Is there a Sufi Centre in Brampton?
I wasn’t sure about this one.
The “Naqshbandi Sufi Toronto” website still lists their address as 129 East Drive, Unit A, in Brampton.
I screen-grabbed this image from Streetview captured in August of 2021:
Because content on their website seemed to be last updated in August of 2019, I was not confident Sunday gatherings were still taking place on East Drive.
“Welcome to the official site of the Toronto chapter of the Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Sufi Order of America.
This site includes teachings, practices and events of the Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Sufi Order which is led by Qutub Mutassarif, Sultan al Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, Leader of the Most Distinguished Naqshbandi Sufi Order.
The Toronto chapter has weekly spiritual gatherings.
The current time and place of our weekly meditation is:
Naqshbandi Sufi Toronto
129 East Drive, Unit A, Brampton, ON.
Sundays at 4:30 PM“
I decided to visit the address in-between Dhuhr and Asr time to confirm.
It just happened that new occupants were walking out the door of Unit A as I arrived.
Asking them about Naqshbandi Sufis drew a confused gaze as they didn’t recognize who I was talking about, but they did tell me that TODAY was the day they were taking possession of this business address.
Okay, confirmed, no Sufi Centre here.
So where did they go?
( Aside: The new occupants’ car parked out front had a customized vanity license plate displaying three numbers: “785”. NOT 7-8-6, but 7-8-5. )
On the “Naqshbandi Sufi Centers Across the World” map found on the SufiLive website, there was a single answer:
Zooming in to Toronto, Canada then clicking on the map marker brings up this sidebar info:
“Toronto
Zikr and Mawlid each Sunday starting at 7 pm
Rotating address on mureeds’ homes (mainly in Mississauga)”
So that’s it then, Naqshbandis in Brampton have become nomadic for the time being.
I did find a residential address where Sunday gatherings appear to happen in Brampton, but that’s someone’s home, not a Masjid nor Musallah nor public Islamic Centre.
Looking again at their website, I notice something obvious I didn’t see before:
Fundraising for a Place of Worship in Malton, which is just over the Mississauga/Brampton border, within walking distance of East Drive.
Okay, so SubhanAllah, not this Ramadan 2024,
but InshAllah we can visit the Naqshbandi Toronto Sufis next Ramadan 2025.
On Day 14 of Ramadan 2017,
I broke my fast with the Vancouver Naqshbandis on East Hastings.
There was cake…
