Islamic Centre of England
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Centre of England Ltd (ICEL) is a religious and cultural building at 140 Maida Vale
, London
. It was established in 1996 by Ayatollah Mohsen Araki
to cater for the cultural, social and emotional needs of the Iranian community living outside of Iran
.
ic teachings and religious awareness.
It has established itself as an educational centre for those who intend to increase their knowledge of Islamic principles and cultural values and therefore, helping to strengthen the social structure of the community. The Centre is provides counselling and support in all areas of family life including: pre-marital counselling, marital contracts, marital relationships, parenting.
The Centre, in common with other Islamic organisations in Europe
, wishes to provide spiritual guidance for the Muslim community at large, and also wishes to cater for the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of members of the community – especially women and the next generation.
The Centre's other main objective manifests itself in its sincere effort to disseminate authentic knowledge about Islam and to provide non-Muslims with a better and clearer understanding of Islam.
ICEL seeks to build bridges with the society at large and establish closer ties between peoples of different faiths and cultures all over the world.
, measuring 20 x 16m, which is capable of accommodating some 450 people; it is used for holding major functions. There is also a smaller hall on a raised platform, measuring 20 x 6m, used mainly for prayers. The first floor comprises two halls, the first measuring 20 x 6m and the second 8 x 8m; they are capable of accommodating 150 and 50 people respectively. The library is situated on the first floor.
The annex comprises a bookshop.
The main hall is equipped with audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, a giant screen for showing films, public address and simultaneous translation systems. There is also a stage that can be used, amongst other things, for theatrical performances.
The Islamic Centre of England wishes to provide services to members of the Muslim community, in particular*, and the wider community at large, across a number of fields; religious guidance and cultural issues are at the forefront.
Highly qualified religious scholars have offered their services to The Islamic Centre of England in order to provide religious guidance, advice and counselling.
Questions are received from all over the world via telephone, fax, and email and in person. Since the questions stem from Muslims as well as non-Muslims coming from different ethno-religious backgrounds, our answers aim to provide a modern, detailed and clear response. These answers are compiled for a publication. RES has already published many books containing these questions and answers.
The main areas of work covered by this department are: Solemnisation of Marriages, Family Consultation, Miscellaneous social affairs, Islamic Divorce procedures and responding to many other queries related to the above issues as well as conversion to Islam. The department offers an excellent opportunity to gauge the extent of problems or trends in Islamic communities due to having direct access to real people.
The Islamic Community in London can benefit from a variety of courses and educational activities designed to improve one’s understanding of Islamic principles and practices.
In addition to the above, the Centre also opens its doors to any groups or individuals interested in acquiring a better understanding of Islam and Muslims. Educational sessions can be held for groups or on a one-to-one basis.
To this effect the Centre has established direct links with a number of schools and universities for which it provides regular lessons to visiting students.
ICEL also celebrates the anniversary of the Public Declaration of the Mission of the prophet Muhammad.
Islamic Centre of England seizes the opportunity of the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad to observe a week of celebrations with the theme of “Islam Unity”. While celebrating this auspicious event, the occasion is utilised to serve as a reminder that the Muslim Ummah (community) is one.
Publications and Distribution:
The Islamic Centre of England has a team of competent staff and advisers who are charged with the responsibility of the publication and distribution of printed material in English, Persian, Arabic and Urdu. 'Living Islam' is a monthly newsletter which is published and distributed in these four languages.
The Library contains a few thousand volumes on different topics. It regularly receives magazines, periodicals and newsletters dealing with Islamic issues and studies. Other publications, in English, Persian, Arabic and Urdu, aimed at giving information about Islam, can be acquired free of charge. The Centre welcomes scholars, researchers and students to make use of the library.
The Bookshop stocks a wide range of multilingual books, magazines, journals, audio tapes, CDs and DVDs. In addition, there are posters, calendars and items of Islamic arts.
Maida Vale
Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was established in 1996 by Ayatollah Mohsen Araki
Mohsen Araki
Ayatollah Sheikh Mohsen Araki is an Iranian scholar, cleric, university lecturer, and politician. He is a former member of the Assembly of Experts in Iran, and a prominent Iranian cleric and one of the students of the Islamic thinker Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr.-Life:He was born in...
to cater for the cultural, social and emotional needs of the Iranian community living outside of Iran
Iranian citizens abroad
The term Iranians abroad or Iranian diaspora refers to the Iranian people born in Iran but living outside of Iran with their children.As of 2010, there are an estimated four to five million Iranians living abroad, mostly in North America, Europe, Persian Gulf States, Turkey, Australia and the...
.
General information
Since its establishment the Islamic Centre of England has become a landmark in the propagation of IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic teachings and religious awareness.
It has established itself as an educational centre for those who intend to increase their knowledge of Islamic principles and cultural values and therefore, helping to strengthen the social structure of the community. The Centre is provides counselling and support in all areas of family life including: pre-marital counselling, marital contracts, marital relationships, parenting.
Introduction
The Islamic Centre of England-London (ICEL) was founded in December 1995, and opened officially in November 1998.The Centre, in common with other Islamic organisations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, wishes to provide spiritual guidance for the Muslim community at large, and also wishes to cater for the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of members of the community – especially women and the next generation.
The Centre's other main objective manifests itself in its sincere effort to disseminate authentic knowledge about Islam and to provide non-Muslims with a better and clearer understanding of Islam.
ICEL seeks to build bridges with the society at large and establish closer ties between peoples of different faiths and cultures all over the world.
Facilities
The building of the Islamic Centre of England is a listed building, which has been refurbished to assume an Islamic decorative hue. On its ground level the building boasts a grand hallHall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
, measuring 20 x 16m, which is capable of accommodating some 450 people; it is used for holding major functions. There is also a smaller hall on a raised platform, measuring 20 x 6m, used mainly for prayers. The first floor comprises two halls, the first measuring 20 x 6m and the second 8 x 8m; they are capable of accommodating 150 and 50 people respectively. The library is situated on the first floor.
The annex comprises a bookshop.
The main hall is equipped with audio-visual equipment, such as projectors, a giant screen for showing films, public address and simultaneous translation systems. There is also a stage that can be used, amongst other things, for theatrical performances.
The Islamic Centre of England wishes to provide services to members of the Muslim community, in particular*, and the wider community at large, across a number of fields; religious guidance and cultural issues are at the forefront.
Highly qualified religious scholars have offered their services to The Islamic Centre of England in order to provide religious guidance, advice and counselling.
- The community members are from wide and different backgrounds and ways of life, culture, race and language, including non-Muslims, indigenous and migrated namely; Afghani, Arabs, British, Eastern European, Canadian, Germans, Indian, Italian, Pakistani, Philippines.
Religious Enquires Section
The Religious Enquires Section (RES) of the Islamic Centre of England was set up at the very beginning. It comprises a highly competent team of multilingual experts who will deal with every question according to the linguistic background of the enquirer. Following an initial assessment, queries will be answered.Questions are received from all over the world via telephone, fax, and email and in person. Since the questions stem from Muslims as well as non-Muslims coming from different ethno-religious backgrounds, our answers aim to provide a modern, detailed and clear response. These answers are compiled for a publication. RES has already published many books containing these questions and answers.
Family and Social Affairs Department
The Family and Social Affairs Department of the Islamic Centre of England was one of the first departments to be set up upon the establishment of the Centre. This section is a refuge and reference for the community to seek advice and consideration of their family and social affairs, individually and collectively.The main areas of work covered by this department are: Solemnisation of Marriages, Family Consultation, Miscellaneous social affairs, Islamic Divorce procedures and responding to many other queries related to the above issues as well as conversion to Islam. The department offers an excellent opportunity to gauge the extent of problems or trends in Islamic communities due to having direct access to real people.
Cultural Activities
In its drive to disseminate authentic knowledge about Islam, the Islamic Centre of England organises several conferences and seminars every year in collaboration with British and other International educational and cultural institutions. In the last few years a number of such seminars were organised on a variety of topics. From the purely religious to the day-to-day, the Centre invites specialists in different topics to give weekly lectures. Since Muslims in the UK form a mosaic of ethnicity, ICE provides speakers in four different languages for these weekly lectures: English, Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.Educational Activities
The Islamic Centre of England provides a range of educational classes for both Muslims and non-Muslims.The Islamic Community in London can benefit from a variety of courses and educational activities designed to improve one’s understanding of Islamic principles and practices.
In addition to the above, the Centre also opens its doors to any groups or individuals interested in acquiring a better understanding of Islam and Muslims. Educational sessions can be held for groups or on a one-to-one basis.
To this effect the Centre has established direct links with a number of schools and universities for which it provides regular lessons to visiting students.
Islamic Calendar Events
ICEL celebrate the occasion of the month-long fast of Ramadan by holding gathering for congregational prayers, recitation of the Holy Quran, giving lectures and providing meals for the devotees to break their daytime fast.ICEL also celebrates the anniversary of the Public Declaration of the Mission of the prophet Muhammad.
Islamic Centre of England seizes the opportunity of the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad to observe a week of celebrations with the theme of “Islam Unity”. While celebrating this auspicious event, the occasion is utilised to serve as a reminder that the Muslim Ummah (community) is one.
Publications and Distribution:
The Islamic Centre of England has a team of competent staff and advisers who are charged with the responsibility of the publication and distribution of printed material in English, Persian, Arabic and Urdu. 'Living Islam' is a monthly newsletter which is published and distributed in these four languages.
Library and Bookshop
Other aspects of the cultural landscape, which ICEL strives to make an impact on, include the publication of printed matters such as books and leaflets, audio cassettes CDs and DVDs materials. These deal mainly with Islamic issues and religious practice.The Library contains a few thousand volumes on different topics. It regularly receives magazines, periodicals and newsletters dealing with Islamic issues and studies. Other publications, in English, Persian, Arabic and Urdu, aimed at giving information about Islam, can be acquired free of charge. The Centre welcomes scholars, researchers and students to make use of the library.
The Bookshop stocks a wide range of multilingual books, magazines, journals, audio tapes, CDs and DVDs. In addition, there are posters, calendars and items of Islamic arts.