1st Regina mosque built from the ground up opens today

The new Mahmood Mosque on Eastgate Drive is the first purpose-built mosque in Regina, meaning it's the first mosque in the city that was built with the intention of being a mosque.

Other mosques or prayer halls have taken up residence in pre-existing buildings.

Aspecial inauguration celebration is being held Fridaywith a visit from the world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

CaliphHazratMirzaMasroorAhmadwill deliver a sermon to inaugurate the mosque, and he'll unveil a plaque to commemorate the day and offer a prayer.

Spokesperson Shazia Rehman says it's a day of special celebration for everyone, and everyone is invited to take part in the inauguration.

Rehman says it's important to worshippers that the mosque is the first to be built in the city built, and it will be open to any worshippers,today and every day.

"It's very important to us that it's been built for this reason, and only for this reason. So it's basically a place where we will open doors and invite anyone who wishes to praise God," she saidahead of the celebration Friday.

Rehman says it's difficult for many worshippers to describe the joy and gratitude they have for the visiting caliph's prayers and presence.

"To have the caliph of a worldwide community come to meet the followers here, it stands to testimony to the love he has for us, and the love that we have for him," she said.

The caliph's message delivered at the mosque in Regina Friday afternoon will be broadcast to millions more worldwide through the Ahmadiyya Muslim community's global satellitetelevision networkMuslim Television Ahmadiyya.

Inaguration events are set to begin at 1 p.m. CST.