Edmonton is home to thousands of Muslims, and Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prophecy has materialized. He prophesied that Islam would reach every corner of the world. “Indeed, Allah gathered the earth for me so that I saw its eastern and western parts. The dominion of my nation will reach those parts that were gathered for me.” (Authentic saying of the Prophet)
The prophecy came at a time when Muslims were a minority, confined to the Arabian Peninsula, and oppressed by allied adversaries. Due to insurmountable difficulties they were facing, those few companions of the Prophet could not imagine Islam spreading throughout the world, but they knew the Prophet’s words were true as they were a revelation from God. So, they did not doubt the realization of the prophecy, but did not know when or if they could see that time. While wholeheartedly believing the Prophet’s prophecy, they feared they could be exterminated and that the light of Islam might be extinguished. That was their worst concern. They thought so because they were few in number and were surrounded by antagonistic enemies bent on destroying them. Both their very existence and faith were at stake, but the Prophet informed them that the light of Islam would ascend on every corner of the earth.
The prophet’s prophecy has materialized because Islam has permeated the world. Today, Muslims are everywhere in the world and, from corner to corner, the call (adhan) for daily prayers reverberates. With different colours, cultures, and countries, millions of Muslims have one thing in common: Islam. They share it, cherish it, and celebrate it.
Muslims’ presence in Canada dates back to the late 1800’s. However, visible Muslims surfaced in the province of Alberta in the early 1900s when young men fleeing a continued conscription carried out in their dwellings (present-day Lebanon and Syria) by the Ottoman Empire arrived in the province. Like other communities, Muslims came to Canada in search of sanctuary and better living standards. And they came from different countries.
Most of those Lebanese migrants worked as peddlers and fur traders. Ali Hamdon (1883–1963) was one of them. He immigrated to Canada in 1901 and settled in Fort Chipewyan, where he established a fur-trading post (Fort Chipewyan is 728 km north of Edmonton). To eke out a living, he got engaged in the fur trade industry, which was then a profitable business in western Canada. After a while, he went back to Lebanon, got married, and sponsored his wife to Canada. In 1933, the couple moved to Edmonton in search of a better education and medicine for their children. Historical records indicate that about 100 to 150 Muslims were living in the city in that year.
Later on, his wife Hilwie Taha Jomha (a.k.a Hilwie Hamdon) spearheaded a community centre in the city. Despite her language barrier and hectic schedule, she became a driving force for mobilization. She mobilized community members, fundraised for the first mosque in Canada, and succeeded in purchasing land on which to build the mosque. Al-Rashid Mosque was born out of her efforts. It is the first mosque built in Canada. The mosque’s construction started and continued for a while. Eventually, it was completed and inaugurated on December 12, 1938.
Edmonton is home to a vibrant Muslim population. Aside from its native Muslims born within its walls, Edmonton has attracted many Muslims who have preferred its livability over other Canadian cities. Based on statistical data, Edmonton is home to 85,000 Muslims, representing 8.3% of the city’s population; however, the 2021 Statistics Canada census pegged the community’s number at 70,000. The Muslim community in Edmonton is the second largest religious group.
Muslims are an integral part of the city’s population. They have established mosques (one can find a mosque in every corner of the city), Islamic schools, medical centers, law firms, architecture consultancies, daycares, clothing and jewelry shops, halal meat shops, and restaurants that serve a variety of cultural foods. Indeed, Muslims are visible in the capital city and immensely contribute to its progress and prosperity. And their number increases by the year as many new immigrants arrive each year and join the previous number. The city that once hosted only 100 Muslims is now hosting more than 80,000 Muslims. What a big achievement!