Over the past 25 years, the Bolton Council of Mosques, also known as BCOM, has been offering services like funeral assistance, free counselling and DBS checks, as well as other services.

“The main reason is we are a volunteer organization, under one umbrella, we represent the interests of all of the mosques in Bolton,” said Imteyaz Ali, secretary of BCOM.

“We work closely with the local authority, GMP, the judicial services, the hospital and various other agencies in aspects of community cohesion.”

“The organization has been going from strength to strength over 25 years, and this award could not have been possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers,” he said.

Mr. Imteyaz Ali continued: “We are thankful to our partners, if it wasn’t for our working relationship, then we wouldn’t be able to provide these services. We are also thankful to our mosques and everyone in the wider community who support us.”

The King’s Awards for Voluntary Service is for outstanding achievement by UK voluntary groups – they are the highest official awards in the country for voluntary groups and are equivalent to an MBE, and they are awarded for life.

Of Bolton’s approximate 280,000 population, 12% are members of the Muslim faith. The growing community is served by 28 mosques across the town.

An estimated 6,000 pupils attend Madrasa schools at Bolton Mosques today.

Source: Bolton News

Extending a helping hand to the needy in their community, West Virginia University’s Muslim Students Association (MSA) joined forces with Islamic Relief USA on a Sunday afternoon, to pack 30,000 meals for nearby food shelters.

Despite West Virginia’s small Muslim population, the meals will be provided to those in need, regardless of their faith, according to Omar Sabbagh, Vice President of the WVU Muslim Students Association. Over 100 volunteers, including both Muslims and non-Muslims, have actively participated in packing the meals.

“This is what Islam is. It’s helping people that truly need it, and being there for the community because most of these meals are not going to Muslims. These meals are going to everyone that needs it, and this is who we are as Muslims.” Said Sabbagh, gesturing to the more than 100 volunteers who were busy packing meals.

Islam encompasses the concepts of community service in its morals. Showing kindness to people and charity to the less fortunate are strongly emphasized moral virtues in Islam.

More information at: WBOY 12 News