Comments Off on CANADA | Night 25 – Laylatul Qadr – Masjid At-Taqwa – 10654 101st Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Having broke my Fast earlier in the evening at Al Rashid Mosque’s 7th Annual A Taste of Ramadan in Centennial Plaza, I made the short walk over to Masjid At-Taqwa in Downtown Edmonton at 10654 101st Street for Isha, Taraweeh, and ultimately Fajr.
It is the Night of the 25th of Ramadan.
One of the possibilities for Laylatul Qadr, The Night of Power.
You’ll easily find it at 4610 49 Avenue in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan :
“From HWY 16 go one block north on 49 Ave and it is located on the left. Lloydminster Islamic Centre is on the South of Post Office”
The Masjid is on a block that has as its neighbours: the town’s four-plex cinema, the Post Office on one side, the Native Friendship Centre as their other next door neighbour, and the Regional Municipal town hall a block away.
The building’s architectural design would stand out were it located in Toronto or even Vancouver.
According to those behind it, it’s the first of its kind in Canada — established specifically for Syrian refugees.
“They needed a place to pray that was convenient. Many of them don’t have cars or have other means of getting to the main Muslim Association of New Brunswick masjid over in Rothesay,” said Syed.
“It’s a bit scratchy but it does the job. It’s much appreciated, that location. It’s cozy, it’s small.”
It’s Friday Morning, Day 19 of Ramadan 2016 and I’ve arrived by bus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I intend to attend Jumah Prayers in the City’s oldest masjid shortly.
Before Jumah, Evakatrina and I met inside the Main Branch of the Public Library, a short walk from the bus terminal.
Nearby are a couple of young brothers. One of them is Labbaik.
Originally from Toronto, Labbaik has lived in Regina since he was nine. Today, he’s 15.
Labbaik ended up in Regina, because his dad wanted to sponsor his uncle into Canada, and found it would be easier to do so from Saskatchewan, rather than from Toronto.
The familiy then moved from Ontario to Saskatchewan to take advantage of the generous Provincial sponsorship/nominee program at the time. It has since tightened up.
At 15, Labbaik has already memorized the entire Qur’an. Making him Hafiz of Qur’an.
( InshAllah, I’ll be updating numerous recent days’ posts, like this one here, that have only embedded tweets, with full stories and reports as soon as I find good wifi! InshAllah.)
Comments Off on CANADA | Day 17 – VIDEO: Canada’s Masjid “Qiblatain” – 247 Hazelwood Avenue – Winnipeg, Manitoba
In Madinah, there is the original Masjid Qiblatain. The original Qiblah, or direction during prayer, was towards the Dome of The Rock in Jerusalem.
The Prophet Muhammad, Upon Whom be Peace, recieved Revelation that the Qiblah would change from facing North-West and Jerusalem to South, and facing the Kaabah in Makkah.
Winnipeg’s first and oldest masjid, at 247 Hazelwood Avenue in the St. Vital neighbourhood was constructed at a time of questioning by North American Muslims of the then South-East direction towards Makkah, and whether we should face North-East.
That discussion had consequences for Winnipeg’s Muslims, as they ended up building a masjid with Two Qiblahs.
The masjid at 247 Hazelwood, is Canada’s own Masjid Qiblatain.
Ever since I was a child, my mom always stressed about the importance of mosque in our life as a muslim. No wonder it becomes my highlight when I had my mini-Indochina trip to Malaysia-Vietnam-Cambodia last April-May.This is the first mosque that I visited, and it is in Malacca, Malaysia. Masjid Selat Melaka (the Malay […]
Yesterday I climbed the 99 m high minaret of Masjid Al-Akbar (Masjid Agung) Surabaya. It represents 99 names of Allah, Asmaul Husna. To me 99 names of Allah are a reminder of best qualities that lies in ourselves, that if we can use it properly, it will elevate us to see life in a different perspective. […]
Spent the first day of Ramadan fasting in Moscow for 19 hours. What an experience! It was tough but the cold breeze helps a lot :D Lucky for me to be able to join iftar and pray at a Mushalla in Indonesian Embassy in Moscow. +OL
Tatarstan Mosque in Moscow, Russia. I prayed Dhuha at the women section and because nobody’s there, we tiptoed to take picture of the main prayer room. When we about to go out, we can’t. Because apparently we’re locked from the outside. After calling out people from the Masjid’s window, finally the Imam open the Masjid’s […]
Beautiful Nur Mubarak Mosque in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Unfortunately we had to pray at Imam’s office, because women section is renovated and I certainly can’t say to my local Almaty Muslimah friends to pray behind men at the main hall. +OL
One of my favourite spaces in the entire city is the pool hall in Fordsburg. It’s located down an obscure, red passage next to the Milky Lane that’s been a feature of Fordsburg Square for as long as I can remember. Climbing the red staircase you cannot be prepared for the sight that greets you, […]
A spontaneous decision to road trip to Hartebeespoort dam resulted in coming across this beautiful prayer room. In the basement of a house that overlooks the dam is this room with an adjoining room for ladies. The one end of the room opens up to a peaceful garden. Set up specifically for tourists coming through […]