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Journalism Diversity Fund
MPACUK To Help Create Nerve Centres Not Just Prayer Halls Print E-mail
Thursday, 19 May 2005

 

MPACUK has now set up a team to help Mosques improve. We have a vision of the Mosques of the future...we are currently helping Mosques around the UK. Call us for a presentation!

THE NERVE CENTRE'S OF THE UMMAH

1) They will all have pro-active media departments ready to mobilise the community to counter any Demonisation of Islam/Muslims and provide positive feedback on favourable presentations of Islam/Muslims. The mosques would ensure the Media remains free from a few powerful vested interests and remains the publics property.

2) They will all have political departments ready to teach the community the A-Z of political participation. They will provide advice on voter registration, lobbying your MP, domestic/national issues, encouraging an ethical foreign policy, joining and taking an active part in political parties. Aiding the fight against terrorism by effectively channeling the anger of those who are justifyably angry at foreign policy, and allowing them to fulfil the 'fard' duty of Jihad Peacefully, Democratically and Intelligently.

3) They will all focus heavily on education - not just Islamic - but the national curriculum too. They will organise homework clubs, provide tutors, have a library, internet access and a careers advice facility. Muslims are the most poorly educated community in Britain, sytematic programs by the Mosques can reverse this.

4) Islamic history to be taught. Young Muslims must be informed of the great achievements of our past Heroes. Mentoring schemes should also be set up to provide role models and practical advice for the younger generation. Young Muslims know more about Bollywood filmstars than they do about Khalid Bin Waleed. Again this is soley due to the failure of the Mosques.

5) All mosques should have a welfare officer to council and deal with the problems of the congregation and their families. We must stress the need for “social justice” and provide advice and help on issues such as marital harmony, drug abuse, homelessness and discrimination and all other relevant issues - the welfare officer would look after the needs of local residents Muslims and non Muslim. The mosque must not become a place where Muslims only look to help Muslims, but the wider community, the beauty of Islam is justice for all not the few.

6) Outreach and Open Day programs to be created to stop racism and Islamaphobia and ease community tensions. Invitations to be given to all non-Muslim residents in the neighbourhood of the mosque. Monthly open days to be held where non-Muslims will be invited to the mosque for a meal and given the chance to ask questions and learn about Islam and the Muslim community. This will break down barriers, create understanding between communities and reverse racism and Islamaphobia created mainly by sections of the Media. MPACUK is already trialing this in a numer of Mosques around the UK.

7) All non-Muslims from the community would have full rights to visit and benefit from any and all facilities and teaching programs within the Mosque. Programs to encourage this would be set up. Failure of non Muslims to attend would be a failure by the Mosque Leadership to encourage this, and they would be held accountable.

8) All Mosque leaders must have a manifesto and run for committee elections on this basis. They must specify what improvements they intend make to the Mosque administration and wider community and each manifesto to be discussed before the election in public meetings. Democratic Elections would mean people choose to vote, because they believe it makes a difference, thus over 50% of the Local Community should vote for Mosque Leaders, the community may vote in a number of different Mosque elections. Programs to ensure full participation by the community and improve voting levels would be created.

9) The imams and Mosque staff must be the best men from the community, religious Scholars/Activists/Managers with excellent knowledge not only of Islam but also of British society and the English language. The minimum wage for the Imam or Mosque Management Team would be £30,000. To attract and retain the best man for the job we must be prepared to pay a fair wage. The community would be taught to pay a good wage for a decent service to the community.

10) Womens Rights In The Mosque a priority. All Mosques to contain adequate space and facilities for women, plus the Mosque committee should consider having reserved seats for female members of the congregation so they are not excluded from taking an active role in creating programs for the betterment of the community. Women must have equal decision-making roles and an equal platform to serve the mosque and the wider community. Our failure in allowing women to part of the committess has destroyed the very fabric of our community. By not creating active women, we fail to train the mothers of our children in how to better the world. It is no surprise then our children are so lost in the world today.

11) All Mosque leaders must be accountable to the public, both Muslim and non-Muslim. Any member of the public can demand an audience and the leaders must justify publicly all decisions and actions they have made on behalf of the community. The Mosque Leaders should act like Umar RTA taught us - as servants to the public and not their masters.

12) Twenty-four hour hotlines in all the larger mosques to address community needs or any challenge to mankind anywhere around the world.

13) Campaign teams would be set up to respond to any challenge within 24 hours to any situtation anywhere around the world.

14) Friday sermons must be in English as well as the language of the local community and must contain messages on current affairs and offer practical solutions/advice on how to help the community and work for the good of all the Ummah not simply stories from the past.

15) Offices will be provided for local community groups within the Mosques, so the local Muslims and non Muslim activists can benefit the wider community and find support from Mosques themselves, rather then working alone. Thus homeless groups to drug rehabilitation agencies can be based within the community heart helping the whole community from one roof.

If you want to help create and develop Mosques for the future, or want our team to do a series of talks or training programs to help your mosque implement these points call :

0870 760 5594

OR attend The MPACUK Open Day Where You Can Meet The Team...Look Out For More Details Coming Soon. Or Email Us At info@mpacuk.org

 

 

 

 




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One person has commented on this article.
Ming: Quote

excellent plans.......
(1) 2006-11-06 12:25:55
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