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The Islamic Cultural Center which includes the London
Central Mosque has been established since 1944. It was officially opened
by His Majesty King George VI in November 1944.
Construction work for the Mosque Building Complex
comprising the Main Prayer Halls (both men and ladies), the Library, the
old Administrative Block and the Residential Quarter commenced in early
1974 and was completed in July 1977. A new Educational and
Administrative Wing was added and completed in 1994.
The London Central Mosque and the annexed Islamic
Cultural Center have become the focus of Islam and Muslims in the UK. In addition to providing facilities for daily worship by Muslims and
Islamic Education for the children in Central London
and the surrounding areas, the Center is proud to have played a pivotal
role in the establishment of almost every other mosque and Islamic
institutions in the UK
which are intended to serve their respective local Muslim community.
The capacity for praying purposes at the mosque was
designed to accommodate about 4500 people, including the basement foyers
and extended open wings. But in practice, the figure may top 6000
worshippers during the Summer period when up to 1000 or more offer their
prayers in the open forecourt of the mosque. For the two `Eid festivals,
up to 50,000 Muslims visit the Mosque and offer their `Eid prayers in
batches (six on an average `Eid day).
The Center has, since its establishment, acted on behalf
of all British Muslims vis-à-vis the British Government, and Local
Authorities and other official bodies, in matters such as health,
education and welfare.
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