Local mosques looking forward to celebrating Ramadan ‘more openly’ after lockdowns

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is underway and for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ottawa’s Muslim community is excited to fully immerse itself in celebrations.

And the Baitun Naseer Mosque is among those who are hosting events and fundraising until May 1, when Ramadan ends.

“First, we are grateful and relieved — not just for us, but for all Canadians,” Imam Luqman Ahmed told CityNews Ottawa. “We are happy more Canadians can enjoy freedoms in their personal lives and that we are able to celebrate Ramadan more openly, more than previous years. We pray that everyone stays safe because understand [the pandemic is] not completely over.”

This Ramadan, the mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community will be raising funds for Ukrainian refugees through its humanitarian organization Humanity First.

“One thing his Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual head of the Muslim community, urged the worldwide community for everyone to pray for Ukraine and other parts of the world, to pray for world peace at this time,” Ahmed said. “We wish peace and harmony, to end further conflict and the potential use of weapons that will lead to destruction.”

Ramadan celebrations also mean the community is coming together at the homes of their family or friends, or their local mosques.

The Orleans mosque in particular will be hosting evenings of study and reflection of the Quran, as well as dinners in the evening once the fast has lifted.

Prayers will also be hosted in congregate settings.

However, public health measures will still be in place that includes wearing masks and hand washing, and those attending in-person gatherings must be vaccinated.

For those who aren’t vaccinated, online options are available.