Toronto Shias Inaugurate Masjid-e-Ghadeer

Masjid-e-Ghadeer, a 3000-square-feet facility, is part of a greater 65,000-square-feet ground floor community center, encompassing classrooms on the main floor and housing the As-Sadiq Islamic School on the second floor. The community center also includes two halls for regular functions, each at 10,000-square-feet a piece. The community center also includes a number of smaller rooms to cater for the Tabligh Store, a Ghusl room for funeral baths, and various other activities.

Upon completion, the building will also include a second floor totaling 35,000 square feet and a basement of 65,000 square feet, making it one of the biggest Islamic community centers in North America.

The land was purchased in the mid-1990s by visionary community leaders, and nearly 13 years later, the vision has transformed into reality with the erection of Masjid-e-Ghadeer.

The opening ceremony was attended by a vast number of community members, as well as members of the Shia community from across North America.

The program was initiated with the recitation of Hadith al-Kisa, followed by various speeches, including one by President Razak Damani of the Islamic Shia IthnaAshari Jamaat of Toronto. The program was followed with the cutting of the ribbon lead by Resident Scholar of ISIJ, Hujjatul Islam Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi.

After a number of years of having the project stall, the members of the community were excited and pleased with the resumption of the construction.

"Alhumdulillah, it is great to see the building progressing, and Insha'Allah soon the rest of the building will be open too," said Mohamed Mohamedali, a young and active volunteer of the community who looked on as the ribbon was cut, marking a symbolic milestone for the community.

Sayyid Rizvi lead the first congregational prayer in the Masjid, which was then followed by a sumptuous feast.