Birmingham Central Mosque, is a mosque in the Highgate area of Birmingham, England, run by the Birmingham Mosque Trust. It is one of the largest Muslim centres in Europe.
The mosque is open to people of all religious affiliations, men and women, and its main prayer halls currently hold between 3,500 and 4,000 people during a Friday service, with over 20,000 worshippers walking through the mosque's doors during the multiple services held on the religious festivals of Eid. It is frequented by visitors from educational institutions and community/faith groups from across Europe.
History
Birmingham Central Mosque is one of the earliest purpose-built mosques in the United Kingdom. After initially raising money to lay the foundations of the mosque, funds ran dry. A possibility existed that Birmingham City Council would sell the land to another buyer if the mosque was not completed within two years. The mosque trustees therefore went to local businesses ― both Muslim and non-Muslim ― for donations. Soon enough, sufficient money was raised to pay for the building and completion of the mosque in 1969. The mosque was then officially opened in 1975 as the largest mosque in Western Europe. A golden dome was added to the top of the minaret in 1981. In 1986, the mosque sought and was granted permission to call prayer within certain limits. Between 1988 and 1990, Al-Hijrah School educated children in three rented rooms within the mosque before moving to Midland House in Small Heath.
In 2006, the West Midlands Fire Service put out a fire in the mosque. A fire began in an office in the building. It did not spread far, yet it caused damage to electronics and also destroyed paperwork.
The mosque is open to people of all religious affiliations, men and women, and its main prayer halls currently hold between 3,500 and 4,000 people during a Friday service, with over 20,000 worshippers walking through the mosque's doors during the multiple services held on the religious festivals of Eid. It is frequented by visitors from educational institutions and community/faith groups from across Europe.
Birmingham Central Mosque is one of the earliest purpose-built mosques in the United Kingdom. After initially raising money to lay the foundations of the mosque, funds ran dry. A possibility existed that Birmingham City Council would sell the land to another buyer if the mosque was not completed within two years. The mosque trustees therefore went to local businesses ― both Muslim and non-Muslim ― for donations. Soon enough, sufficient money was raised to pay for the building and completion of the mosque in 1969. The mosque was then officially opened in 1975 as the largest mosque in Western Europe. A golden dome was added to the top of the minaret in 1981. In 1986, the mosque sought and was granted permission to call prayer within certain limits. Between 1988 and 1990, Al-Hijrah School educated children in three rented rooms within the mosque before moving to Midland House in Small Heath.
In 2006, the West Midlands Fire Service put out a fire in the mosque. A fire began in an office in the building. It did not spread far, yet it caused damage to electronics and also destroyed paperwork.
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