Saturday, September 27, 2008

Masjid Toronto's new engravings on its windows

Right: Masjid Toronto sign in downtown Toronto; Left: Arabic engraving on window

More engravings on entrance doorways, and on side windows

Older photograph from internet, showing doorways and windows
without decorative engravings

It is hard to keep up with the upgrades of the various Islamic buildings around Toronto.

Masjid Toronto, or as it is also euphemistically calls itself "Islamic Information Centre of Downtown Toronto", has embellished its windows with engravings of a mosque, some Islamic mosaic-style decoration, and script in Arabic. Although I don't know what this script means, I guessed it to be Allah. And sure enough a quick internet search produced these variations - scroll down to calligraphy #6 in the link.

This little corner mosque seems innocuous enough, except it is close to several very important landmarks, including:
- The Toronto General Hospital
- The University of Toronto
- City Hall
- The U.S. Consulate
- The Eaton Centre

Map of Masjid Toronto, with surrounding important Toronto landmarks

A: Masjid Toronto, B: The U.S. Consulate; C: City Hall; D: Toronto General Hospital
E: University of Toronto; F: Queen's Park; G: Eaton Centre; H: Ryerson University