fbpx
MAC
  • Search
  • Offcanvas Icon
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • Our Team
        • Executive Committee
        • Board of Directors
        • Leaders Spotlight
      • FAQ
      • Community Impact
    • Institutions
      • Schools
        • Full-Time Schools
          • Olive Grove School
          • Maple Grove School
          • Abrar School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Ottawa
          • Rahma School Ottawa
          • Al-Furqan Toronto
          • Al-Furqan Waterloo
          • Niagara Islamic School
          • MAC Calgary Islamic School
          • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
          • Albayan School Vancouver
        • Part-Time Schools
          • Al-Huda Schools
          • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
          • Al-Huda School Winsdor
          • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
        • Quran Schools
          • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
          • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
          • Dar Al-Arqum
        • Pre-Schools & Daycare
          • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
          • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
          • Maple Grove School
      • Centers & Masajid
        • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
        • Masjid Toronto Dundas
        • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
        • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
        • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
        • Al Rawdah Mosque
        • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
        • Montreal: CIIC
        • MAC Information Centre
        • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
        • Rose City Islamic Centre
        • Cold Lake Mosque
        • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
        • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
        • Al-Salam Centre
        • MAC Vancouver Centre
        • MAC Hyde Park
        • MAC Westmount
        • MAC Noor Garderns
        • Masjid Aisha
        • Masjid Hespeler
      • Local Chapters
        • Mississauga
        • Toronto
        • London
        • Kitchener Waterloo
        • Hamilton
        • Ottawa
        • Montreal
        • Windsor
        • Calgary
        • Edmonton
        • Vancouver
    • Our Work
      • Youth
      • Projects and Campaigns
      • Events & Activities
    • News & Media
      • Statements
      • MAC in the News
      • Bulletin Board
      • Newsletter
    • ConnectHub
      • Connect Hub Resources
      • Positivity
      • Kids’ Corner
      • Islamic Resources
      • Health & Wellness
      • Family
      • Fun Learning
      • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Creativity
      • Business
    • Contact Us
      • Get in Touch
      • Media Inquiries
      • Contacts Directory
      • Volunteer
      • Careers
    • Donate
    • Search
MAC
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
      • Executive Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Leaders Spotlight
    • FAQ
    • Community Impact
  • Institutions
    • Schools
      • Full-Time Schools
        • Olive Grove School
        • Maple Grove School
        • Abrar School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Ottawa
        • Rahma School Ottawa
        • Al-Furqan Toronto
        • Al-Furqan Waterloo
        • Niagara Islamic School
        • MAC Calgary Islamic School
        • MAC Edmonton Islamic School
        • Albayan School Vancouver
      • Part-Time Schools
        • Al-Huda Schools
        • Al-Huda-Verdun Islamic School
        • Al-Huda School Winsdor
        • Al-Salam Academy Calgary
      • Quran Schools
        • Al-Otrojah for Quran Studies
        • Ecole Coranique Al-Bayane
        • Dar Al-Arqum
      • Pre-Schools & Daycare
        • MAC Islamic School Creative Minds Edmonton
        • OGS Preschool & Toddler Program
        • Maple Grove School
    • Centers & Masajid
      • Islamic Community Centre of Ontario – ICCO
      • Masjid Toronto Dundas
      • Kitchener Masjid Waterloo
      • Islamic Centre of Waterloo
      • MAC Youth Centre Ottawa
      • Al Rawdah Mosque
      • Centre Laurentien d’Aide A la Famille
      • Montreal: CIIC
      • MAC Information Centre
      • MAC Islamic Centre of Verdun
      • Rose City Islamic Centre
      • Cold Lake Mosque
      • MAC Islamic Centre (Rahma Mosque)
      • Montreal Centre Communautaire Villeray
      • Al-Salam Centre
      • MAC Vancouver Centre
      • MAC Hyde Park
      • MAC Westmount
      • MAC Noor Garderns
      • Masjid Aisha
      • Masjid Hespeler
    • Local Chapters
      • Mississauga
      • Toronto
      • London
      • Kitchener Waterloo
      • Hamilton
      • Ottawa
      • Montreal
      • Windsor
      • Calgary
      • Edmonton
      • Vancouver
  • Our Work
    • Youth
    • Projects and Campaigns
    • Events & Activities
  • News & Media
    • Statements
    • MAC in the News
    • Bulletin Board
    • Newsletter
  • ConnectHub
    • Connect Hub Resources
    • Positivity
    • Kids’ Corner
    • Islamic Resources
    • Health & Wellness
    • Family
    • Fun Learning
    • Nutrition & Fitness
    • Creativity
    • Business
  • Contact Us
    • Get in Touch
    • Media Inquiries
    • Contacts Directory
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
  • Donate
  • Search

Alberta Muslims Celebrate a Eid Virtually

Mariam Manaa
May 28, 2020
Bulletin Board

Alberta Muslims Celebrate a Eid Virtually

Eid Virtual Celebrations Host Amal Albaz with Toronto Raptors in-arena host Mark Strong

Waking up on the morning of Eid-ul-Fitr always feels like a dream after spending an entire month fasting Ramadan during the daylight hours and worshiping during the night. Normally, my family and I would enjoy an early breakfast together before heading to a quiet neighbourhood in the west-end of Edmonton to the Muslim Association of Canada’s (MAC) Rahma Mosque. As volunteers, we would enjoy decorating the mosque, setting up food stands, and preparing small gifts and games for the many families and children that would be coming to the Mosque for special Eid prayers mid-morning. Typically, thousands of Edmontonians would come, dressed in their very best clothing, eager to welcome the holiday, greet one another, and pray together. Oftentimes, dignitaries such as city Councillors, MLAs, the mayor and even the premier have joined the celebrations. My own family which is deeply rooted in Alberta, would usually celebrate at a banquet hall later in the day, meeting up with countless cousins and extended family members. Others, such as new Muslims, newcomers, first generation Canadians and general community members might leave prayer and head to MAC’s Eid carnival off-site to celebrate together.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and all of necessary physical distancing measures in place, such an Eid was simply not possible this year and where many people could adapt their Ramadan to isolation, the idea of having Eid that way has been disheartening for many. With the extra stressors of the pandemic and subsequent economic catastrophe, the prospect of no Eid would have an extremely negative impact on the mental health of many community members. Ever concerned with mitigating these effects and supporting our community, MAC developed a creative way to connect socially while maintaining physical distance in response – a way which builds on the existing successes of our national grassroots organization.  

Since the pandemic began, we recognized that many Canadians are struggling to put food on the table which is why our youth-led MAC Food Share program has been providing hot meals and grocery packs to hundreds of vulnerable families. Calgary and Edmonton’s MAC Food Share program raised over $25,000 for MAC packs that were delivered to over 2000 individuals. Speaking about the program, MLA Muhammad Yaseen has acknowledged the program’s unique ability to allow people of all faiths and backgrounds to participate in the giving.

In a recent MAC virtual Iftar held during Ramadan with Premier Jason Kenney, Minister Aheer and MLA Yaseen, the Premier acknowledged the importance of faith organizations, especially ones like MAC which prioritize mental health. The Premier reflected on his admiration for the discipline and love at the heart of sacrifices made by Muslims during Ramadan, and our many faith-based acts of intense prayer and charity.

On Eid, MAC combined all of these successful elements to create the first online, national Eid celebration. MAC’s Eid virtual celebration that featured leading Canadian Muslim scholars and many elected representatives, including greetings from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Kenney. The celebration offered a shared experience for Muslims to connect with one another and left new, beautiful memories in an unforgettable time. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought out the innovative spark in many businesses and organizations and nowhere has this been truer than with MAC. It has pushed us to stay connected to Canadian Muslims in creative ways to continue our community care. Organizations like MAC, with long-standing educational and spiritual programming across a broad network, have been at the very forefront of addressing the community impacts of Covid-19 and we will continue to serve Canadians in that manner.

Issam Saleh
Director of Community Engagement
Muslim Association of Canada

Previous Story
MAC ANNOUNCES EID El- FITR 1441 SUNDAY MAY 24th, 2020
Next Story
TORONTO STAR Virtual prayers, drive-through gift giveaways — here’s how Muslims are celebrating Eid during the COVID-19 pandemic

Related Articles

MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Asalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah, InshaAllah each of you, your families...

As we reclaim our narrative, we must stand firm and proud to our values, traditions and histories

More than 30 distinguished Canadian and global Muslim scholars and...

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Recent Comments

  • Anzar Ahmad on Writing a Muslim-Canadian narrative is based on knowing your authentic identity
  • Ahmed on MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
  • Ahmad Ismail on Akram Raouf
  • Khunsa A on Artwork by Sajida Fazal-Chagpar
  • Noor on It’s Ok to let boys be Aggressive: It May have Flattened the Curve | Article by Dr. Asma Ahmadi

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019

Categories

  • Articles
  • Artwork
  • Bulletin Board
  • Connect Hub
  • Cooking
  • Eid
  • Expressions Corner
  • Humans of COVID19
  • In the News
  • Local ePrograms
  • MAC E-Learning
  • National Campaigns
  • National ePrograms
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Official Statements
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Ramadan Highlights
  • Ramadan Learning & Activities
  • Reflections
  • Relief
  • Short Stories
  • Spotlight
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • EN
  • FR

Quick Links

  • About Mac
  • Donate
  • Sign Up
  • Contacts Directory
  • Media Inquiries
  • Careers @ MAC (FR)

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)Follow

Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
Retweet on TwitterMuslim Association of Canada (MAC) Retweeted
MACNational
23 Feb

Canada is a country that stands for human rights around the world. We commend @CPC_HQ Leader @erinotoole and all MP’s of the legislature that voted in favour of passing the motion to recognize China's genocide of Uighur Muslims.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uighur-genocide-motion-vote-1.5922711

Reply on Twitter 1364321726822309891Retweet on Twitter 136432172682230989135Like on Twitter 136432172682230989193
MACNational
23 Feb

Canada is a country that stands for human rights around the world. We commend @CPC_HQ Leader @erinotoole and all MP’s of the legislature that voted in favour of passing the motion to recognize China's genocide of Uighur Muslims.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uighur-genocide-motion-vote-1.5922711

Reply on Twitter 1364321726822309891Retweet on Twitter 136432172682230989135Like on Twitter 136432172682230989193
MACNational
19 Feb

Thank you to Nimao Ali, Rania Lawendy and Imam Yasin Dwyer for this important Oped on the mental health crisis in Universities and how students are looking to faith support to cope.
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ali-lawendy-and-dwyer-faith-based-mental-health-supports-for-students-need-a-boost

Reply on Twitter 1362824402560311299Retweet on Twitter 13628244025603112991Like on Twitter 13628244025603112994

Follow Us

Copyright ©2019 Muslim Association of Canada. All Rights Reserved
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 20, Mar
MAC Give Food Share Campaign
Tuesday, 17, Mar
MAC Give Organizing Blood drive with Canadian Blood Services
Friday, 26, Feb
Ali, Lawendy and Dwyer: Faith-based mental health supports for students need a boost
Wednesday, 17, Feb
Response to a Smear Campaign in Relation to Action Against Employees Breaching Contractual Agreements
Friday, 12, Feb
Unique challenges faced by Black Muslim community warrant better understanding, attention
Friday, 5, Feb
Ibrahim Arid
Wednesday, 3, Feb
MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tuesday, 2, Feb
The Pandemic Can Bring Us Together In Service—Let’s Start By Giving Blood

Welcome back,