For the first time ever, mosques in Canada have
been allowed to perform the call to prayer publicly at certain times
during the holy month of Ramadan. The decision came from municipalities
such as Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa and Hamilton as a response to requests
from Muslim citizens since the beginning of Ramadan.
The adhan, the call to prayer in Arabic, can be heard at three prayer times throughout Ramadan.
Seyid Tora, the imam of the Mountain Mosque in Hamilton, expressed
his joy about the decision after the Friday prayer, which was performed
with few people after the first public adhan. “It is a historic moment
for the Muslim community,” he said. “The call to prayer is an invitation
from Allah, who invites people to worship. It is important that
everyone hears this invitation.”
Permission was also granted to another mosque in the city. “Initially
the permit only applies to this Ramadan,” he said, stating that the
community was in contact with municipalities urging them to let the
decision apply after the holy Islamic month ends. Tora also encouraged
mosques in other cities to get in contact with their municipalities in
order to get a similar permit.
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