Winnipeg family creates mosque at home for Ramadan

Last year the Elbakri family celebrated Ramadan during a pandemic. Usually they'd celebrate with their community, often going to the mosque to break their daily fasts, and celebrate Eid the last day of Ramadan.

With everything closed last year, the family turned to the next best thing.

"We built our own mini mosque in our house because the mosques were closed due to COVID," said Abdulghani Elbakri, who is 11 years old.

With some cardboard, curtains, prayer mats and a copy of the Qur'an, together the family created their own little mosque in a spare room.

"We cut out a piece of cardboard to resemble a dome shape we coloured the bottom all together," said 13-year-old Mei Elbakri.

"We put down some prayer mats we had two chairs and we had the Qur'an on a table next to it, it was a really nice chill area. I'd just go there all the time and just sit down and relax."

'Still full of spirituality, full of blessing'

Members of the Muslim community in Winnipeg didn't expect to celebrate a second Ramadan during a pandemic.

"I think last year kind of prepared us for this, but we were hoping it wouldn't happen again. But, you know, the month is still full of spirituality, full of blessing," said Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Social Services Association.

"I think we are trying our best to make the most of it, especially because Ramadan is a month when [the] community gets together."

The fact that Ramadan is being celebrated during a global pandemicthat has caused a lot of grief and deathis not lost onSiddiqui. She says during this month, Muslims can turn to prayer to help get through these difficult times.

"You ask for forgiveness and ask for healing for all [that] humanity is going through," said Siddiqui.

"This year I think the message that needs to get out to our community is please get your vaccine. The vaccines are halal and the vaccines will not break your fast.

"I am going to go for my vaccine on the first day of Ramadan, I would advise people not to neglect that.When your appointment comes, please take it."

Last month, public health orders changed, allowing religious services to open at limited capacitymeaning mosques in Manitoba wouldbe allowed to let in a limited number of people. Siddiqui says that even with mosques open, praying can be done anywhere.

Fasting teaches perseverance

Starting Tuesday, most of the Elbakri kids will start fasting. In the Islamic faith, when children hit puberty, they are encouraged to fast for the month of Ramadanmeaning they don't eat from sunrise to sunset.

When asked what it feels like to make it through a month of fasting, the Elbakri kids unanimously agree, they feel "accomplished."

"Ramadan teaches you perseverance, like sometimes it gets tough and you're really hungry, you feel really down, but then you're like, 'I'm going to keep going,'" said Mei.

"You just feel it's a big accomplishment to finish every year."

For Sena, 17, the oldest and most experienced with fasting, she feels a stronger sense of faith at the end of Ramadan.

"You've started new habits, you've improved yourself, you strengthen your willpower, you've reflected," said Sena.

"You feel in a sense refreshed and renewed."

Abdulghanihe recalls a lesson he learned his first year.

"I fasted the whole day and then I was super hungry. So I inhaled my soup. I ate too fast. I ate too much, and I didn't stop. So after a while, I guess my stomach couldn't hold it and I vomited," said Abdulghani.

"But the next day I was totally fine and it didn't happen again."

The youngest in the family, Tameem, 6 years old, has done half-day fasts in previous years, which he describes as "fun." This year he says he's going to try to fast an entire day.

When asked how he's feeling in the days leading up to Radaman, Temeen says, "excited because I like Ramadan."

'We built our own mini mosque in our house'

4 years ago

Duration 2:28

The Elbakri family of Winnipeg created a mosque at home for Ramadan. They didn't expect they would be celebrating a second Ramadan apart from family and friends during the pandemic.