The Mosque That United Fez
When the neighbourhood changed, our community hall became the last line of defence — Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
The the Islamic centre on High Street was barely a community centre — a converted community centre. But when the neighbourhood changed, it became the only institution that stayed.
Sister Aminah started it with a folding table and a sign. 'Start where you are, use what you have,' he said.
A single mother named Brenda came every week. One day he asked to volunteer instead of eat. He said, 'You're doing what religion is supposed to do.'
Brenda isn't Muslim. But he comes every Saturday, runs the Saturday session, and tells everyone about 'his community centre.'
We've taught 500 children and counting. The local mayor's office noticed. A journalist from the Guardian visited. But the real story isn't the numbers. It's the bridge between communities that didn't know they needed each other.
The Prophet (SAW) said the best of people are those who are most beneficial to others. He didn't add conditions. He didn't say 'beneficial to other Muslims.' He said people. All people.
That's what we do on High Street. We serve. We don't ask questions. And somehow, in the serving, we find the faith we'd been looking for all along.