Muslims in Inuvik: Faith and Community within the Midnight Sun
In the far flung and icy Canadian Arctic, Muslims collected this week at the Midnight Sun Mosque in Inuvik, a community recognized for its harsh conditions, to break their Ramadan speedy. They enjoyed home-cooked Sudanese dishes, surrounded by way of breathtaking Arctic landscapes. While this tranquil setting gives a unique revel in for some, it is not without demanding situations, in particular for those who live in this a part of Canada year circle.
Abadallah El-Bekai, a seventy five-year-old Lebanese-born Palestinian, has known as Inuvik domestic for 25 years. Reflecting on his lengthy stay in this remoted northern metropolis, he stated, “Every yr I pass, ‘This is my final 12 months in Inuvik,’” as he chuckled. Despite his preference to depart the place, he stays there, joking that perhaps it became divine intervention. “Maybe I made horrific in my lifestyles, God dispatched me right here,” he stated with amusing, acknowledging that staying in Inuvik, despite his intentions, is probably a part of a bigger plan.
Inuvik, located in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is domestic to the Midnight Sun Mosque, affectionately called the “Little Mosque on the Tundra.” This mosque, which opened its doorways in August 2010, serves as a non secular hub for the growing Muslim populace within the north. The shape was at the beginning built in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and then transported over 4,000 kilometers through truck to Inuvik, making it the northernmost mosque inside the Western Hemisphere. Its status quo was a reaction to the growing wide variety of Muslim Canadians migrating north for work opportunities, a trend pushed by way of the region’s economic growth, particularly in industries like oil and fuel.
The congregation on the Midnight Sun Mosque has remained particularly solid, with around a hundred to a 120 ordinary attendees. Imam Saleh Hasabelnabi, who has lived in Inuvik for sixteen years, spoke about the steady nature of the community. While the variety of Muslims inside the vicinity is no longer developing, folks that live in Inuvik are deeply devoted to their religion, dealing with precise challenges due to the intense situations and the novel daylight hours cycle.
One of the most notable problems for the Muslim community in Inuvik is following the prayer time table connected to the position of the sun. Inuvik studies extra than 50 days of non-stop daytime every year, a phenomenon known as the Midnight Sun. During this period, the sun never units, that can make it tough to observe the five day by day prayers in their traditional times. Conversely, Inuvik additionally reviews around 30 days of polar night time, wherein the sun does no longer upward thrust in any respect.
Imam Hasabelnabi vividly recollects his first summer in Inuvik, when he experienced the surprise of praying at instances whilst the sun was nevertheless shining. “The first time turned into like a surprise. I can’t accept as true with. The first time in my lifestyles I pray five times, the solar is still up,” he stated, describing his adjustment to existence within the Arctic. To address these demanding situations, the network has adopted a rule of following the prayer times based totally on the nearby time in Makkah, Islam’s holiest city, permitting them to adhere to a consistent and acquainted agenda regardless of the extreme daytime situations.
For Mohamed Asad Behrawar, a 36-year-old accountant who recently moved to Inuvik, adjusting to the lengthy days of summer season became now not as tough, in view that he had previously lived in Edmonton, Alberta, in which summer time days also are extended. However, he still located the surroundings in Inuvik to be “harsh.” “It’s nevertheless tough to adjust to this surroundings,” he admitted, acknowledging the physical and emotional toll the intense weather and far off region could have on individuals.
Despite the demanding situations, the Muslim community in Inuvik remains resilient. On the third day of Ramadan, individuals of the Midnight Sun Mosque gathered for Iftar, the night meal that breaks the short in the course of the holy month. Despite the frigid climate, the congregation got here collectively, bringing quite a few dishes, such as chook and rice, to proportion. Among the attendees become El-Bekai, who, even though he had spent years thinking of leaving Inuvik, regarded content material as he chatted and ate with fellow Muslims. His warm temperature and willingness to include the community, in spite of his longing for other places, talk to the deep connections which are cast in such a completely unique setting.
Inuvik’s populace of roughly 3,400 people is small, however the Midnight Sun Mosque’s congregation is numerous. Many of the contributors are refugees who have made their manner to Canada searching for better possibilities. Over time, they’ve discovered work inside the northern metropolis, with a few driving taxis or taking over different jobs. According to Abdul Wahab Saleem, a 37-year-old Islamic scholar visiting from Edmonton, the Muslim community in Inuvik is a “visible minority.” He mentioned that wherever you move in Inuvik, Muslims are an fundamental part of daily existence. “You walk around outdoor, you may see Muslims all of the time; whenever you get a cab, more than probable it’s going to be a Muslim,” Saleem remarked, highlighting the sizable presence of Muslims on this remote part of the world.
For Muslims residing in Inuvik, religion and community are vital to their lives. Despite the tough conditions and the challenges of residing in an area wherein daylight can be scarce or overwhelming, the Midnight Sun Mosque stays an area of heat and connection. Here, Muslim Canadians locate cohesion, comfort, and spiritual guidance, whilst they navigate the unique rhythms of existence at the edge of the Arctic. As the Ramadan season maintains, this small but dedicated community serves as a testimony to resilience, faith, and the energy of togetherness, regardless of how a long way north one might be.
