30 Masjids BIG photoblog

This is the west wall inside 3047 Dundas Street West. This building was the first Masjid owned and operated by Toronto’s Muslim Community during the 1960s. It was called The Dundas Street Mosque. The metallic Crescent and Star as well as painted minaret artwork we see here somehow survived successive ownerships of the building and has remained exactly where it is for 50 years! The current owners will be renovating the location into a wine-bar.

 

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Shaykh Zahid Abu Ghuddah about to begin his Friday sermon. His will be the first of the three scheduled congregational Jumah prayers in Masjid Toronto. Friday July 20 2012. #

 

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Women wearing hijab walking along Dundas Street East. Juxtaposed in front of the marquee of Filmore’s Hotel. Muslim taxi cab drivers often pick up fares from this location. Friday July 20 2012. #

 

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Dhikr Circle. A meditation circle, where Muslims recite in a chant like fashion, any of the 99 Names of God-Alone found in The Qur’an. Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre, Etobicoke. Saturday July 21 2012. #

 

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Whirling Dervish. Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre, Etobicoke. Saturday July 21 2012. #

 

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Dervish stands still after whirling to Sufi Music performed by visiting Iranian musician. Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre, Etobicoke. Saturday July 21 2012. #

 

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Iftar Dinner, the communal meal after each day’s fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre, Etobicoke. Saturday July 21 2012. #

 

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Masjid Al Jannah whiteboard announcing First of Ramadan as Saturday July 21, 2012. Muslims have a choice in deciding when the Lunar month of Ramadan begins. For Muslims using astronomical calculations, Ramadan began on Friday. Others, such as members of this congregation adhered to visual moonsighting as confirmation of when Ramadan begins. Both are acceptable. SLIFO Sri Lanka Islamic Foundation of Ontario in Scarborough. Sunday July 22 2012. #

 

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Masjid Al Jannah volunteer directs new arriving people who have been fasting all day to places where they may sit and wait until Adhan Al-Maghrib, the Sunset Call to Prayer, is made signalling the time to break one’s fast. SLIFO Sri Lanka Islamic Foundation of Ontario in Scarborough. Sunday July 22 2012. #

 

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Masjid Al-Qalam evening Islamic school is today’s equivalent of the Canadian tradition of the One Room Schoolhouse. Shaikh Muhammad originally from Sierra Leone teaches not only memorization of the Qur’anic verses, but also its meaning. Parents are appreciative of going this extra mile by Shaikh Muhammad in teaching their children. Masjid AlQalam, Al-Qalam Islamic Centre in North York. Monday July 23 2012. #

 

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Adhan Al-Maghrib, the Sunset Call to Prayer is read aloud inside Masjid Al-Qalam by the Muezzin. The Adhan signals the end of the fasting day. Upon hearing the Adhan, Muslim will break their fast, often with simple dates and water. Masjid Al-Qalam, Al-Qalam Islamic Centre in North York. Monday July 23 2012. #

 

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Shaikh Faraz Rabbani (left) leading a teaching session as Nader Khan (right) listens. SeekersHub Toronto, located in Clarkson, Mississauga. Thursday July 26 2012. #

 

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An Iftar Hero prepares cups of water for worshippers who will shortly break their Ramadan Fast. SeekersHub Toronto, located in Clarkson, Mississauga. Thursday July 26 2012. #

 

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After Taraweeh prayers are completed for the night inside Regent Park’s Masjidur Rahmah, mentoring of youth takes place for a few minutes. Masjidur Rahmah, Parliament Street, Regent Park. Wednesday July 25 2012. #

 

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Six clocks display the current timings of the five daily prayers and weekly Friday Congregational Jumah Prayers in the basement of 325 Gerrard Street. This was unused basement until two years ago. Tenants lobbied Toronto Community Housing Corporation to allow this unused space to become a prayers space. But time is running out for this prayer space. Revitalization plans will bring this six storey building down within the next few years. 325 Gerrard Street, Regent Park. Tuesday July 24 2012. #

 

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The men’s primary prayer space in the basement of 325 Gerrard Street is unique. In masjids the world over, columns may hold up the upper floors or perhaps a dome above the main prayer hall. Here, drain pipes, heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts jut out from seemingly anywhere and everywhere. This was unused basement until two years ago. Tenants lobbied Toronto Community Housing Corporation to allow this unused space to become a prayers space. But time is running out for this prayer space. Revitalization plans will bring this six storey building down within the next few years. 325 Gerrard Street, Regent Park. Tuesday July 24 2012. # 17
Volunteers have created Iftar Plates and spread them across the second floor of Masjidur Rahmah in Regent Park. Worshippers who have been fasting all day will shortly arrive and be able to break their Ramadan fast with a mix of traditional Bengali and Canadian finger foods. Masjidur Rahmah, Parliament Street, Regent Park. Wednesday July 25 2012. #

 

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Watermelon and dates await the fasting person in Masjid Khalid Bin Al-Walid, Khalid Mosque, in Rexdale. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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The view from directly underneath the African style antique chandelier which hangs from the skylight above the main prayer hall in Masjid Khalid Bin Al-Walid, Khalid Mosque, in Rexdale. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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Taped to the door of the Funeral Room of Masjid Khalid Bin Al-Walid, Khalid Mosque, in Rexdale are instructions for correct burial according to Islam. This masjid was founded with the intention to provide Funeral Services for Muslims in Etobicoke North, where previously no such facility was available. An expansion is anticipated as the Masjid now performs up to two funerals per day. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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Omar, a new Torontonian, prays inside the Bosnian Islamic Centre in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The Bosnian Islamic Centre is a neighbourhood Masjid and was the third, some say fourth, masjid ever established in Toronto in the mid 1970s. 75 Birmingham Street, Etobicoke. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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The Muezzin performs Adhan Al-Jumah, The Call to Friday Congregational Prayer inside the Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. 274 Birmingham Street, Etobicoke. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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Left to Right: Art Professor Ahmet Sinav visiting from Turkey, Tevfik “Baba” Aydoner and Imam Abdulvehab Hoxha in Canadian Sufi Cultural Centre in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. 274 Birmingham Street, Etobicoke. Friday July 27 2012. #

 

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Iftar Dinner being served in the auditorium gym of the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF) building which it shares with Masjid Qurtabah. Finch Avenue East, Scarborough. Saturday July 28 2012. #

 

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Four muslim brothers eat Iftar Dinner on stage as it’s a full house on this Saturday night and all table spaces are taken. The North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF) shares this space with Masjid Qurtabah. Finch Avenue East, Scarborough. Saturday July 28 2012. #

 

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The prayer hall of Masjid Qurtabah inside the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF) Building. Finch Avenue East, Scarborough. Saturday July 28 2012. #

 

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Travelling Pocketgnomes Chico Mouse and A Girl Named Leroy, have been to Masjids around the world. They’ve even been to Makkah and Madinah! Tonight they find themselves inside Jame Masjid Huzaifah after Taraweeh Prayers. 18 Progress Avenue, Scarborough. Saturday July 28 2012. #

 

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The Muezzin calls the Fajr Adhan, Call to Dawn Prayer, at 4:30 a.m. inside The Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #

 

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A youth reads and recites aloud The Qur’an while sitting inside the main prayer hall of The Islamic Foundation of Toronto after Dhuhr Salat, Afternoon Prayers. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #

 

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The late afternoon sun carves its rays through the windows of the The Islamic Foundation of Toronto as two worshippers perform the late Afternoon Prayer, Asr Salat. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #

 

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A volunteer unrolls straw prayer mats onto the main hallway of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. This provides overflow space for later arriving worshippers who will come to perform Isha, the Night Prayer, followed by the option eight or twenty rakats of prayer knows as Taraweeh. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #

 

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Youth volunteers in friendly competition in number of good deeds earned offer cups of water for people to break their fast with, inside The Islamic Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #

 

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The Islamic Foundation of Toronto by day has become a Scarborough Landmark. By night during Ramadan, Green LED lighting is employed to highlight the Islamic Achitectural design, notably the Dome and Minaret. Nugget Avenue at Markham Road, Scarborough. Sunday July 29 2012. #