Our Story

The Project

MAC was approached in 2022 by McDougall United Church to explore repurposing McDougall church into a dynamic community space. MAC at McDougall is a partnership to create a Muslim faith space at McDougall United Church. We began Ramadan 2022 with an inaugural Jummah – Friday prayer. We then hosted Taraweeh, Islamic nightly prayers, every night during the holy month of Ramadan led by our beloved brother Ahmed Ali. The Prophetic tradition encourages us to beautify the recitation of the Quran, and as those who joined us during Ramadan can confirm, this is truly a space that was designed to beautifully amplify sound.

We currently offer Jummah, Taraweeh and special monthly programming.

We are working towards ownership of the building and exploring opportunities to utilize the land around the building and revitalize the neighborhood.

We envision a community hub that includes a dedicated Masjid, amenities and programable space that is flexible, regularly used and serves the downtown community.

The adjacent land (currently a parking lot) is zoned for high density and mixed use. Imagine affordable housing, intergenerational living, cafes and bistros, dynamic community spaces and vibrant streets filled with life.

Praying in a Church

MAC at McDougall uses the main sanctuary of the church for Salat. In the sanctuary there are:

Scholarship [Dr.Jasser Auda and Sh.Tamir Ali] have been consulted on the matter and no issue has been found in praying in the space.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدٌ إِلَّا الْمَقْبَرَةَ وَالْحَمَّامَ

317 سنن الترمذي كتاب الصلاة باب ما جاء أن الأرض كلها مسجد إلا المقبرة والحمام

425 المحدث ابن تيمية خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده صحيح في شرح العمدة الصلاة

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The entire earth has been made a place of prayer, except for graveyards and washrooms.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 317

The Space

Perched on top of Bellamy Hill, at the corner of MacDonald Drive and 101st Street, the church has been a local landmark for more than a century. The main sanctuary is spacious and comfortably holds over 1,200 worshipers in pews.

This historic space was the first home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Opera, as well as many other groups throughout Edmonton’s history.

The people of Edmonton have been blessed with this beautiful building that offers a unique experience with its enchanting acoustics and design. In this space we hope to celebrate the rich Islamic tradition of reciting poetry, stories and—most profoundly— the Holy Qur’an.

About MAC in Edmonton

The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) is a Canadian, independent, national, faith-based, charitable organization, that provides spaces, services and programs for holistic education and personal development for Canadian Muslims. MAC is one of the largest Muslim organizations in the country, operating in 13 cities across Canada.

In Edmonton, MAC operates:

MAC also offers these signature programs: