Madina Mosque welcomes all for open day

Madina Masjid Rochdale were pleased to hold their annual mosque open day

Madina Mosque welcomed around 50 guests from different beliefs and backgrounds to the annual open day on Sunday (3 March).

Guests had a personal tour guide to show them around the mosque and explain to them the role of the mosque in the society, plus an exhibition tackling common taboos and misconceptions.

The guests were warmly welcomed by the Imam and committee members with smiles and offerings of food and drink, as the Muslim tradition gives emphasis so heavily on guests’ and neighbours’ rights.

Amongst the visitors were Rochdale’s MP Tony Lloyd, Mayor Mohammed Zaman and Leader of the Council Allen Brett, plus other local councillors and congregational members from various churches.

Nabeel Tariq, a member of the mosque, told visitors it was “a community hub, a safe haven for everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim.”

Amir Zia, the acting President, said Madina Masjid was proud to open up to the wider community.

He said: “We are open to all; we want to live side by side. We don’t want people fearing us. They have nothing to fear, this is the ideal opportunity to reach out and educate people.

“We encourage people to visit our Mosque to learn about our work and to see how we can help the wider community with our projects.

“We need to hold more events similar to this and plan to do so throughout the year.”

Councillor Shakil Ahmed added: “The Madina Mosque already works closely with people from the wider community. During the recent cold snap, the mosque helped the homeless with blankets and initiaives such as the cold survival kit. Members of the mosque also run a food bank once a month.”