The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 killed 72 people and has had a lasting effect.

Over the last seven years, the center in Westbourne Park has seen up to 50 adults and children each week for counselling.

“Some of the children we see have lost loved ones or have grown up in a home which has been directly affected,” said Rachel Abedi.

She is a child and adult psychotherapist providing support to some of the 15 to 20 children the service sees per week.

“Seeing images of the fire is really triggering, and not just of the Grenfell fire, but other similar fires. We do expect to be in demand,” Ms Abedi said.

Up to 80% of those who died during the Grenfell fire identified as Muslim.

‘Faith sensitive’

A report earlier this year by the Cambridge-based Woolf Institute found that mental health provision is failing Muslims because the NHS has “a lack of specialized services that are culturally and religiously appropriate”.

The service at Al Manaar is “faith sensitive”.

“Many families say it is a relief to speak to us because we’re on the same page,” Ms. Abedi said.

On the ground floor of a brand new council block opposite Al-Manaar, a nursery will open later this year. It will be dedicated to the children of Hassan Hassan, one of Al-Manaar’s staff members.

His wife Rania Ibrahim, 31, and daughters Fethia, four, and Hania, three, lost their lives in the fire. The nursery will be his late family’s legacy.

“Rania was a volunteer here and in fact she met her husband at Al-Manaar, they got married here so they were very much part of us,” Al-Manaar manager Abdurahman Sayed said. “Seven years later (Hassan) is still mourning and so one way of consoling him is to do something in their name.”

Food too is a great unifier. Up to 2,000 worshippers can be found here each week and there is always something to eat. Food was especially important during the pandemic and now in the cost of living crisis.

It was here at the Hubb Kitchen that the Duchess of Sussex produced the cookbook “Together” with a group of women who were displaced into hotels and came to use the kitchen after the fire to make their families a home-cooked meal.

‘The door is always open’

“Hubb” means “love” in Arabic. Leila Hedgem who works at the Hubb Kitchen, cooks her Algerian-influenced dishes for the hungry after Friday prayers.

“We do cooking lessons for the children. The elderly are looked after here,” she said. “It’s where people can come in and will come in if they need help. The door is always open.”

Nothing will bring the 72 residents back. As manager Abdurahman is well aware, the challenge this week for the center, as it has been for the last seven years, will be to help people continue to come to terms with what remains.

“We do not know what will happen when the report comes out and how that will be followed up. All we can say as a faith community, as a community, is we will stay resilient. After the Grenfell fire the community came together and started supporting one another. We will continue to do that for a long time to come,” he said.

Source: BBC

The World Federation is made up of member organizations based in different regions:

• The Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa,
• The Council of European Jamaats,
• Federation of Australasian Communities,
• India Federation,
• Organization of North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities (NASIMCO),
• and The Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Pakistan.

The role of The World Federation (WF) is to facilitate endeavors of its member organizations, through strategic planning and providing necessary resources for effective implementation.

The World Federation is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

The World Federation believes that all human beings are entitled to basic provisions, and therefore one of its key strategic objectives is to undertake humanitarian projects to achieve this. The long-term aim of the World Federation is to bring about self-sufficiency within the developing world, through providing access to water, healthcare and education for all. In addition, the organization’s core values include spreading the true message of Islam as a religion that emphasizes on peace and upholding human values.

WF, with its motto ‘We Exist to Serve,’ implements its projects by working closely with partners based in different parts of the globe. Examples of projects undertaken include:

• A rapid response to emergencies and disasters worldwide
• Relieving financial deprivation through economic development and building human capacity and potential
• Provision of medical facilities and healthcare, through the running of several Health Centers and Eye Clinics worldwide
• Supporting of projects that provide for safe drinking water in developing countries
• Provision of low-cost housing
• Provision of necessities to groups that are most vulnerable, such as seniors, children and women
• Sponsoring students from developing countries who wish to study in regions where there is a high level of education, supported by adequate resources and facilities
• Engagement with various interfaith groups aimed at bridging the gap between Muslim communities and those of other religions, in order to promote community cohesion
• Publication and distribution of Islamic books

Contacts

• Address: Wood Lane Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LQ, UK
• Phone: + 44 20 8954 9881
• Fax: + 44 20 8954 9034
• Email: secretariat@world-federation.org
• Website: https://www.world-federation.org/

The current premises, known as the “Haidery Centre,” was purchased in 1982. The building houses a mosque, an Imam-bargah, and a school. It consists of three floors, encompassing an approximate working area of 12,000 square feet, and includes a separate parking lot in front of the building.

Mission

The Association was established to serve the Shia community of Montreal, a role it has fulfilled successfully for nearly 50 years. Its mission is to spread the message of the Ahl al-Bayt while contributing through volunteering and cooperative efforts within the Montreal Muslim community.

Activities

The Shiane Haidery Islamic Association actively serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the Shia community through its mosque, Imam-bargah, and school.

• In the mosque:

– Weekly Rhythms: Friday prayers and Thursday night gatherings for prayers and dhikr.
– Ramadan Rituals: Daily prayers, Qur’an recitations, and special observances on the night of Qadr.
– Eid Celebrations: Prayers for Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha.
– Funeral prayers

• In the Imam-bargah:

– Cultural Commemorations: Majalis and Milad events to honor significant figures in Islamm including Muharram majalis and Eid-i Ghadeer Khumm celebration.
– Spiritual Gatherings: Majalis-i Sawab for communal spiritual reward.
– Youth Programs: Tailored programs for young people in multiple languages.
– Women’s Programs: Special events for women on notable occasions.

• At the Haidery Centre:

– Life Milestones: Conducting matrimonial ceremonies and funeral arrangements.
– Membership Meetings: Regular meetings, fundraising, and social events.

• In the school:

– Sunday School: Religious and Quranic education for children, supplemented with practical skills training.

Contacts

• Address: 2174 Ave Belgrave, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 2LB, Canada
• Phone: +1 (514) 483-1273
• Email: info@shianehaidery.com
• Website: www.shianehaidery.com

What Community Should Feel Like

Established in 1978, the Islamic Center at New York University (ICNYU) functions within the Division of Student Affairs at New York University, a private institution of higher education and research located in lower Manhattan. ICNYU is overseen by the Office of the Muslim Chaplain, established in April 2007 to meet the needs of a growing Muslim community.

The Islamic Center at NYU provides a safe place for individuals with multiple points of entry to learn, pray, socialize, and utilize a space situated at intellectual and spiritual crossroads. The center offers a variety of services and activities, including Jumu’ah Prayers, classes and Halaqas for youth men and women, events for Shi’a and Ja’fari, Latino Muslims, families, Majalis for Muharram, Arba’een, Ramadan, etc.

Inspired by the idea that America’s Muslim community will best develop in a supportive environment, the Islamic Center has not only seen tremendous increase in membership but has motivated its student population to find new ways of harnessing their resources and expanding their relationships with the wider community.

Today’s Islamic Center caters to a wide and growing audience, reaching not only Muslims in New York City but also individuals from other communities. The Islamic Center at NYU is dedicated to fostering a sense of awareness, activism and scholarship among the Muslim community both on and off campus.

Administration and Staff

• Imam Khalid Latif, Executive Director and University Chaplain
• Faiyaz Jaffer, Associate Chaplain and Research Scholar
• Amira Shouman, Associate Director

Contacts

• Address: The Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, 4th Floor, 238 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012, US
• Phone: +1 (212) 998-4712
• Email: info@icnyu.org
• Website: https://icnyu.org/

Islamic education is the cornerstone of being a good Muslim and citizen. Essex Islamic Academy is dedicated to this cause and offers education classes for children and adults. The Mosque caters for both boys and girls (girls form 4 year and boys from the age of 5).

Students follow a structured syllabus throughout their time at the Maktab/Madressa and progress is assessed annually through oral and written examinations, as well as assessments during the year.

Vision
To be an exemplary Muslim community organization in East London in providing Islamic guidance and services to the community.

Mission
To serve the spiritual, religious and communal needs of East London area Muslims by means of nurturing their faith, upholding their values, and fostering the well-being of the community through worship, charity, education, outreach, and civic engagement.

Contacts

• Address: 343 Ripple Rd, Barking, Essex IG11 7RR, UK
• Phone: +44 20 3802 2149
• Mobile: +44 7944 605984
• Email: info@essexislamicacademy.org
• Website: https://essexislamicacademy.org/

The Islamic Center of New England (ICNE) founded in 1964, is an institution dedicated to the betterment of both Muslims and society at large and draws its strength and guidance from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), may the peace and blessings of Allah be bestowed upon him. It has masajid (mosques) at two sites, one in Quincy, MA and the second in Sharon, MA.

Today, the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, MA has a beautiful large prayer room, social hall, and school, with plenty of land for further expansion. The Center has become a model of peaceful co-existence and is open for interfaith dialogue, socializing, and learning.

The Intra-Faith Community Relations Committee is responsible for the relationships between Muslims and other Muslims, both within ICNE and between ICNE and other masjids in the Greater Boston area. Our goal is to ensure that ICNE is a place where everybody feels connected and welcome.

Mission

• To promote connections and harmony between different groups within the community.
• To create and strengthen bonds between members of ICNE and members of other Boston-area masjids.
• To take pro-active steps to make ICNE an anti-racist community that promotes racial equity both within the local community and in the Greater Boston area.

Contacts

Address (Sharon Mosque): 74 Chase Dr, Sharon, MA 02067, USA

Phone (Sharon Mosque): +1 781 806 0942

Address (Quincy Mosque): 470 South St, Quincy, MA 02169, USA

Phone (Quincy Mosque): +1 617 479 8341

Email: icne_email@icne.net

Website: http://www.icne.net/

Hyderi Islamic Centre is now an integral part of the local community, conveying Islam as a faith that is not only peaceful, but also positively cohesive and beneficial to the wider British society.

History

There was a further wave of emigration in the mid to late 20th century of Khoja families from East Africa to the West, primarily to the USA, UK and Canada, notably with the expulsion of Asians from Uganda by Idi Amin. The community has since organized itself into an organized network with Jamaats (organizations) around the globe, stretching from Canada to Australia.

In 2020, under the leadership of Dr Liaket Dewji, they relocated to Croydon in Greater London, fondly known as Hyderi Pioneer Place.

Activities

Hyderi caters for the religious needs of the local community with daily evening prayers and weekly supplications and lectures on Thursday nights. Aside from the weekly Thursday night programs at Hyderi, the center is constantly a bustling hub of activity. The center has regular interfaith programs with local groups, and have invited politicians and local community leaders to speak at the center to discuss pressing issues.

The Hyderi Senior Citizens’ Association hold weekly activities, including health talks and excursions both locally and abroad.

Hyderi Islamic School is a Saturday school providing Islamic education for children aged between 5-18, and was the first such Islamic school in the UK to implement the GCSE and A-level qualifications in Islamic Studies into its curriculum.

Hyderi Sports teams meet weekly and partake in national and international tournaments, and provide a constant influx of trophies to add to the centre’s cabinets!

Contacts

• Address: 6 Pioneer Place, Croydon, CRO 9AW, UK
• Phone: +44 208 769 7553
• Email: secretariat@hyderi.org.uk
• Website: https://www.hyderi.org.uk/

The Islamic Center of America traces its history to the 1940s when the growing number of Muslims in the Detroit region brought Imam Mohammed Jawad Chirri from Lebanon in February 1949. The Islamic Center’s new 120,000 sq. ft. mosque opened in May 2005. It is reputed to be the largest mosque in North America and the oldest Shia Mosque in the United States. The Shia Arab population forms the major worshiping group, but Sunnis also pray there, and people of all faiths are welcome. The mosque has space for 1,000 individuals at prayer time.

The Islamic Center of America is one of North America’s oldest institutions. It has been serving the needs of Muslims in the greater Detroit area and throughout the United States.

Center’s mission is to Provide Comprehensive Islamic Services and Education to the North American Muslim and Non-Muslim Communities; furthermore the Center promotes Understanding and Networking with the Community at Large.

The mosque includes a vast meeting hall that can be divided into several smaller rooms, an industrial kitchen, a spacious prayer room, mezzanine, offices, meeting rooms, and a library. Glazed brick was used to veneer two decorative domes at the main entrance and the round mosque at the center of the building. In addition, two 110-foot towers called minarets were erected.

ICOA’s Goals:

• Perpetuate the social, moral, and religious standards of Islam in the United States

• Help Muslims practice Islam as a belief, a behavior, and a way of life

• Conduct programs and establish facilities to preserve and relate the Islamic knowledge to young Muslims

• Provide and facilitate social services including counseling to those in need

• Cherish the bonds of friendship and understanding between Muslims and non- Muslims within the framework of Islam

The mosque operates the Muslim American Youth Academy (MAYA), an Islamic private elementary and middle school. MAYA is a pre-k through 8th grade private Islamic school located in Dearborn, Michigan. They have been in operation for over 20 years.  MAYA is relatively homogeneous, both culturally and religiously.

Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini led the center in 1997, several years after Imam Chirri’s passing, and assumed the role of religious leader for 18 years. The Islamic Center of America outgrew its original Detroit location and in 2005 moved to its present location on Ford Road in Dearborn. The Detroit Mosque at the center’s original site is now known as the Az-Zahra Center, where prayers services are still offered.

The ICofA is renowned for its wide range of religious, educational, and public programs. It has long been recognized as one of Dearborn’s most vibrant and influential Muslim entities.

Contacts

Address: 19500 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA

Phone: +1 313 593-0000

Email: contact@icofa.com

Website: icofa.com

“They’re trying to strike fear between neighbors, between the very fabric of society that we spent so much time trying to make sure that we knitted,” said Awad, a New Jersey native, sitting in the offices of the 27-year-old Paterson mosque.

Like Muslims around the country, New Jersey’s have been slogging through a particularly painful year. On the campaign trail, the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, falsely claimed that Muslims in Jersey City celebrated when the World Trade Center fell, as he sought to promote a proposed national database for Muslims and increased surveillance of mosques. Gov. Chris Christie, who once sharply dismissed those who questioned the loyalty of a Muslim judicial appointee, has endorsed Trump.

And now New Jersey Muslims are facing the broad scrutiny that follows when someone in their community is suspected of being a militant…It is the latest difficulty for one of the larger Muslim communities in the United States. Muslims comprise about 1 percent of the U.S. population, but make up about 3 percent of the residents in New Jersey, according to the Pew Research Center. New Jersey Muslims are predominantly African-American, Arab or South Asian, plus Muslim asylum seekers from the Balkans and elsewhere. Several Muslims serve as state judges and mayors, among other public positions.

In Elizabeth, Muslims have had a presence since at least the mid-20^th century, developing mainly from a community of African-American Muslims and eventually growing to encompass immigrants from around the world, Abedellah said. Friday prayer at Darul Islam can draw as many as 500 people.

The Sept. 11 attacks hit hard in New Jersey. Hundreds of victims of the suicide hijackings came from the state. In the aftermath, Muslim leaders joined with other religious and community leaders to quell any backlash.

Continue reading at: The Associated Press

The first of three planned buildings, a multi-purpose facility, is well underway; officials hope it will be complete in about a year’s time. It’s expected to include amenities such as a multimedia Islamic library and prayer and gymnasium space. Association vice-president and University of Waterloo professor emeritus Mohamed Elmasry said they’d also like to have an international-sized outdoor soccer field completed during the first phase that could host competitions.

Subsequent buildings will house a mosque and a school, Elmasry said. “The Muslim community in Kitchener-Waterloo is growing very fast,” he said, pointing to the recent arrival of Syrian refugee families and large Muslim student populations at local universities as factors in that growth.

The association was founded in 1985. Elmasry said the group has raised more than $2 million since the Islamic center project began, and said they need another $1 million in order to complete the first phase. The subsequent two phases could each cost an additional $5 million to $6 million, he said. The association hopes the entire project can be completed in about three years. Elmasry said the group is looking for donations from across Canada and from graduates of local universities who are now working overseas. The association is also preparing applications for provincial and national infrastructure grants, he said.

Continue reading at: The Waterloo Region Record