Glasgow Central Mosque

Glasgow Central Mosque is located on the south bank of the River Clyde in the Gorbals district of central Glasgow. The organization, 'Muslims in Britain'[2] classify the Glasgow Central Mosque as, Deobandi.[1]

Glasgow Central Mosque
Glasgow Central Mosque
Religion
AffiliationDeobandi[1]
DistrictGorbals
Location
LocationGlasgow, Scotland, UK
Geographic coordinates55°51′9″N 4°15′3″W
Architecture
TypeMosque
Completed1983
Construction cost£ 3 million
Specifications
Capacity2500
Dome(s)1
Minaret(s)1

The Mosque
The only minaret of 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.This was the first proposed built mosque in Scotland. The land was acquired and the preferred architectural design meant that the architect had to travel to Turkey and Jeddah. 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 is arched with etched glass doors of a floral design. In the courtyard one of the most noticeable features is the Minaret (tower) where traditionally the Muezzin recites the call to prayer stands.

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 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.[3]

Controversies

In February 2016, Habib ur Rehman Rauf, religious head of the mosque, was quoted in the media supporting the actions of Mumtaz Qadri who assassinated Pakistani politician Salman Taseer whilst acting as his security guard. Imam Habib claimed his messages were taken out of context.[4][5][6]

Qadri disagreed with Taseer's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy law.[7]

In April 2016 International Business Times revealed that the mosque held annual Khatme Nabuwwat conferences. The mosque president, Dr Mohammed Shafi Kausar refuted the existence of any secular group at the mosque.

Also in April 2016, representatives of Glasgow Central Mosque rejected an invitation to a vigil in memory of Asad Shah, a Pakistani shopkeeper assassinated by a Pakistani Muslim extremist.[8]

Imams

There is currently one Imam at Glasgow Central Mosque. [9]

  • Shaykh Abdul Ghafoor Ahmad

See also

References
  1. "Glasgow Central Mosque". Muslims in Britain. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  2. "Muslims In Britain".
  3. Sutton, Matty. "Scotland and Islam". www.heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. "UK imam lauds extremist killer in Pakistan; courts controversy". India Today. PTI. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  5. McKay, Calum. "Glasgow mosque leader praises extremist killer". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  6. Piggott, Mark (25 March 2016). "Glasgow: Imam of Central Mosque criticised for praising Pakistani terrorist who killed politician". International Business Times. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  7. Haider, Zeeshan; Georgy, Michael (4 January 2011). "Pakistan's Punjab province governor shot dead". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  8. "Scottish Muslim groups fail to attend Ahmadi anti-extremism event". The Guardian. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  9. https://centralmosque.co.uk/about-us/our-team/
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