Day 29 of @30masjids in 30 Days Across Canada. Boarding BC Ferry from Mainland to #Victoria. |#Ramadan #cdnmuslims pic.twitter.com/NcvcOITKES
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) 4 July 2016
When I began 30 Masjids CANADA, my intention was to begin Ramadan 2016 in Newfoundland and end on Vancouver Island.
InshAllah, we’re almost there…
Day 29 of @30masjids in 30 Days across Canada#Iftar tonite in Masjid Al-Iman🕌 #Victoria BC
| #cdnmuslims #Ramadan pic.twitter.com/8a2AcRwUQq
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) 5 July 2016
Iftar was sticky dates, a cup of water, a cup of milk. A plate of sour cream was placed beside many of the dates plates in front of brothers awaiting Adhan Al-Maghrib.
Y’know, I’ve been constantly surprised with what I have found accompanying plates of dates as I have travelled across Canada, breaking my daily Fasts.
In Ste. Foy / Quebec City, pitted dates had peanut butter inside them. Another instance there was Pistachio Halva. Yet another time the dates had zatar inside them… I think?
And on Day 29 of Ramadan 2016, inside the basement of Masjid Al-Iman in Victoria, British Columbia, I broke my Fast with dates dipped in sour cream.
Wow. Works well. Tasty.
The Mihrab in Masjid Al-Iman’s Main Prayer Hall upstairs has something I don’t know I have exactly noticed anywhere else nor recall seeing.
The Mimbar, is carved out of the right side of the Mihrab, creating a double use of this prayer niche.
This design decision certainly creates space up front for a few more additional worshippers on busy Fridays no doubt.
Then thinking about it, I DID see this concept at least. As recent as yesterday inside Masjid Al-Hidayah in Port Coquitlam:
In Port Coquitlam, the Imam enters through the Mihrab, walks up a few steps and stands in the Mimbar above and facing the Faithful. Again, saving one full prayer line up front.
Well, next up, I go Moonsighting.
Yeah, I know it’s technically impossible to see it from here, Victoria, BC.
It’s the principle of the matter. Plus, it’s a Sunnah too.
