Source/Credit: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
By Deeba Chaudhry | March 14, 2012
Baitun Nur Mosque (Arabic for “House of Light”) is known for being the largest mosque in Canada located in the Castleridge Community of Calgary The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community acquired the site in 2003, and Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the fifth Khalifa laid the foundation stone on 18th June, 2005. On laying the foundation stone of this magnificent mosque, Canadian values are flourishing in the City of Calgary.” said Mr. Dave Bronconnier, Mayor of Calgary. Construction was completed in 2008 for an estimated cost of C$ 15 million with roughly C$8 million of that coming from local Ahmadiyya Muslims, Calgary.
Baitun-Nur Mosque had its grand opening to the public on July 5, 2008 with 5000 people in attendance, including dignitaries such as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Opposition Leader Stephane Dion, and Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Calgary, Fred Henry, attended as well, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the supreme head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community, oversaw the opening. While members of various faiths were invited, according to Kaufman of the Edmonton Sun.
The Baitun Nur Mosque complex is 4,500 square meter (48,000 sq ft) in size. A 97 feet (30 m) tall steel capped minaret tower and large steel dome are the most noticeably externally visibly features of the mosque. Around the exterior of the building arte written 99 Arabic words, each an attribute of Allah’s character as stated in the Qur’an. In addition to a place for worship, the mosque complex includes classrooms, office space, a children’s area, a kitchen and a community centre. In the prayer hall of the mosque hangs a 400 kilogram chandelier that cost $50,000.
Great sacrifices were made in order to construct the Baitun Nur Mosque. Although a beautiful structure, its beauty will be enhanced when worshippers regularly attend it in order to perform the five daily prayers. Ahmadis are renowned for their devotion to peace, universal brotherhood and submission to the will of God - the core principles of true Islam. They are also renowned for working together to serve the greater good through social, health and education initiatives, as well as mosque projects like this one. And wherever they live in the world, Ahmadis are renowned for participating in the larger community and peacefully co-existing with people of all faiths, languages and cultures” said Prime Minster Stephen Harper.
By the Grace of Allah the Baitun Nur Mosque complex has been completed through voluntary donations of individual members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Baitun Nur mosque complex provides the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community with a central focal point for meetings, social and religious events on a greater scale that was not possible in the much smaller Calgary mosque. In addition, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a religious organization, international in its scope, with members in over 190 countries. This is the most dynamic denomination of Islam in modern history, with worldwide membership exceeding tens of of millions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in 1989 by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835 - 1908) in a small and remote village, Qadian, India. He claimed to be the reformer of the latter days, the Avaited One of the world community of religions (the Mahdi & Messiah).
The Ahmadiyya Community is an embodiment of the benevolent message of true Islam - peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to the Will of God - in its pristine purity. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. Wherever the Community is established, it endeavors to exert a constructive influence of Islam through social projects, educational institutes, health services and interfaith dialogues. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur’anic teaching: “There is no compulsion in religion.” Therefore, the community strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been holding many Interfaith Symposia and Conferences at Baitun Nur Mosque, Calgary. The Community firmly believes and always promotes its famous slogan; “Love for All, Hatred for None`.
Read original post here: Baitun Nur Mosque | The Best in Calgary - The Largest in Canada
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