Formation | 1969 |
---|---|
Type | Islamic community centre, mosque with prayer hall and accompanying religious services, educational institution and social services facility |
Location | |
Coordinates | 43°47′53″N79°14′30″W / 43.79807°N 79.24171°W |
Website | islamicfoundation.ca |
The Islamic Foundation of Toronto is one of the largest and oldest Islamic community centers in Canada. It is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Markham Road and Nugget Avenue in the former city of Scarborough. It is one of the most widely recognized Masjids in the Greater Toronto Area and has hosted many internationally renowned speakers and guests. The current imam and Director of Religious Affairs of the Masjid is Yusuf Badat.
The Islamic Foundation of Toronto was established in 1969, when an old 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) building was purchased at Rhodes Avenue and converted into a mosque.
The 2.3-acre (9,300 m2) site, where the Islamic Foundation currently stands, was purchased in 1984. At the time, an elementary school was also conceived as an integral part of the Foundation. The majestic three-storied building in its current form, made from white stone, was completed in 1992 at a cost of about six million dollars, almost all of which was raised by the local Muslim community. A 125-foot (38 m) tall minaret captures the skyline, complemented by a copper-cladded dome, symbolizing the Muslim presence in Canada. The building is 53,000 sq ft (4,900 m2) in area, with prayer halls for men and women, 12 classrooms, a cafeteria and kitchen, a gymnasium, a library, a mortuary, an elevator and over 200 parking spaces. [1]
In August 2017, the Islamic Foundation abruptly closed the high school portion of the school, leaving over 160 students scrambling to find a new school before the school year started in September. [2] This was devastating news for hundreds of parents and children, many of whom had contributed thousands of dollars and a significant number of volunteer hours for the school. As of November 2017, the elementary and middle school portions were still open, though enrollment has significantly decreased.
On March 16, 2020, all facilities were closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic in Ontario. [3] The foundation announced that "no prayers will take place until further notice" [3] citing Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health's recommendation to close places of worship. [4] Following the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the foundation received a $125,000 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada's Immunization Partnership Fund to promote vaccine uptake through influencers and community leaders. [5]
The Islamic Community Centre is accessible by public transportation and is open for the five daily prayers. The Friday congregation prayer is attended by almost 2,000 worshippers. The full-time school has a qualified staff with over 300 students from Junior Kindergarten to grade eight. [2] More than four hundred students attend the evening and weekend Islamic classes.
The governing body of the Islamic Foundation is an elected Majlis consisting of seven members. To ensure accountability, there is also an elected board of trustees which holds the title to the property and advises the Majlis. The audited accounts are published yearly, and the books and meetings are open to the members, as required by the constitution of the foundation. [1] Nonetheless, the Majlis has been known to have issues with transparency and has been accused of selfish practices, especially due to the recent sudden shut down of the high school. [2]
The Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Simcoe and Toronto. The region was established after the passing of then Bill 102, An Act to Establish The Regional Municipality of York, in 1970. It replaced the former York County in 1971, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area and the inner ring of the Golden Horseshoe. The regional government is headquartered in Newmarket.
School prayer, in the context of religious liberty, is state-sanctioned or mandatory prayer by students in public schools. Depending on the country and the type of school, state-sponsored prayer may be required, permitted, or prohibited. The United Kingdom requires daily worship by law, but does not enforce it. Countries which prohibit or limit school prayer often differ in their reasons for doing so. In the United States, school prayer cannot be required of students in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This is generally rigorously applied in public schools; the Establishment Clause does not prevent prayer in private schools that have no public funding. In Canada, school-sponsored prayer is disallowed under the concept of freedom of conscience as outlined in the Canadian Charter on Rights & Fundamental Freedoms. School-sponsored prayer is disallowed in France as a byproduct of its status as a secular nation.
Islam constitutes the third largest religion in Singapore, with Muslims accounting for approximately 15.6% of the population, as indicated by the 2020 census. Predominantly, Singaporean Muslims are Sunni Muslims adhering to either the Shafi‘i or Hanafi schools of thought. The majority of the Muslim population, about 80%, are ethnic Malays, while 13% are of Indian descent. The remaining fraction comprises local Chinese, Eurasian, and Arab communities, in addition to foreign migrants. Buddhism and Christianity are the two larger religious affiliations in the country.
The Muslim Association of Canada is a non-profit organization which provides religious and educational services for the Muslim community in Canada.
Masjid An-Nahdhah, is a mosque located in Bishan. The mosque was the sixth to be built under Phase III of the Mosque Building Fund program. It opened on January 6, 2006, and can accommodate about 4,000 worshippers. The building also contains the Harmony Centre @ An-Nahdhah visitor center.
The Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT) is a non-profit Islamic educational institute in Toronto, Canada.
Masjid-an-Noor is the first, and currently only, mosque in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The mosque is located in the provincial capital of St. John's, and was built in 1990 by the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. A large proportion of the congregation are students or faculty at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Islam in Delaware is an established religion. Although it is unknown how many Muslims live in the state, Delaware has at least five mosques and a sizable Muslim population.
The Islamic Association of North Texas (IANT) is a non-profit organization of Muslims dedicated to worship, education, and community service in Richardson, Texas. IANT provides many services to the North Texas community in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In addition to religious services such as the five daily prayers, weekly Friday sermons, Taraweeh prayers, community Iftars, Eid prayers, marriage ceremonies, counseling services, and Dawah work, IANT also provides several other educational and community services.
Jamea Masjid is the largest and longest established mosque (masjid) in Preston, Lancashire, England, UK.
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) is a system of mosques in Greater Houston. It is headquartered at the Eastside Main Center in Upper Kirby in Houston.
The Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) is a Muslim community center located in Catonsville, Baltimore County, Maryland, consisting of Masjid Al-Rahmah, Al-Rahmah School, and several other services. The society was founded in 1969 by three Muslim physicians and is known for then-President Barack Obama's visit on February 3, 2016. As of 2019, the society serves around 3,000 people.
Nile Academy , located in the Humber Summit neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, is a Canadian private school for students between Kindergarten and Grade Twelve. Originally founded in 2005 by Muslim Turkish immigrants belonging to the Hizmet Movement in order to better serve the growing Turkish-Canadian community, the school now has a wide range of students from a variety of backgrounds.
The Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre (AMIC) is the largest main mosque and Islamic centre in North East of Scotland and Aberdeen, Scotland. AMIC is a charitable, non profitable, non political organisation. Its purpose is to hold congregational prayers and Islamic religious activities, with provision of free religious services to members of the Muslim community relating to Islamic marriage, birth, death and burial in accordance with Scottish law. AMIC also aims to promote unity and provide channels for better communication and understanding between the Muslims and non Muslims in the area. The mosque contributes to the local community by promoting and participating in projects related to areas of social concern. It operates from its new location at Frederick Street.
Vaccine Choice Canada (VCC) is Canada's main anti-vaccination group. It was founded in the 1980s under the name Vaccination Risk Awareness Network (VRAN) and adopted its current name in 2014. The group has been contributing to vaccine hesitancy in Canada, encouraging citizens to forgo immunization and legislators to support anti-vaccine regulations and legislation.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario was a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada was announced on January 25, 2020, involving a traveller who had recently returned to Toronto from travel in China, including Wuhan. Ontario has had the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Canada's provinces and territories, but due to having the largest population, only ranks sixth adjusted per capita. Ontario surpassed one million lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on January 24, 2022; one day before the anniversary of the first confirmed case on January 25, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The pandemic has affected the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton, and the Town of Caledon, within the Regional Municipality of Peel. As part of the larger closure decisions in Ontario, a stay-at-home order shuttered all nonessential businesses, and caused event cancellations.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto is a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), localized in Toronto. Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, and the fourth most populous city in North America.
Kieran Michael Moore is a Canadian physician and public servant who serves as the current chief medical officer of health of Ontario. Prior to his appointment, he served as the medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington from 2017 to 2021.
19 to Zero is a not-for-profit behavioural sciences initiative based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Hosted at the University of Calgary, the public–private partnership is made up of around 500 members including public health specialists, academics, behavioural psychologists, marketers and multimedia creators. Its purpose is to increase confidence in vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases by tackling vaccine hesitancy. The group publishes materials on its website and through partner organizations, including videos, billboards, presentations, brochures and in-person events.
Williams says he is recommending the closure of all recreational programs, libraries, schools, including private schools, day care centres, churches and other faith settings