The entrance to the women’s prayer room hangs a $50,000, 10-foot, crystal chandelier that was donated by a former member of the Regina mosque.
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| Photo: Twitter: Ralph Goodale @RalphGoodale |
Source/Credit: Regina Leader Post
By Kerry Benjoe | December 11, 2016
It may have taken 200 volunteers two years to construct the 10,000-square-foot mosque on the city’s east side, but members say they built it for everyone in Regina to enjoy.
On Saturday, the Mahmood Mosque, which means House of the Most Praised, hosted an open house that included a guided tour.
Although Regina’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community is small with about 100 members, everyone pitched in to help build the mosque along with volunteers from across Canada.
Imam Zeesham Ahmad said the mosque was built as a labour of love.
The members knew they needed a new building because not only was the previous space they occupied not accessible to those with mobility issues, but it also could not accommodate its growing community.
Ahmed said the new space allows them to set down roots in Regina and to start giving back to the community that has welcomed them with kindness.
“The mosque is open to everyone,” he explained.
At the event, Ahmed made himself available to guide tours of the new space and to answer questions.
“It’s about building bridges in the community,” he said about the open house. “The aim of (the) tour is to let community members have an opportunity to understand the different practices of Islam.”
Invitations were sent to all of Regina’s churches, as well as, members of the public and Ahmed anticipated between 1,000 and 1,500 visitors.
Some of those who decided to participate included sisters-in-law Mary Anne and Evelyn Bachelu who attended as representatives of St. Mark’s Parish.
“It’s beautiful,” said Mary Anne about the mosque. “I have been to other mosques and they are always gracious hosts.”
Evelyn said their church is also all about building bridges and welcoming others, so they braved the cold to support the event.
“Everyone has different faiths and we respect that,” said Mary Anne.
At the end of the tour visitors were served refreshments and greeted by Shazia Rehman one of the women members.
Although the mosque was built with simplicity in mind, there was one splurge. The entrance to the women’s prayer room hangs a $50,000, 10-foot, crystal chandelier that was donated by a former member of the Regina mosque.
Ahmed said it was a way for the men to thank the women for all that they did during the construction phase, which included taking on more responsibilities at home and feeding the 200 volunteers daily.
“It was our way of making their side a little more pretty,’ he said.
Rehman joked that it was the men’s way of giving them flowers, but on a serious note, she appreciated the acknowledgement of the women’s contribution.
She said it feels great to have the new space.
“It really does feel like an answer to our prayers,” said Rehman.
Ahman said anyone who missed the tour can stop by anytime because the doors are always open.
As part of their commitment to give back members are actively collecting donations for the Regina Food Bank, which is part of national effort to donate 250,000 pounds of food to local food banks.
kbenjoe@postmedia.com
Read original post here: Canada: Local Ahmadiyya Mosque opens doors as a sign of goodwill
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