Al Rashid Mosque, Canadaâs first and one of the earliest in North America, was erected in Edmonton in the depth of the Depression of the 1930s. Over time, the story of this first mosque, which served as a magnet for more Lebanese Muslim immigrants to Edmonton, was woven into the folklore of the local community. âBaha Abu-Laban, ForewordEdmontonâs Al Rashid Mosque has played a key role in Islamâs Canadian development. Founded by Muslims from Lebanon, it has grown into a vibrant community fully integrated into Canadaâs cultural mosaic. The mosque continues to be a concrete expression of social good, a symbol of a proud Muslim Canadian identity. Al Rashid Mosque provides a welcome introduction to the ethics and values of homegrown Muslims. The book traces the mosqueâs role in education and community leadership and celebrates the numerous contributions of Muslim Canadians in Edmonton and across Canada. Al Rashid Mosque is a timely and important volume of Islamic and Canadian history.\"Forty years ago, as a young scholar in Islamic Studies at the University of Alberta, Al Rashidâs Muslims welcomed my queries, tolerated my ignorance, and joyfully opened their homes and their hearts.\" âEarle H. WaughEarle H. Waugh has studied Islam in Canada and the Middle East for most of his adult life. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and a senior scholar in the areas of religious studies, health and culture, and Indigenous language maintenance.