Leeds Makkah MasjidServing the Leeds Muslim Communities

Makkah Masjid: UK’s Model Mosque

Administrator on October 30th, 2008

Leeds Makkah Mosque has won the nationwide Model Mosque competition. The main Muslim channel for English speaking British Muslims, Islam Channel researched over 1000 mosques to find the best mosque in the UK, with sharing best practice and being in touch with mainstream British Muslim youth being key criteria. Viewers had the opportunity to cast their votes and help decide who will become the Model Mosque of 2008.

The Islam Channel programme was based on reality TV principles, with two mosques going head-to-head with each other each week and the winner being selected by the viewers. Director of the Model Mosque show, “Mosques have been unfairly portrayed in the media for too long. This show is about restoring the balance.”

The main criteria for deciding which mosque is the Model Mosque of 2008 were the services the mosque provides for its local community and how well the mosque manages relations with the local agencies and the host non-Muslim community. The successful engagement of Muslim youth was also a determinative factor.

Makkah Mosque has historically endeavoured to develop a better understanding of the message of peace propagated by the Muslim faith within the wider community. The Mosque has been pioneered initiatives that actively engage with different community organisations. Mosques activities have included:

1) Holding the Yorkshire’s largest ever Islamic exhibition in May 2008. As well as the Islamic exhibition which was opened to the general public, a special ‘Connecting Cultures’ session was held for senior members of local statutory bodies, the education, voluntary, community and faith sectors. The guests included the Hilary Benn, Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, John Battle MP, former faith advisor, Greg Mulholland MP, Lord Mayor of Leeds, Leader of Leeds City Council, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, Divisional Commander for North West Leeds, Pro-Vice-Chancellors of Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan University, Rev Canon McCreadie (Leeds Cathedral Dean), Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, Rev Dr Elizabeth Smith, Chair of Methodist Church, lectures from Universities and representatives from local council, the education, voluntary, community and faith sectors are also attended the event. The event was one of its kind and such event has never been held by any other mosque in the UK.

2) Makkah Masjid has always encouraged participation of women in the mosque. Recently, for the first time ever in British Muslim History, women were given exclusive possession of the mosque for two days (except at prayer times when men were allowed into the mosque) during the Islamic Exhibition held in May 2008.

3) For the Youth, along with organising various educational activities, during the summer, Makkah Mosque organised many recreational trips and sports activities ranging from golf, boxing, cricket and football.

As a result of the wide ranging activities organised by Makkah Mosque, despite fierce competition from City mosques, one of Yorkshire’s leading mosques, Leeds Makkah Mosque, won the competition. Due to its many interfaith initiatives and its commitment to opening its doors to the wider community, Makkah Mosque has enjoyed the support of Muslims and non-Muslims alike and received votes from members of the public throughout the UK.

The Imam of Makkah Mosque, Hafiz Asim, commented: “We took part in this competition as we believe TV shows such as these give genuine insight into the working of mosques and help demystify some of the misconceptions that exist regarding mosques. We are delighted to have won the 2008 Model Mosque competition. It is recognition of the fact that the mosque has always advocated best practices for the community it serves, and has promoted citizenship and civic engagement through the services it provides.

We are grateful to all Muslims and non-Muslims who have voted for Leeds Makkah Mosque and helped us become UK’s model mosque.”

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