ShareLONDON: The Kuwaiti International Charitable Society (Rahma) inaugurated, on Saturday, the Al-Barakah Islamic Center and Mosque in the British city of Dover, which borders France. Society’s director general Dr Khaled Al-Mulla, in his opening speech, stated that the mosque, built by the Islamic Care House Foundation and supervised by the International Charitable Society, is the first in the city of Dover. It serves as a beacon of faith, a haven for peace, and a center that unites hearts in love and brotherhood. Mosques guide those who seek the path of truth, instill noble values in souls, and bring together members of society for goodness and giving.
He extended his sincere thanks and prayers to the Kuwaiti donor, Umm Bader. Al-Mulla expressed his hope that the mosque would convey a message that reflects the beauty of Islam and enhances the spirit of understanding and coexistence among individuals. He added, in a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), that there are many generous people in Kuwait. “Today we see the contribution of one of them, as a Kuwaiti woman donated to build this mosque, which will host Quran reading circles, Iftar tables and religious education.”
The mosque will have a permanent imam. He pointed out that the timing of the opening coincides with the joy of the celebrations of Kuwait’s national holidays, paralleling the joy of the city’s Muslim residents for the construction of the mosque, who, he said, raised their hands in prayer for Kuwait and its people. He explained that the Al-Rahma Society has established many projects in Britain, including preaching tables to introduce Islam, which have led to a significant number of individuals converting to Islam, and Islamic centers that carry out various preaching activities in cooperation with entities accredited by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Additionally, there is a center to accommodate new converts who face difficult circumstances due to their conversion to Islam, where they receive special lessons in moderate Islam, the Holy Quran, and the Arabic language until they find alternative housing. Regarding the participation of a group of Muslim children in the opening of the mosque, Al-Mulla emphasized the association’s commitment to raising the third generation of Muslims by instilling the teachings of Islam in their hearts, as they consistently contribute to the Quran memorization circles and Islamic lessons.
For his part, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Care House, Hassan Yousef, stated in a similar remark to (KUNA) that the opening of the center and mosque today brings happiness and comfort to thousands of Muslims in the city of Dover, most of whom are refugees who arrived at the British coast by sea after traveled long distances to pray in mosques in neighboring cities. He explained that, in addition to holding Friday prayers and the five daily prayers, an evening school for memorizing the Quran will be attached to the mosque three times a week, along with a school organized every Saturday to teach the Arabic language. He stressed that the Islamic Care House Foundation is doing its utmost to preserve the Islamic identity of the youth and eliminate all ideas that contradict Islamic teachings through the mosque lessons that are held regularly.
The opening was attended by the General Manager of the Islamic Care House Foundation in London, Tawfiq Qasimi, a group of its employees, three members of the International Charitable Association of Mercy, and children from several Islamic schools affiliated with the Islamic Care House. The House was established in 1967 as an initiative to enhance cultural communication and introduce Islam as a civilization and culture through effective programs, means, partnerships, and mechanisms, serving as a reference body in cultural communication and organizing numerous educational and religious courses for adults and children. — KUNA
