East London Mosque's success story
The East London Mosque doesn't just meet the spiritual needs of Muslims but also plays pivotal social and inter-faith roles.
LONDON — The East London Mosque (ELM) and its affiliate London Muslim Centre (LMC) have distinguished themselves over the years not just for meeting the spiritual needs of Muslims but equally for playing pivotal social, integrationist and inter-faith roles.
"Approximately 30 different services are currently offered to meet the needs of the local community," Usama Ward, Facilities Manager of the London Muslim Centre (LMC), told IsamOnline in an interview.
Both the ELM and LMC complement one another.
As the ELM meets the spiritual needs of the faithful, the LMC provides a wide array of services with a focus on education, social welfare, community cohesion and economic development.
"Social welfare initiatives have attempted to tackle issues of drugs, forced marriage, child protection, domestic violence, health, to name just a few," said Ward.
Though notable Muslim and non-Muslim figures agreed in 1910 that London needs a mosque, a large, purpose-built mosque, complete with dome and minarets only opened in 1985 after years of fund-raising and relocations.
In 1999, the East London Mosque, by now a landmark in London's East End, acquire adjoining land and built the London Muslim Centre, which opened in 2004.
ELM Director Dilowar Hussain Khan said the LMC construction alone had cost £10.5 million of which 50 percent were donated by worshippers.
He noted that the LMC's projects and initiatives are also funded by a host of state and private bodies.
"The training and employment initiative, Way to Work, is funded through the London Development Agency; our Improving School Attainment in Partnership (ISAP) project is funded through the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Education; and our women's support project, Women�'s Link, is funded through the HSBC," he told IOL.
"The financial statements of the organization are available in our Annual Reports, and are publicly available from Charity Commission and Companies House," he said, referring to two of Britain's leading auditing organizations.
Broader Community
Ward insisted that their services are not faith-based.
"Our services are open to all, no matter what faith they may be."
He added that ELM and LMC are not gender-based, but rather place men and women on equal terms.
"All our services are developed with both women and men in mind and the LMC has one of the largest women-only dedicated prayer services in the country."
Ward said they cater for marginalized women and counsel them.
"We also provide training that encourages women to develop skills and choose suitable careers, and to be assertive and more confident in participating in daily activities."
As for future plans, Khan said the ELM and LMC will give priority to health and extremism combat programs.
He and Ward are very appreciative of the moral and financial support given by locals, calling them the real owners of their entities.
"The community feels a sense of overwhelming sense of pride and ownership of the centre. It was their money that helped complete this project," said Ward.
He noted it was thanks to local donations that the LMC's debts had been slashed from a staggering £7 million to only £700,000.
"The good thing is this money has come from the community as a sort of investment for the future and this is why the project has been overwhelmingly labeled a labor of love."
Khan said the construction of LMC alone had cost £10.5m of which 50 percent were donated by worshippers.
He noted that the LMC's projects and initiatives are also funded by a host of state and private bodies.
"The training and employment initiative, Way to Work, is funded through the London Development Agency; our Improving School Attainment in Partnership (ISAP) project is funded through the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Education; and our women's support project, Women's Link, is funded through the HSBC," he explained.
"The financial statements of the organization are available in our Annual Reports, and are publicly available from Charity Commission and Companies House," he added, referring to two of Britain's leading auditing organizations.
Integrationist
The ELM and LMC also have an integrationist role to play, encouraging youths to be positive citizens in society.
"We actively encourage the youth to participate in all our activities," said Ward.
"In terms of religion, we provide correct and balanced information in Islam, whilst encouraging constructive engagement in the society at large," he added.
He said the LMC is promoting a message of peace, moderation and tolerance."Our clear and unambiguous messages focus wholly on using only peaceful means to bring societal changes."
The Muslim activist says the LMC has attracted a large cross-section of young British Muslims.
"It is heartening to see the fruits of our labor, as over the years, many young people associated with the centre have gone on to become successful citizens and beacons of good within the community," he boasted.
Khan insisted that both the ELM and LMC are firmly against isolationists, encouraging Muslims to have their say in any election.
"We do advocate and stress the utter importance for residents to participate and in particular, vote in elections," he said.
"We work with progressive politicians and in recent years have accommodated and hosted politicians, from (former Labour MP) Oona King to (Respect MP) George Galloway, (Tory MP) Dominic Grieves to (Liberal Democrat) Simon Hughes," Khan added.
He maintained that the two Muslim entities support politicians whose platform serve the interests of the community.
"We support any party that brings benefit to the citizens it governs."
Inter-faith Efforts
The two Muslim entities are also active members in a host of inter-faith groups across the European country.
"We are a founding member of TELCO, a faith organization working for the common good," said Khan.
"We are also a part of the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum," he added.
Ward said interfaith work could be accurately linked with community cohesion.
"We are an active part of London Resilience, a strategic partnership that is working to ensure London is prepared for major incidents or catastrophes," he added.
"It embraces all the key organizations and bodies in the capital in both the public and private sectors.
"We are also involved with the national conference on religious tolerance," Ward said.
The Muslim activists have translated their inter-faith message into action.
"Some of our (inter-faith) programs have helped the London Borough of Tower Hamlets win beacon status," Ward said.
"We are also planning a series of Islam awareness lectures based on the 99 names of Allah."
"Open days and symposiums on religious tolerance have contributed to improved community cohesion."
LONDON — The East London Mosque (ELM) and its affiliate London Muslim Centre (LMC) have distinguished themselves over the years not just for meeting the spiritual needs of Muslims but equally for playing pivotal social, integrationist and inter-faith roles.
"Approximately 30 different services are currently offered to meet the needs of the local community," Usama Ward, Facilities Manager of the London Muslim Centre (LMC), told IsamOnline in an interview.
Both the ELM and LMC complement one another.
As the ELM meets the spiritual needs of the faithful, the LMC provides a wide array of services with a focus on education, social welfare, community cohesion and economic development.
"Social welfare initiatives have attempted to tackle issues of drugs, forced marriage, child protection, domestic violence, health, to name just a few," said Ward.
Though notable Muslim and non-Muslim figures agreed in 1910 that London needs a mosque, a large, purpose-built mosque, complete with dome and minarets only opened in 1985 after years of fund-raising and relocations.
In 1999, the East London Mosque, by now a landmark in London's East End, acquire adjoining land and built the London Muslim Centre, which opened in 2004.
ELM Director Dilowar Hussain Khan said the LMC construction alone had cost £10.5 million of which 50 percent were donated by worshippers.
He noted that the LMC's projects and initiatives are also funded by a host of state and private bodies.
"The training and employment initiative, Way to Work, is funded through the London Development Agency; our Improving School Attainment in Partnership (ISAP) project is funded through the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Education; and our women's support project, Women�'s Link, is funded through the HSBC," he told IOL.
"The financial statements of the organization are available in our Annual Reports, and are publicly available from Charity Commission and Companies House," he said, referring to two of Britain's leading auditing organizations.
Broader Community
Ward insisted that their services are not faith-based.
"Our services are open to all, no matter what faith they may be."
He added that ELM and LMC are not gender-based, but rather place men and women on equal terms.
"All our services are developed with both women and men in mind and the LMC has one of the largest women-only dedicated prayer services in the country."
Ward said they cater for marginalized women and counsel them.
"We also provide training that encourages women to develop skills and choose suitable careers, and to be assertive and more confident in participating in daily activities."
As for future plans, Khan said the ELM and LMC will give priority to health and extremism combat programs.
He and Ward are very appreciative of the moral and financial support given by locals, calling them the real owners of their entities.
"The community feels a sense of overwhelming sense of pride and ownership of the centre. It was their money that helped complete this project," said Ward.
He noted it was thanks to local donations that the LMC's debts had been slashed from a staggering £7 million to only £700,000.
"The good thing is this money has come from the community as a sort of investment for the future and this is why the project has been overwhelmingly labeled a labor of love."
Khan said the construction of LMC alone had cost £10.5m of which 50 percent were donated by worshippers.
He noted that the LMC's projects and initiatives are also funded by a host of state and private bodies.
"The training and employment initiative, Way to Work, is funded through the London Development Agency; our Improving School Attainment in Partnership (ISAP) project is funded through the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Education; and our women's support project, Women's Link, is funded through the HSBC," he explained.
"The financial statements of the organization are available in our Annual Reports, and are publicly available from Charity Commission and Companies House," he added, referring to two of Britain's leading auditing organizations.
Integrationist
The ELM and LMC also have an integrationist role to play, encouraging youths to be positive citizens in society.
"We actively encourage the youth to participate in all our activities," said Ward.
"In terms of religion, we provide correct and balanced information in Islam, whilst encouraging constructive engagement in the society at large," he added.
He said the LMC is promoting a message of peace, moderation and tolerance."Our clear and unambiguous messages focus wholly on using only peaceful means to bring societal changes."
The Muslim activist says the LMC has attracted a large cross-section of young British Muslims.
"It is heartening to see the fruits of our labor, as over the years, many young people associated with the centre have gone on to become successful citizens and beacons of good within the community," he boasted.
Khan insisted that both the ELM and LMC are firmly against isolationists, encouraging Muslims to have their say in any election.
"We do advocate and stress the utter importance for residents to participate and in particular, vote in elections," he said.
"We work with progressive politicians and in recent years have accommodated and hosted politicians, from (former Labour MP) Oona King to (Respect MP) George Galloway, (Tory MP) Dominic Grieves to (Liberal Democrat) Simon Hughes," Khan added.
He maintained that the two Muslim entities support politicians whose platform serve the interests of the community.
"We support any party that brings benefit to the citizens it governs."
Inter-faith Efforts
The two Muslim entities are also active members in a host of inter-faith groups across the European country.
"We are a founding member of TELCO, a faith organization working for the common good," said Khan.
"We are also a part of the Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum," he added.
Ward said interfaith work could be accurately linked with community cohesion.
"We are an active part of London Resilience, a strategic partnership that is working to ensure London is prepared for major incidents or catastrophes," he added.
"It embraces all the key organizations and bodies in the capital in both the public and private sectors.
"We are also involved with the national conference on religious tolerance," Ward said.
The Muslim activists have translated their inter-faith message into action.
"Some of our (inter-faith) programs have helped the London Borough of Tower Hamlets win beacon status," Ward said.
"We are also planning a series of Islam awareness lectures based on the 99 names of Allah."
"Open days and symposiums on religious tolerance have contributed to improved community cohesion."
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