Al-Rashid Mosque
Encyclopedia
The Al-Rashid Mosque was the first mosque built in Canada
. It was constructed in Edmonton, Alberta.
but was built in 1938 just after the Mother Mosque of America
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
and several years after the 1929 mosque built in Ross, North Dakota
. At the time there were about 700 Muslims in Canada. Lila Fahlman the founder of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women was the first to talk to the mayor of Edmonton John Fry
about purchasing land to construct the mosque.
The mosque was opened on December 12, 1938, it was built by Mike Drewoth. By the 1980s the mosque had fallen under disrepair and the city was contemplating demolition of the site. But in 1991 it was decided to move the mosque to Fort Edmonton Park
at a cost of $75,000. About a year later on May 28, 1992 it was reopened in the park. The mosque provides many services for the Muslim community of Edmonton, such as prayer services 5 time a day, 7 days a week. In addition to these prayers,Eid prayers are performed twice yearly. Also, services like marriage contracts (nikah
), Sunday and summer school for children and youth, Quran memorization for adults are provided.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was constructed in Edmonton, Alberta.
History
Al-Rashid Mosque was expected to be the first mosque in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
but was built in 1938 just after the Mother Mosque of America
Mother Mosque of America
The Mother Mosque of America, once known as The Rose of Fraternity Lodge and also known as Moslem Temple, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, is the longest standing mosque in North America...
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
and several years after the 1929 mosque built in Ross, North Dakota
Ross, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 48 people, 24 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was 169.6 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 102.5 per square mile...
. At the time there were about 700 Muslims in Canada. Lila Fahlman the founder of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women was the first to talk to the mayor of Edmonton John Fry
John Wesley Fry
John Wesley Fry was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a mayor of Edmonton.-Early life:John Fry was born in Woodstock, Ontario on December 5, 1876. He grew up in Woodstock and Owen Sound and moved to Regina, Saskatchewan in 1897 to attend Normal School...
about purchasing land to construct the mosque.
The mosque was opened on December 12, 1938, it was built by Mike Drewoth. By the 1980s the mosque had fallen under disrepair and the city was contemplating demolition of the site. But in 1991 it was decided to move the mosque to Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park is an attraction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Named for the first enduring European post in the area of modern-day Edmonton, the park is the largest living history museum in Canada by area...
at a cost of $75,000. About a year later on May 28, 1992 it was reopened in the park. The mosque provides many services for the Muslim community of Edmonton, such as prayer services 5 time a day, 7 days a week. In addition to these prayers,Eid prayers are performed twice yearly. Also, services like marriage contracts (nikah
Nikah
Marriage in Islam is an Islamic prenuptial contract between a man and woman to live as husband and wife. It is a formal, binding contract considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride involved in marriage proceedings...
), Sunday and summer school for children and youth, Quran memorization for adults are provided.