The installation will remain on display until March 29. Photo courtesy the National Council of Canadian Muslims via X (@nccm)
Toronto, Ont.– In the last week of February, 16-year-old Laila Soliman, a Grade 11 student, and her fellow members of the Toronto Youth Muslim Council—Arqish Minhas, Miraj Siddiqui, Raheem Ebrahim, and Ibrahim Rahman—unveiled a new “Ramadan Mubarak” installation at Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. The large-scale sign, measuring 7.62 x 2.4 m (25 x 8 ft), now stands in the square as a symbol of unity and peace until the holy month ends.
According to the Toronto Star, the project was funded through crowdfunding efforts to educate the public about Ramadan’s significance. Soliman and her team, representing students from 30 schools across the Greater Toronto Area, sought to raise awareness and promote peace and unity within the community. Per the news report, the idea for the installation came after the group noticed a rise in Islamophobia. “We wanted to remind everyone about the values of peace, unity, and gratitude during Ramadan,” Soliman told the Toronto Star. Ramadan Mubarak translates to blessed Ramadan.
The significance
The unveiling, held with the ringing of Old City Hall bells, drew cheers from spectators of various faiths. The installation’s interactive design aims to challenge stereotypes and highlight the importance of fasting, prayer, and reflection during Ramadan. Sharaf Sharafeldin, president for strategy at the Muslim Association of Canada, called the installation “a powerful initiative of inclusion, unity, and recognition for the Muslim community,” as per the Toronto Star.
BolDe Imaging Group designed and built the sign, erecting it after two months of work. Taking to Instagram, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow praised the project, calling it an “incredible way to celebrate Toronto’s Muslim community.” She emphasized the city’s diversity, noting that Toronto is “one of the most diverse cities in the world – home to people from every background, culture, community, and religion. We are proud to be home to a vibrant Muslim community made up of hundreds of thousands of Torontonians.”
The installation will remain on display until March 29. Organizers hope it will become a lasting annual feature, fostering recognition of the growing Muslim community in Toronto.
Source: Toronto Star
