Abu Ubaydah Islamic Centre in Toronto has initiated a petition calling on the authorities to create prayer spaces in Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway stations.
Here is the text of the petition:
In the name of thy Lord, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
This petition is to Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to create prayer spaces in subway facilities like those that already exists in Tokyo or other cities around the world.
Abu Ubaydah Islamic Centre (BIN: 281266692) is a non for profit organization affiliated with Zancana community centre filing this petition to TTC and the Mayor’s Office in Toronto, Ontario. We are petitioning for prayer spaces (partitions) to be assembled in main subway stations that already have washrooms.
Why your support is needed…
Like meditation and exercise, prayer has been part of Muslim individuals practice for the past 1400 years. Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day and it varies between 5:00 am to 12:00 midnight; during which each prayer should be performed within a limited time frame and completed prior to the next. It’s understandable that Muslims can pray anywhere; however, having a clean and private space will help individuals who can’t make it home to catch their prayer more at ease while travelling with the TTC.
As a community we already have or could continue to have spaces like these in schools, in colleges, in universities, in hospitals, in malls and even at the airports. Being able to have a space to pray in subway stations with washrooms will help individuals perform the ritual washing called “wudhu” before each prayer while on their daily journey. Muslims must be clean before they pray, and masjids have washing facilities; however, any washroom with clean water can meet the requirements.
In the next 30 – 60 days we would like to collect 1000 to 10,000 signatures for our petition to get a response from the government of Toronto. This petition vows to get as many Muslim communities involved in the project to help raise awareness and show the need vs. want. This petition will be sent out in person, through e-mail and e-petition format by January 20th, 2019 to all individuals. If you support our efforts to provide a prayer space for Muslims, please add your signature.