When a follower of Islam is thinking of moving to Williams Lake, the first question is usually whether there’s a mosque in the city.
Mosques are like a community centre, they are a place to gather safely, whether it’s for prayer, education, support or connection.
Local Muslims told the Tribune they hope to see a mosque in the lakecity one day.
“It (a mosque) is sort of a... fundamental root of the Islamic culture,” said Imran Khan, co-director of communications and public engagement with the Williams Lake Muslim Association.
Khan has been living in Williams Lake for almost two years and said he’s noticed an increase in the city’s Muslim population. He’s hoping to encourage more Muslims to settle in the lakecity and wants to help them feel at home by establishing a mosque for everyone.
He and other Muslims in Williams Lake have banded together to start up the Muslim association, which existed previously but was shut down because of a lack of participants. Today, the association estimates there are almost 50 Muslims in Williams Lake, some working as doctors or engineers and others opening their own businesses. The lack of a mosque means many are feeling disconnected and are unable to gather as a proud community in their new home.
Afroj Shaikh, director of women’s affairs for the Muslim association, said there is no centre for Islam in the Cariboo. The nearest mosque to Williams Lake, she added, is in Prince George. Members of the association have had to rent out a small studio apartment, where they gather daily for prayer. But the apartment can only fit about 12 people, which leaves no room for women who are meant to pray separately from men. Nor does it allow for a designated space where children can learn and play.
“There is a need,” Shaikh said. Not only does she hope for a place where she can pray with others in Williams Lake, she also hopes to build community. She moved to the lakecity with her family about two years ago and said the first time she marked Eid in her new home, a celebration following a month of fasting and praying known as Ramadan, she felt very alone.
As the Muslim association gets up and running, Shaikh said she wants other Muslims to know there’s a community that can help them.
“The community is actually connecting and it’s growing...I think in a very positive way,” she said.
Khan told the Tribune mosques are not just a place of worship but rather serve as an institution. Having a central community location will enable the association to raise funds and expand their services. The association’s members envision one day building a mosque which can serve as a shelter, a location for events, a learning centre and even a place for cultural exchange. In the meantime, they are open to the idea of sharing an existing space, whether that’s with a church or another community centre.
“This is something missing from our life,” said Rafiullah Sahibzada, chair of the Muslim association, about the lack of a mosque in Williams Lake. He added they would be happy if non-Muslims reached out to connect and learn.
Indeed, the association is keen on connecting across cultural and religious lines. Shaikh said she wants people to ask questions, whether it’s about the hijab or Ramadan or Halal. The mosque, she said, would be a space where anyone can safely learn about Islam and “feed their curious minds.”
“Our kids are supposed to go to school here, they’re going to have their new friends here,” Shaikh said. She hopes that as children learn to understand each other, their time in school together will be easier.
As the Muslim population in Williams Lake grows, the association also hopes to see access to Halal food in Williams Lake grow. Food which is Halal, meaning permissible to eat in the Islamic tradition, is hard to come by in the lakecity. But Halal has become popular in North America over the years, making its way into grocery stores and even KFC. Members of the Muslim association said they are hoping to see local grocers introduce and expand Halal sections in their stores, and they are excited to start sharing their food with others in Williams Lake.
Shaikh said the people of Williams Lake have been very kind and welcoming to her and her family since their arrival, and she is eager to return the favour.
“We want to give back to the community what we are receiving,” she said, thinking about potlucks she’s attended with Christian and Sikh communities in the city.
As the Muslim population in Williams Lake grows and the community becomes stronger, these dreams will become all the more possible. Establishing a mosque is the first step towards building a proud and prominent Muslim presence, where younger generations can learn to celebrate their culture, and community can be shared across cultural and religious lines.
The association encourages people to reach out via its website if they have any questions, suggestions, or are looking to connect.
