05 - Jumah al Wida - Last Friday of Ramadan - Prince George Islamic Centre - Canada Day - July 1 2016

When planning 30 Masjids CANADA earlier this year, it was always a personal priority to make it to Prince George and pray Jumah-tul-Widah, the Final Friday Prayer in Ramadan.

I was last here in 2004. In visiting friends who were studying at the Newish University of Northern British Columbia, I found myself alone without any Muslim Community to speak of.

Looking through the Phone Book, something people did back then, I only found a single Muslim sounding name, yet was unable to make a connection.

For the one Friday I was here back then, I prayed Dhuhr. I can’t say for sure, but knowing myself, it’s likely I prayed that one day, there would in fact be a Masjid in Prince George, and along with that, a local Muslim Community to go with it.

Alhumdulillah, in the time since, 12 years later, here I am attending not only a regular Congregational Friday Prayer, Jumah, but Jumah-tul-Widah, the last Friday Prayer of Ramadan 2016.

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00 - Isha - Laylatul Qadr - Masjid At-Taqwa - 10654 101st Street, Edmonton Alberta - June 29 2016

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.

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000 - A Taste of Ramadan - Centennial Plaza - Edmonton, Alberta - Wednesday June 29 2016

EDMONTON’S ANNUAL TASTE OF RAMADAN

Lots of free food, clothing, diverse culture, and activities for the whole family

On Wednesday June 29, 2016 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

CENTENNIAL PLAZA
101A Avenue & 100 Street
(South side of Library)

– Everyone is Welcome –

Welcome and Drum Song by Michelle

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00 - Old Masjid Quba Location - Parking Lot - Tuesday June 28 2016


Syed Hussain, a volunteer with Masjid Quba in Central Edmonton, is managing the Itikaf program here.

After Fajr, Dawn Prayers, the brother drove us around downtown showing me a number of sites of Interest to Canadian Muslims.

We recorded this podcast during the drive around Central Edmonton this morning.

Our discussion features The History of Muslims in Central Edmonton, and background of one its tireless Community Organizing Leaders, Sheikh Hussein.

We conclude the podcast by learning backstory of the Dome inside their Masjid.

01 - Masjid Quba - Dome INSIDE The Masjid - Tuesday June 28 2016

Minor Correction: Near the beginning of the podcast, I state it’s start of Day 24, Got ahead of myself there. Today is actually Day 23 of Ramadan 2016.



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Recapping what was learned yesterday visiting Lloydminster Islamic Centre.

00 - Lloydminster Islamic Centre - Saskatchewan - Saturday June 25 2016

Lloydminister Islamic Centre is literally a block and a half from the Alberta border.

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.

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I was interviewed Kashmala Fida for her CBC News story about the new Masjid I found at 370 Somerset Street in North End Saint John, New Brunswick:

Toronto filmmaker Himy Syed discovered the modest-looking mosque on Somerset street in Saint John on his travels for his project, 30 Masjids (mosques) in Canada,.

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.”

Many Thanks to CBC New Brunswick’s Kashmala Fida for the interview and her story.

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.

We’ve been following each other on Twitter for years, yet this is only the second time we’ve met in person.


[podcast]http://30masjids.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Evakatrina-30Masjids-CANADA-6-24-2016.mp3[/podcast]

We recorded this 12 minute podcast where Evakatrina shares with us her experience of Being a Muslim in Saskatoon.

InshAllah, you enjoy our chat.

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01 - Labbaik - 15 year old Taraweeh Prayer Leader - Islamic Association of Saskatchewan, Regina - Thursday June 23 2016

After Iftar and before Isha, I randomly sit down on the main floor of Islamic Association of Saskatchewan, Regina.

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.

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( 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.)