The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto is Canada’s largest museum dedicated to Muslim culture. Photography isn’t permitted in most of the museum, so I can’t show you ancient Quran manuscripts or the 16th century marble fountain. The only gallery where photography is permitted is the ceramics showcase.
Islam is present in two of the four ancient civilizations of the world – India and Egypt. It’s long history enabled Muslims to create ornate tapestry, porcelain, and jewelry. They learned how to make paper for the Quran from the Chinese in the 8th century and commissioned Chinese kilns to produce plates with scriptures from the Quran.
The museum looks plain on the outside. But step inside on a sunny day and you’ll see eight-pointed star motifs projected on the walls with sunlight, hexagonal lattice on the windows, and dots forming an octagonal star on soundproofing tiles. The visit only takes about an hour, but combining the morning with the Ontario Science Centre next doors is worth your while.
