Glasgow Central Mosque
| Glasgow Central Mosque | |
|---|---|
Glasgow Central Mosque | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Geographic coordinates | 55°51′9″N 4°15′3″W / 55.85250°N 4.25083°WCoordinates: 55°51′9″N 4°15′3″W / 55.85250°N 4.25083°W |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| District | Gorbals |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Completed | 1983 |
| Construction cost | £ 3 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2500 |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
Glasgow Central Mosque is located on the south bank of the River Clyde in the Gorbals district of central Glasgow.
The Mosque
The Mosque was built in 1983. Retired businessman Muhammed Tufail Shaheen MBE, an active community leader and President of the Glasgow Central Mosque, was instrumental in its building. The central Mosque was formally opened in 1984 by H E. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League.[citation needed] Built on a 4-acre (16,000 m2) site, the present Mosque is shortly to be enhanced by the new Islamic Centre to be erected on an adjacent 4-acre (16,000 m2) site.[citation needed] The new Islamic Centre will contain a general purpose hall, sports and changing facilities, meeting rooms, library, cafeteria and facilities which will offer education and welfare support to the community.[citation needed]
The mosque was built at a cost of three million pounds.[citation needed] The courtyard of the mosque is in keeping with the traditional Arabesque style. It is enclosed on one of its sides by gardens and on the other by a long façade of arched windows. The main entrance arched with etched glass doors of a floral design. In the courtyard is one of the most noticeable features being the Minaret (tower) where traditionally the Muezzin recites the call to prayer stands.
The other more noticeable feature is the dome above the main prayer hall allowing natural light into the building. Inside the mosque is a recess which is called the Mihrab where the Imam stands. The Mihrab points in the direction of Mecca. [citation needed]
Enclosed in a walled garden and with a separate minaret, the mosque combines Islamic architecture with the characteristic Old Red Sandstone material used to build many of Glasgow's buildings. The building can accommodate 2500 worshippers.[citation needed]
Imams
There are currently three Imams:[citation needed]
- Shaykh Habib ur Rahman Rauf.
- Shaykh Abdul Ghafoor Ahmad.
- Shaykh Omair Malik.
Muslim Cultural and Welfare Centre
The Islamic Centre is now the Central Institution for the Muslim community and this is the largest community centre in Strathclyde. The mosque itself is Scotland's largest mosque.[citation needed]
This centre provides services not only for Muslim elderly people, adults, youths and children, but also serves the non-Muslim community groups of various ages, and educationalists from various institutions.[citation needed] Its services support the whole of the Strathclyde region.[citation needed]
External links
- Official site
Media related to Glasgow Central Mosque at Wikimedia Commons- Glasgow Central Mosque Photographs
- Glasgow Central Mosque Slideshow
