Hundreds ventured out into the frost this weekend to kick off the start of the month of Ramadan at Ottawa’s RA Centre.
In collaboration with Carleton University’s Egyptian Students’ Association, Al-Khan Canada hosted a large bazaar market to prepare for the holy month with new clothes, fresh scents, custom prayer mats and special food for iftar — the breaking of the fast — each night.
Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims focus on charity, self-discipline, spiritual growth, and closeness with Allah, as well as a renewal and reset for Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hijjah, the next three months of the year. Believers participate in daily fasting, personal reflection, prayer and togetherness.
For Amira El Katib, the founder of Al-Khan Canada, the bazaar is about maintaining cultural traditions and embracing the Canadian-Muslim community.
It all started when El Katib began to import Ramadan lanterns into Canada after moving from Egypt in 2015.
“My kids were young at that time, and I wanted them to embrace the new culture, but at the same time to keep their culture,” El Katib said.
What started as her small personal effort grew into a large-scale community event after neighbours and others expressed interest.
“I got some for my neighbours and then the neighbours of the neighbours, and the neighbours of the neighbours, and the thing expanded,” El Katib said. “(That) was an inspiration for lots of people to start their Ramadan businesses.”
“Then we said, ‘Let’s start to do family events.’”
Now, 11 years in, Al-Khan Canada continues to build a space for Muslim small businesses and their customers.
“We want to be the reason why people can gather together and feel what they miss,” El Katib said. “That’s why our slogan is to feel home away from home.”
For Adam Ibrahim, co-vice-president of marketing with the Egyptian Students’ Association, the bazaar is an opportunity to share Egyptian culture and hospitality with the broader community.
“This is really a chance for the (Egyptian Students’ Association) to kind of step outside the student world … (and) make it so that we are working to get the community together and not just one community, all communities.”
“Local businesses really need this kind of support to grow themselves, because it’s really important for our community,” Ibrahim added.
To Layla Al-Qudsi, a Palestinian first-year economics student at the University of Ottawa who attended the bazaar, this Ramadan needs to be about the power of family.
“My home is gone. My school is gone. Sometimes I feel like my whole life is gone and lost from the violence,” Al-Qudsi said.
“Events like these, ones where I can see my community and feel the light and love, make me want to keep holding on and reaching out to get closer to Allah.”
“It’s like a big hug — everyone here are my brothers and sisters.”
El Katib remembers Ramadan both in Egypt and Canada, adding it feels that no matter where you are, the spirit of the Ummah — the global community of Muslims — is what prevails.
“It was and is a really warm gathering. During the day, it’s very busy, but at sundown, everyone is in the home, and you can hear the silence everywhere because everyone has someone to feed around you,” El Katib said.
“And if, for example, we had a fight before Ramadan and we don’t talk to each other, we have to speak to each other in Ramadan; we have to make it up in Ramadan.
“It’s a reset and total peace.”
Featured image by Jaden Croucher/the Charlatan.
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