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about the Jama'at activities across Canada. Please click on the appropriate
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 June 23, 2008
The plan was to build an indoor basketball court for the kids.
The final result: Canada's largest mosque, a $15-million, 48,000-sq.-ft. centre of worship and community, due to officially open in 12 days.
"We wanted a simple hall for basketball -- that's how it started," said Dr. Safeer Kahn, spokesman for Calgary's Ahmadiyya, the Muslim sect constructing the huge mosque at 53 Ave. and 44 St. N.E.
From the seed of basketball blossomed what will arguably be the most impressive religious structure in Calgary.
The sprawling complex of worship incorporates a community centre, complete with library, offices, classrooms, children's area, kitchen, dining room and a multipurpose hall.
And yes, there is a gym for sports, including
basketball.
With just over a week to go, the mosque already
dominates its northeast skyline -- a massive,
steel dome complementing a 97-ft. tall, steel-capped minaret tower, the clean lines of the building augmented by a cream and off-white colour scheme.
The focus of the project is no longer only about keeping youth productive and happy -- the Baitun Nur mosque will become the centre of life and religion for Calgary's entire 1,500-person Ahmadiyya community.
"We are building this mosque for the future -- it's going to outlast us for many, many generations," said Naseer Ahmad, the mosque's chief designer. "Whenever I was designing anything for the mosque, I had the future in mind."
The Ahmadiyya are a controversial sect in Islam because its members believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a 19th century prophet, when most Muslims say Mohammed was the last messenger of God.
In Canada, the Ahmadiyya have found a tolerant new home, and part of their faith is to welcome outsiders into their mosques. The official opening, on July 5, is expected to be attended by Muslims and non-Muslims.
Throughout the northeast building site, even on a quiet, rainy Sunday, workers are scurrying past, rushing to get the gargantuan job finished in time for the July 4 prayer.
That's when the spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, will lead the first prayer from the new mosque, in a service to be broadcast to followers around the world.
That satellite broadcast is possible because more than 100 km worth of video and audio cable snake through the complex.
It's part of the marriage of an ultra-modern and a traditional scheme that the designer says were the keys to his vision.
"I kept in mind the issues of tomorrow's life -- our children, who are born over here, and they are used to modern buildings," said Naseer.
"The mosque is not only for the past generations, the traditional, it is for the future generation."
Most of the work is now focused on the inside of the building, and lofty scaffolds lift
painters and drywallers to the ceiling far above, where dozens of skylights help bring "the light of God" indoors.
Inside the great prayer dome itself, a thick gold chain hangs, ready to carry the $50,000 golden chandelier specially ordered for the mosque from Asia -- and paid for by one member of the community.
"He said, 'you design it, I will pay for it,' " said Naseer.
Indeed, the entire $15-million bill for the mosque has come directly from the pockets of Ahmadiyya members, some going so far as to sell their homes to help pay for the house of God.
Naseer's role in designing the mosque is voluntary, and he considers the Baitun Nur -- his seventh mosque so far -- to be his best work so far.
Inside, construction continues, but outside, the Baitun Nur -- the name means House of Divine Light -- is nearly complete.
The mosque's most distinctive feature, 99 Arabic words cut from polished aluminium, is gradually being set in place along the building's upper edge.
Naseer says the scripted words are the 99 attributes of Allah, as taken from the Qur'an, and the feature of which he is most proud.
"It was something I've wanted to do for a long time," he said.
"When it's sunny, they are beautiful -- when the sun reflects on them, God says, `It`s mine, don`t be afraid, come inside.`" | | | |
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 Maple`s Muslims Heed the Call to Prayer and So Did I (National Post)
September 26, 2007
At 5 a.m. it was pitch dark at Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive in Vaughan. More | | | |
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 Building the bridge to a new school
August 7, 2007
Summer program helps young Muslim immigrants learn new language skills in their local mosque More | | | |
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 Global warming on Muslim agenda (Sun News Edmonton)
Everyone welcome to attend conference
July 21, 2007
God does not love polluters. . . More | | | |
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 Mosque finally approved (The Brampton Guardian)
July 12, 2007
BRAMPTON - It has taken several years, but construction of a mosque in Heart Lake has finally been approved and the building’s project manager says it is destined to become a local landmark. More | | | |
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 20,000 at mammoth Amadiyya meet (South Asian Focus)
July 3, 2007
A mammoth gathering estimated by organizers at 20,000 community members got together for the 31st Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in Canada, held at the International Center in Mississauga over three days. More | | | |
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 Meet the Ahmadis (The News Mississauga)
June 30, 2007
There are the Sunnis, the Shiites and now, meet the Ahmadis.
In fact, meet thousands of them as they converge at Mississauga's International Centre for the 31st annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community over the Canada Day weekend. More | | | |
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 Muslims "reaching out" at annual gathering
June 30, 2007
20,000 people expected at weekend event in Mississauga More | | | |
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 Muslim convention will draw 20,000 (The news Mississauga)
June 28, 2007
Thousands of people will attend the 31st annual convention of Canada's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community over the Canada Day weekend. More | | | |
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 Three-day conference on Islam faith to be held in Mississauga, Ont. (The Chronicle)
June 28, 2007
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (CP) - As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend a three-day conference in Mississauga, Ont. focusing on the Muslim faith. More | | | |
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more news . . .
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Sunday August 22, 2010
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at condemns plans to burn Holy Qur’an in United States more
Thursday August 19, 2010
US Citizen Killed in Religiously Motivated Attack in Pakistan more
Tuesday August 17, 2010
Another Ahmadi Muslim doctor brutally martyred in Karachi more
Friday May 28, 2010
Ahmadi Muslims Martyred in Sectarian Terrorists attacks on two Ahmadiyya mosques in Lahore more
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