Toronto, July 10, 2026 – Many people associate the name Istiqlal Mosque exclusively with Jakarta. However, in Canada, the Istiqlal Islamic Center Toronto (IICT) stands as a vibrant mosque serving the local Muslim community while also functioning as a center for Islamic outreach and empowerment for the Indonesian diaspora.
The mosque recently hosted one of the sessions of “Halaqah Across USA and Canada with Madam Ani,” an educational initiative organized by Dompet Dhuafa USA and Sakinah Finance to strengthen Islamic financial literacy among the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the United States and Canada.
Before arriving in Toronto, the delegation conducted halaqah sessions in Ottawa, Montreal, and Kingston during a road trip that began in Virginia, USA. The delegation included Murniati Mukhlisin (Madam Ani), Founder of Sakinah Finance and Professor at Tazkia University; Nina Marliani of Sakinah Finance; Sitti Sahro Locke, Executive Director of Dompet Dhuafa USA; and Thomas Locke, founder of Comfasion USA.
The group was warmly welcomed by Iyan Subhan Bumi, his wife Amy Subhan, and Iqbal Ali, CEO of the Istiqlal Islamic Center Toronto.
“Istiqlal is the first Indonesian mosque established in Canada,” said Subhan as he welcomed the delegation into the mosque located at 14369 Trafalgar Rd. N, Ballinafad, Rural Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. Amy Subhan shared the building’s remarkable history. “This building was originally constructed in 1878 as a historic church that stood for more than 145 years. It was later repurposed into a mosque, and the Istiqlal Islamic Center Toronto officially opened on May 4, 2021, during the holy month of Ramadan 1442 AH,” she explained.
During a dialogue with congregants following Friday prayers, Sitti Sahro Locke introduced Dompet Dhuafa USA and its humanitarian programs while explaining the purpose of the halaqah series: to improve Islamic financial literacy among the Indonesian diaspora, including practical understanding of zakat, infaq, sadaqah, waqf, and other shariah-compliant financial practices.
Sahro also conveyed a message from Vevie Damayanti, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Toronto, expressing hope that Dompet Dhuafa USA could support the deployment of Indonesian Islamic preachers (da’i) to Canada during the month of Ramadan. “If this initiative comes to fruition, Istiqlal Islamic Center Toronto will be one of the mosques hosting the visiting da’i,” Sahro said.
Meanwhile, Madam Ani encouraged the congregation not to wait for Islamic financial institutions to become widely available in their communities before embracing Islamic financial principles. “We know that Islamic finance is growing all over the world. But if you have not seen many in Canada, no problem. The most important thing is that we bring the values of Islamic finance into our home,” Madam Ani told worshippers representing various nationalities.
Through this halaqah series, Dompet Dhuafa USA and Sakinah Finance hope to inspire greater knowledge-sharing, strengthen the economic well-being of Muslim communities, and foster the practical application of Islamic financial values among the Indonesian diaspora and the broader Muslim community across North America.
Source: Sakinah Finance Public Relations
