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

YORK REGION: Virtual prayers, drive-through gift giveaways — here’s how Muslims are celebrating Eid during the COVID-19 pandemic

MAC Admin
May 29, 2020
Bulletin Board, Eid, In the News, News
Virtual prayers, drive-through gift giveaways — here’s how Muslims are celebrating Eid during the COVID-19 pandemic

Asghar Methiwalla, in centre wearing green, with family and friends after he set up a table of samosas and sweets for his neighbourhood on May 23, 2020. It was his way of connecting with friends and family after a month where he saw fewer of his loved ones than he would usually during Ramadan. – Supplied

Virtual prayers, drive-through gift giveaways — here’s how Muslims are celebrating Eid during the COVID-19 pandemic

Safwan Choudhry is photographed at the Baitul Islam in Vaughan, run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in Canada. – File photo

1 / 2

After a month of fasting from home and missing out on the usual nightly gatherings with friends and family, Asghar Methiwalla wanted to do something different.

So on the last day of Ramadan, he and his daughter set up a table of samosas and sweets on her long driveway to share with their neighbours and local community — complete with physical distancing.

“That was rule number one,” Methiwalla said.

Ramadan is the month where Muslims fast from dusk until dawn, pray and reflect on their faith. It culminates on Sunday with Eid al-Fitr, or “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” when families and friends gather for large feasts, prayer and exchanging of gifts.

During Ramadan, families will frequently break fast together in the evening or attend prayers at their local mosque during the day. The COVID-19 pandemic has made those traditions impossible, which is why Methiwalla and his daughter set up the samosa and sweets table to connect with their local community.

“We’re trying, in a small way, to have the same (experience) that we normally do every year, which is dropping in to friends and family the whole day … We’re just trying to recreate that feeling,” Methiwalla said from his home in Mississauga.

Mosques across the country are altering their Eid plans with virtual prayers, drive-through gift giveaways and live social media events in order to observe the holiday.

For some, it’s a major adjustment.

“For me, it’s the first time in 39 years I’m not leading the prayer,” said Hamdi Shafiq, an imam at the Islamic Society of North America’s Mississauga mosque.

“So for me it’s very, very different, a very new experience.”

The society will be hosting live speakers on their ISNA Canada Facebook page starting at 6:15 a.m. on Eid, followed by a drive-through sweets and goody bag giveaway for kids at various mosques in the GTA. There will be a social media Eid show on their Facebook page from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Islamic Circle of North America will also be holding a drive-through gift giveaway at the Islamic Community Centre of Milton from noon to 2 p.m., spokesperson Raees Ahmed said.

The Muslim Association of Canada will be hosting an online Eid Festival complete with speakers, home virtual prayers, a bake-off and a range of speakers throughout the day. There is also online storytelling, stand-up comedy, a virtual concert and family and youth games.

The Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton, the oldest Islamic house of worship in Canada, is one of the few that will be allowing actual physical prayers in their building on Eid. They are allowed to host up to 50 people in four different areas of the mosque, with the floor marked so that worshippers stand two metres apart. People must register this year in order to attend.

“We are one of the few who have the luxury of doing that because of the way that the mosque is built,” said Al-Rashid spokesperson Noor Al-Henedy, explaining they’re allowed to host the gatherings because each prayer space has a separate exit and entrance.

A major part of Ramadan is giving back to those in need. Mosques typically host families for the evening dinner where Muslims break their fast, known as iftar.

“Every year in Ramadan we usually have iftars at the mosque. This year we couldn’t, so we decided to just take it to the people,” Al-Henedy said.

Over the last month, Al-Rashid has given away nearly 20,000 meals through a drive-through service, Al-Henedy said.

Meanwhile, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, with its headquarters in Vaughan, will be hosting an “EidTogether” event online at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Visit eidtogether.ca for more information.

“It will have participants virtually joining from across the country from Newfoundland to British Columbia, including non-Muslims, so we’ve kind of turned it into a multi-faith event,” said spokesperson Safwan Choudhry.

“It’s going to be a unique experience, but I think that also is partly what makes it special,” he added. “Because then Eid in 2020 is one that people will remember for many, many years to come.”

Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh

 

The original article is found here.

Previous Story
CBC CALGARY: Calgary Muslims celebrate Eid COVID-19-style
Next Story
GLOBE AND MAIL: Canadian Muslims find creative new ways to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, despite COVID-19 restrictions

Related Articles

Unique challenges faced by Black Muslim community warrant better understanding, attention

Black Muslims in Canada face combined oppressions of anti-Black racism...

MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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

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 136432172682230989194
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 136432172682230989194
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
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
Monday, 25, Jan
As we reclaim our narrative, we must stand firm and proud to our values, traditions and histories

Welcome back,