Shia Centers in Canada

Shia centers in Canada

According to Canada’s 2001 census, there were 579,740 Muslims in Canada, just under 2% of the population. In 2006, the Muslim population was estimated to be 0.8 million or about 2.6%. In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimates there were about 940,000 Muslims in Canada. About 65% were Sunni, while 15% were Shia who benefited from the services of the Shia centers in Canada. Some Muslims are non-practicing since most Canadian Muslims are people who were raised Muslim. As with immigrants in general, Muslim immigrants have come to Canada for a variety of reasons.[1]

Reliable quantitative data on the Canadian Shia population does not exist. Scholars estimate that 15 % of Muslims in Canada are Shia; Ismailis who run many Shia centers in Canada are considered to belong to this sect while Ahmadis are not.[2]

The Shia community active in Shia centers in Canada manifests itself in two main forms.  One is through the Twelver rite and the other is through the Ismaili rite. However, due to the lack of census questions that go into specific details in Canada, it remains unknown which community is larger between the two. However, both have established both community centers, spiritually attached leisure centers, as well as mosques in the country.[3]

There is a mutual respect between Sunni and Shia Muslims living in Canada. Based on findings, it can be said that even though sectarian division is important in describing Muslims identities in Canada, preferring a specific Islamic set is only still important for some Muslims living in Canada. Therefore Shia and Sunni Muslims living in Canada interact with each other in public spheres blurred with secular and pluralist values and get chance to know each other practices more closely.[4]

The most prominent Ithna Ashari Shia centers in Canada are listed below:

• Jaffari Islamic Center
• AL- HUDA MUSLIM SOCIETY
• Bani Hashim Society
• Shia Ismaili center in Toronto
• Al-Zahra (a.s) Islamic Centre
• The Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jama’at of Toronto
• Al-Mahdi (A.S) Islamic Center
• Al-Ayn Social Care Foundation – Canada
• Masumeen Islamic Centre
• THE DAWAH & TABLIGH ASSOCIATION DTA
• Al-Islam (digital library)
• Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada
• Student Association for Muslim Awareness
• Ahlul-Bayt (PBUT) Islamic Organization and Mosque
• Al – Hawra Zeinab (A.S) Hussainiah
• Shiane Haidary Islamic Association
• Islamic Society of Iranian Student
• Al – Zahra (S.A) Foundation
• Al-Khoei Charity Foundation
• Association of the Lebanese-Canadian Islamic Mission
• Vancouver Muslim Community
• Canadian Hossaini Association
• Shia Ismaili Center in Vancouver
• The Shi’a Muslim Community of BC
• Az-Zahraa Islamic Center
• Ahlul-Bayt Centre Ottawa
• Masjid Abother Alghafari
• AL-BATOOL FATIMA ASSOCIATION INC
• Alkawthar Community Centre of Calgary
• Al-Ghadeer Islamic Asocciation of Calgary-Canada
• Hussaini Association of Calgary

[1] Muslims in Canada Religious community

[2] THE FORMATION OF MUSLIM IDENTITIES IN CANADIAN OFFLINE AND ONLINE SPACES, Mehmet Ali BASAK

[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam_in_Canada

[4] THE FORMATION OF MUSLIM IDENTITIES IN CANADIAN OFFLINE AND ONLINE SPACES, Mehmet Ali BASAK