A member of the mosque committee at the Mecca Islamic Center in East Toronto expects the coming weeks to be satisfactory as Muslims gather to pray and eat together without any significant restrictions on COVID-19 for the first time in two years.
“We are excited to celebrate Ramadan together at the mosque,” Patel said in an interview.  “We can not wait. This month is really precious for us.”
Mosques across Canada are preparing to host prayers at full capacity during the holy month, as provinces and counties lift the vast majority of COVID-19 restrictions, including capacity limits.
Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Saturday based on the sighting of the new moon, will see Muslims around the world fasting from dawn to sunset before breaking their fast with family and friends at a well-known meal. as iftar in their homes or in their local mosque.  Many will also participate in voluntary afternoon prayers, known as tarawih, which take place only during the month of fasting.
Shiraz Mohammed, administrator of the Madinah Masjid in Toronto, said his mosque is preparing to have a typical Ramadan, where people are allowed to bring food to have an iftar meal before praying and reciting the Koran together.
“Everyone is looking forward to it because last year, one year we only had five people (we were allowed to pray in the mosque) and last year we only had 10,” he says.
“In both years, we still had the iftar program, but the food was prepared and put out for the people to get.  “But now we will have regular prayer and people can come and sit and eat.”
Some people will still choose to wear masks and free masks will be offered at the mosque, he noted.  The mosque also advises those who are ill to stay home, Mohammed said.
“Ramadan is the most important month of the year for Muslims, because it is an opportunity for people to seek salvation and rise spiritually,” Mohammed said.
“This is the purpose of the month: through fasting and prayer, people to strengthen their faith and use the month as a means to improve their lives,” he says.  “This is the month to practice the good and stay away from what is wrong and bad.”
Ramadan-related events will also take place elsewhere, offering Muslims the opportunity to celebrate the month together.
Nisa Homes, a charity that supports women and children experiencing domestic abuse, poverty or homelessness or seeking asylum, will be hosting iftar charities in many cities where individuals can donate while breaking up to break their fast.
At the Albanian Mosque in Toronto, staff clean the premises and prepare to host daily prayers and meals.
Imam Adnan Berbatovci said he looks forward to having tarawih prayers and iftar community meals at his mosque this year.
“Anyone (can) give the food, maybe from their families and sometimes from the store … they will make very good iftar in our mosque,” he said.
“This Ramadan, we hope, will be more beautiful and much better than the last two Ramadan.”
This Canadian Press report was first published on April 1, 2022.