Edinburgh Central Mosque
Encyclopedia
Edinburgh Central Mosque (officially known as the King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh) is located on Potterrow near the University of Edinburgh
central area and the National Museum of Scotland
. The mosque
and Islamic centre was designed by Basil Al-Bayati, and took more than six years to complete at a cost of £3.5m. The main hall can hold over one thousand worshippers, with women praying on a balcony overlooking the hall. The mosque holds chandeliers and a vast carpet, with very little furniture.
The architecture combines traditional Islamic features with some Scots baronial style.
1419) the mosque was opened by his son Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd, who was also the project patron.
The main hall is where the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah
) and the five daily prayers (Salah) are held. There are two chandeliers, a vast carpet, and chairs for the elderly and disabled. Many short lectures and small discussion groups are held here, although such groups must give notice. The mosque also offers funeral services and the prayer Salat al-Janazah. There are two side entrances to the hall and a small glass room which also has a separate entrance/exit with a ramp for the disabled.
) rooms for both male and female. The males' contains 21 ablution washers, nine flush toilets, four Squat toilets and six sinks. A toilet for the elderly is also available near the door. The room is constantly cleaned and is very modern. As of 2010, the mosque has received additional funding and the decision has been made to upgrade the ablution facilities to accommodate more people; there will also be a separate room for the Islamic funeral
process of bathing the dead body and enshrouding.
. The room is mainly used for storage but opens every year for the Islam Festival Edinburgh.
southern/middle eastern Asian food, including various meat and vegetable curries, with rice or naan on the side. Barbecued chicken, shish kebabs and corn on the cob are also available on some days as well as barbecues on Saturdays. The sitting area is specially opened at Iftar
time during ramadan for the Muslims opening their fast. In August 2007, the Scotsman newspaper placed the Edinburgh Central Mosque's adjoining restaurant top of their list of Best Festival Food.
Also the Mosque Kitchen has moved to indoor seating round the corner to 33 Nicholson Square amidst a dispute with the mosque.
The Islam Festival Edinburgh (IFE, and also known as the Discover Islam Exhibition) is part of the Edinburgh Festival
. It is held in this mosque during the entire month of August every year. The mosque is opened to the public, who are free to come and go as they please. The exhibition has been a massive success and has been given good reviews.
The exhibition is held in the multi-purpose hall where Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome. There are posters that teach about specific Islamic topics, such as Islamic art, Qur'an translation, and so on. Entrance is free and there are no restrictions on entry, though visitors are reminded that they are in a place of worship.
Usually special events are held on Saturdays. For example, every year there is usually a weekend class on Arabic calligraphy and a presentation of Arabic art. There are also lectures from various figures, for example Abdul Raheem Green and Dr Jamal Badawi
. Many speakers come back each year, for example Farkhanda Chaudhry MBE who in 2007 gave a talk on "Women and Islam" and in 2009 "Women, Islam and Liberation". There is also Idris Tawfiq with "Who's afraid of Sharia
law?" and "The Muslim Jesus" throughout the last couple of exhibitions. Several well known people have visited the exhibition, including the First Minister
's advisors, and MPs like Sir Menzies Campbell.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
central area and the National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the Royal Museum next door, with collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world...
. The mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and Islamic centre was designed by Basil Al-Bayati, and took more than six years to complete at a cost of £3.5m. The main hall can hold over one thousand worshippers, with women praying on a balcony overlooking the hall. The mosque holds chandeliers and a vast carpet, with very little furniture.
The architecture combines traditional Islamic features with some Scots baronial style.
History
Prior to its construction, there was no mosque large enough to fulfill the needs of the Muslims in the city centre of Edinburgh. As the Muslim population increased a large mosque became viable. Eventually, the project was able to purchase land from the City Council with the proviso that an existing listed building be preserved and used. The project ran into funding difficulties; but these were solved when King Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated 90% of the project's total cost. On 31 July 1998 (8 Rabi' al-thaniRabi' al-thani
Rabī’ al-Thānī is the fourth month in the Islamic Calendar. It is also known as Rabī` al-Ākhir .-Timing:The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year,...
1419) the mosque was opened by his son Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd, who was also the project patron.
Main prayer hall
Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon in lieu of dhuhr...
) and the five daily prayers (Salah) are held. There are two chandeliers, a vast carpet, and chairs for the elderly and disabled. Many short lectures and small discussion groups are held here, although such groups must give notice. The mosque also offers funeral services and the prayer Salat al-Janazah. There are two side entrances to the hall and a small glass room which also has a separate entrance/exit with a ramp for the disabled.
Ablution
There are separate ablution (wuduWudu
Wuḍhu is the Islamic procedure for washing parts of the body using water often in preparation for formal prayers...
) rooms for both male and female. The males' contains 21 ablution washers, nine flush toilets, four Squat toilets and six sinks. A toilet for the elderly is also available near the door. The room is constantly cleaned and is very modern. As of 2010, the mosque has received additional funding and the decision has been made to upgrade the ablution facilities to accommodate more people; there will also be a separate room for the Islamic funeral
Islamic funeral
Funerals in Islam follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, sharia calls for burial of the body, preceded by a simple ritual involving bathing and shrouding the body, followed by salah...
process of bathing the dead body and enshrouding.
Multi-purpose hall
A second hall is located downstairs; it is much smaller than the main prayer hall. The room is sometimes opened for Friday prayers and Salat al EidSalat al Eid
Salat al Eid also known as Salat al Eidain is the special prayer offered to commemorate two Islamic festivals. Both the Eids are collectively known as Eidain in Arabic language...
. The room is mainly used for storage but opens every year for the Islam Festival Edinburgh.
The library
There is a medium sized library that holds a large variety of Islamic books for selling and lending. The library is opened from the morning to evening. It also holds many services such as classes in Arabic and the Qur'an as well as group discussions such as the "Brother circle", since there are two medium sized tables and chairs.Mosque Kitchen
The Mosque Kitchen (formerly called the Lunch Box) was opened to the public in 2004. It offers takeaway, outdoor tables and catering. The capacity is roughly 80–100. The menu consists of halalHalal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
southern/middle eastern Asian food, including various meat and vegetable curries, with rice or naan on the side. Barbecued chicken, shish kebabs and corn on the cob are also available on some days as well as barbecues on Saturdays. The sitting area is specially opened at Iftar
Iftar
Iftar , refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is done right after Maghrib time...
time during ramadan for the Muslims opening their fast. In August 2007, the Scotsman newspaper placed the Edinburgh Central Mosque's adjoining restaurant top of their list of Best Festival Food.
Also the Mosque Kitchen has moved to indoor seating round the corner to 33 Nicholson Square amidst a dispute with the mosque.
Islam Festival Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. It is held in this mosque during the entire month of August every year. The mosque is opened to the public, who are free to come and go as they please. The exhibition has been a massive success and has been given good reviews.
The exhibition is held in the multi-purpose hall where Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome. There are posters that teach about specific Islamic topics, such as Islamic art, Qur'an translation, and so on. Entrance is free and there are no restrictions on entry, though visitors are reminded that they are in a place of worship.
Usually special events are held on Saturdays. For example, every year there is usually a weekend class on Arabic calligraphy and a presentation of Arabic art. There are also lectures from various figures, for example Abdul Raheem Green and Dr Jamal Badawi
Jamal Badawi
Jamal A. Badawi is an Egyptian born Muslim Canadian former professor in the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a well-known author, preacher and speaker on Islam....
. Many speakers come back each year, for example Farkhanda Chaudhry MBE who in 2007 gave a talk on "Women and Islam" and in 2009 "Women, Islam and Liberation". There is also Idris Tawfiq with "Who's afraid of Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law?" and "The Muslim Jesus" throughout the last couple of exhibitions. Several well known people have visited the exhibition, including the First Minister
First Minister
A First Minister is the leader of a government cabinet.-Canada:In Canada, "First Ministers" is a collective term that refers to all Canadian first ministers of the Crown, otherwise known as heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the provincial and territorial premiers...
's advisors, and MPs like Sir Menzies Campbell.
See also
- Islam in the United KingdomIslam in the United KingdomIslam has been present in the United Kingdom since its formation in 1707, though it was not legally recognised until the Trinitarian Act in 1812. Today it is the second largest religion in the country with estimates suggesting that by 2010 the total Muslim population had reached 2.869 million.The...
- List of mosques
- Timeline of Islamic history