Yellowknife's Muslim community observe what may be the final Ramadan without Islamic Centre
CBC
Yusur Al-Bahrani said there is one thing she misses most while fasting from sunrise to sundown throughout Yellowknife's rapidly increasing daylight.
"The most challenging thing about Ramadan is not having coffee," she said with a laugh.
Al-Bahrani said she'll have two shots of espresso before dawn, but then has to push through the rest of the day caffeine-less.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It's a month of fasting from sunup to sundown, prayer, reflection and community that concludes with the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr.
"But also it's a month of, I would say, spiritual transformation, because there are so many elements to Ramadan," Al-Bahrani said.
This includes a better understanding of what it is like to not have enough to eat, and the importance of helping those in that situation.
Nazim Awan, chair of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife, said after two years of the pandemic, this Ramadan has been special, being able to gather with the community.
"Ramadan is an individual worship, but it is a community celebration," he said.
It could also be the last Ramadan where the Muslim community in Yellowknife is without a centre for prayer and gathering.
Fouzan Khan, CEO of the Islamic Society of North America-Canada, said the forthcoming Islamic centre could have a functioning structure built by August or September.
"We're hoping for the weather to turn, which it is now," he said.
He said this was made possible after the project received a $687,000 contribution from the federal government.
Khan said the space will be perfect for future holidays, like Ramadan.
"We do have a strong culture and tradition of congregating for our weekly prayers as well as Ramadan being a month-long celebration of community and finding ways to strengthen our bonds with community," he said.
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