Administrator on May 5th, 2010
On 3 May 2010 Makkah Masjid was delighted to host a visit by Home Secretary Alan Johnson. The Home Secretary took time out of his busy campaign schedule to visit the Mosque during its annual Islamic Exhibition, for which the Mosque is open to the whole community: people of faith and no faith.
During his visit, the Home Secretary enjoyed a tour of the Mosque during which he looked at the items on display as part of the Exhibition. He was extremely impressed with the Mosque’s award winning dome, which features more calligraphy work than any other mosque in the UK. Mr Johnson also took the opportunity to speak to members of the Mosque’s congregation about a wide spectrum of issues pertaining to the forthcoming election, including immigration, social cohesion, anti-social behaviour, policing and the economy.
The Home Secretary commented that he was impressed with the Makkah Masjid’s architecture, as well as with its long standing commitment to opening its doors to non-Muslims in an attempt to improve community cohesion.
Administrator on March 5th, 2010
Members of Meanwood Men’s Society recently visited Makkah Masjid.
Makkah Masjid regularly receives visits from delegates from various clubs and institutions.
The aim of the visit was to learn about Islam and Makkah Mosque’s activities and initiatives.
Members of Meanwood Men’s Society were given a tour of the Mosque and a presentation about the fundamentals of Islam and services that are offered at the masjid. The presentation was followed by a Q& A session allowing both parties to learn about each other’s good practices and governance.
Mark Laurillard, Hon. Chairman made the following comments: “May I extend our thanks to you for a most informative and enlightening visit to your Mosque last night. Our members came away with a positive impression and a greater understanding, which is a very positive outcome.”
Administrator on July 27th, 2009
Over the years, Makkah Masjid has built strong links with Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds University and their students. Imam Qari Asim has worked with them on projects such as the opening of the new Institute for Spirituality, Religion & Public Life at Leeds Met University.
Many University students undertake projects about the activities of the Mosque as part of their modules regarding theology, comparative studies, Islam in Britain, European Islam, multi-culturalism and community cohesion etc. Over the course of a year, Imam Qari Asim sees a large number of students researching these topics and has useful discussions with those students.
The Imam of Makkah Masque also receives student delegations from various countries, and they exchange views on Islamic and cultural practices in their respective countries. In the past couple of months, Imam Qari Asim has met student delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Indonesia. Makkah Masjid and its sister mosque, Al-Madina Jamia Masjid has a long history of working with the Turkish people. Imam Professor Hafiz Fateh Muhammad who served the Muslim Leeds community used to work with people from various regions and backgrounds and set a good tradition of different groups working with each other for the greater good.
Imam Qari Asim recently also met Piet Hizbullah Khaidir, The Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Youth Movement-Central Board, Indonesia, and The Former Chairman of Leeds-Indonesian Muslim Society, and Arif Rahman Bambang, a senior lecturer at Assalaam, a modern boarding school for boys and girls in Indonesia.
Qari Asim discussed with them the work that Muhammadiyah has done in building the social and educational infrastructure in Indonesia in such a short period of time. Qari Asim said that many other organizations around the world could learn from the model propounded by Muhammadiyah. Piet said that “we will have great opportunities to build colaborative programmes in the future”.
Qari Asim also discussed the thesis of Arif Rahman Bambang regarding ‘Mosque and Community Cohesion: Interaction between Muslims and Non-Muslims in Leeds’. In this thesis Qari Asim worked with Arif Rahman Bambang and met him on a number of occasions for the purposes of interviews and to shed light on the activities of Makkah Masjid. Arif Rahman Bambang said that he was “grateful for the support that the community of Makkah Masjid had offered him during his stay in Leeds and wished to continue to work with them in the coming years.”
Qari Asim gave signed copies of his books, including copies of his most recent book Our Children -Our future to the delegation. For further details about Our Children -Our future, please click on: http://www.deenfoundation.org.uk/wp/index.php/2009/04/08/75/
Imam also invited the Leeds-Indonesian Muslim Society to the upcoming event at Makkah Masjid on Sunday 2 August 2009.
Administrator on July 15th, 2009
Makkah Masjid regularly receives visits from delegates from other Mosques around the country. It has hosted guests from Scarborough, Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Luton, Oldham, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Delegates come to learn about the good practices of Makkah Mosque and the success that Makkah Masjid has had in winning a number of accolades and awards, including the prestigious award of being the UK’s Model Mosque.
The aim of the visits is for delegates to learn about Makkah Mosque’s activities and initiatives, and discover the secrets behind its success. Delegates are keen to hear about Makkah Mosque’s annual “Connecting Cultures” event and Islamic Exhibition, its commitment to promoting inter-faith and inter-community dialogue, and its dedication to the involvement of youngsters and sisters in its activities and management. Makkah Mosque is seen as a true leader and a beacon in its field by others who are eager to emulate its success.
Makkah Masjid is delighted to share the knowledge it has gained with others in the hope that Insha-Allah, we can all improve our efforts in the way of Islam.
This week, Makkah Masjid was visited by the Council of Bristol Mosques and the Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim, gave them a tour of the Mosque and a presentation about the services that are offered at the masjid. A detailed presentation regarding the activities that take place in the Mosque was given which was followed by a Q& A session allowing both parties to learn about each other’s good practices and governance.
To visit Makkah Mosque, please contact us on: mail@makkahmasjid.co.uk
