Ads by Muslim Ad Network

Edmonton Church Hosts Muslims for Taraweeh Prayers

Muslims in downtown Edmonton have been congregating in one of Edmontonโ€™s oldest churches for the night Taraweeh prayers since the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

โ€œItโ€™s actually really interesting because this Ramadan has been an opportunity for us to sort of experiment, work out the kinks, see what spaces work, what spaces donโ€™t work and weโ€™re in talks with McDougall right now about what a long-term partnership looks like,โ€ Yasin Cetin told Edmonton Journal.

Cetin, outreach and engagement advisor with the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Edmonton Chapter, said that McDougall United Church approached them in February about โ€œrevisioningโ€ their community space as a multi-faith community hub. 

๐Ÿ“š Read Also: I Wanted to Bring a Friend to Christianity, Allah Guided Me to Him

Edmonton Church Hosts Muslims for Taraweeh Prayers - About Islam

The Muslim community welcomed the suggestion, seeing it as an opportunity to celebrate the community pluralism.

โ€œI think itโ€™s especially special for us in the Muslim community recognizing that weโ€™ve been in the Prairies on Treaty Six for over 150 years to share space with a church that was built in 1911 thatโ€™s been here for just as long, I think shows the camaraderie, the pluralism, the ability to connect over faith and foster a sense of community in a space thatโ€™s been home to many faiths for a long time,โ€ said Cetin.

Praying Together

This past Good Friday, the two communities came together into church to observe prayers โ€“ Christians observing Good Friday service and Muslims, the Friday prayer โ€” in different parts of the church.

โ€œItโ€™s a really beautiful thing,โ€ Cetin told CBCโ€™s Edmonton AM on Thursday.

โ€œBeing in a space like McDougall has been even more rewarding, just because weโ€™re sharing space with a beautiful community โ€” and being able to connect on days like Good Friday, I think, is extra special.โ€

Meanwhile in Ontario, another Muslim group, Waterdown Muslim Community Centre (WMCC), has been renting the gymnasium facilities at the St. James United Church in Waterdown to hold congregational prayers.