AhlulBayt News Agency: A growing Muslim population in the market town of Selby, England, has sparked plans for a dedicated Islamic centre to meet the community’s needs.
The number of attendees at Friday prayers in Selby has doubled in the past two years, but the town currently lacks a mosque. Worship sessions are conducted by Mohamed Osman, an imam who travels from York to lead prayers at the local community centre.
Mr. Osman described the community as small but steadily expanding. "Selby is making us very welcome and our doors are open. It is at an early stage, but we are working towards having an established, integrated mosque," he said.
In addition to serving as an imam, Mr. Osman is a biomedical sciences lecturer at the University of York. He initiated outreach efforts in Selby two years ago in collaboration with the York Mosque to provide a consistent location for local Muslims to gather for prayers.
Previously, worshippers from Selby had to travel to York or Doncaster to attend services.
He noted that the growing attendance at Friday prayers is largely due to having a fixed venue at the community centre. "It is also helping with integration. Everyone can see us here, it is very important for us to be a part of the community; we don't want to be working in isolation," he added.
Fundraising efforts are underway to establish a permanent mosque, which Mr. Osman described as a broader project stemming from the existing Friday prayer sessions.
For Akhtar Zaman, a newsagent and convenience store owner who moved to Selby in 2016, the introduction of Friday prayer gatherings has been transformative. Before these sessions began, he would pray at home.
"These Friday prayers have made such a difference," Mr. Zaman said, BBC reported.
"We can get together, make new friends, and really feel like a community. That is so important to us, to be able to worship and support each other. Every Friday more people are coming. Word is getting around, and even those working in Selby from out of town are joining us."
Somaya Abdel-Aal, a resident of Eggborough, previously traveled to a mosque in Doncaster when her work schedule allowed. The local prayer sessions in Selby have significantly improved her access to worship.
"It has made quite a big difference having somewhere local," she said. Looking ahead, Ms. Abdel-Aal expressed enthusiasm for plans to create a larger space. "The future plans are exciting. It would be nice to have a bigger place, more space for women, children, and families. It’s really important that communities feel settled and have access to something that meets their needs."
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The number of attendees at Friday prayers in Selby has doubled in the past two years, but the town currently lacks a mosque. Worship sessions are conducted by Mohamed Osman, an imam who travels from York to lead prayers at the local community centre.
Mr. Osman described the community as small but steadily expanding. "Selby is making us very welcome and our doors are open. It is at an early stage, but we are working towards having an established, integrated mosque," he said.
In addition to serving as an imam, Mr. Osman is a biomedical sciences lecturer at the University of York. He initiated outreach efforts in Selby two years ago in collaboration with the York Mosque to provide a consistent location for local Muslims to gather for prayers.
Previously, worshippers from Selby had to travel to York or Doncaster to attend services.
He noted that the growing attendance at Friday prayers is largely due to having a fixed venue at the community centre. "It is also helping with integration. Everyone can see us here, it is very important for us to be a part of the community; we don't want to be working in isolation," he added.
Fundraising efforts are underway to establish a permanent mosque, which Mr. Osman described as a broader project stemming from the existing Friday prayer sessions.
For Akhtar Zaman, a newsagent and convenience store owner who moved to Selby in 2016, the introduction of Friday prayer gatherings has been transformative. Before these sessions began, he would pray at home.
"These Friday prayers have made such a difference," Mr. Zaman said, BBC reported.
"We can get together, make new friends, and really feel like a community. That is so important to us, to be able to worship and support each other. Every Friday more people are coming. Word is getting around, and even those working in Selby from out of town are joining us."
Somaya Abdel-Aal, a resident of Eggborough, previously traveled to a mosque in Doncaster when her work schedule allowed. The local prayer sessions in Selby have significantly improved her access to worship.
"It has made quite a big difference having somewhere local," she said. Looking ahead, Ms. Abdel-Aal expressed enthusiasm for plans to create a larger space. "The future plans are exciting. It would be nice to have a bigger place, more space for women, children, and families. It’s really important that communities feel settled and have access to something that meets their needs."
/129