Shadow and Flame

Slave Lake Mosque (apologies for my poor cellphone camera picture)

A few months ago, I wrote about my experiences in Slave Lake, Alberta, an isolated town in Northern Alberta that had a complicated relationship with its large Muslim community, including the arson of the former mosque in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The Muslim community had since built a new mosque, a beautiful one that unfortunately suffered from an almost complete lack of participation. For the most part, the Muslims there had been overcome with fear and suspicion, and were afraid to attach themselves to a targeted site.

I awoke this morning to the news that the entire city is now burning, due to forest fires carried by heavy winds. While the residents have been safe alhamdulillah, their property and belongings have largely been destroyed.

The pictures depict many streets I've walked myself. The hardest hit areas appear to be those within walking distance of the mosque itself, so it is entirely likely that their beautiful mosque is among the ruins. I can only hope and pray that the community can find a way to pick up the pieces again, and that they work alongside neighbours to rebuild their town. It would be a powerful statement of mutual respect and cooperation that could insha-Allah help them overcome the distrust and fear that split the community over the last decade.

Important numbers
To donate toiletries, bedding call Edmonton Emergency Relief Services	780-428-4422
To donate to Red Cross	1-800-418-1111
To register as evacuee or to reach evacuees call Red Cross	1-800-565-4483
Info on hospital patient evacuees	1-866-301-2668
Wildfire information line	1-866-916-INFO
WildFire Road Closure Hotline	780-644-5653 or 310-4455

Source: CBC