| North Manchester Jamia Mosque and College of Islamic Studies | |
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| Location | 3 Woodlands Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 9LF, UK. Tel: 0161 740 3696 |
| Branch/tradition | Sunni |
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| Website: [1] | |
North Manchester Jamia Mosque[1], is a Mosque in the Cheetham Hill, area of Manchester, England, run under the headship of His Eminence Muffakir-e-Islam Hazrat Allama Maulana Qamaruzzaman Azmi by the Ibadur-Rahman Trust. It is one of the largest Muslim centres in Europe.[2][3]
The Mosque is open to all, men and women, and its main prayer halls currently hold between 2,500 and 3,000 people during a Friday service, with over 15,000 worshippers walking through the Mosque's doors during the multiple services held on the religious festivals of Eid.[1] It is frequented by visitors from educational institutions and community/faith groups from across the UK.
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The seeds of the North Manchester Jamia Mosque were laid in 1975 by His Eminence Muffakir-e-Islam Hazrat Allama Maulana Qamaruzzaman Azmi who is a one of the world’s best-known[4] and most widely influential Islamic thinkers, orators and writers.[5] His work has inspired millions[6] of people across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Middle East, South Africa, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Holland, America and Canada.[7] In 2011 Georgetown University[8] listed him as one of the "500[9] Most Influential Muslims in the World".[10] Maulana Shahid Raza[11]OBE, Chairman of UK’s Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) explains that it is his willingness to "confront without fear or favour the major issues and challenges facing Muslims in the 21st century that draws people to him as well as his intellectuality, selflessness, simplicity, purity of heart, integrity and deep convictions".[12]
Allama Azmi is also the Khalifa of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi's son His Holiness Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind Hazrat Maulana Mustafa Raza Khan and Sarkar-e-Kalaa'n Hazrat Maulana Sayyad Mukhtar Ashraf Rehmatullahi Alaih of Kicchocha Sharif and Secretary-General of the World Islamic Mission.[13]
In 1975 Allama Azmi began giving Dars-e-Quran at Shah Jalal Mosque (1A Eileen Grove, Rusholme)near Wilmslow Road, [Manchester] (which is a Sunni Mosque inspired by a great Sufi of Bangladesh Hadhrat Allama Fultali Saheb Qiblah (R)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saheb_Qibla_Fultali) by travelling from Bradford every week. At that time there were a few Sunni Mosques in Manchester. His Eminence Allama Azmi's powerful and spell-bounding lectures and major debates changed peoples' hearts and minds. Within a short period of time the Victoria Park Mosque appointed a Sunni Imam. After the establishment of the Islamic Missionary College[14] in Bradford people in Manchester persuaded His Eminence Allama Azmi to move to Manchester as the population was increasing and their needs and challenges were becoming more complex.
In 1979 the North Manchester Jamia Mosque started off under the headship of His Eminence Muffakir-e-Islam Hazrat Allama Qamaruzzaman Azmi at 25 Bellot Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester which was a house converted into a Mosque. As the facilities at this building were very limited and the growing population of Muslims needed facilities for Islamic activities on a larger scale, a plot of land was purchased in 1982[15] and the first phase of the Mosque, consisting of the main prayer hall providing prayer facilities for 1200 men and women, was completed in 1984. The second phase consisting of a College of Islamic Studies and additional prayer facilities for 1200 people was built in the 1990s.
The current third phase of the project is a major complex that will allow the Mosque to hold prayer facilities for up to 5000 people, a community hall, Imams' residence, a mortuary, office, library and guest rooms.
North Manchester Jamia Mosque remains one of the earliest purpose-built Mosques in the United Kingdom.
Since its establishment, North Manchester Jamia Mosque remains the primary Muslim organisation in the north of Manchester and a focal point for the Manchester Muslim community, providing education for children and adults, lectures and seminars, mortuary, library along with daily prayer facilities. The presence of His Eminence Muffakir-e-Islam Hazrat Allama Qamaruzzaman Azmi[16] has been key to its success and his powerful and inspirational lectures, publications, selfless hard work and dedication have impacted positively on the lives of thousands of people in the city. Professor Waqar Ahmed, who is the Chair of Nanotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing and Head of Institute of Nanotechnology and Bioengineering as well as Leader of Nanomedicine and Nanoengineering Research Group at the University of Central Lancashire, wrote in the book Tajjaliyat-e-Qamar:[17]
"Allama Azmi is one of the most lucid and original thinkers of his generation. He is internationally renowned for the depth of his knowledge on all aspects of Islam. His insights, guidance and love have provided the foundational pillars for my own success and happiness. His dynamic powerhouse style has inspired thousands of Muslim professionals in Manchester to live a pious life. Allama Azmi is not only a great leader but also a truly amazing and wonderful human being".[7]
There are well over 200 students enrolled at different levels. Some of the famous scholars of the college include: Hazrat Allama Arshad Misbahi, Chief Imam of Manchester Central Mosque, Hazrat Allama Abu Zahra Razvi, Hazrat Maulana Faisal Noori, Hazrat Maulana Javed Mian, Hazrat Maulana Imtiaz Sahib, Holland, Dr Waqar Azmi OBE, UK Government's former Chief Diversity Adviser, Cabinet Office
The world's leading personalities of the Ahle sunnah wal jamah have so much deep reverence for His Eminence Hazrat Allama Azmi and hold him in such high esteem that they would make a point to visit him at North Manchester Jamia Mosque. These include:[4]
The Mosque has also been attended by well known personalities such as the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu[18] and many other faith leaders.
