From Ottawa to Mecca
Bells Corners is a religious community or so it would seem if one were to count the number of churches representing different religious groups. One of the more recent arrivals is that of the Muslim community that has had a mosque, a small mosque by size of building but a mosque within which prayers of worship have been offered for the last 5 years.
It has been said that the Islamic faith is the fastest growing religion in the world. Across North America, from community to community we find mosques and associations of Muslim peoples. These people have come to Canada from many nations of our world. Yet, they hold a religious faith common to all regardless of language, culture or colour of members.
The fundamental ideals of Islam could be viewed as ideal for Canadian society, as human rights can bring religions together with a focus on the right to life and the freedom of religion. Other rights relating to family, property and justice are all included in Islamic ideals.
Followers of the Islamic faith have as their place of worship, the mosque. In the year 622 A.D., the Prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to the City of Medina where his house was used as a place for prayer. This house became the first mosque and place of worship.
In 629 Muhammad returned to Mecca, the city of his birth. There we find the Great Mosque which is the focus of Muslim worship. All other mosques are constructed along a line that is projected or leading to Mecca. A wall of the mosque is constructed perpendicular to that line. It is called the Qibla wall and parallel to this wall are rows along which the faithful kneel to pray, all facing Mecca.
Five times a day over one billion Muslims around the world face Mecca in their prayers to Allah. On Fridays, it is compulsory for all male Muslims to go to the mosque for prayer.
Although the present mosque on Moodie Drive is small in size and the number of members is a very small fraction of the total Muslim population of the world, the fervour of prayer, the strength of religious conviction is no less than that which would be found in any other mosque, no matter where it might be or no matter its size.
The Muslim community requires a new and much larger mosque for all their religious activities, for the development of Muslim youth and to have the space for all other activities that might be undertaken. It is a requirement, a just requirement that needs to be met.
A number of residents of Bells Corners have objected to the construction of a new mosque on the property located adjacent to the older mosque and facing Richmond Road were for a variety of reasons. One major problem that has been experienced in the past has been that of parked cars on the streets close to the mosque during the Friday prayer time. It has been suggested that even with the many additional parking spots made available for the new mosque, there might still be a continuing street parking problem. Yet, a solution may be found if permission is granted by number of organization to have their properties used for parking purposes during prayer times. It is this spirit of cooperation that may lead to the City to finally approve the site plan proposal.
There are many beautiful mosques around the world that reflect the architectural genius of both non-Muslim and Muslim architects. Today we find with the rapid expansion in the number of followers of the Islamic faith and the oil-wealth from Islamic nations, more mosques are being built using designs by contemporary Muslim architects. In fact, there are awards for mosque designs coming from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Although minarets were not part of the architecture of the earlier mosques, they came into use about 100 years after the first mosques were built. The minarets served as an excellent way to project the voice of the person calling the worshippers to prayer. In addition, the minarets served as structures of beauty, as embellishments to the mosques and because of their heights could be seen for many miles. The minaret on the proposed mosque should prove to be an attractive feature for the southern landscape of Bells Corners. It will be seen for miles across the greenbelt. It will serve as a symbol of tolerance and goodwill, of freedom and justice to all.
It has been said that the Islamic faith is the fastest growing religion in the world. Across North America, from community to community we find mosques and associations of Muslim peoples. These people have come to Canada from many nations of our world. Yet, they hold a religious faith common to all regardless of language, culture or colour of members.
The fundamental ideals of Islam could be viewed as ideal for Canadian society, as human rights can bring religions together with a focus on the right to life and the freedom of religion. Other rights relating to family, property and justice are all included in Islamic ideals.
Followers of the Islamic faith have as their place of worship, the mosque. In the year 622 A.D., the Prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to the City of Medina where his house was used as a place for prayer. This house became the first mosque and place of worship.
In 629 Muhammad returned to Mecca, the city of his birth. There we find the Great Mosque which is the focus of Muslim worship. All other mosques are constructed along a line that is projected or leading to Mecca. A wall of the mosque is constructed perpendicular to that line. It is called the Qibla wall and parallel to this wall are rows along which the faithful kneel to pray, all facing Mecca.
Five times a day over one billion Muslims around the world face Mecca in their prayers to Allah. On Fridays, it is compulsory for all male Muslims to go to the mosque for prayer.
Although the present mosque on Moodie Drive is small in size and the number of members is a very small fraction of the total Muslim population of the world, the fervour of prayer, the strength of religious conviction is no less than that which would be found in any other mosque, no matter where it might be or no matter its size.
The Muslim community requires a new and much larger mosque for all their religious activities, for the development of Muslim youth and to have the space for all other activities that might be undertaken. It is a requirement, a just requirement that needs to be met.
A number of residents of Bells Corners have objected to the construction of a new mosque on the property located adjacent to the older mosque and facing Richmond Road were for a variety of reasons. One major problem that has been experienced in the past has been that of parked cars on the streets close to the mosque during the Friday prayer time. It has been suggested that even with the many additional parking spots made available for the new mosque, there might still be a continuing street parking problem. Yet, a solution may be found if permission is granted by number of organization to have their properties used for parking purposes during prayer times. It is this spirit of cooperation that may lead to the City to finally approve the site plan proposal.
There are many beautiful mosques around the world that reflect the architectural genius of both non-Muslim and Muslim architects. Today we find with the rapid expansion in the number of followers of the Islamic faith and the oil-wealth from Islamic nations, more mosques are being built using designs by contemporary Muslim architects. In fact, there are awards for mosque designs coming from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Although minarets were not part of the architecture of the earlier mosques, they came into use about 100 years after the first mosques were built. The minarets served as an excellent way to project the voice of the person calling the worshippers to prayer. In addition, the minarets served as structures of beauty, as embellishments to the mosques and because of their heights could be seen for many miles. The minaret on the proposed mosque should prove to be an attractive feature for the southern landscape of Bells Corners. It will be seen for miles across the greenbelt. It will serve as a symbol of tolerance and goodwill, of freedom and justice to all.
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