Muslim community gets 'proper place' to pray in Airdrie

The small Muslim community in Airdrie, Alta., now has a place of their own to get together and pray.

After many years of using a local church and travelling to mosques in northeastCalgary, the community just opened the AirdrieIslamic Centre.

The first prayers where held thereon Thursday.

The centre will holddaily prayers and Friday prayers calledJumma'ahas well as Islamic school classes for kids on Sundays,operated by the North West Islamic School of Calgary.

"I'm very, very happy,"YasminKhan said. "Mostly we pray at home,and it's different to come and do a collective job here.

"And I'm so happy to see the kids here, that they are going to take lessons and getto know their own religion."

'Proper place' for prayers

"Now we have a proper place to say our prayers," said Mona Shehzad, who has lived inAirdriefor the past 11years. The city isestimated to have at least 60Muslim families living there.

"The church here, it was fabulous, really generous that they gave us that place to worship and it really stands for the Canadian culture that we can say our prayers even in a church and we really appreciate that," said Shehzad.

But the new Islamic centre, tucked awaybehind the Safeway off Main Street,is not just about prayers.

It alsoprovidesa gathering spotfor the community to host differentcultural and social activities.

"It feelsreally good that now finally we have our own place and everyone's welcome here. If people have questions, we'll be happy to answer them," Muhammad Hurairasaid.

The Muslim Council of Calgary is funding the new centre.

"The council represents about 80,000 Muslims in Calgary and when we feel there's a gap we try and fill that need," said GhazanfarZafar, secretary of the MCC.

"This centre is phase one, and in the future we may even build a permanent centre."

Airdrieresident MuhibAli said the new centre will be more convenient for Muslims living there.

"When we moved here a couple of years ago, we didn't really have a lot of things for the Muslim community and it's nice to see we're trying to make a footprint here,"saidAli, who addedhe won't miss icy winter drives to Calgary to pray.

"It's the start of a stronger community, and it will help bring awareness of our religion here, too."

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