Toronto and Region Islamic Congregation

The Toronto and Region Islamic Congregation, commonly referred to by its acronym as TARIC Islamic Center, is one of the largest Islamic centers in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, formerly in the city of North York. With its distinct box-shaped oriental motif, TARIC makes an unusual and highly visible landmark in the city of Toronto, primarily due to its location near the busy multi-level Hwy 401/Hwy 400 interchange.

Toronto and Region Islamic Congregation

Location of the center in Toronto
Founded	1977
Founder	World Islamic Call Society
Type	Islamic center, mosque, education, and activities
Location	Canada 99 Beverly Hills Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3L 1A2
Coordinates	43°43′05″N 79°30′58″W
Area served	Greater Toronto
Website	taric.org

History and organization

The building of TARIC was originally conceived after securing a grant from the World Islamic Call Society, following which purchase of 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) was completed in 1977.^[1] However, it took over a decade to accumulate the necessary additional funds for the construction of a building. The current building structure was completed and opened to the public in 1991, and is the first of a two-phase complex of a much larger building. The TARIC building houses a library, a gymnasium and the main prayer hall. With a full-time imam, weekend classes on Arabic and the basics of Islam are taught, as well as dawah programs and dialogue with local community and neighbourhood organizations.

TARIC's goal is to bring the message of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims, including the importance of the five pillars of Islam, encouraging Muslims to read the Qur'an, and to practice zikir.^{[2][self-published source?]}

Activities

According to the Gulf Weekly, "..The TARIC Islamic Centre, probably the most vibrant and effective in reaching out to non-Muslims is, perhaps the premier Muslim outfit in Metropolitan Toronto."^[3]

A large number of programmes are carried out at the Centre, including, Adult Tarbiya class on Sundays, Arabic language classes, A marriage introduction service, Marriage and family counseling, Conducting marriages and funerals, An Islamic bookstore, Interfaith dialogue, Dawa programmes for non Muslims, Mosque visits, Political and social awareness programmes, Seminars on Islamic and secular subjects, Family nights, Summer camps, Weekly youth activities, and other Women’s programmes as well.

Up until 2003, TARIC leased a building from the Toronto District School Board for an Islamic school for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 children.^{[2][self-published source?]}

See also

• Islam portal
• Canada portal

• Islam in Canada
• List of mosques in Canada