Bureau report:
Manchester:
Central Mosque, Victoria Park, Manchester, opened its doors to all, and around 105,000 Muslims from different ethnic backgrounds visited the mosque during the month of Ramadan to offer prayers, including Taraweeh, and to attend community iftars. People from different faiths were also invited to the mosque to share the iftar meal with Muslims. These activities were carried out under the leadership of the mosque’s Chairman, Hammad Khan.
Speaking to The London Post, the Finance Secretary and Trustee of the mosque, Sohail Anwar Kaushal, said that more than 12,000 people offered Eid prayers at the Central Mosque on Eid day, where five Salat al-Fitr congregations were arranged. He added that during the 29 days of Ramadan, about105,000 people attended the mosque in one way or another, whether for Jummah, Taraweeh or daily prayers. He further stated that around 21,000 people were provided with meals at the masjid during this period. Additionally, 1,400 people attended the children’s iftar, while over 1,200 participated in the open iftar, which is organised as an interfaith event. “We had a considerable number of people coming through the doors of the mosque this month,” he added.
Speaking about ongoing development projects, he said that £105,000 has been spent on improvements, including replacing the roof, upgrading the car park, and heating system. The lift was also refurbished, costing around £70,000. The ladies’ wudu area and the kitchen have likewise been upgraded. “In the next 12 months, we intend to spend £395,000 on air conditioning units and a new vehicle for the mortuary,” he concluded.
