We are a rapidly expanding Muslim community in the city of Victoria, within the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and is the capital of the Province of British Columbia. The capital regional district of our city has a population in excess of 300,000 with a cosmopolitan Muslim population of around 1200.
Victoria Muslims have origins in Africa,The Far East, The Indian subcontinent, The Middle East, North America and various other parts of the world. University of Victoria is a popular choice for many Muslim students from around the globe, and currently there are approximately 250 international Muslim students living in Victoria.
The current Masjid Al-Iman has served the local Victoria Muslim since 1997. It remains the only structure in Victoria that serves as a place of worship for Muslims.
Why Expansion
Alhumdulillah, the Muslim community in Victoria has grown sharply in recent years and we are now at a stage where there is a pressing need to either enlarge the existing Masjid or to purchase a property and build a new Masjid. Our current facilities do not meet the requirements of the community.
The need for expansion persisted and various considerations and attempts were made periodically. On 09th of November, 2008 the Victoria branch of BCMA held an open meeting at the Masjid. The general consenus of those present was to redevelop the existing site with an option to purchase the adjoining property if funds are available. This reconstruction project was than presented at the AGM of BCMA Victoria branch in 2009 and was approved. BCMA head office, at its council meeting of 08 August 2009, authorized the BCMA Victoria branch to proceed with the reconstruction project.
- At the dinner: $155,000
- Ticket sales: $20,000
- Door to door collection: $20,000
- In Ramadan 1431: $120,000
- In Ramadan 1432: $49,000
- Fundraising Iftar: $6,000
Muslim immigrants are believed to have arrived in Victoria in the early nineteen hundreds. Since then the Muslim population has increased to 1500 with a sharp rise in recent years. The first Muslim organization was formed in Victoria in the early sixties. At that time Friday and Eid prayers were held in small rooms at the local university. Later on, Friday prayers and Eid prayers were arranged by Muslim brothers and sisters at different community halls and in the living room of a rented home. Over time, the Muslim community grew as Muslims from different origins settled in Victoria and the surrounding regions.
In 1993, the Victoria Branch of the British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA) was formed. The BCMA is a regional organization with its constitution based on the Quran and Sunnah. Despite limited resources in those early days, Islamic classes were held for both adults and children. Marriages and burial services were also provided. The Muslim community continued to increase steadily. With the Grace of Almighty Allah, in the latter part of 1996, two adjoining lots were purchased with a house on each lot. One house was remodeled as a Masjid to provide prayer facilities for both men and women. The second was rented to defray running expenses. Subsequently the second property was converted into a prayer area for women.
Currently with the Grace of Allah, the five daily prayers and the Friday prayer are performed in congregation at the Masjid. In addition there is a large Friday congregation at the local University and a smaller one in the adjoining city of Sidney, some 30 km from Victoria. However, Eid prayers continue to be held in rented facilities. Several other Islamic activities are also held in the community, including Quran classes for children and adults, Quran lecture nights, marriage services, activities for our brothers, sisters and youth, community dinners as well as the five daily prayers, Jummah prayers and Eid prayers. We understand that soon the present Musallah location will also become too small for our Muslim community. Therefore, we are actively working on a plan to rebuild our Mosque for Victoria and its surounding areas. Overall, we request all brothers and sisters who have read our history to pray for our success in rebuilding our Mosque (Masjid Al-Iman).
