Baitunnur

Infobox religious building
building_name = Baitunnur mosque
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location = 4353 54 Avenue NE
geo = coord|51|06|06.27|N|113|58|19.34|W|region:CA_type:landmark
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religious_affiliation = Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
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municipality = Calgary
province = Alberta, CAN
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consecration_year = 2008
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website = [http://www.baitunnur.org/ baitunnur.org]
architecture = yes
architect = Manu Chugh Architects
architecture_type = Islamic architecture
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groundbreaking = 2005
year_completed = 2008
construction_cost = C$15 million
specifications = yes
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minaret_quantity = 1
minaret_height = ft to m|97|precision=1|abbr=yes
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Baitunnur (also spelled Baitun Nur or Baitun Noor) (Urdu for "House of Light"cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhH-NmPhim-wV_p5lSyw_Y_n1Yyw|title=Canada opens its largest mosque|date=2008-07-05|work=afp.google.com|publisher=AFP|accessdate=2008-07-12] ) is a mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Castleridge community of Calgary, Alberta.cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=c1ce5c3b-de23-4093-85b8-36162ac636a6|title=Politicians and faithful open Canada's largest mosque|last=Morton|first=Graeme|work=canada.com|publisher=Canwest News Service|date=2008-07-05|accessdate=2008-07-12] cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=04fc055c-7361-4caa-a974-ae57846fae2d|title=Canada's largest mosque opens in Calgary|last=Morton|first=Graeme|date=2008-07-06|work=Calgary Herald|publisher=Canwest|accessdate=2008-07-12] cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080705/calgary_mosque_080705/20080705?hub=Canada|title=Harper: Mosque shows 'benevolent face of Islam'|date=2008-07-05|work=ctv.ca|publisher=The Canadian Press|accessdate=2008-07-12] It is known for being the largest mosque in Canada. [cite news|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Chronicle-Herald|title=Islam’s ‘true and benevolent face’: PM welcomes $15m Calgary mosque built by often-persecuted sect|last=Stevenson|first=James|date=2008-07-06|work=Halifax Chronicle-Herald|accessdate=2008-07-15] cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/07/05/calgary-mosque.html|title=Big mosque on the Prairie opens in Calgary|date=2008-07-05|work=cbc.ca|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2008-07-15] It is estimated that there about 3,000 members of the Ahmadiyya community in Calgary.cite news|url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAN0345582320080704|title=Small Muslim community builds Canada's biggest mosque|last=Jeffrey|first=Jones|work=ca.reuters.com|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-07-14]

Public opening

The cornerstone of the mosque was laid in 2005. Construction was completed in 2008 for an estimated cost of C$15 million, with roughly C$8 million of that coming from local Calgarians.

Baitunnur had its grand opening to the public on July 5, 2008, with 5000 people in attendance, including dignitaries such as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Opposition Leader Stéphane Dion, and Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier.As well the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calgary, Fred Henry, attended.cite news|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/2008/07/12/6137491-sun.html|title=New mosque a bridge to other faiths|last=Kaufman|first=Kaufman|date=2008-07-12|work=Edmonton Sun|publisher=Canoe Inc.|accessdate=2008-07-14]
Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the supreme head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, oversaw the opening.

While members of various faiths were invited, according Kaufman of the Edmonton Sun, the Sunni Muslim group Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, led by Syed Soharwardy, was pointedly not invited, due to its belief that Ahmadiyya Muslims are not "real" muslimscite news|url=http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/july/9/islam/|title= PM Stirs Debate By Cozying Up to Moderate Muslims|last=Davis|first=Jeff|work=Embassy Magazine|publisher=Hill Times Publishing Inc. |date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-14] , and did not consider Baitunnur a "mosque".

Praise for the Ahmadiyya community came from attendees, including Harper, who said, amongst other things, "In this mosque, we see the love and benevolent faith of Islam".According to "Embassy" magazine, regarding Harper's praise of the Ahmadiyya community, a governing party insider said "It's an important signal the prime minister is sending, not just to militant Islamists abroad, but to their sympathizers here at home, that he's perfectly prepared to ignore them and side with persecuted minorities within the faith."

tructure

The mosque complex is m2 to ft2|4500|abbr=yes|precision=0 in size.A ft to m|97|precision=1|abbr=yes tallcite news|url=http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Platt_Michael/2008/06/23/5959496-sun.php|title= Calgary's $15M not-so-little mosque on the prairie -- the largest of its kind in Canada -- will officially open July 5|last=Platt|first=Michael|date=2008-06-23|work=Calgary Sun|publisher=Canoe Inc.|accessdate=2008-07-14] steel-capped minaret tower and large steel dome are the most noticeably externally visible features of the mosque.Around the exterior of the building are written 99 Arabic words, each an attribute of Allah's character as stated in the Qur'an.cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/story.html?id=f8ba2aa4-6659-446f-8ddf-7400c0350935|title=Muslims open new house of worship: Calgary's new northeast landmark is Canada's largest mosque|last=Morton|first=Graeme|date=2008-06-29|work=Calgary Herald|publisher=Canwest|accessdate=2008-07-13] In addition to a place for worship, the mosque complex includes classrooms, office space, a children's area, a kitchen and a community centre.In the prayer hall of the mosque hangs a 400-kilogram chandelier that cost $50,000.Baitunnur is the seventh Ahmadiyya mosque by Naseer Ahmad, the chief designer.Manu Chugh Architects served as the local architects for the project.cite web|url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1825|title=Canada's largest mosque under construction: Manu Chugh Architects act as local architect for the largest mosque in Canada|date=2008-01-15|work=WorldArchitectureNews.com|accessdate=2008-07-15]

References

External links

* [http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=NSJWicRn8wg Foundation Stone Laying by His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad - Video]
* [http://www.baitunnur.org/ Official site of Baitunnur Mosque]