A mosque in Toronto is creating a name for itself for welcoming the LGBT community, as well as to people of all faiths.

Founder El-Farouk Khaki said it was important for him and his co-founders to create the Unity Mosque, or the El-Tawhid Juma Circle, as a space that is welcoming to anyone.

"There's a notion, I think, out there that Muslim spaces are not welcoming, that they're not inclusive, that they don't embrace non-Muslims, or that women or LGBTQI people are somehow not welcome," said Khaki, who spoke to CBC's Matt Galloway on Metro Morning. "And so this is an intentional space designed to actually bring everybody into it."

tuco wrote:It seems to be important question, in public discourse, whether Islam is compatible with the West, liberal democracy.

tuco wrote:The West is of Christian heritage, so that in my eyes answers the question.

Islam, its traditions, are foreign to majority and there is even difference, I am lead to believe, between Islamic communities and their relation to society in the US, the EU and in this case Canada known for its ability to practice multi-culturalism.

If they follow its orders .. is true believer argument. To that classic says: There was only one Christian and he died on the cross.

tuco wrote:We are getting off-topic, however, I do not see what I called Christian heritage of the West being controversial nor not applicable.

Nobody, I am aware of, is for example having referendums/debates over Christian architecture being build in their cities. Nor there is problem with shaking hands or covering face. Celebrating Christmas. IMO its the traditions, with religious background, that conflict most. I mean what is to be Muslim or Christian? If they follow orders .. In the OP case, do they or do they not follow orders when they open mosque to LGBT? And we will be here forever.

Indeed, despite being of some heritage, society changes and indeed towards secularisation. This is due to economy, education, democracy and public discourse, globalization etc. So the question probably is, is Islam capable of lets say reforming.

tuco wrote:We are getting off-topic, however, I do not see what I called Christian heritage of the West being controversial nor not applicable.

Nobody, I am aware of, is for example having referendums/debates over Christian architecture being build in their cities. Nor there is problem with shaking hands or covering face. Celebrating Christmas. IMO its the traditions, with religious background, that conflict most. I mean what is to be Muslim or Christian? If they follow orders .. In the OP case, do they or do they not follow orders when they open mosque to LGBT? And we will be here forever.

Indeed, despite being of some heritage, society changes and indeed towards secularisation. This is due to economy, education, democracy and public discourse, globalization etc. So the question probably is, is Islam capable of lets say reforming.

NineBerry wrote:Sufism in itself is quite diverse. And if you go by the numbers, Sufis are the average Muslims.

CIS wrote:http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/unity-mosque-peace-iftar-toronto-1.3630935

A mosque in Toronto is creating a name for itself for welcoming the LGBT community, as well as to people of all faiths.

Founder El-Farouk Khaki said it was important for him and his co-founders to create the Unity Mosque, or the El-Tawhid Juma Circle, as a space that is welcoming to anyone.

"There's a notion, I think, out there that Muslim spaces are not welcoming, that they're not inclusive, that they don't embrace non-Muslims, or that women or LGBTQI people are somehow not welcome," said Khaki, who spoke to CBC's Matt Galloway on Metro Morning. "And so this is an intentional space designed to actually bring everybody into it."

Khaki is also an immigration lawyer and the founder of Salaam, a support group for LGBT Muslims.