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Featuring 296 Reviews of 1061 Mosques & Schools
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Today is
Wednesday, June 07, 2006 | 11 Jumada al-Awal 1427
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ACCESSIBILITY
 - Parking available - Handicapped access - Public transitFACILITIES & SERVICES
 - Restrooms on site - Kitchen/food service - Friday servicesWOMEN'S ACCOMODATIONS
 - No barrier in main hall - Barrier in main hall - Separate prayer area - No women's accomodationINSIDE SALATOMATIC
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 Istiqamah began with a bang in the late 1990s. Run by a young, decidedly (how to say this delicately) salafi organising committee, it was neo-hanbalism for the 21st century - active, education oriented, generally clean and functional. Alas, the "community" of young energetic folk has dwindled over the years (now graduated and profession with less time for mosques) and the resident Sheikh dissapeared for a while and has (kind of) reappeared recently. The khutbahs used to be known for a kind of raw directness that appealed to the young and agitated. Guffaws would puntuate the sermon (only to be silenced as inappropriate) when comments like, "if you are going to fornicate, why go halfway? A haram is a haram, so you might as well have done it with Lady Diana" were the order of the day. The mosque used to be packed, very male - a small women's section sufficed for the brave sisters. Overall a valiant effort gone awry.
 The mosque itself is difficult to get to by Public Transit -- the bus stop is a 10 minute walk away. The women's section is in a false room that has been constructed in the main hall. Prayers are broadcast "live" into the room from a camera feed focusing on the Imam. The khutbahs were in English and were very positive -- but the Imam is completely inaccessable to women, unless you have an "in" (ie: via the women's group, which was not offered to me, or a husband). The woman's entrance is in the back. The mosque itself seemed like a nice enough place -- but not so welcoming to women.
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