Al Rashid Mosque, Canada’s first and one of the earliest in North America, was erected in Edmonton in the depth of the Depression of the 1930s. Over time, the story of this first mosque, which served as a magnet for more Lebanese Muslim immigrants to Edmonton, was woven into the folklore of the local community. —Baha Abu-Laban, Foreword

Edmonton’s Al Rashid Mosque has played a key role in Islam’s Canadian development. Founded by Muslims from Lebanon, it has grown into a vibrant community fully integrated into Canada’s cultural mosaic. The mosque continues to be a concrete expression of social good, a symbol of a proud Muslim Canadian identity. Al Rashid Mosque provides a welcome introduction to the ethics and values of homegrown Muslims. The book traces the mosque’s role in education and community leadership and celebrates the numerous contributions of Muslim Canadians in Edmonton and across Canada. Al Rashid Mosque is a timely and important volume of Islamic and Canadian history.

"Forty years ago, as a young scholar in Islamic Studies at the University of Alberta, Al Rashid’s Muslims welcomed my queries, tolerated my ignorance, and joyfully opened their homes and their hearts." —Earle H. Waugh

Earle H. Waugh has studied Islam in Canada and the Middle East for most of his adult life. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and a senior scholar in the areas of religious studies, health and culture, and Indigenous language maintenance.

Earle H. Waugh is a professor of religious studies at the University of Alberta. He is the co-editor of Native Religious Traditions (WLU Press), and the author of The Munshidin of Egypt: Their World and Their Song and the Alberta Elders’ Cree Dictionary).

Earle H. Waugh's profile page

• Short-listed, INDIE Book of the Year Awards (Regional) | Foreword Reviews

"[Al Rashid Mosque] looks at the history of a very notable place of worship in Canada, but more importantly explores the broader history of Canadian Muslims, which is an integral part of Canadian history. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers..."

Jatinder Mann

"The Al-Rashid Mosque, Canada’s first and one of the earliest in North America, was established in Edmonton against all odds and has become an enduring success story of community, resilience and the constant striving for peace." [Full article at https://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/a-great-gift-to-canadas-first-mosque-for-its-80th-20181211]

St. Albert Gazette

"In this rich and many-sided story, Waugh contextualizes Al Rashid’s stages of development within local, national, and international history."

Harold Coward

"The micro-history of Edmonton’s Muslim community opens up vistas on the broader Canadian history and the role of Muslims in forming national projects and identities. Waugh outlines shifts in Islamic educational programs and community leadership, as well as the political terrains Muslims needed to traverse. Overall, the book offers a readable and robust history that adds a unique story to the history of Canada." [Interview at https://newbooksnetwork.com/earle-h-waugh-al-rashid-mosque-building-canadian-muslim-communities-u-alberta-press-2018/]

New Books Network

"Al Rashid Mosque will help show future generations how the Muslim faith became intricately woven into the Canadian tapestry."

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