A new piece of Manitoba history is planned to join Doors Open Winnipeg in 2016 – the first mosque built in Manitoba! Located at 247 Hazelwood Avenue, the Hazelwood Mosque is a testament to the hard work and determination of its congregation. Just in time for Islamic History Month, here is our visit to the mosque.

Artwork inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

On August 24, 2015, Heritage Winnipeg’s summer students were graciously given a tour of the Hazelwood Mosque by Tasneem Vali, Office Manager at the Manitoba Islamic Association, as well as Laila Chebib and Jameela Inayatulla, founding members of Manitoba Islamic Association and the mosque. They generously shared many memories of the early days of the mosque.

The Chebibs were among the first Syrian immigrants to the area, with Laila arriving in approximately 1958. Her husband Dr. Farouk Chebib was among the early computer programmers at the University of Manitoba and eventually became a professor there. Inayatulla joined the Manitoba Islamic community in 1968.

First Eid inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue in 1976, Men’s Section.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

First Eid inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue in 1976, Women’s Section.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Muslim pioneers began arriving in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba in the early 1900s, primarily from Turkey and Lebanon. Unfortunately, the community has been unsuccessful in tracing them before the 1950s, although research continues.

Artwork depicting Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue by E. Bloch, 1975. Commissioned by Ingrid and Walter Ritter for their friends Girlyn and Khaleel Baksh, it was donated to the mosque in 1975.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg, August 24, 2015

The Manitoba Islamic Association came first, incorporated in 1969 to enable the organization to raise funds to build a place of worship, starting with two donations for a total of $200. The fundraising efforts then began in earnest – dinners were held at the Ramada Hotel, they participated in Folklorama and the University of Manitoba’s Festival of Life and Learning, and baked goods were sold after prayer times, as well as at an “Hajje Baba” booth at the Red River Exhibition.

Artwork inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

Letters were written to numerous Muslim governments, requesting financial assistance. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was the only one who answered, with a $25,000 no strings attached donation that as seed money for the mosque.

The foundation hole for Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Digging the foundation for Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

At this time, the main source of immigration in the Muslim community was young professionals or grad students seeking to complete their education at Canadian universities. The congregation consisted of approximately 100 people, and until the mosque was completed in 1976, prayers were held in the basements or more often in the apartments of various members of the community. The community was made up of both Shia and Sunni Muslims, although the mosque’s congregation is now primarily made up of Sunni Muslims.

The foundation of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

The foundation of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue, seen from the parking lot.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Construction on the mosque began in 1970, but due to lack of funds, the construction was not completed for nearly six years, with the mosque officially opening in 1976. Part way through the project, the contractor went bankrupt, leaving the rest of the building to be slowly completed by the hands of the members of its congregation. As context, this was also right around the time that Winnipeg was unified into the Unicity, gathering in the surrounding communities under one umbrella.

Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue under construction, seen with congregation member Dr. Hyder.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue under construction.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

The total cost of the mosque’s construction was approximately $80,000, including the purchase of the land. To give you a sense of how much money this was, the Ramadan Fitrah (a sort of traditional tithe, with a specified amount paid for each member of the family) was 50 cents in 1978. The Fitrah this year, by comparison, was $10. Although this amount is based on the cost of one meal and thus fluctuates with the price of wheat, it gives you a pretty good idea of how much more the building would cost to build today.

Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue under construction.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue, completed and open for the first Eid in 1976.
Source: Khaleel Baksh (used with permission)

Initially, the neighbours weren’t big fans of the mosque built in their community, but inviting them to visit, along with other courtesies, has encouraged tolerance and understanding on both sides. For example, flyers are put on doorsteps and tucked into mailboxes after Ramadan to thank the neighbours for their patience during the period of fasting and celebration.

The musahallah inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

The mosque is very simply built, with one main area called the musahallah, the sanctuary where people pray. The carpet in this particular musahallah has thick stripes to signal the rows in which people should sit, since there are no pews or chairs to guide them. Markings of some variety are common to most mosques for the same purpose.

Inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

The musahallah is sometimes segregated with a curtain or partition, or by men and women each taking a side, but this depends heavily on the preferences and home cultures of the congregation. The partition in the Hazelwood mosque was introduced in the early 1980s by well-meaning members of the congregation and its use is only really upheld if there are a large number of attendees to prayer.

The mimbar inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

A small alcove in the wall, facing towards the shortest distance to Mecca, is called the mimbar and is where the leader of the prayers takes his or her place. An imam or religious leader is not necessary to lead prayers, and if one is not available than the most knowledgeable member of the congregation in the readings of the Quran fills that role. A woman may lead prayers for an exclusively female congregation and a man may lead prayers for both genders.

The mimbar inside Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

The decoration above this particular mimbar translates from Arabic to “God is Great” or “God is the Greatest”.

The mimbar as seen from the outside of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

When the mosque was first built in 1976, it was thought that the shortest distance to Mecca was facing southwest. This later changed when it was realized that the distance over the North Pole was in fact shorter, causing the mimbar to be moved to its current location, facing northeast.

Classroom space in the basement of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Laila Chebib (used with permission)

Classroom space in the basement of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Laila Chebib (used with permission)

The basement of the building has classroom and kitchen space where classes are held on the Quran for all members of the community. Originally, it was also a space where children could be taught how to read and write in Arabic, as this was the mother tongue of many when the mosque was first built.

Classroom space in the basement of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Laila Chebib (used with permission)

Classroom space in the basement of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Laila Chebib (used with permission)

Classroom space in the basement of Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue.
Source: Laila Chebib (used with permission)

Thank you to Tasneem Vali, Laila Chebib, and Jameela Inayatulla for their assistance with this blog!

Hazelwood Mosque at 247 Hazelwood Avenue on August 24, 2015.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg