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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE

The month of Ramadan may not be the easiest time to join Islam, but the members of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife are always eager to welcome newcomers to their faith.

Islamic Centre of Yellowknife committee member Gailani Dawoud, left, and member Muntasir Elkhidir stand in front of the mosque after midday prayers on Wednesday. - Thandie Vela/NNSL photo

"As-Salamu 'Alaykum, we say to the community," founding imam, or leader, of the city's Islamic organization Yusuf Hashi said. "Meaning, peace be upon you."

Hashi was among the 25 Muslims who first started convening for prayers inside the city's library in 1996, before they moved into an old daycare centre on Franklin Avenue in 2000, where they remain today in a small, white building on the way to Old Town. By 2000, the congregation had grown to about 50 members, and today, Hashi estimated there are upwards of 200 Muslims in Yellowknife.

While the Muslims are a religious minority in a city with dozens of Christian churches, Hashi said they are very much a part of the community, often receiving visits from political candidates to garner support, but wishes more Yellowknifers would drop by to learn more about the religion.

"That's the nature of Islam, to welcome everybody," Gailani Dawoud, committee member for the centre said after midday prayers on Wednesday.

While the majority of the Muslim community in Yellowknife hails from Somalia and Sudan, there are members of the mosque from Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uganda, and even from the small island off the southeast coast of Africa, Mauritius.

During the holy month of Ramadan, which started on Aug. 1, the city's most devout Muslims descend on the mosque for five compulsory prayers each day, including the first prayer at dawn, Fajr, which marks the beginning of fasting. Because of the irregular sun patterns of the Arctic, Muslims in Yellowknife follow Edmonton's daylight times, which on the first day of Ramadan this year, saw them begin fasting just before 4 a.m., until about 9:30 p.m.. Ramadan is a time to not only abstain from food and drink but from intimacy, smoking, and swearing too, member Muntasir Elhidir said, a practice that develops not only greater self-control, but greater mental and physical health, and even sympathy for the poor, he said.

As a cab driver, Elhidir meets many people each day and is happy to talk about his faith but doesn't force it.

"We add to our religion through behaviour, and how we treat others," Elhidir said, noting the signs of a genuine, devout Muslim include good acts, regularly attending prayers at the mosque, and studying the Qur'an, the sacred text of Islam. The Qur'an was delivered by the founder of the religion, Muhammad, said to be the last messenger of God following Jesus the son of Mary, who Muslims also believe to have been a prophet of God.

After studying the religion and deciding it is the faith they want to follow, a convert need only make "Shahada," which is an oath stating, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is a prophet of Allah," and they are a member of the faith.

"When one becomes a Muslim, you become my sister or brother," Elhidir said, adding there is shouting and chanting of Allahu Akbar or God is great, when someone converts.

When entering the mosque, everyone is required to take off their shoes and women, who enter through a separate door from the men, are required to cover their hair, but a scarf can be provided to any newcomer.

Friday is the Muslim day of congregation, when the Imam addresses the members with a sermon and prayers are recited. Visitors to the mosque are welcome to call or drop by at anytime, and many members are usually on hand around 1 p.m. each day, when midday prayers are held.

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