Praise be to God alone,
Alhamdulillah

We would like to thank Mayor Jim Watson for his incredibly thoughtful gesture, following many other Canadian cities in allowing the athan to broadcast at Maghreb (sunset) everyday until Ramadan ends.

We would like to also remind our Masajid to take this opportunity by showing extra kindness and care to their neighbours.

Tune in to our youtube.com/TheOttawaMosque to hear the Athan live streamed tonight at 8:10 pm, inshaAllah”

Ottawa Muslim Association

A few hours ago,

The City of Ottawa granted permission for local Masjids to broadcast via loudspeakers Adhan Al Maghrib, Call to Sunset Prayer.

That left only a few late afternoon hours to figure out how best to wire up loudspeakers atop the Ottawa Muslim Association’s Minaret.

They tried, yet needed more time.

Ottawa Muslim Association :

“…We did our best but it was very little time to prepare for today, can you guess how long the wires need to be to connect the speakers on top of the minaret?!”

Allah (SWT) Rewards efforts for Good Deeds, any results are by His Will.

Alhumdulilllah,

On the Last Friday of Ramadan 2013, Jumah tul Widah, Day 25, I heard their Adhan from inside the masjid.

InshAllah,

On the Second Friday of Ramadan 2020, Adhan Al Maghrib, Call to The Sunset Prayer, will heard from outside via Loudspeakers atop the Ottawa Muslim Association Minaret.

Masjids in Canada’s Capital City,

Ottawa,

Now have to option to publicly broadcast Call to The Sunset Prayer, Adhan Al Maghrib, via loudspeakers, nightly for the duration of Ramadan 2020.

Official City of Ottawa Announcement

Noise exemption granted for local mosques during Ramadan

April 30, 2020

Announcements and Events

A new noise exemption is being granted today to allow mosques to broadcast a 5-minute call to prayer at sundown each day until May 23, in recognition of the holy month of Ramadan.

This noise exemption has been permitted in recognition of Ramadan and in light of the Provincial Order prohibiting the gathering of more than five people.

While doing 30 Masjids in 30 Day of Ramadan 2013 Ontario,

My fourth week of Ramadan 2013 was spent Masjid Blogging around Ottawa.

In Ramadan 2013, All Maghrib Adhans in Ottawa were heard inside.

In Ramadan 2020, they can now be heard outside too.

Yesterday Day 6 of Ramadan 2020,

Hamilton City Council granted temporary permission to Downtown Hamilton Mosque and Hamilton Mountain Mosque to broadcast Adhan Al Dhuhr, Call to The Mid-Day Prayer, and Adhan Al Maghrib, Call to The Sunset Prayer.

You may notice in the video, numerous people drove to hear this two minute, and parked cars away from each other practicing physical distancing . . .

This first week of Ramadan 2020 has seen City Councils in Southern Ontario, as well as Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, grant temporary permission for broadcasting Public Adhans, Call to The Sunset Prayer.

The City of Hamilton Ontario lead the way in allowing not one, but Twice Day Public Adhans.

In Cities around the World, it is normal to hear The Call to Prayers echo in the urban soundscape for a few moments, five times a day.

Twenty or so years ago, I remember watching Jeanne Moos live on a sidewalk in New York reporting on CNN, and suddenly in the background The Call to Prayer began echoing within the caverns of Manhattan behind her.

In our Canadian Context, maybe two is the right number for now, Mid-Day around noon, then again at Sunset.

No City wants to be first, every city wants to be second.

When it comes to Twice Daily Public Adhans in Ramadan 2020,

The City of Hamilton was First.

Omar Bin Khattab Mosque – Toronto Downtown Muslim Community, is at least the third Masjid in Toronto and perhaps the first in Downtown, to publicly broadcast The Call to Sunset Prayer, Adhan Al Maghrib, via loudspeaker.

Like every place of worship in Toronto, it’s doors closed due to the Pandemic Lockdown.

To peek behind those doors visit this 30 Masjids photoblog post from Day 9 of Ramadan 2015.

Unlike the Islamic Centre of Canada in Mississauga with its industrial park neighbours, Regent Park, the neighbourhood around this Downtown Toronto masjid, has thousands of Muslims living within earshot.

Earlier, I had asked City Councillor Paul Ainslie, who represents Ward 24 in East Scarborough, a question . . .

Now we know the answer, Alhumdulillah.

10 years ago, I was asking a different question, “Sister, do you own a farm ?”

Omar Bin Khattab Mosque was first visited on Day 16 of Ramadan 2011, the first year of 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan.

I still have a soft spot for this Masjid.

With the noise by-law now suspended until the end of Ramadan 2020, the First Masjid in Mississauga to broadcast a Public Adhan Al Maghrib, Call to The Sunset Prayer, was Islamic Centre of Canada at 2200 South Sheridan Way.

The ICC masjid is located inside the ISNA Canada Complex, opposite a Queen Elizabeth Way highway.

Being in an industrial area, this is a destination Masjid, one you have to take transit or drive out to.

Unless you drove out there like brother Adam Moustafa did to record and tweet out his video, no one would hear it.

But that’s not the point.

It’s an extra-ordinary permission granted by The City of Mississauga to its residents during Pandemic Lockdown in the Holy Month of Ramadan 2020.

Use it or lose it, the saying goes.

So even if there is almost no one there to hear it, the Adhan will now be heard in South Mississauga . . .

Good afternoon,

On behalf of Mayor Crombie and City Council, and in the spirit of Ramadan, we are happy to announce that this morning Council unanimously voted to approve the external broadcast the Adhan or call to prayer during the month of Ramadan by mosques in the City of Mississauga.

Council supports the symbolic broadcasting of the Adhan for the duration of Ramadan at the time of sunset, as it will provide inspiration and comfort to our Canadian-Muslim residents of Mississauga.

City Council has agreed to suspend the noise by-law during the full period of Ramadan up to May 24, 2020.

Please note that the call to prayer can be broadcasted once daily for 5 minutes maximum.

You may begin your broadcast this evening on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.

We strongly encourage you to continue practicing and enforcing physical distancing measures.

If these measures are contravened, our officers will enforce.

Below is the approved resolution, effective immediately:

“That the enforcement of the Noise Control By-law 360-79, as amended, be suspended for the broadcasting of the evening call to prayer from local mosques and other non-residential buildings regularly used for worship, for the period of Ramadan in the year 2020 (up to May 24, 2020), provided the ‘call’ is broadcast only once per day for a maximum of 5 minutes and that it is not a call for people to physically gather in contravention of O.Reg. 52/20.”

We wish you a continued safe and healthy Ramadan Mubarak.

Best wishes,

Natasha on behalf of Mayor Crombie

The above message from sent from City of Mississauga’s Mayor Office to the Management of Jame Masjid Mississauga, and was then shared with their congregation via e-newsletter . . .

“*** UPDATED ***

Dear Subscriber, we are very happy to announce that the City of Mississauga has passed a motion permitting the calling of the Adhaan over the loudspeakers starting from today, please see announcement below.

In sha Allah we will be playing the Adhaan live over our external loudspeakers for Salaat al-Maghrib.

As the mosque is still closed to the public, we will be broadcasting this historic moment on Facebook live.”

Posted by Basir Mohammed on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

This first full week of Fasting in Ramadan 2020 is still in progress,

And we now have  f i v e  eight cities in Canada, so far, allowing Public Adhans from Local Masjid Loudspeakers, at Sunset time.

How many Cities will follow Toronto, and Pickering, and Markham, and Brampton, and Halifax, and, Milton, and Ajax, and now Mississauga ?

This 20 minute debate by Mississauga City Council is instructive for anyone in other Canadian Cities or Mayors and Councillors on other City Councils considering Public Adhans during Ramadan 2020.

The Mayor, Council, and City Staff discussed pretty much every concern the wider community may have including numerous edge cases and the matter of urgency as Week 2 of Ramadan 2020 is set to begin.

The merits of temporarily suspending the existing Noise Control By-Law rather than trying to amend the By-Law in the same Council Meeting was explored.

A possibility of allowing Public Adhans by edict of The Mayor under the COVID-19 Pandemic State of Emergency was a no-go for Mississauga due to a technicality.

But every City’s Emergency Plan is different, so that option may fly elsewhere. Your mileage will vary.

 

 

News release
City of Mississauga
April 29 2020

Noise Control By-law Suspended – Evening Call to Prayer

“Council passed a resolution that the enforcement of the Noise Control By-law be suspended to allow for the broadcasting of the evening call to prayer from local mosques and other non-residential buildings regularly used for worship.

This resolution is for the period of Ramadan, up to May 24, 2020, provided the ‘call’ is broadcast only once per day in the evening for a maximum of five minutes and that it is not a call for people to physically gather in contravention of Emergency Orders and physical distancing guidelines.”

Media Contact:
Catherine Monast
Senior Advisor Media and Public Information
City of Mississauga
905-615-3200, ext. 5046

Unanimous Vote by Mississauga City Council authorizes Public Adhan Al Maghrib / Call to Sunset Prayer during Ramadan 2020

Bonnie Crombie,
Mayor of Mississauga, Ontario

Wednesday April 29 2020 :

“At Council today we passed a motion to allow for the broadcasting of the evening call to prayer from local mosques and other non-residential buildings regularly used for worship during the month of Ramadan this year (up to May 24, 2020).

The ‘call’ is broadcast that can be heard once per day for a maximum of 5 minutes.

This is not a call for people to physically gather in contravention of the provincial guidelines on gatherings.

People need comfort and familiarity during this difficult time.

As long as it is not disruptive and follows the guidelines, the call to prayer can provide this to many living in our City.”

Muslim Community Thanks Mississauga Mayor and Council For Unanimous Vote On Broadcasting Call to Prayer this Ramadan

April 29, 2020-Mississauga

The Muslim Council of Peel brought forward a formal request asking for the call to prayer to be externally broadcast while mosques and Islamic centres remain closed to congregations under the COVID-19 crisis in Ramadan.

Mississauga is home to the largest Muslim community in the region.

Social distancing has made this Ramadan very difficult for those who look forward to the heightened sense of community inclusion during this month of worship.

The request was tabled today and passed unanimously at a virtual council meeting.

Mayor Bonnie Crombie stated on behalf of City Council,

”Council supports the symbolic broadcasting of the Adhan for the duration of Ramadan at the time of sunset, as it will provide inspiration and comfort to our Canadian-Muslim residents of Mississauga.”

City Council has agreed to suspend the noise by-law during the full period of Ramadan up to May 24, 2020.

The call to prayer can be broadcasted once daily for 5 minutes maximum beginning this evening.

The Muslim Council of Peel thanks Mayor Crombie and all Councillors for their leadership and support.

“The decision gives the community great solace during Ramadan when we would be assembling at the mosque every evening breaking fast in Ramadan, our holiest of months,” states Rabia Khedr, Executive Director while reminding places of worship to continue practicing and enforcing physical distancing measures.”

Contact:
Rabia Khedr, MA
Executive Director
647-760-9541

UPDATE ~ Friday May 1 2020 :

There is now a petition you can sign to say thank you to Mississauga City Council & Mayor Bonnie Crombie . . .

I just signed, Signature 6358 !

SubhanAllah, this is different.

While other City Councils in Ontario have approved a single daily Call to Prayer at Sunset, Hamilton’s City Council has given permission for two Public Adhans per day.

Hamilton’s Downtown Mosque and Hamilton Mountain Mosque now have permission to broadcast Public Adhans around Noon or Dhuhr Prayer Time, and again at Sunset or Maghrib Sunset Time via loudspeakers for the duration of Ramadan 2020.

Two Adhans are better than one.

One Adhan is better than zero.

Adhans will allow you hear the Masjids, yet with the Pandemic Lockdown in place, you cannot see inside the Masjids.

However . . .

Seven Years ago, on Day 30 of Ramadan 2013, I chose to break my fast and enjoy The Last Iftar at Hamilton’s Downtown Mosque.

At least you can get an idea of what the Masjid looked like inside back then.

It’s likely changed at least a little bit, but you get the idea.

On the final night of Ramadan 2013, I also learned of another Masjid in Hamilton.

So after breaking my final fast of that year, I walked over to Ibrahim Jam-E Mosque for the Late Evening Prayer, Salat Al Isha .

Ramadan in the age of COVID-19

“Adnan Akiel,

From the Bridging Gaps Foundation,

Shares more on how Muslims celebrate Ramadan in the time of COVID-19 and the shift to virtual worship.”

– CTV Morning Live Vancouver

Posted by Bridging Gaps Foundation on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Tuesday April 28th 2020

A post shared by Madinah Masjid (@madinahmasjid) on

Since Saturday,

Madina Masjid on Danforth Avenue in Toronto has aired a nightly public Call to The Sunset Prayer, Adhan Al Maghrib, via loadspeakers.

Other Masjids in neighbouring cities, and at least one other province, have followed :

There is City of Toronto permission for a ward in Scarborough for Public Adhans :

Haven’t heard back from Councillor Paul Ainslie yet.

As Ramadan 2020 rolls on, we can expect more Canadian Masjids to begin loudspeakering nightly Calls to The Sunset Prayer.

InshAllah.

 

 

“A big Thank You to Mayor Shaun Collier, Councillor Ashmeed Khan and Council for their support for Maghrib Azan on speakers.”

Masjid Quba Ajax
1501 Harwood Avenue North
Ajax, Ontario

“The call to prayer (Adhan) is an unfamiliar sound to many people and can now be heard daily before the sunset prayer (Maghrib) outside at the Brampton Makki Masjid at 8450 Torbram Rd.

Sunset is approximately at 8:17pm at this time of year, and changes about a minute or two each day.”

Video Credit: https://twitter.com/urzheer

The City Of Brampton in Peel Region has no by-law prohibiting Public Adhans being broadcast outside Masjids via loudspeaker.

Unlike other cities around Metropolitan Toronto, like Markham and Pickering or Scarborough, no municipal permission was really needed here in Brampton.

Alhumdulillah.

Likewise, Church bells already ring out throughout the year in Brampton.

Unlike Ramadan 2020, during Ramadan 2019 the Adhan, The Call to Prayer was heard inside the Masjid.

30 Masjids visited Brampton Makki Masjid on Night 18 of Ramadan 2019.

Maghrib Adhan at ICCM by Imam Sh. Huzaifah Khan.

Alhamdulillah ICCM is the only masjid in the west end of GTA to do loud adhan outside.

Thanks to Regional Councillor Zeeshan Hamid for getting this approved from the town of Milton.