User:Jezhotwells/Wembley Mosque

The Central Mosque Wembley (also known as Central Wembley Mosque and Wembley Central Mosque) is situated in the inner London Borough of Brent. It is located on Ealing Road, the heart of Wembley, North West London. It serves the fifth UK’s largest predominantly Asian community. Wembley Central Mosque is the main mosque in North West London. The Mosque along with the adjacent Muslim Welfare Association is one of the largest mosques in London with a capacity of up to 2200 people.

Building Details
The three storey semi-detached building was originally a church located at 35-37 Ealing Road but was then purchased in 1993 for £380,000 by the mosque committee. Work began in 1993 and finished in 1996 with the committee and the community spending £100,000. Work included refurbishment of the whole building and a new ablution area for the men. Planning permission was later granted in 1996 for a single storey extension to provide a Funeral Service, a Caretaker's Office and an Imam's Office. The mosque also has a Visitors Centre where people can observe prayer, Islamic activities and learn more about Islam.

1904
There was no mosque in Wembley in 1904 although there were a large number of Muslims. St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the centre of Wembley was built in 1904, designed by Thomas Collcutt and Stanley Hemp. Construction was of brick and the design was influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement. It was listed as a Grade II building in 1993.

1993
The church had been vacant for fifteen years before it was bought by the charity funds of the Muslim community, aided by the sale of a smaller mosque, established in 1985 in Harrowdene Road. It took three years to complete all the work that was necessary. After the work had been completed, the mosque was ready for use. Soon the mosque held the five daily congregational prayers, two Jumu'ah prayers (due to the large number of worshippers) and four Eid prayers.

1995
As the building is listed, the committee found it hard to get permission from the local council for building plans but after a long time of trying they finally got permission for a single storey extension linked to the back of the mosque.

2003

 * 1st Expansion Project (Muslim Welfare Association)

The Muslim population was increasing rapidly each year. There were more Muslims in North West London. Adjacent to the mosque was an old unused building. The committee and the community decided to rebuild it and put it to good use. The mosque instantly raised £500,000 from the community to rebuild the building and name It The Muslim Welfare Association. Work began on the new centre in 2003 and the new centre opened in 2005. The Muslim Welfare Association is the other side of Wembley Central Mosque. The committee hoped that The Muslim Welfare Association will help the community by providing a Main Office, Women’s Facilities, Women’s Prayer & Ablution Facilities, evening Islamic classes (CWM Madrasah) and on a busy day, the Muslim Welfare Association can be used for prayer space and can accommodate up to 500 people including the women’s space.

2009

 * 2nd Expansion Project

Due to an increase of the Muslim population in north west London, Wembley Central Mosque & Muslim Welfare Association decided to launch an expansion project. Part of the expansion project was to join both the Wembley Central Mosque and Muslim Welfare Association. The expansion project was to increase the capacity from 2200 to 3500. Meetings were held between the mosque committee and the contractors and also the council for permission. After getting permission for a three phase expansion project, Wembley Central Mosque started collecting funds and organising schemes such as a live Fundraising Appeal on Iqraa TV.

2011
Key events at Central Mosque Wembley:
 * January 2011 - Phase 1 began of the expansion project.


 * 16 March 2011 - ‘World Renowned Reciter’ Sheikh Abu Bakr Shatri visited the mosque. He first recited Surah Ar-Rahman and then he presented the mosque with an award which was accepted by the Head Imam, Imam Abdul Sattar. Sheikh Abu Bakr Shatri then made a long Dua for the whole Muslim Umma.


 * 8 July 2011 - Wembley Central Mosque goes on a live fundraising appeal on Iqraa TV, hoping to raise money for the expansion project


 * 9 July 2011 - Egyptian Eminent Reciter, Sheikh Muhammad Jibreel visited the mosque on his UK tour sponsored by ‘Islamic Relief’. He led the Maghrib Prayer and then gave Quran recitations in ‘Murattal Style’


 * 27 July 2011 - Phase 1 was completed and the new Wudhu area was ready for use.


 * 10 September 2011 - Phase 2 began. A demolition team moved in to clear the land behind the mosque. The Imam’s office was moved to near the main entrance. New gates were placed at the new car park entrance.

Management
The Mosque is run by a committee who are elected each year. The president of the mosque is Sheikh Rafiq-ur-Rahman. The Mosque’s Committee contains a Vice President, General Secretary, Education Secretary, Finance Secretary, Joint Finance Secretary, Event Coordinator and a Building Secretary. The committee do their best each year to try and make the mosque a safer and better place of worship.

Imams & Khatibs
Wembley Central Mosque is blessed with qualified and scholarly Khatibs & Imams.

Imams

 * Imam Abdul Sattar (Head Imam)
 * Imam Abdul Ghani

Khatibs

 * Dr Khalid Fiqry
 * Imam Abdul Sattar
 * Imam Abdul Ghani
 * Other sub Imams are Sheikh Abdul Karim, Imam Yusuf, Imam Abdullah, Imam Ibraheem (Leads Tahajjud Prayer) and Hafiz Yunus.

Prominent Visitors
Prominent Imams who have visited the mosque: Imam Qasim (Founder, CEO of Iqraa TV) Sheikh Abu Bakr Shatri (World renowned reciter & Imam of Masjid al-Furqan), Sheikh Muhammad Jibreel,(Egyptian Eminent Reciter), Sheikh Sulaman Ghani, Sheikh Nasir Al Hamd and Sheikh Yusuf Estes

Services
As the community base changes so do the services offered, previously lectures or announcements were given in Urdu only. Today the lectures are delivered in Arabic and English to meet the needs of the diverse communities living in the United Kingdom.

Present services in The Wembley Central Mosque & Muslim Welfare Association include: Future planned services include:
 * 5 daily congregational prayers, Jummah, Taraweeh and Eid Prayers
 * Islamic Language Circles
 * Evening Quran & Islamic studies classes for children (CWM Madrasah)
 * Monthly Islamic Lecture
 * Hadith Tafseer
 * Religious Advice & Counselling
 * Complete Islamic Marriage Service
 * Prayer & Ablution Facilities for Women
 * Women's Resources
 * Muslim Funeral Service
 * Islamic Library
 * IT Classes
 * Language Classes
 * Training Centre - Adults for employment
 * Careers Advice
 * Improved Islamic Funeral Service