The East London Mosque and Islamic Centre: A case study exploring the impact a Muslim diaspora community can have on their local area

Diasporic communities have a great impact when it comes to changing and shaping the areas they settle in. Buildings, but especially buildings that serve communities have a rich history in their establishment, development, and their expanding role within the community. The impact a community building can have is best displayed when we explore the history of buildings like the East London Mosque and Islamic Centre in Whitechapel, London. East London Mosque first opened in 1941 in a space previously occupied by three homes to replace the need for hired Friday prayer spaces across London. The opening of the mosque was a physical signifier of the, mainly Bangladeshi, Muslim community in Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, and Whitechapel. A mosque can start as a place for communal and Friday prayer, but East London Mosque tells the story of how a mosque can be a place for community building and nurturing, and later become a pillar of a community.

The British Mosque - a space to pray communally

The mosque is, primarily, a space to pray communally and fulfil the obligation of Friday prayer, therefore, when immigrant communities set up mosques they tend to only fulfil their specific function rather than catering to the entirety of a community's needs. The early settlement of Bengalis in East London, to rebuild the country after the end of World War II, was in part due to the availability of cheap housing and proximity to work (in the docks) resulted in a population that would not only utilise East London Mosque, but become key players in the expansion and development of a cornerstone of the Muslim community in London. So how does a community transform a mosque from a space to pray to one that now includes Chaplaincy counselling, a primary and secondary school, and a centre that also offers advice and signpost to organisations that can help with issues such as housing?

The Purpose Built Mosque - an Islamic hub within Muslim communities

East London Mosque was built as a purpose-built mosque in 1985 and shows how demand for the space grew as the community expanded and Muslims who lived in neighbouring areas travelled to pray in the mosque. Reframing the way we think about buildings and “service providers” can help us to see how mosques can be a place for community building if we can ensure that management makes it a priority. Too often, mosques are just a space to pray so they do meet the demands of the community, however, being more intentional with our spaces and buildings can result in a more holistic view of the role of mosques in a community. Many mosques across the UK also run Islamic schools (Madrassas) after school or on weekends, this speaks to one of the needs of the community - a space for Muslim children to learn about Islam. Mosques also provide a space for Muslim adults to learn about Islam, understand more about Islam, and seek Islamic guidance. But Muslim communities also need help demanding rights and guidance when it comes to making money, sending children to school, securing loans, housing, and many more issues that don’t fit under the “Islamic education” umbrella.

Mosques as a Signifier of Muslim Existence

The expansion of East London Mosque in 2004 as demand for prayer space grew and the Islamic Centre extended its services to what we see today. Because Mosques also serve the purpose of representing, and sometimes advocating, for Muslims. There are countless services that, often underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities do not have access to, or struggle to access. The start and expansion of East London Mosque shows us how mosques are not just spaces to pray, but provide holistic services to Muslims. Large mosques and Islamic centres are a signifier of Muslim existence and mirror the needs of the communities they serve.