I visited Masjid Toronto today as part of Doors Open Toronto, and it was definitely the highlight of my day.
Everyone I met was so warm and friendly: from the welcomes outside on Dundas and inside at the front desk, to our excellent tour guides Omar and Omair who took us around the building and explained some of the basics of the practice of your faith, to the tireless calligrapher who wrote my name on a souvenir placard with such flair, to the funny ladies in the hall downstairs who loaded my plate with the BEST tuna croquettes, falafel, samosas, and so many delicious sweets!
As I explained to the young women who greeted me in the front entrance as I put on my shoes to leave, I recently visited many mosques in Istanbul (including the Blue Mosque, Suleiman the Magnificent, etc.), but that was a tourist experience where all I could do was admire the beautiful artistry and craftsmanship of the building.But thanks to Masjid Toronto, I now have a more concrete appreciation of the Muslim faith and traditions.
This is what Doors Open was created for: to enable mutual understanding between faiths and cultures.
After all, we are ALL an equal part of what makes Toronto, Ontario, Canada such a marvelous place to live.
Thank you, everyone, at Masjid, and I hope I may repay your hospitality in the very near future!
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