'It was crazy': Thousands celebrate Eid al-Fitr at football stadium in London
Iman said prayers to end Ramadan focused on unity, celebration
Thousands of Muslims brought prayer mats to Western University's TD Waterhouse Football Stadium as the London Muslim Mosque marked the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr prayers.
It's the first time in years that the community has used the football field for their congregation.
"The point of this particular day is that we come together to show a sense of unity amongst the Muslims with all the diversity that exists in our community," said Abd Alfatah Twakkal, Imam of the London Muslim Mosque.
"So when we come together it's a very joyous occasion. It's not often that we're able to come together in such large numbers during the year."
Twakkal joked that he'd love to host a congregation outside on a football field every Friday.
He said that hosting the prayer outside allowed for a spiritual experience because of a light drizzle of rain.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonMosque">@LondonMosque</a> gathered for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eid?src=hash">#Eid</a> prayers to celebrate the end of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ramadan?src=hash">#Ramadan</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternU">@WesternU</a>'s football field in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDNont?src=hash">#LDNont</a> <a href="https://t.co/TyC1qV13T5">pic.twitter.com/TyC1qV13T5</a>
—@ChrisEnsingCBC"At the end when it started to rain we actually don't mind that," said Twakkal, adding that rain is seen as a "mercy of God" according to the Qur'an.
"This is one of the reasons when you kept on seeing people smiling in spite of the rain falling because this is the mercy of God coming down upon us," said Twakkal.
New experience
"It was crazy, there were a lot of people celebrating," said Ali Abualsoud. "It's nice seeing everyone dressed up and celebrating today."
His father Jahed Abualsoud said it was a "very exciting" moment to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
"We have to pray in the morning of the Eid and we have to be with each other and celebrate and congratulate each other," he said.
"This is the first time we've prayed in this area but we used to go to the Western Fair," he told CBC News.
He said everyone seemed happy despite the rain.
Breaking fast
"It was weird," said Hesham Akrim, as he waited for family following the morning prayers. He said that it was different praying on a football field and enjoyed the change.
Akrim said he looked at today as a way to celebrate with family and friends after a month of fasting.
He said he plans to celebrate on Sunday by eating "everything I can."