The East London Mosque, situated in the inner London Borough of Tower Hamlets between Whitechapel and Aldgate, serves the UK's largest Muslim community. It lies near the edge of the City of London, the capital's busy business area, and just a couple of miles from the fast-expanding London Docklands. Combined with the adjoining London Muslim Centre, it is one of the largest mosques in United Kingdom in terms of capacity, holding up to 5000 people.
In 2002 construction began of Phase 1 of the mosque's expansion, called the London Muslim Centre. Adjoining and connected to the mosque, it is a six-storey building with a prominent entrance featuring a sweeping mosaic pattern. Construction was completed in 2004. The centre has two multipurpose halls, a seminar suite, a nursery, classrooms, a fitness centre, a small Islamic library, a radio station, retail units and offices. The centre was designed by Studio Klaschka Architecture and Design.In 2009 a further significant expansion commenced: Phase 2, to be known as the Maryam Centre, is a nine-storey addition on the Fieldgate Street side on the site originally used by their funeral service.Completion is expected in 2012. It will add a new main prayer hall, improved funeral services, and substantial facilities for women including prayer space, full- and part-time education, and a health and fitness centre. The building includes a mezzanine level around the main hall which will accommodate a visitor centre. The design was once again by Studio Klaschka Architecture and Design.
As the community base changes so does the services offered, previously sermons or announcements were given in Bengali or Sylheti only. Today the sermon is delivered in Arabic, Bengali and English, to meet the needs of the diverse communities living in the United Kingdom.
To further its mission a number of services are provided to the community including:
Building details
Construction of the three-storey East London Mosque began in 1982 and was completed in 1985, on the site of land left empty after bombing during World War 2. The exterior is a distinctive brick pattern in two colours, the front facing Whitechapel Road and the rear on Fieldgate Street. The mosque is capped with a gold colour dome of about 8.5m diameter. The minaret rises to about 22m above ground level, and the main entrance is finished with two smaller copies of the minaret. The mosque has two large halls, a gallery, classrooms, offices and a retail unit. The architect was John Gill Associates.
In 2002 construction began of Phase 1 of the mosque's expansion, called the London Muslim Centre. Adjoining and connected to the mosque, it is a six-storey building with a prominent entrance featuring a sweeping mosaic pattern. Construction was completed in 2004. The centre has two multipurpose halls, a seminar suite, a nursery, classrooms, a fitness centre, a small Islamic library, a radio station, retail units and offices. The centre was designed by Studio Klaschka Architecture and Design.In 2009 a further significant expansion commenced: Phase 2, to be known as the Maryam Centre, is a nine-storey addition on the Fieldgate Street side on the site originally used by their funeral service.Completion is expected in 2012. It will add a new main prayer hall, improved funeral services, and substantial facilities for women including prayer space, full- and part-time education, and a health and fitness centre. The building includes a mezzanine level around the main hall which will accommodate a visitor centre. The design was once again by Studio Klaschka Architecture and Design.
Management
The East London Mosque Trust Limited is a registered charity (previously registered as The London Mosque Fund) and a private company (limited by guarantee, no share capital). The mosque is managed by trustees who are elected each year by its members at the Annual General Meeting. Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is the chairman of the Management Committee for 2010–11. The Khatib and primary Imam of the mosque is Abdul Qayum. The Executive Director is Dilowar Hussain Khan.
External relations
The mosque is a member of the Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum, a founding member of The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO), and an affiliate of the Muslim Council of Britain. The Islamic Forum Europe (IFE) and the mosque are very closely intertwined, the organisation was created in 1989 by Muslims involved in the running of the East London Mosque. The mosque interprets the Hanafi school of law, though it shares the ideology of the Jamaat-e-Islami movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Services
The mosque has a stated mission to:| “ | … provide a range of holistic, culturally sensitive services for the communities of London with a view to improving the quality of life and enhancing community cohesion | ” |
To further its mission a number of services are provided to the community including:
- ICT Training and English classes
- ISAP — Improving School Attendance in Partnership, a scheme in partnership with the local authority, to raise attendance and attainment in school
- Junior Muslim Circle (JMC) — Recreational activities for children
- New Muslims' classes — Islamic teaching for new converts to Islam
- ELM Evening Madrasah — after school education for children
- ELM Women's Link — support services for women
- Faith in Health — health awareness and lifestyle facilities
- Way to Work — a project assisting people to enter training and employment
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