What does East London do specifically for gaining such a good reputation?
What are also the mosque's point of uniqueness?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, the East London Mosque has a rich history. It started in 1910 - the first mosque in London. From the beginning the people who are managing this mosque have been and still are highly educated and connected to the grassroots of the community. The community is fully behind the mosque, partcularly the youth. This is because we fully consult and engage the community with the services and projects of the mosque. We have projects and services for all age groups, Muslims and non-Muslims, men and women. Our role model is the Prophet's Mosque in Madina at the time of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Name
Tahmina
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
What are your plans for keeping your mosque on this track and move forward?
Answer
We receive feed back from our users regularly and look at good practices of other Mosques and try to implement them in our mosque. You will be pleased to know that we are expanding the facilities and services for our sisters by constructing a new building which will have additional prayer halls, class rooms, health, social welfare projects, etc.
Name
Rahman
-
Profession
Student
Question
What is your role in the euro Islam forum and what is the forum's vision?
Answer
I am sorry, I am not aware of the Euro Islam Forum. However, we work closely with Islamic Forum of Europe which is a pan-European Muslim Community organization, working for the development of Muslim Community in Europe. We also have contact with other networks such as European Muslim Network and Federation of Islamic Organizations of Europe.
Name
Rwanda
-
Profession
Question
How can British Muslims represent Islam in a right transparent way and what do you think about today's doctor who admitted that he is a terrorist and many other Muslim terrorists in UK?
Answer
I think we have to be open and transparent. We have nothing to hide as Muslims. That is why we open our doors to all regardless of their faith and background. Unfortunately, there are some people who are misrepresenting Islam by engaging in terrorists acts. However, terrorism is not a Muslim monopoly. People of most faiths and no faith have their extreme elements.
Name
Masoet
-
Profession
Question
Can you please explain the term secular muslim? I feel muslim in Europe has the tendecy to label themselves,liberal,secular,salafi to be more 'in' with the everyday society.
Answer
I think it is a contradiction. Islam is a complete way of life. It cannot be separated into secular and religious. People who say that they are secular muslims, I think they mean that Islam has nothing to do with socio-political issues i.e. the separation of state and church in the Western World.
Name
Wahida
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Salam Brother ...
Would you please let us know the coming important activities organized by the East London Mosque as I can notice that the mosque is poor interms of activities compared to the two other winning mosques.. Thanks w salam
Answer
Please visit our website www.eastondonmosque.org.uk and see our latest annual report. We provide around 30 projects and services for the benefit of the community in the areas of Religious, Educational, Social Welfare, Community Cohesion and Economic Development.
Name
Islam in UK
-
Profession
Question
How do evaluate the mosques in UK and do they really play a role in improving Islam and Muslims' stance in UK..kindly mention evidences
Answer
The Mosques in UK are in transition. Most of them were established by the first generation of Muslims with the objective of providing a place of worship. Many of them are converted houses and buildings with limited resources. InshAllah, as the second and third generation of Muslims take over the management of these Mosques we will see improvements in terms effective use of existing resources and further provisions of essential services for the community.
Name
Hafsa Ssber
-
Profession
Question
Salam Imam,
What is your opinion on giving part of Friday Prayer's khutba in Arabic though we are in London...why do most of the mosques do that and isn't this a single of segregation?
Answer
There are diffrences of opinion amongst scholars on this issue. The objective of the khutba is to give advice and admonition to the congregation. Therefore, it is important that the congregation understands the language of the Imam. Therefore, as we have a diverse Muslim community in our Mosque, our Imam delivers the khutba in 3 languages, Arabic, Bengali and English.
Name
Faisal
-
Profession
Question
Do you think that Muslims in UK are now fully integrated into the UK environment and how can they get integrated without leaving Islam and its rules?
Answer
I do not think Muslims are fully integrated yet in UK. Integration takes time and does not mean assimilation. We should be able to keep our Islamic identity. Integration is a two way process, where the host community must accept other communities as well. We need to identify and work on common issues and agree to disagree on certain matters.
Name
Mohsen Khan
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
What is the relation between East London Mosque and London Muslim Center?
Answer
It has the same management. ELM facilitates the religious services and LMC caters for the educational, social welfare, community cohesion and other services.
Name
sajith
-
Profession
Question
how an islamic center can attract nonmuslims to learn about islam
Answer
Muslims should organise Islamic Exhibitions, open days, dinners and invite their non-Muslim colleagues and neighbours.
Name
Ahmad
-
Profession
Egyptian in UK
Question
What are the main challenges facing mosques in UK and how do you get a suitable budget to use for acheiving the mosque's plans? To which extent do you cooperate with the British government and does it interfere in the mosque's work?
Answer
The first part of your question requires a detailed answer. However, in short I think the main challenges are to change the negative perception of non-Muslims created by the media about Islam and Muslims and engaging the youth and women with the Mosques management structure. The funds will come in if the Mosque is well connected with the community it serves. We co-operate when there are common issues and objectives. So far the British government has not interfered in the Mosque's work.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
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Answer
This session has come to an end.
We would like to thank Mr. Dilowar Hussain for speaking to IslamOnline.net viewers today and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue.
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