About Us

Al-Huda Cultural Centre & Mosque is a UK based charity, registration no. 292948. Established in 1985 by the selfless actions of few individuals with the support of East London Muslim community, may Allah (SWT) reward them all. It was the Islamic Centre & Mosque in the borough of Tower Hamlets where Friday’s Khutba and Islamic seminars were delivered in English, Somali and Arabic for the diverse, multi-cultural Muslim community that it served until its closure for re-development in 2016.

Located in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, one of the most impoverished boroughs in East London, the Centre has been successfully serving the local Muslim community and the wider public for over 30 years until its closure for re-development in early 2016 as it could no longer safely or adequately accommodate the volume of daily users it received.

Up and until its closure, the Centre saw more than 500+ people daily and served as an indispensable nexus for locals alike, delivering a wide range of community projects and services.

Al-Huda is a non-profit organisation, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registration No. 292948). Our accounts and annual returns can be found online by visiting the Charity Commission website at https://www.charitycommussion.gov.uk

This fundraising brochure has been put together as a brief guide for potential donors, sponsors, and parties interested in assisting Al-Huda to begin the construction of a purpose-built Mosque and Islamic Education Centre at the heart of the Muslim Community in Whitechapel.

We urgently need to respond to the pressing needs of the community so Al Huda can adequately provide the prayer facilities and the various community support services that it once did.

Our History

REGISTERED

Registered as a non-profit organisation, NUR-UL ISLAM SOCIETY was founded on 5th November 1985 by a group of young Muslim students and the Somali Community elders in East London. It later changed its name to THE SOMALI ISLAMIC CIRCLE to cater for the needs of the emerging Somali refugees who started settling in Tower Hamlets in the early 1990’s due to the civil war Somalia. Activities run from a rented property not far from the current location. As the number of users grew in parallel with growing community needs a search for new premises began and a fundraising plan was initiated in 1998.

1999

PURCHASE OF 91 MILE END ROAD

In September 1999, by the grace and blessing of Allah (SWT) the trustees negotiated the purchased of a derelict premise at 91 Mile End Road, a three-floor building which was formerly a Bank for £265,000.

A planning application was submitted to convert the current building into a mosque. It was estimated that once converted the building would accommodate approximately 450-500 people. The charity name was changed again to AL-HUDA CULTURAL CENTRE AND MOSQUE.

2001

INTERNAL EXTENSION

In 2001, approximately 2 years after the purchase of 91 Mile End Road, the Centre was again struggling to cope with the demands of its ever growing users.

After numerous consultations, it was agreed to add an internal maisonette extension to the ground floor to create an additional multi-purpose space and relieve some pressure on the mosque, at least in the short-medium term. By the grace of Allah (SWT), the extension works were successfully completed in that year at a
cost of approximately £80,000 pounds.

2016

CLOSURE FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT

The Centre continued to experience great difficulties from 2007 up until its closure in early 2016. During this period several planning applications were granted by Tower Hamlets to convert the current premises into a multi-purpose six-floor building but unfortunately expired purely due to lack of funds to start construction. The management team re-submitted a revised planning application in late 2015 reducing the number of floors to five and thereby reducing the estimated cost of development to £1.7 million. Unable to sustain the ongoing maintenance costs nor able to safely accommodate the volume of users, the difficult decision to close the
Centre and focus on fundraising for the new development was made in May 2016.

Our Vision

It is hoped that the new purpose – built facility will, Insha’Allah, allow a congregation of 1,000+ men and women white enhancing our on going community – based activities and services, and at the same time enable a greater interaction with the wider community (Muslims and non-Muslims).

Our Challenges

The purchase 91 Mile End (a former bank) in September 1999 acknowledged the presence of the Somali community in Tower Hamlets, who started settling in the borough in the early nineties.

Our Services

Al-Huda has been successfully serving the local Muslim community and the wider public for over 30 years until its closure for re-development in May 2016 as it could no longer safely or adequately.

Islamic Marriage

At Al-Huda, we provide advice and guidance relating to marriage and divorce. We can arrange for one of our Imams to perform your Nikkah (wedding) ceremony or you can speak to us confidentially regarding divorce or other family matters. Please contact us on 02077809495 for further advice.

Educational Workshop

We run various educational workshops at Al-Huda ranging from Islamic jurisprudence classes, tafseer (quran translation), and arabic language in both English and Somali. List of current sessions will be updated regularly on this page so please visit regularly.

Islamic School

Al-Hijrah is an Islamic Madrasah at Al-Huda for both boys and girls aged 5 – 17. The school operates on the weekends as we all two weekday evenings with lessons in Quran, Arabic and Islamic studies. The Teachers are experienced and have an enhanced CRB Check. Please contact 02077809495 for further information.

Divorce