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Jami Mosque was the Greater Toronto Area’s first mosque. Located at 56 Boustead Ave, Jami Mosque is called “the mother of all mosques in Toronto.” As a mosque, it has housed hundreds of Muslims for prayer. As an Islamic centre, it provides education on Islamic rituals, histories and values.
History
In 1930, the High Park Presbyterian Church was completed in Toronto. In 1969, the Muslim community of Toronto purchased the structure and converted it into a prayer house. The mosque opened on 27 February, during that year’s celebration of the Eid-ul-Adha ― one of the two major religious events for Muslims across the world. At that time, the estimated number of Muslims in Toronto was about 5,000.
According to Alessandro Tersigni, a writer and researcher at ERA Architects, the Muslim Society of Toronto secured some financial support from King Faisal of Saudi Arabia to purchase the church for $125,000.
The first Imam of the mosque was Dr. Mirza Qadeer Baig, who had been a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Toronto and President of the Muslim Society of Toronto. Baig initially received his doctorate from the University of London and had immigrated to Canada in the early 1960s.
Despite receiving financial support, the mosque experienced major challenges because of the unpaid mortgage. In January 1972, the Toronto Daily Star published a report that 19 Muslims had to say their prayers outside of the mosque in the snow as their membership fees were unpaid. Later on, Dr. Baig led a delegation to King Faisal to secure further financial support.
Modern-Day Activities
Jami Mosque is an important prayer house for Muslims living in Toronto. Prayers are performed there five times a day. Alongside that, hundreds of people gather in this mosque for the Eid prayers called Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.
The mosque serves Toronto’s diverse Muslim community by offering funeral services, providing marriage counselling and disseminating Islamic education. Helping new immigrants is also part of the mosque’s agenda.
