.

The Medjool is soft and textured, like my new prayer mat!

ISNA Canada advertised that we bring our own water bottles.

They would not be handing out cups of water in the prayer hall ahead of Iftar time.

Only dates.

Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Prayer after Sunset.

While Adhan is being called, young volunteers meander through the rows of worshippers.

The paper bags they’re holding are obviously for us to drop our date pits into.

I wonder for the briefest of moments if paper bags are only collecting organic waste destined for the green bin?

Rather than hesitate, again, I pick up that dropped mask to my left, and drop that also into the volunteer’s paper bag.

With that dropped mask no longer on the carpet beside me, the empty space disappears when we all stand almost shoulder-to-shoulder, pre-pandemic Salat style.

After prayers, brothers are asked to wait while the sisters head into the gym ahead of us.

The Imam makes a request while we wait for the sisters’ side of the prayer hall to empty.

He us to sit with someone we don’t know, introduce ourselves and get to know a little bit about each other.

I have been blogging 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan since Ramadan 2011.

This the first time  I can immediately recall that any Imam has asked this of the congregation.

His request and suggestion are dream words to my 30Masjids ears.

And yet…

This is the only night, the only night, I don’t want to be having any involved conversation with my mouth open while eating Iftar in a public setting.

Volunteers. They got to get some kind of perqs, eh?

The line moves remarkably quickly.

So fast at some point my brother and I end up with another brother in line between us.

He and I have the briefest of conversations encouraging each of us to go ahead of the other as we approached the Iftar hall.

The line moves so fast all my photographs of the Iftar pick up line turn out beyond blurry, unusable.

This volunteer brother handing us the single-use utensils recognizes me as the blogger from 30Masjids.

He recognized me even with my mask on.

The Iftar trays were saran wrapped. This was new. I can’t recall ever opening up an Iftar Dinner wrapped like this.

Until my brother asked me how it tasted,

somehow I visually mistook the kababs in the bottom left of the tray for baklava.

Haha.

The kababs was soft and textured, like my new prayer mat, and also tasty, unlike my new prayer mat.

I spy volunteers prepping the coffee / tea / refreshment table.

I opt to skip it this evening.

 

 

That brother who recognized me as the Ramadan blogger asks whoever hasn’t gotten any soup to raise their hands.

Ours go up too.

This lental soup was soooo good

…Soup was almost Turkish in quality. That good !

Somehow, there are two empty Iftar sit-down spaces opposite me and my brother.

Behind us was pretty empty too.

But we didn’t stay for Isha nor Taraweeh.

There was just too many people not wearing masks.

Too many, too close, too soon.

The last time I was inside this hall, was Sunday January 30 2022, when I got my vaccine booster shot.

I look down at the plastic where everyone was sitting during Iftar.

Underneath it looks like unrolled prayer carpet.

I won’t be finding this answer out for sure tonight.

Will have to return to learn that answer on another night, during another Ramadan.

InshAllah.

Once at home,

I load up ISNA’s Isha & Taraweeh livestream into the browser window watch.

During a break in-between rakats, the Imam humbly requests Worshippers to stop doing three-point turns in the drive way immediately in front of their Main Door Front Entrance.

Yep.

At ISNA Canada, Ramadan is back to normal.

 

Bodyguard coach: “As a bodyguard, your only loyalty is to your protectee, not to your family, not to your country, not to Muhammad.” [saw]

Homer Simpson: “Even during Ramadan?”

Weren’t we just here?

At Sayeda Khadija Centre for Jumah ?

Yes, yes we were.

Here we are again . . .



. . . Picking up Iftar Dinners at SKC‘s Friday Evening Drive-Thru.

For the First Friday Prayer in the Third Ramadan of the Corona Virus Pandemic, we stayed with attending Jumah Prayers at our regular go-to masjid, Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga.

We usually register and attend the second Jumah Prayer closer to 3 o’clock, which happens to overlap with the shift change at Maple Lodge Farms, one door south.

Many of Maple Lodge’s shiftchanging workers wind their way through the Sayeda Khadija Centre parking lot overlapping with when Jumah attendees, like us, are also arriving.

We arrived after the Khateeb had already ascended the mimbar, unusual for us.

Oh well, we can’t be on time every time.

A portion of the first part of today’s Qhutbah was about Sirat Al Mustaqim, The Straight Path.

Which was also the name of the Islamic Centre in Brampton when I prayed Isha and Taraweeh last night.

SubhanAllah.

There is no longer any pre-registration for Jumah Prayers at Sayeda Khadija Centre.

Jumahs now are simply show up, listen up, then line up, like how we all used to do pre-pandemic.

We’re still in a pandemic.

Wearing masks remain in vogue at SKC.

We’re still rocking our salats on our own prayer mats.

Mine is red.

After the Jumah Prayer and before the Duas, Imam Dr. Slimi addressed the Congregration.

He was holding up a four colour sign and explained the colours, which matched the four colours seen in their Logo.

You’ll find those same four colours here :

SayedaKhadijaCentre.com/donate-now/

Maple Lodge Farms, the company behind the Zabiha Halal line of prepared foods, has a building next door to the masjid.

A masjid could have more concerning neighbours like the masjid on Yonge Street in Downtown Toronto.

OR if you’re a masjid, and your neighbour is a Halal Food supplier, consider your congregation as blessed!

Halal ad on the side of the bus, spotted on the way home after Jumah.

This my second Taraweeh at The Straight Path Islamic Center in Brampton.

On Night 11 of Ramadan 2019, I also came here for Taraweeh Prayer.

A nice, cozy, small single prayer hall neighbourhood musallah serving the surrounding mixed residential, industrial, commercial, and retail zoning that is a signature of Brampton’s urban use planning.

The single prayer hall is curtained into brothers’ and sisters’ sections with a small wudu area and kitchen area.

This multi-purposing of this single prayer hall inside echoes Brampton’s multi-use zoning outside its doors.

The Straight Path Islamic Center is its English name, using American spelling for the word Centre.

It is also known by its Arabic name Masjid Sirat Al Mustaqim.

Their address, unit 13 at 105 Kennedy Road in Brampton, is literally around the corner from Dean Street.

Dean, when pronounced Dīn or Deen while speaking Arabic has numerous meanings for Muslims.

One meaning of the word Deen is Way.

So if you’re looking for The Straight Path in Brampton, find Dean Street, it’s on Kennedy.

Arrived right on time for Isha Prayer, moments before its 9:30 p.m. start.

Worshippers numbered about 25, first line was full, not exactly shoulder-to-shoulder but close enough that it felt pre-pandemic.

I opted to pray in the second line, with my portable red prayer mat spread atop the masjid carpet before me.

We numbered about six in the second line.

Each Masjid has its own COVID-19 protocols.

On this night I observed maybe one in four of us chose to wear masks, and only a handful chose to bring their own prayer mat, I am among them.

They understand their own congregation best.

From youth in their teens to elders needing folding chairs, every age group were present in tonight’s Taraweeh, with worshippers numbering about two dozen.

This is a neighbourhood Masjid, hardly a destination masjid drawing people from all over the Toronto Metropolitan Area on a regular basis.

A few people left having prayed 8 Rakats of Taraweeh.

A few more left after praying 12 Rakats.

That’s when I stopped too via some kind of reverse peer pressure, that it’s okay to pray more than 8 and leave before 20.

This Ramadan more than any previous, I am comfortable with praying random numbers of Taraweeh.

Random isn’t the exact word, perhaps number-of-Taraweeh-Rakats-not-decided-in-advance is what I am trying to express.

Perhaps more fellow Taraweeh worshippers are doing the same nowadays.

Now to what drew me back to The Straight Path Islamic Center for another 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan visit…

From the outside of the building, it’s a regular side door entrance on a retail complex.

No dome, no minarets, other than the sign above the door, you wouldn’t even notice there was a place of worship inside.

No Islamic Architecture whatsoever outside this rental prayer space.

Inside however, there are two minarets, with tiny domes atop a small roof designed as Islamic Architecture.

I only noticed it when on a random Jumah I prayed here and looked up before I exited the prayer hall.



InshAllah this video helps you immediately appreciate just how cool this is !

Minarets inside the Masjid !

When I first discovered these Twin-Inside-the-Masjid Minarets, on that random past Jumah, it brought to mind Masjid Quba in Central Edmonton, Alberta.

During my 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan Canada,

On Night 23 of Ramadan 2016,

I discovered Masjid Quba put their dome inside their prayer hall instead of on top of it :

Sometimes creativity means thinking inside the box.

You can hear the full story about Edmonton’s Masjid Quba and its unique Dome on the podcast we recorded.

In other masjids, you enter to exit the World.

At Masjid Sirat Al Mustaqim in Brampton, it also works the other way around, you exit the prayer hall by entering a Masjid.

During Ramadan 2022,

Come for the Islamic Architecture, stay for the Iftar.

The Straight Path Islamic Center is hosting free Community Iftars on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Many Masjids offer 20 Rakats of Taraweeh, others stop at 8 Rakats.

At Masjids where 20 Rakats are observed, many worshippers exit after 8 Rakats.

So how many Rakats (units) of Prayer is Taraweeh… really?

The Islamic Institute of Toronto historically has organized Taraweeh with 20 Rakats followed by 3 Rakats of Witr.

At the start of Ramadan 2022, our third Ramadan during this Global Corona Virus Pandemic, Resident Scholar Shaikh Ahmad Kutty explained IIT’s reasoning in hosting 8 Rakats of Taraweeh this year…

The Decision to Pray Eight Rak`ahs of Taraweeh at IIT is Temporary

Shaikh Ahmad Kutty

“Taraweeh is an important Sunnah of the Prophet (peace upon him).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) established a precedent by performing it three nights in congregation.

He discontinued it, however, out of concern that Allah could make it obligatory because of the zeal of the congregants.

Umar, the pious caliph, understood why the Prophet had chosen to discontinue taraweeh.

Therefore, when there was no concern over Allah making it mandatory, he organized taraweeh prayer led by Ubayy b. Kab, the famous scholar of the Qur’an.

Ubayy chose to pray twenty rak’as.

The precedent thus set was then followed by most Muslims in the centuries that followed.

According to well-attested reports from Aisha, the beloved wife of the Prophet, the Prophet never prayed more than thirteen rak’as.

But the Prophet never said that one could only pray thirteen.

When asked about optional prayers one may pray after isha; his answer was:

“One should pray it in two’s and two’s.

However, if there is a fear of dawn approaching, one should close it with at least one Rak’a of Witr.“

As for the contention about the precise number of Rak’as,

Ibn Taymiyya has analyzed the issue and summed it up as follows.

“We may pray twenty as is the view of Ahmad, Shafi;
or thirty-three as is the opinion of Imam Malik;
or eleven or thirteen (including Witr as the Prophet did it).

It is all good.

The number can vary according to the conditions of the worshippers.

It is acceptable if they can stand long hours reading with ten rak’ahs followed by three rak’ahs of Witr.

On the other hand, they can choose to pray twenty rak’as if they do so, considering the comfort level of the congregation.

That has been the precedent followed by most Muslims through the centuries.

It is the middle position between the eleven or thirteen and the thirty or forty, as various people hold.

However, it is wrong for anyone to state that the Prophet fixed the number of rak’ahs so that we can neither add nor subtract from it.”

Since its inception, we at the Islamic Institute have been praying twenty.

Some congregants choose to leave after eight, others at ten or twelve.

The same practice occurs in the Haramayn.

The recent announcement that we will start with eight was primarily due to administrative considerations and to prevent the spread of COVID infections by a sudden opening of the services since we are still not out of the woods yet.

It is only a temporary policy, and we hope to return to our previous practice of praying twenty as soon as we have some reassurances regarding health & safety.

I urge everyone to pray to Allah to heal our community and help us to get back to our routine and precedents as soon as possible.”

Shaikh Ahmad Kutty’s words are important and useful for anyone wanting to understand the history and rationale of observing the optional Taraweeh Prayer.

On Night 6 of Ramadan 2022,

Qari Abdulfatah Jahedar & Qari Ali Salem Jahedar led IIT‘s Congregation in 8 Rakats of Taraweeh.

If you are outside of Ontario and because of online geo-restrictions cannot listen to the Special Daily Ramadan Radio Program from Reflections on Islam,

Resilient Hour from the Islamic Institute of Toronto is a good go-to, at least 2/7ths of the time.

Tonight is the second of IIT’s twice weekly Resilient Hour shows being livestreamed on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan 2022/1443.

Qari Hassan Abdulrahman opened the Resilient Hour reciting verses of the Qur’an.

Speaking tonight was Shaikh Abdullah Hakim Quick about The Benefits of Ramadan.

We listened & watched the Resilient Hour while we readied ourselves for Adhan Al Maghrib and the time to break our fast.

Adhan Al Maghrib tonight was called by one of the younger members of the IIT Congregration, Brother Omar Hassan.

JANE’S WALK DETAILS:

Following an Islamophobia incident in North York in late 2015, HïMY SYeD led “The History of Muslims in Toronto – A Special December Jane’s Walk” a few days before Christmas.

It was well attended; much was learned, much was understood.

That very long walk was intended as a never-to-be-repeated event.

Yet Islamophobia persists… Quebec City Mosque Attack, and then Etobicoke, and then London.

This Jane’s Walk explains how 3rd, 4th, & 5th Generation Muslim Torontonians helped build our city.

This Jane’s Walk will visit four locations in The Junction and High Park neighbourhoods to reveal that history.

Walk stop locations:

  • The little known history of The Albanian Muslim Society of Toronto – The pivotal role of its founder, Reggie Assim
  • The Dundas Street Mosque – The City’s First masjid
  • Toronto’s FIRST Halal Butcher Shop – Roncesvalles Village
  • Jami Mosque – Toronto’s Second Islamic Centre and its national significance

TIME: Sunday May 8 2022 – 4:00 p.m.

MEETING POINT: Annette Street at Runnymede Avenue, Sidewalk on South West Corner of intersection.

WALK LEADER: Holding Orange “Walk With Us” Jane’s Walk sign; wearing a Green Square🟩

NEAREST PUBLIC TRANSIT: Runnymede Bus stop at Annette Street

WALK END LOCATION: Jami Mosque, 56 Boustead Avenue

Please help get the word and as important…

…Join This Special Jane’s Walk!

See YOU on Sunday May 8 2022, and Thank You!

​As part of the Green Square Campaign🟩, Green Squares (with safety pins) will be available for all who wish to wear one during this Jane’s Walk.

Reflections on Islam

Special Ramadan 2022 Daily Radio Program

Hosted by Ezzedin Gad

Livestreams began on Friday April 1 2022 and continues every evening until Tuesday May 3 2022.

Starts 30 minutes before Maghrib/Sunset according to Toronto Local Time.

Today’s program began at 7:25 p.m.

Ramadan in Toronto without Reflections on Islam, well, Alhumdulillah we don’t have to think about that this year.

This Radio program really is an unmistakable part of Toronto’s Muslim History and Toronto’s Muslim Heritage.

This program must have provided an important connection during these past two Pandemic Ramadan Lockdowns when masjids were closed then opened then closed and closed again.

For some not quite ready to break fast inside a masjid this third Ramadan of the Pandemic, this daily livestream is still here for you to hear.

So today, Day 4 of Ramadan 2022, we livestreamed the Ramadan Program while we prepared Iftar, and waited until Sunset according to Toronto local time.

We didn’t have to watch the clock.

We only had to wait and listen for Adhan Al Maghrib on today’s Ramadan Radio Program Livestream…


Livestream : https://reflectionsonislam.tv/ramadan_radio/

Only listeners in Ontario can livestream online at this time.

You can support Reflections on Islam by donating here.

Noon Academy is a private Islamic elementary and High School for children in Brampton, Ontario.

They have a Masjid which offers Jumah Prayers year-round and Taraweeh Prayers during Ramadan.

Noon Academy in Brampton is where I went for tonight’s Isha and Taraweeh prayer.

I was expecting to see many more cars in their parking lot.

Entry into the masjid was different that during my previous visits.

I was expecting way more people once inside.

Noon was spacious tonight compared to the full house inside Sayeda Khadija Centre’s Isha prayer on Saturday.

A side-door which is usually closed has been converted into the main entrance to the Masjid alone, by-passing the need to walk through the school hallways to reach the masjid.

That’s a smart change. In and out. Easy.

Small plastic bags are provided atop a table beside some hand sanitizer.

We bag our shoes and bring them into the hall with us.

As 9:30 p.m. approached, the start time for Isha, I was still waiting to see more people arrive.

Nope.

This was it.

Both men and women and children pray in the same medium sized prayer hall. There is no barrier between them.

I didn’t look closely, but from a distance, I might guess maybe 20 sisters in total were present for Isha and Taraweeh tonight. They had plenty of open space.

For the brothers, we ended up at two lines plus a few more standing in the third line.

We weren’t standing shoulder-to-shoulder, but maybe that was just me.

I brought my own prayer mat to put in front of me. A handful of others did as well.

Most of the brothers were praying on the regular masjid carpet, pre-pandemic style… can I even say that? “Praying pre-pandemic style”…?

Most were not wearing masks.

I kept mine on.

Every masjid’s congregation has their own COVID safety protocol rules and comfort levels.

These are the ones at Noon Academy for now.

During Taraweeh, the Imam recited verses from The Qur’an by reading it from pages open before him.

His Qur’an was open atop a music stand beside the mimbar. Music stands aren’t just for sheet music!

At least on this night, the one leading Taraweeh didn’t appear to be a Hafiz.

Unlike Saturday night during Sayeda Khadija Centre’s Taraweeh prayer when I felt overwhelmed being around so many fellow worshipers by the sixth rakat, tonight I’m simply tired.

I stop praying Taraweeh after eight rakats.

I’m not the only one.