30 Masjids

30 Masjids has taken an afternoon detour inbetween blogging Iftars, Masjids, and Tarawih. We’re still behind in posting, InshAllah, we’ll be back to posting on time by Monday. Because this is happening THIS WEEKEND, it was important to blog this NOW! Please try to pop by and see and experience The Qur’an Festival in person.

– HiMY SYeD

The First Qur’an Festival is happening this weekend at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada.

A number of Muslim artists are showing Qur’an related art works. There is the expected Calligraphy, but there are also abstract pieces, as well mixed media.

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Qur'an

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Day 7 – 786 Halal Restaurant

08 13 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Across from Lahore Tikka House, a Gerrard Street Landmark, a new place has opened up.

There’s a HUGE Iftar/Sahur banner above the entrance. It’s in the style you’d find all over the Indian subcontinent during Ramadan, but this may be a first for Toronto, at least that I’ve seen.

While snapping a few photos, a young brother goes down some stairs, and the distant echoes of Qur’an being recited fill the Gerrard Street Air.

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Day 7 – Fatih Mosque

08 13 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Alhumdulillah, Praise be to God-Alone. After one or two or three days worth of intentions, my Ramadan wish to Iftar in Fatih Mosque would finally be fulfilled.

This masjid is within comfortable walking distance south from what the local Business Improvement Area markets as the Gerrard Indian Bazaar. Everyone else calls it Little India. For those in the know, it’s Gerrard Street.

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Day 7 – Talim-ul-Islam | By Jasmine Amoh

08 11 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

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By Jasmine Amoh (@amajas)

I’m really excited to be guest blogging for 30masjids!! Ever since I read the first post at the start of Ramadan, I eagerly await the new daily post to learn about the various masjids in my city.

Born in Toronto, I come from a family of mixed heritage; Ghanaian and Lebanese. A Christian father and a Muslim mother. Neither faith was really ever discussed in my household growing up, so at age 16, I started studying Islam for myself, and instantly knew this was the direction that I had to take.

I heard about the brothers in the U.S. who blogged about their experiences last Ramadan, visiting a different masjid throughout the month, and was delighted to find out that this initiative was also being done right here in Toronto by Himy Syed. Based on this idea, I’d like to share one experience of mine.

30 Masjids, Guest Blog Post

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Day 6 – Double Eye Tee? IIt’s where the sidewalk ends

08 10 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

If you want to see Double Eye Tee, Islamic Institute of Toronto, find where the sidewalk ends . . .

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behind schedule

08 09 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

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Between blogging and fasting, 30 Masjids is behind in daily postings.

Upcoming are Islamic Institute of Toronto, Fatih Mosque, and the Bosnian Islamic Centre.

InshAllah, we’ll catch up.

We may also have our first guest blog entry by a sister later this week.

Want to share your experience in breaking fast? Guest bloggers are welcome, please leave a reply below and we’ll connect.

HiMY

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Day 5 – TARIC Islamic Centre – One masjid, five mihrabs

08 08 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

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It’s Juma. Friday. The weekly congregational day of prayer for Muslims. Feeling the itch to join a larger than usual size Juma prayer, finds me heading to North York, home to TARIC Islamic Centre.

It’s at 99 Beverly Hills Drive. 99 is also the number of different names for God Alone mentioned in The Qur’an.

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Day 4 – Sheikh Deedat Centre Downtown Mosque

08 05 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

The Rockwell Masjid. Bond Street Masjid. Ryerson Campus Masjid. Sheikh Deedat Centre. Downtown Mosque. Whatever you want to call it, this little masjid is convenient.

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Day 3 – Masjid in-between a Yonge Street sex shop and tattoo parlour

08 04 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Yonge Street. It’s believed to be the longest street in the world. Every city has a street like this. The main drag, the main north-south thoroughfare. The dividing line between east and west.

After weeks of humidity and sunshine, it was finally raining in the city, all day. Approaching maghrib time, a light mist remained suspended in the air. I decided for a second day to forgo breaking fast at the Rhodes Avenue masjid in the East End with its longer and wetter bike ride to reach it.

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Day 2 – Hamza Masjid – Parkdale Islamic Education Centre

08 03 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Parkdale. A last minute change in plans to make an iftar, any iftar on time within quick biking distance meant the storefront masjid in Parkdale was my best option. All day, I had intended to bike over to the masjid on Rhodes Avenue south of Gerrard Indian Bazaar in the east end. That’s now on the to-Iftar list.

Parkdale is one of my childhood neighbourhoods. It’s always been a crazy mix of wealthy homeowners, outpatients from the Queen Street Mental Health Centre (literally on the other side of the tracks), small business people trying all sorts of things to make a buck, and a weigh station for immigrants before they migrated to other neighbourhoods. Some decide Parkdale is good enough and they never leave. More recently, hipsters, and the cool factor have somehow invaded and become part of the mix.

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Day 1 – Jami Mosque

08 02 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

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Jami Mosque. This Islamic Centre of Toronto.

The Mother Mosque (Ommul-Masajid) in the Greater Toronto Area. Located at 56 Boustead Avenue between Roncesvalles Village and High Park in Toronto’s west end.

Throughout the 70s, 80s, and even for a time into the 90s, this was the first and largest masjid Muslims would encounter when visiting or living in Toronto.

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Day 1 – Mosque One – The Forgotten Dundas Street Mosque

08 02 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

This is 3047 Dundas Street West as it is today, the first of Ramadan 1432 also the first day of August 2011.

This is also the little known historic location of Toronto’s first masjid, The Dundas Street Mosque. Most recently it was a picture frame shop, however this afternoon it was found worse for wear having been closed for some time.

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Day 0 – Ramadan Begins

08 01 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Sunday was not the first day of fasting in Ramadan. However, Sunday at sunset is when Ramadan began. Uniquely then, tonight was prayers without an Iftar ( break fast ) meal.

I decided to pray Maghrib, the after sunset prayer, at my neighbourhood masjid, the Islamic Information and Dawah Centre International. It’s only one very short subway stop away, but I always either bike or walk over. Tonight I biked over and made it in time. They had just started.

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Day 0 – Moonsighting not Moonfighting

08 01 11'

Written by HiMY SYeD

Ramadan begins at sunset the night before the first day of fasting.

This year, according to Moonsighting.com, the first day of fasting would most likely be Monday August 1, 2011, making it easy as the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan would correspond to the month of August. Consequently, Ramadan itself began at sunset on Sunday evening, July 31, 2011.

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