A volunteer with the newly set up Belfast Multi-Cultural Society stands next to food ready to deliver to local vulnerable people self-isolating. (Credit: BIC)
A small sample of online congregational services and Covid-19 related support by mosques and Islamic centres across the country, for both their Muslim and wider local communities. Their feat is made more remarkable by the closure of the mosques.
BELFAST, N IRELAND
Belfast Islamic Centre:
Online service: Facebook Live Khutbah & other services including Zakat.
Covid-19 service: Working with asylum seekers refugee charities, etc. Congregation members and committee who own small food businesses and restaurants set up the Belfast Multi-Cultural Society to deliver and cook food for the vulnerable and chefs also volunteered to cook for homeless charities.
See: Facebook.com/belfastislamiccentre
BIRMINGHAM
Green Lane Masjid & Community Centre:
Online service: One talk streamed daily via YouTube to 100+k subscribers. Evening madrasah & 50 weekly adult college classes online. Welfare surgeries & Imam Q&A via phone.
Covid-19 service:
Will partner Macmillan Cancer Support. Morrisons supporting mosque’s foodbank with weekly deliveries. Volunteers shop for those who isolating. A‘funeral area’ was created in the mosque’s car park where up to 36 bodies can be stored in refrigeration units. GLMCC is involved in a project launched by Loft 25, a furniture and garden brand, by providing 350 volunteers who have been producing PPE.
See: greenlanemasjid.org.
KSIMC of Birmingham:
Online service: Live lecture session, sermons and classes by resident scholar Sheikh Nuru as well as other online interactive sessions by various subcommittees of the community organisation.
Covid-19 service: Launched a Covid19 Taskforce with approximately 70 volunteers providing: Medical and business advice, grocery shopping for the vulnerable & self-isolating, calls and check in on others, mental health support, RE online programmes, food bank, funeral services, working with regional federation, Council of European Jamaats and parent body, World Federation to support the community.
See: ksmnet.org
BRADFORD
Abu Bakr Mosque:
Online service: Daily programme after Maghrib prayers which lasts for about 15/20 mins. At the end of this programme key messages to reassure the community are also delivered and clarification provided on pressing issues.
Covid-19 service: Working with Bradford Council & community organisations to support food distribution to most vulnerable. Assisting 20 non-Muslim vulnerable housebound elderly residents within the immediate vicinity of the Masjid.
BRISTOL
Tawfiq Masjid Centre:
Online service: Classes & services via Zoom, WhatsApp & Skype.
Covid-19 service: Working with the police, Bristol City Council and other community organisations. Community volunteers online WhatsApp groups to support the elderly members of the community who need shopping, medicine collection etc. Publicizing government guidelines to the community online.
See: tawfiqmasjid.com
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Central Mosque:
Online service: Prayers & Qur’an readings via Facebook Live.
Covid-19 service: Volunteer-based service to support the community and residents. The services include general supply shopping and prescription pick-up, parcel collection or drop-off, phone buddy system, spiritual/moral support, including women’s counselling and questions for the Imams.
See: cambridgecentralmosque.org
CARDIFF, WALES
Madina Mosque:
Covid-19 service: Volunteers are helping the community & vulnerable people in (500) houses surrounding the mosque by delivering essential.
See: madinamasjidwales.com
ESSEX
Harlow Islamic Centre: Online service: Qur’an Hafiz classes & Khateeb audio speeches.
Covid-19 service: Members are in contact with the local NHS Centre to volunteer where needed. Also liaising with Essex food bank connect. Volunteers on wait.
See: harlowislamiccentre.org.uk
FAREHAM
Al Mahdi Mosque:
Online service: Qur’an lessons & recorded talks. Remote learning to cover the rest of the Madrasah curriculum to follow.
Covid-19 service: Pastoral support from the resident Alim. Volunteers recently launched food and essentials drive.
See: almahdi.org.uk
FIFE, SCOTLAND
Imam Mansoor Mahmood and Imam Hafiz Shoaib from Kirkcaldy Central Mosque in Fife, Scotland with food ready for delivery.(Credit: Kirkcaldy Ctrl Mosque)
Kirkcaldy Central Mosque:
Online service: Weekly Khutba via Facebook Live. Weekday Skype lessons by 4 teachers to 96 students. Imam Mansoor conducts 3 lectures on preparing for Ramadan on Facebook Live (Sat: 8-9pm). Skype Islamic Studies class for men & ladies.
Covid-19 service: Deliver food packages to vulnerable families. As of April 3, food package were delivered to 50 families. Donations are flowing in, support will continue until the end of the pandemic. Meds are collected & delivered. Working with the local foodbank to provide help. This initiative is run by 8 volunteers who are led by the Imam who started this service.
See: Facebook.com/kirkcaldymosque
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Al-Furqan Mosque & Islamic Centre Glasgow:
Covid-19 service: Volunteers registered with Red Cross through NHS Scotland.
See: Facebook.com/alfurqanmosque
GWYNEDD, WALES
Bangor Islamic Centre:
Online service: Regular Dawa & update via WhatsApp groups, the BIC Dawa open for all & official announcement by BIC officers.
See: Facebook.com/pg/bangoric
LEEDS
Leeds Grand Mosque:
Online service: Broadcasting Friday Khutbah in English & Arabic. Daily reminders and updates with info and fatwas by resident scholar Sheikh Dr Abdullah Al Judai via the website, emails & Facebook. Some of our classes have started including scouts activities via Zoom Cloud.
Covid-19 service: Love In A Box project delivering food and pharmaceutical runs for those self-isolating due to virus. Set up strict protocols to manage the health and safety of volunteers. See: leedsgrandmosque.com
LEICESTER
Masjid Al Furqan Community & Cultural Association:
Covid-19 service: Working with the local masjid and other organisations to assist. Volunteers on hand.
See: alfurqancentre.co.uk
LONDON
East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre:
Online service: Daily classes via official online platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Mixlr, Azan Radio) from both imams & guest speakers.
Covid-19 service: Phone advice, support & counselling by bilingual staff members in Arabic, Bengali or English. Food and medicine deliveries for the needy. Self-isolation support: Requests made via the Tower Hamlets Council website. Funerals & (Covid-19 & non-Covid-19) bereavement. End of life care & bereavement support. Emergency appeal for burial resources.
See: eastlondonmosque.org.uk
Greenwich Islamic Centre:
Online service: On GIC’s Facebook & YouTube channels.
Covid-19 service: Delivering shopping, meds & befriending service. Working with Greenwich Council, GCDA, CACT.
See: gicuk.org
Harrow Central Mosque & Masood Islamic Centre:
Online service: Harrow Central Mosque Live Stream.
Covid-19 service: Providing a free mobile/food support service to the elderly/vulnerable, who require assistance with shopping and medical collection or any other essential needs. See: harrowmosque.org.uk
Indonesian Islamic Centre:
Online service: Khutbah via WhatsApp.
See: iic-london.com
Kings Cross Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre:
Online service: WhatsApp group to help and update elderly worshippers.
Covid-19 service: Working with a local food bank until mosque closure. Working with the local council in disseminating key info in an age of conspiracy and fake news like cremation. See: kingscrossmosque.org
Lewisham Islamic Centre:
Online service: Daily Youtube reminder lessons.
Covid-19 service: Mosque used as a drop off point for essentials for NHS workers, elderly & the vulnerable.
See: lewishamislamiccentre.com
Masjid Alnoor:
Online service: Madrassah classes. See: alnoorcet.co.uk
Stepney Shah Jalal Mosque & Cultural Centre:
Online service: Evening &weekend madrassah are continuing via phone. Imams are giving religious advice via phone & advising people to pray at home and to follow NHS & govt guidelines.
Covid-19 service: Working with Tower Hamlets Council of Mosques & East London Mosque.
See: stepneyshahjalalmosque.org.uk
West London Islamic Cultural Centre:
Online service: madrassa classes and khutbah services, Imams consultations via phone.
Covid-19 service: WLICC has mainly been focused on helping our local community by delivering food and assisting where necessary.18 volunteers distributing essentials and picking up medicine for those in isolation. We are also checking up on community members by phone. See: wlicc.org
LUTON
Masjid Noor Luton:
Online service: Khutbah twice a week & daily Maktab classes.
ovid-19 service: Working with Crisis Aid through Luton Council of Mosques. See: masjidnoorluton.co.uk
MANCHESTER
Khizra Masjid UKIM:
Online service: Khutbah, madrasah classes, Islamic & mental health awareness talks.
Covid-19 service: Listening service for locals needing help, advice or someone to talk during isolation. Food parcel & meds pickups, emergency supplies for parents, delivered donated 130 parcels of prepared food to NHS staff. Delivered shrouding cloth to NHS bereavement team. Offered volunteers, or space to use for storage.
See: facebook.com/KhizraYouth
PETERBOROUGH
Husaini Islamic Centre:
Covid-19 service: Working with the World Federation charity. Shopping for elderly and vulnerable people. See: mksipeterborough.org
SURREY
M.A.Al Kharafi Islamic Centre:
Covid-19 service: Working with High Cross Church to provide canned food.
See: camberleymosque.org.uk
SWINDON
Al-Habib Islamic Centre:
Online service: Some Zekr gatherings, daily dars & Friday Khutbah.
See: al-habib.co.uk
Faltering response to a merciless pandemic; Muslims use lockdown positively by helping the needy
Compiled by Elham A Buaras
