We are a compassionate focused, inclusive, Islamic mosque space. We are an LGBTQ affirming, Gender Equal, Place of Healing and Learning.
The El-Tawhid Juma Circle/ ETJC was founded by El-Farouk Khaki, DR. Laury Silvers, and Troy Jackson in May 2009. ETJC is a gender-equal, LGBTQI2S affirming, mosque, that is welcoming of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender, sexual identity, or faith background.
When we came together in May 2009…
to start the el-Tawhid Juma Circle as manifested in the Toronto Unity Mosque it was with the intention of creating an inclusive tawhidic Muslim identified prayer space where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated and not just given lip service: where the inherent dignity of every human being regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, linguistic group, dis/ability, religion or class is recognized as Allah-given as underscored in the Qur’anic declaration that Allah is closer to each one of us than our own jugular vein, without distinction.
el-Tawhid Juma Circle is Human Positive in that its foundation is that all humans are equal agents of Allah in all aspects of ritual practice. Since May 2009, the Toronto Unity Mosque has been meeting every Friday for congregational prayer. Our service exemplifies the notion of shared authority as jamaat members take turns in giving the call to prayer, delivering the sermon and leading the prayer. Our service is accessible by skype as some of our members are isolated due to health, geography or conscience.
Our mosques are places of ritual and spiritual healing for everyone – regardless of whether they identify as Muslim or not. Since May 2009, eTJC has inspired, resourced and/ or helped establish 9 similar communities in North America.
In 2015 Dr. Laury Silvers stepped away from ETJC to concentrate on academic and spiritual pursuits. ETJC thanks her for her service, we invite you to follow her work at www.laurysilvers.com
Our websitejumacircle.com – is designed as a gateway resource center for our global jamaat including those who wish to start similar or eTJC affiliated mosque spaces.
We invite you join us on Friday afternoons as you are able, in person, by skype or in spirit. We look forward to the day, inshAllah, when there is an inclusive mosque like eTJC in every city.
~ETJC
contact
Location
Email for Location
Hours
Fri. 12:30pm-3:30pm
Evening Programming throughout the year.
Troy Jackson
President
Troy Jackson stands at the intersection of his identities, as an Afro-Indigenous, Gay, Muslim, Performer, Writer and Host. His work has been shown at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), The Inside Out Film Festival and TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). He is one of the co-owners of the oldest lGBTQ bookshop on the planet, the glad day bookshop. Troy co-founded the El-Tawhid Juma Circle in 2007, taking on President responsibilities in 2010. Jackson sites Black liberation theology as the foundation of why he wanted to be a part of manifesting the ETJC. he states that "nobody should be sitting at the "Back of the Bus" unless they like the view from back there" Jackson believes that all should be treated as equals in life and in ritual prayer without apology. Troy regularly performs for social justice causes and speaks about ETJC in the capacity of president, locally and internationally.
El-Farouk Khaki
Imam
El-Farouk Khaki is a refugee and immigration lawyer, public speaker and social commentator. His law practice represents people fleeing persecution based upon sexuality, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, and HIV Status.
A human rights and social justice advocate, his leadership has been recognized by his receiving : 2006 “Excellence in Spirituality” Award – Pride Toronto; 2007 Hero Award, Canadian Bar Association The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference; 2007 Steinert & Ferreiro Award from the Lesbian & Gay Community Appeal. In 2009 in addition to being the Grand Marshall for the 2009 Toronto Pride Parade, he was also the recipient of the “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”, Pride Toronto Theme Award.
In 2008, he ran for Canadian federal parliament in a by-election and a general election for the New Democratic Party of Canada.
Khaki is the founder of Salaam: Queer Muslim Community, an organization originally started in 1991, and a founding member of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association. In May 2009 he founded the El-Tawhid Juma Circle with his partner Troy Jackson and dear friend, Dr. Laury Silvers. He is also co-founder of The Canadian Muslim Union and co-founder of the Muslim AIDS Project. El-Farouk has set on many boards, appeared on tv and radio including programs such as Counterspin, The Verdict w Paula Todd, The Verdict w Steve Pakin and Studio 4 with Fanny Kiefer.
He is a public speaker on Islam, the Immigration and Refugee system, human rights, racism, politics and HIV/AIDS.
Media
Mosque Makeovers - 2011
Excerpt from Walrus Article:
“Another version of this model is the el-Tawhid Juma Circle, a small mosque of straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender worshippers. They gather for afternoon prayers on Friday—the most important day of the week for Muslims—at a private address in downtown Toronto. El-Tawhid has been meeting for about two years now, in a small room covered by a carpet, with an old church pew at one end. People plunk themselves down on cushions wherever there is space; the question of whether to have greater interaction with the wider Muslim community is more important right now than where people sit at prayer time. On this winter afternoon, the room fills up with about twenty people, a mix of born Muslims and converts, academics, and refugees from Muslim countries.
Anyone can sing the call to prayer or lead prayers during the service, and several women have taken regular turns as imam. One is Laury Silvers, a convert from Los Angeles and a professor of religion at the University of Toronto. Other than during el-Tawhid’s services, women have led men in organized prayer only in a few unique circumstances. Silvers has red hair, a cheerful but commanding group leader voice, and a Facebook page full of statements and causes—exactly what you’d expect from a passionate activist.
She calls the group to attention at about 1:15, as a few stragglers are still shaking off their coats. Islamic prayers are to be said at specific times, and she opens by asking everyone to come on time: “If we’re going to be a real mosque, we have to do things by the book.”
After prayers, the group moves to the kitchen for tea and snacks before heading back to work or school. Discussion ranges from academic shop talk to the focused activism expected from a group like this. There is little tolerance here for a go-slow approach. Most aspire to a Muslim culture where chauvinism no longer has a place in the mosque, but Silvers is adamant that el-Tawhid’s approach is one of many and not to be forced on others.
For every feminist frustrated with the pace of change, another is sensitive to the dangers of moving too fast. Little Mosque’s Zarqa Nawaz captured this tension in her 2005 documentary, Me and the Mosque. In it, she sits at her mother’s feet in the women’s section of the Islamic Society of North America mosque in Mississauga, behind a translucent, waist-high divider. The mother says she had not been inside a mosque until she moved to Canada, and likes that she can see the imam behind the small divider. That’s enough for her. But her daughter is not satisfied; she wants vocal support for more.
Frustration and friction seem natural when diverse peoples confront shared taboos. Even though they represent a small group of reformers among Canada’s roughly 600,000 Muslims, many of those pushing for gender equity in mosques today see more differences than similarities among themselves. For instance, when Naseer Ahmad was pondering his approach, the implications of welcoming menstruating women meant more than just a large enough prayer section. He installed coin-operated tampon and pad dispensers in the washrooms. Reactions to this decision underscore the range of preferences and sensitivities: some were pleased, and some felt it a trivial move, or a reminder of how far there is to go. Others did not realize that in some Muslim cultures people think a tampon can deflower a virgin. And some were surprised: “I’ve never even thought to look for that!” said Globe and Mail columnist Sheema Khan.”