1. The Al-Rashid Mosque of Canada – Edmonton, Alberta

The Al-Rashid Mosque was expected to be one of the first Mosques in North America. This great mosque was constructed in Edmonton Alberta. The Mosque is a mosaic of determination, resilience, cooperation, and collaboration of Muslims and non-Muslims, This masterpiece of elegance was built in 1938.

It was constructed just after the Mother Mosque of America in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and several years after the 1929 mosque was built in Ross, North Dakota. At that time, Canada was a home to roughly 700 Muslims.

Hilwie Hamdon, a revolutionary woman, approached Edmonton’s Mayor John Fry to secure land for the construction of a mosque. She, along with friends, succeeded in collecting funds from Jews, Christians, and Muslims to construct the mosque.

The Al-Rashid Mosque was constructed masterfully by a Ukrainian-Canadian contractor named Mike Dreowth. Its architectural style resembles Eastern Christian immigrant churches of the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox traditions. The Mosque was officially opened on December 12, 1938. It welcomes all who sought solace within its walls. However, in the 1940s the building of the mosque was migrated from its original site to a place a few blocks away to make room for school expansion.

The city in which the mosque was located was considering demolition of the site for hospital expansion. But in 1991, the mosque was destined to embark on a grand location of Fort Edmonton Park. Just about a year later on May 28, 1992, the symbol of elegance and purity was reopened in the park.

Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqi was the one who played a pivotal role in shaping the mosque’s development.

2. Masjid An-Noor – Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Masjid An-Noor is the very first and currently only mosque in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador Canada. It was constructed in 1990 by the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MANAL). MANAL is an association that aims to set up a Muslim community that holds fast to the values of Islam and is committed to the welfare of its members.

The mosque is located in the Provisional Capital of St. John’s and is the only mosque in the province. Today, the mosque welcomes over 600 families and around 500 students from Memorial University of Newfoundland. The number of its visitors is still rising day by day. The mosque is the heart of all Muslim activities in the city.

3. The Midnight Sun Mosque – Inuvik, Canada

The non-sectarian mosque, Midnight Sun Mosque located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories Canada. This Mosque is also known as Inuvik Mosque or Little Mosque of Tundra affectionately. It is the Northmost mosque in the Western Hemisphere. It was constructed for a small community of Muslims in town in 2010. It is the only mosque in North America above the Arctic Circle.

In the late 2000s, the Muslim community of Inuvik surpassed their small truck-trailer worship center. They had purchased land to build a mosque but the costs of construction were too high. A generous Winnipeg-based Islamic charity funded a prefabricated mosque that was bought by a truck to Hay River narrowly avoiding a creek mishap twice. From the river, it floated on a Yacht across Great Slave Lake down the Mackenzie River to Inuvik to reach its permanent location on the northern edge of the town.

After a challenging one-month journey, the mosque arrived in Inuvik. It took another month and a half to build the mosque. On November 10, 2010, the mosque opened, and more people came than expected. Its visitors included both Muslims and non-Muslims, making the opening day a special day.

The mosque in Inuvik follows Sunni traditions for religious practices, and everyone is welcome. They’ve made adjustments for the Arctic’s unique conditions. During some years, Ramadan falls in the middle of the “midnight sun” or “polar night.” Since fasting between sunrise and sunset is not possible, they follow Mecca’s times but adjust to their local time. This means they break their fast while the sun is still up during the “midnight sun” period.

This Mosque is open to everyone, regardless of their faith, and it helps hundreds of families in the area.

4. The Salaheddin Islamic Center – Toronto, Scarborough Canada

The Salaheddin Islamic Centre is located in Toronto, Canada’s Scarborough district. It has gone through an incredible transformation since Imam Aly Hindy took over in 1997. It started as a small mosque and has now become a vibrant community center. Beyond regular prayers and lectures, it offers services like a school, marriage counseling, and a food bank. It also offers youth programs, and more to help and improve the lives of people in need.

5. Jami’ Mosque – Toronto, Canada

Jami Mosque, nestled east of High Park in Toronto, is not only the city’s oldest Islamic center but also considered the “mother of all mosques in Toronto.” Originally it was a Presbyterian church built in 1930. It was transformed into the city’s first Islamic place of worship by Toronto’s Bosniak and Albanian Muslim community in 1969.

In 1961, Jami’s congregation started in a leather shop near Dundas West and Keele. The mosque we see today was built in 1930 as the High Park Presbyterian Church by John Francis Brown & Son. Thanks to funds from King Faisal of Saudi Arabia in 1969, the Muslim Society of Toronto transformed it into Toronto’s first permanent mosque.

Initially, Jami had many Tablighi Jamaat followers, but their numbers dropped due to an influx of Gujarati Muslim immigrants. They eventually leased a hall in eastern Toronto and, in 1981, purchased a building that became the Madina Mosque, the new center for Tablighi Jamaat. Jami’s leadership shifted toward the Muslim Students Association.

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The Grande Mosquée de Paris is the largest mosque in France and the second-largest Mosque in Europe. It is the most beautiful, splendid, and magnificent of them all. The mosque attracts visitors with a captivating historic heritage, making it an irresistible destination.

This greatest mosque was built in 1926 after World War I as a symbol of France’s gratitude to Muslim soldiers. It was constructed to honor the sacrifice of about 100,000 soldiers from the colonies who died in the fight against Germany. The mosque was later entrusted to Algeria in 1957 and is currently under the supervision of Mufti Dalil Boubakeut.

The most incredible fact about the history of the Great Mosque of Paris is that it provided shelter to the Jews during the Holocaust and also supplied them with Muslim identity certificates. It is estimated that 500-1600 North African and European Jews were saved from Nazi persecution in the Mosque.

2. The Elegant Strasbourg Mosque

The peak of elegance, Strasbourg Mosque was inaugurated in September 2012. Situated on the bank of the Ill River in the Heyritz area, south of the Grande Île, is a great piece of attraction for people because of its unusual architectural form.

The building of the Mosque is highly praised for its inventive design boasting a breathtaking open layout devoid of conventional support columns. This creative concept draws inspiration from the cutting-edge cable systems employed in suspension bridges. This masterpiece was designed by Paolo Portoghesi, the creative mind behind Rome’s iconic Mosque.

3. The Grand Mosque of Lyon

The unique and best part of the Grand Mosque of Lyon is that it is a blend of Persian and Maghrebi influences inserted into a modern concept. The expansive windows allow the streaming of natural light which imparts a sense of profound peace and tranquility. Almost 3,000 people visit this hollowed place every week.

During the grand festivals of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, this sacred sanctuary warmly welcomes up to 8,000 devoted worshipers.

4. The Great Mosque Omar Ibn Al-Khattab in Paris

Located discreetly within the 11th arrondissement of Paris, you’ll find the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al Khattab. The mosque was built in the early 1980s, it may not boast the grandeur of the towering mosques of Lyon and Strasbourg, but it has carved a cherished niche as a beloved local gem in the heart of the French capital.

Sometimes, the Grand Mosque of Paris is quite busy because of the gathering of a large number of people, so this mosque gives a feeling of comfort and peace. The interior design of this Mosque represents a typical Islamic culture with attractive carpets and dignified columns proudly displaying a wealth of books that could keep even the most dedicated reader busy for a lifetime.

5. The Khaled ibn El Walid mosque

Located in the Givors in Eastern France, The Khalid Ibn El Walid Mosque might be a recently built mosque. This beautiful mosque was inaugurated in 2013, but it still displays architectural characteristics. After the grand Mosque of Lyon, it is considered the second largest mosque of Rhone.

The most striking feature of this mosque is its impressive huge green dome that captures the eyes and the heart. Almost 1400 Muslims visit this mosque to pray every week. In addition, it is also a spot of interest for some tourists of the region.

6. Lyon’s Duchère Mosque: A Place of Tranquility

Lyon’s Duchère Mosque is a recently constructed mosque in Lyon that can accommodate up to 900 worshippers. It was crafted with a visionary touch inspired by the concept of skyscrapers while adorned with cascading columns of windows to inspire a sense of serene and luminous quality.

Beyond a sacred place of worship, this great mosque boasts eight classrooms to offer Arabic and religious classes.

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Fast forward to 1790, the country’s early years saw the introduction of the Naturalization Act, which stipulated that only free whites of good moral character could become citizens. This legislation discouraged many non-white Muslims, including Arabs, Indians, and Africans, from immigrating to the country.

However, by the late 1870s, a surge of immigrants from the Middle East, notably from present-day Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon, began to enter the United States. They were classified as “Turks” and deemed ineligible for citizenship for being Asiatic. These individuals sought greater economic stability on American shores. Many found work as miners, factory workers, peddlers, grocers, shopkeepers, or petty merchants, with a significant number establishing themselves in the Midwest​.

In 1914, the number of Arab Muslims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was just 45. But within a decade, they had built a full-scale Muslim community, which included over 50 shops and grocery stores by the mid-1920s. In 1925, a group known as ‘The Rose of Fraternity Lodge’ rented a building to serve as a temporary mosque, sparking the dream of constructing a permanent place of worship​.

Finally, on February 15, 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, the Mother Mosque of America opened its doors for the first time, serving as both a mosque and a social center. This simple, one-story wood frame building was the first mosque designed and built in America, marking a significant chapter in the nation’s religious and immigration history​​.

As the muslim community grew, a new mosque was constructed on 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids in 1970. However, it was later sold and repurposed. The Islamic Council of Iowa purchased and renovated the building in the early 1990s. Today, it serves as a place of worship and a resource center, preserving the history of muslims in America.

The Mother Mosque of America stands as a testament to the resilience and contributions of African Muslim slaves to the struggle for equality and justice, their faith shaping the early civil rights discourse. The mosque also marks a milestone in the acceptance of Islam, epitomized by Abdallah Ingram’s successful endeavor to establish Islam as a valid faith within the U.S. military. stands as a beacon of Muslim prosperity in America, a testament to the vibrant community that continues to enrich the nation’s cultural fabric.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/mothermosque.htm

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A Ritual in Islam: Spiritual Purification Through Fasting

Fasting is an integral part of many religious doctrines, standing testament to its historical and spiritual significance. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reinforced its importance.

As depicted in the Holy Qur’an:

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you – so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.

Al-Qur’an 2:183

Notably, fasting isn’t confined to a single religion or culture. Civilizations worldwide have adopted fasting for spiritual purification and demonstrating devotion to a higher entity. Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir suggests fasting dates back to the time of Adam and Eve, who fasted three days each month as a sign of gratitude.

Aishah (R.A) noted:

The Prophet (PBUH) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.

At-Tirmidhi 745

Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays every week can be a great way to perform a virtuous act. By doing so, we can fast for a total of eight days every month.

Intermittent Fasting: A Modern Health Approach

Unlike traditional diets that focus on what you eat, intermittent fasting is about when you eat. The emphasis is on eating during specific windows or limiting yourself to one meal a few days each week.

Our ancestors were well-adapted to long periods without food. However, our modern lifestyles – often sedentary and filled with continuous entertainment and snacking – have led to increasing health concerns like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Scientific studies indicate that intermittent fasting may be a potent strategy against these negative health trends.

Understanding Intermittent Fasting: Metabolic Switching and Autophagy

Intermittent fasting induces a process called metabolic switching. After several hours without food, the body uses up its reserved sugar and begins burning fat. By limiting your eating periods, you exploit this fat-burning phase, potentially leading to weight loss and health benefits.

Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Nobel laureate, illuminated the mechanism behind autophagy, a process activated by fasting that involves cell renewal and decelerates aging. During fasting, the body utilizes autophagy to break down cellular components for energy, crucial when nutrients are scarce.

When glucose levels drop during fasting, the liver first converts glycogen to glucose and later breaks down fat to produce ketones, initiating ketosis, an alternative energy state.

Health Benefits: Brain, Heart, and Body

Intermittent fasting boasts numerous health benefits:

• Enhanced memory and thinking capacity: Studies show fasting can improve working and verbal memory.
• Heart health: Fasting positively influences blood pressure, resting heart rates, and other heart health markers.
• Obesity and type 2 diabetes management: Intermittent fasting can prevent obesity, aid weight loss, and lower fasting glucose, insulin, and leptin levels, reducing insulin resistance. For some, this could even reverse the need for insulin therapy.
• Tissue health: Animal studies suggest fasting reduces tissue damage during surgery, enhancing overall outcomes.

Who Should Avoid Intermittent Fasting?

Despite the benefits, intermittent fasting isn’t suitable for everyone. Before undertaking this dietary approach, consulting with a healthcare provider is crucial. Intermittent fasting isn’t recommended for those under 18, pregnant or nursing women, individuals with type 1 diabetes, and those with a history of eating disorders.

Intermittent fasting is generally safe for people with type 2 diabetes, but more research is required to ascertain its safety for those with type 1 diabetes. This is due to concerns that intermittent fasting could potentially lead to unsafe levels of hypoglycemia during the fasting period.

Reframing Fasting: From Ancient Ritual to Modern Health Tool

To summarize, fasting is a tradition that spans across cultures and religions, boasting a rich history and profound significance. As a pillar of Islam, fasting serves as a spiritual practice reinforcing faith and piety. Concurrently, the principles of fasting have found their way into the health and wellness sphere, providing a promising solution to modern health problems.

Intermittent fasting, by harnessing our body’s natural metabolic switching and autophagy processes, has demonstrated potential benefits for weight loss, cognitive function, heart health, and more. Yet, as with any health intervention, it is not universally suitable, emphasizing the importance of personalized medical consultation before embarking on this journey.

In essence, fasting is not merely a religious ritual or a dietary trend. It is a testament to human adaptability, echoing our ancestors’ survival mechanisms and our ongoing pursuit of health and longevity. Whether for spiritual purification or physical well-being, fasting continues to be a powerful practice in our lives.

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