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.

“AssalamuAlaikum

Alhumdulillah, by the mercy of Allah SWT, we are pleased to announce that our Masjid has received permission from the City of Pickering to broadcast our Athaan outside the facility and to the community in the month of Ramadan.

Starting today, our Athaan can be heard live at Maghrib time.

We are grateful to our city officials for accepting our request and making this happen.”

Previous Visits . . .

Ummah Masjid and Community Centre in Halifax was my stop on Day 3 of 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan Canada in 2016.

Back then I posted a video of Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Sunset Prayer from inside the Ummah Masjid.

And here we are, The same Adhan Al Maghrib, from the same Masjid in Halifax, only this time it’s an outside Public Adhan via loudspeakers.

So far, that’s Toronto, Scarborough, Markham, Milton, and Pickering in Ontario with Public Adhans during Ramadan 2020.

We can now add Halifax in Maritime Canada to Canada’s Public Adhan in Ramadan 2020 List.

On an overcast and slighty rainy Sunday evening as Maghrib Sunset time arrived,

The First Ever Public Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Sunset Prayer, was broadcast in Markham, Ontario, a city immediately north of Toronto.

I understand they will broadcast The Call to Sunset Prayer, via loudspeakers, every night during Ramadan 2020.

As you see from Sister Aisha’s tweet, at least one Neighbourhood Muslimah can break her fast while listening to this Public Adhan.

Alhumdulillah.

Markham Masjid is one of the few Masjids I have yet to visit in person.

InshAllah, a future in-person visit to write up a proper 30Masjids story.

Markham Masjid is located at 2900 Denison Street and is one of two Masjids operated by The Islamic Society of Markham.

That means I’ll have to visit ISM’s newer, second masjid location too !

Day 3 of Ramadan 2020 was weird.

The Pandemic Lockdown has transformed this project’s premise from

30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan,

to

30 Masjids At Home in 30 Days of Ramadan 2020.

Yet, unexpectedly, Sayeda Khadija Centre‘s Drive-Thru Iftar Pick-Up, for regular Masjid attendees, allowed us a real, and not virtual, Masjid visit !

Even though we’d never leave the car,

We could still visit the Masjid in person during Ramadan 2020 to pick up an Iftar Meal.

After praying Asr, The Late Afternoon Prayer, at home, we hopped in the car and headed out . . .

Sayeda Khadija Centre’s Drive-Thru Iftar Pick-Up service was what you would expect it to be.

Cars enter from one side of the Masjid, then await their turn.

The “Temporarily Closed” sign posted outside Sayeda Khadija Centre entrance included a link to their donation page.

Because of the Pandemic Lockdown, every Masjid, Musallah, Islamic Centre, Temple, Synagogue, Church in Canada is physically closed, yet still financially on the hook for their monthly bills.

So like the sign says,

Please Continue to Donate in these difficult times” to Sayeda Khadija Centre !

The line moved pretty quick.

Waiting inside the car didn’t feel long at all.

The actual Drive Thru Iftar Meal Pick Up was simple.

Tables outside on the parking lot.

Pre-Packaged Iftar Meals in disposable containers atop those tables.

You lower the passenger side car door window.

A volunteer wearing a face safety mask asks you through your open car window, “How many meals ?”

The volunteer, wearing disposable blue safety gloves, hands you the Iftar meals through the car window.

And that took all of a few moments.

Thank you. Come Again.

Next !

We exit around the other side of the masjid and begin the return journey . . .

MashAllah!

Minutes later we are home with our Drive-Thru Iftar meals.

The first thing we did at home, of course, was to wash our hands.

Only then, with hands washed, did I place the three Iftar Trays on the dining table.

Around 7 p.m., we began listening to Brother Asim Malik deliver this evening’s Pre-Iftar Lecture from the same Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga via livestream.

An hour plus change passes while we listen to the Pre-Iftar Lecture.

Time well spent.

We broke our fast at home listening to Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Sunset Prayer, livestreaming from Sayeda Khadija Centre.

On any previous Ramadan Weekend, after breaking our fast in a large Public Iftar Gathering, we would be praying with hundreds of fellow worshippers inside a large Prayer Hall.

Tonight, it’s a couple of prayer mats spread out on the living room floor.

I don’t know about you, but I really, really, really, really, needed a coffee to go with my Iftar Meal tonight.

Chicken.

Rice.

Paneer.

We added the triangle of bread.

And of course the coffee.

Alhamdulillah.

 

This Drive Thru Iftar Pick Up is only available on Saturday and Sunday between 6 p.m and 8 p.m.

It’s for people who really need an Iftar meal.

It’s mostly intended for the regular people would normally gather on the weekends in Ramadan inside Sayeda Khadija Centre to break their fast, pray Maghrib, and enjoy their Iftar Meals with friends and extended family.

This is one service among many activities Sayeda Khadija Centre is providing to its regular congregation during the Pandemic Lockdown.

So, Toronto… umm…

Please don’t show up at the Drive-Thru Iftar if you wouldn’t normally show up at Sayeda Khadija Centre on a Ramadan Weekend.

This program is running on donations, by and mostly for its own congregation.

Yet, if you really need an Iftar Meal, no one is going to ask you for ID nor turn you away.

As Sister Remziya says it her tweet atop this story,

“Other mosques should follow this example.”

InshAllah, other Masjids around Metropolitan Toronto will do so.

When I learn of other local Drive Thru Iftars,

I’ll attempt to visit and blog about them.

 

Day 3 of 30 Masjids At Home in 30 Days of Ramadan 2020 summed up :

  • We visited Sayeda Khadija Centre
  • Staying inside the car, we picked up three Drive-Through Iftar Meals
  • Returned home
  • Listened to Pre-Iftar Lecture livestreamed from Sayeda Khadija Centre
  • We broke our fast At Home while listening to Adhan Al Maghrib, The Call to Sunset Prayer being Livestreamed from SK Centre
  • Prayed Maghrib in our Living Room
  • Enjoyed eating our Drive-Thru Iftar Meals at home

 

Was this the only Drive-Thru Iftar Meal services out there ?

Nope.

There are Drive-Thru Iftar meals happening every night in Manitoba at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque.

30 Masjids visited the Manitoba Islamic Association for Iftar on Day 15 in Ramadan 2016.

In the United States,

Drive-Thru Iftar Meals are also happening every evening of Ramadan 2020 in

  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Westbury, Long Island, New York State
  • Kenner, Louisiana
  • Puget Sound, Washington State

InshAllah, I will also blog about the other Drive-Through / Drive-Thru Iftar Meal Services.

 

Previous Visits to Sayeda Khadija Centre . . .

[gview file=”http://30Masjids.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-effects-of-diurnal-intermittent-fasting-on-proinflammatory-cytokine-levels-while-controlling-for-sleepwake-pattern-meal-composition-and-energy-expenditure.pdf” title=”The effects of diurnal intermittent fasting on proinflammatory cytokine levels while controlling for sleepwake pattern, meal composition and energy expenditure”]

 

LIVESTREAM – Drive-Thru Iftar Program : April 25 2020

Canada Pakistan Trade & Cultural Association of Manitoba

Winnipeg Grand Mosque, Manitoba Islamic Association, 2445 Waverley Street

https://www.facebook.com/359169438105756/videos/346921066268866/

 

Day 2 of serving the community.
Not possible without our brave volunteers.

Canada Pakistan Trade & Cultural Association in collaboration with the Manitoba Islamic Association, Muslim Students’ Association, Pakistani Students’ Association, Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute and the Winnipeg Central Mosque is conducting a ‘’Drive Thru Iftaar Program’’.

A drive through corridor will be created and people will be able to pick packaged food and drive away through the MIA mosque loop at 2445 Waverley Street.

“~ Very Important Announcement – Ramadan Support.

Please spread the word if you would like support or know of a family that requires access to food this Ramadan.

RamadanMealsTO is a grassroots group of community members whose goal is to ensure that everyone has access to fresh food and halal prepared meals during this blessed month of Ramadan.

This request form concerns the delivery of fresh halal meals and grocery food kits daily during the Month of Ramadan (April 24 – May 22, 2020) in Downtown Toronto.

After you fill out this order request,

RamadanMealsTO will review details/availability and will follow up with a confirmed delivery time.

If you would like urgent service or direct information, please contact us at ramadanmealsto@gmail.com

Answers to this request form are CONFIDENTIAL to the organizers and the individual making the delivery only.

Due to COVID19,

all deliveries will be contact less and will be dropped off at your door between 6 – 8 PM

Link : https://healingas1.wixsite.com/ramadan2020

Please share.

If you would like to donate to our cause to feed community members during Ramadan,

please send us an e-transfer to ramadanmealsto@gmail.com”

Available in these Downtown Toronto Neighbourhoods :

  • Regent Park
  • St. Jamestown
  • Moss Park
  • Esplanade