It’s been a while since we last attended Salat Al Jumah at Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga.
As Ramadan 2024 begins in about three weeks, my brother Amir decided we should go pray at S.K. Centre, like we often do during Ramadan.
Even with The Holy Month of Ramadan so close, and already a week into the month of Shaban, I still hadn’t gotten that Ramadan Feeling…
…As we arrived, parked in the overflow parking closer to the Hurontario side, then began walking towards the west entrance, that Ramadan Feeling begin to stir within me, in ernest.
Alhumdulillah.
Near the entrance way, there is usually a small table with Sadaqa and Masjid Donation boxes.
Today I also noticed this see-through plastic box filled with Green Squares of felt fabric with golden safety pins.
These are of course from the Green Square Campaign to commemorate the victims of the shooting at the Grand Mosque of Quebec on January 29 2017.
January 29th each year is officially recognized as National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.
My brother Amir and I entered the main prayer hall early enough to easily choose from prayer spots in the third line from the front wall.
This third line becomes the second line behind where the Imam would be leading the Friday Prayer after delivering the Friday Sermon.
On very busy prayer days, the usually empty very front row to the left of the Imam allows for a small number of additional worshippers.
Above the Prayer Niche, or Mihrab, where the Imam leads the prayer, hangs this chandelier.
Because this chandelier is not necessarily turned on during every prayer, its brightness immediately captured my visual attention and imagination as I sat down in my prayer spot in the third row.
The floral blue of the Turkish Tiles is transformed.
Luminescent.
I quickly snapped this single image with my pocket-sized Nikon Coolpix which I often carry with me, then put the camera away, so not to disturb nor distract nearby worshippers.
Awaiting Adhan Al Jumah, while still appreciating the Lit Chandelier, Day 5 of Ramadan 2011 came to mind.
2011 was the inaugural year of this 30 Masjids in 30 Days of Ramadan project.
On Day 5, I wrote about the Islamic Design of the Water Fountain found in the basement of the TARIC Islamic Centre located in North York.
Alas, the TARIC Fountain wasn’t turned on, and perhaps still hasn’t in the decade plus change since I first blogged about it.
Today, The Chandelier above the Sayeda Khadija Centre Mihrab was turned on.
Alhumdulillah.
Adhan Al Jumah.
The Call to Friday Congregational Prayer, before the Friday Sermon.
Imam Abu Noman Tarek was today’s Khateeb.
Sayeda Khadija Centre Family Day Tea Party ~ Monday Feb 19 2024
