Alhamdulillah, City council approved a motion from Coun. Jason Farr Wednesday to allow “symbolic” twice-daily broadcasts of the call to prayer, or adhaan — once at noon and again a half-hour before sunset — until the close of Ramadan May 24.
— HDM (@Downtownmosque) April 30, 2020
SubhanAllah, this is different.
While other City Councils in Ontario have approved a single daily Call to Prayer at Sunset, Hamilton’s City Council has given permission for two Public Adhans per day.
Hamilton’s Downtown Mosque and Hamilton Mountain Mosque now have permission to broadcast Public Adhans around Noon or Dhuhr Prayer Time, and again at Sunset or Maghrib Sunset Time via loudspeakers for the duration of Ramadan 2020.
Two Adhans are better than one.
One Adhan is better than zero.
Adhans will allow you hear the Masjids, yet with the Pandemic Lockdown in place, you cannot see inside the Masjids.
However . . .
Seven Years ago, on Day 30 of Ramadan 2013, I chose to break my fast and enjoy The Last Iftar at Hamilton’s Downtown Mosque.
At least you can get an idea of what the Masjid looked like inside back then.
It’s likely changed at least a little bit, but you get the idea.
On the final night of Ramadan 2013, I also learned of another Masjid in Hamilton.
So after breaking my final fast of that year, I walked over to Ibrahim Jam-E Mosque for the Late Evening Prayer, Salat Al Isha .
Ham Ward 2 Clr Jason Farr introduces motion to allow two daily calls to prayers each day until Ramadan is concluded until May 23. #HamOnt
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
SC Clr Brad Clark asks what are the city rules for church bells ringing. “I don’t think we have any rules,” says Ham Mayor Fred Eisenberger. #HamOnt
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
Ham city staff will investigate how city accommodates church bells ringing. #HamOnt
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
Ham Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he has asked all churches to ring their bells every day at 6 p.m. on behalf of frontline workers. #HamOnt
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
In case you forgot about what the motion was originally, to allow mosques to call for prayers during Ramadan twice a day. Ham Clrs approve it. #HamOnt
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
Council approves a noise exception permit to the Hamilton Downtown Mosque to issue a call to prayer 2x a day during Ramadan (until May 23). (It’s symbolic give COVID-19 restrictions.) Clark says it’s a good idea to educate people about it so they know what it is & don’t complain
— Samantha Craggs 🤓 (@SamCraggsCBC) April 29, 2020
For anyone who hasn’t experienced this before, you’re in for a treat. The sound of the call to prayer is beautiful. Something I’ve always enjoyed when travelling in other countries. Now we can enjoy it here in Hamilton #RamadanMubarak #HamOnt https://t.co/TlOgQpAVXc
— Jason Thorne (@JasonThorne_RPP) April 29, 2020
Ham Mayor Fred Eisenberger touts council approval to allow calls to pray by mosques twice during the day until end of Ramadan. #hamont
— Kevin Werner (@WerkHCN) April 29, 2020
I am hoping that the Muslim Associations, elders in the Mosques or their Imams will write columns explaining the origin and meaning of the call to prayers as misinformation can lead to misguided xenophobic public commentary. Blessings to my Muslim residents during Ramadan. https://t.co/qwOxlrlEBt
— Brad Clark (Hamilton Councillor) (@BCouncillor) April 30, 2020
