Facilities
Mosque facilities:
Main Hall (Prayer Hall)
The Main Hall is the primary feature of the Birmingham Central Mosque and is the
most widely used area within the mosque. All of our congregation are familiar with
this particular area as it is where Muslims attend regularly for their five daily
prayers. The main hall is situated under the main dome which acts as a centrepiece
focal point within the Main Hall. There is a display chandelier based under the
Dome. The minaret is also accessible from the Main Hall and is from where the Muedhin
announces the Call to Prayer (Adhān).
The main hall features as niche or arch (Mihrab) in the east wall known
as the Qibla wall. This wall faces towards the direction of the Kaa'ba (First House
of God) in the city of Mecca and indicates the direction Muslims must face when
praying to God. There is also a pulpit positioned beside the Mihrab. This
pulpit, from where the Imam addresses sermons and lectures, is known as the Minbar.
Bookshelves bearing copies of the Holy Qur'an in various languages are also situated
along the Qibla wall.
The Main Hall is carpeted with a richly decorated carpet used for the prayer for
which the faithful remove their shoes before prayer so as to keep the ground clean.
There are numerous pillars to support the structural design and arch shaped windows
lining one side of the Main Hall. The hall is equipped with energy saving light
features to maintain the beauty and visibility of the hall, these lights are only
lit fully on special occasions so as to conserve energy. The hall also has fans
and heating which are used depending on the seasonal temperature. The main hall,
like the rest of the mosque, hosts a network of speakers for the amplification of
lectures and prayers.
The main hall has a capacity of 3,000 to 4,000 people which is the average turnout
on a busy Friday. On any ordinary Friday, between 2,000 and 3,000 are expected.
It is one Eid, when there are five services one after the other, that between 15,
000 and 20,000 walk through the doors of the Main Hall for special prayer services.
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Classrooms
The mosque has six classrooms which are used by the Evening School for the teaching
of children. Each classroom houses around 30 pupils who study the Qur'an and Islamic
topics by curriculum. The Evening School is run by the Education Department within
the mosque. Tables and chairs are a standard feature of each classroom.
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Library
This is a quiet, partitioned area where individuals may study and read literature
on subjects of their choice. We have a good selection of books on Islam in English,
Arabic and Urdu as well as leaflets, booklets and magazines on various religious
and community topics. Students also use the library for revision and educational
studies. To use the library, please arrange an appointment with the main office
at the mosque. The library is currently being re-organised and systematically restructured
so that it is more user-friendly and can serve greater purpose for the local community.
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Mortuary (Morgue)
This is a facility for the washing and storing of the deceased. By Islamic law,
the body of one who has recently passed away must be buried within 24 hours. Most
bodies are washed, stored and prepared by the local Muslim funeral parlour before
being brought to the mosque for services. However, sometimes it is preferred by
close relatives that the mosque take the responsibility of pre-burial preparations.
The mosque caters for the washing of bodies and for their cold storage after which
the mosque provides an Islamic funeral prayer service for the family, friends and
relatives of the deceased.
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Community Hall (Day Centre)
This is an all purpose hall used for different events such as marriages, lectures,
meetings and so on. It is also a reception room for visitors and school groups and
serves as the mosque’s main function hall. It is known as the ’Day Centre’
because it was initially used by elder locals as a drop-in centre.
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Utility Hall (School Hall)
This hall is used for health and fitness as well as classes for martial arts. This
area, known as the School Hall, also doubles up for functions and services similar
to the Community Hall. It is referred to as the ‘School Hall’ as it is
where the children’s classrooms are located. Pupils have regular assemblies
in the hall too.
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Ladies' Gallery
The prayer area for female members of the congregation is known as the Ladies' or
Women's Gallery. It is the area within a balcony located above the west side of
the main prayer hall which oversees the entire hall. Female worshippers see and
listen to the sermons from the gallery, although in recent times, women have chosen
to screen themselves using curtains.
The Ladies' Gallery is currently undergoing a renovation which will involve extending
the space within the prayer area and provided a one-way mirror screen so that sisters
may enjoy the full benefits of observing prayers and services without undermining
their privacy and safety.
Female volunteers dominate the running of the gallery and attend to worshippers'
needs. Members of the congregation within the Ladies' Gallery dictate their requirements
and needs to the mosque management regarding the facilities available to them.
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Ablution Areas (Washrooms)
The mosque provides two main areas for worshippers to make ablutions before prayers.
Ablution is the act of preparation and self-cleanliness carried out before Muslims
stand in prayer and obedience before the Almighty Lord of all creation.
There is a wash area for male worshippers and a wash area for female worshippers,
both of which are completely equipped with basins, toilets, stools and wash taps
and relevant toiletries. Hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation are maintained throughout
our wash areas accordingly.
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Dome and Minaret
There are two main external features of the mosque which project the Muslim community
across the city. They are the stunning white dome which sits at the top of the mosque
building and the towering white capped minaret which can be seen across the city
centre. The dome, which is painted white to stand out against the buildings surrounding
the mosque, is a feature that is commonly associated with mosques in many countries
although it has very little religious significance.
It is crowned with a gold coloured crescent moon, a symbol largely associated with
Islam and new beginnings. The minaret, however, is from where the Muezzin would
traditionally announce the Adhān, the Call to Prayer. This call is still declared
by the Muezzin from the minaret but by way of an electronic audio system located
at the base of the minaret which then amplifies the live broadcast across the mosque
building and outside via speakers. The minaret displays a sign proclaiming ‘Read
Al-Qur’an, The Last Testament’ to all who pass by the building.
There is limited access within the minaret but it is possible to visit the peak
of the structure. Most of the city is clearly visible from the top of the minaret
including most of the new city centre buildings and landmarks. The mosque is paralleled
by St. Alban’s Church which projects a progressive contrast of a multi-faith
Birmingham.
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Kitchen
The mosque has a kitchen which is used for food preparation. The kitchen is used
by mosque staff and for catering for guests. It is also made available to individuals
or groups hosting functions such as wakes, weddings and so on. For such occasions,
the use of the kitchen must be booked in advance.
The kitchen has all standard appliances and fittings and we ensure that all facilities
within the kitchen are at the correct standard of hygiene and safety as required
by British law. We try our utmost best to encourage this measure amongst all users
of our kitchen area.
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Offices and Waiting Rooms
The mosque has numerous offices for different departments including the Marriage
Bureau and Counselling Clinic which are based here. Most of the mosque's administration
work takes place in the main offices which are situated near the ground floor entrance.
There are waiting rooms located beside each of the main offices with general waiting
areas available for service offices. The main office should be the primary point
of reception for visitors.
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Meeting Room (Chairman's Office)
The Meeting Room, also known as the Chairman's Office, is where official meetings
are held by the mosque management such as management or trustee meetings as well
as official engagements. It is also where mosque officials meet with external bodies
including inter-faith bodies, the police, community groups, international guests
and other organisations and/or individuals.
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Lift (Elevator)
The mosque has a lift installed on its premises for use by those who require such
assistance. The lift is mainly used by the disabled or those who cannot comfortably
use the stairs. The lift covers the ground floor level and is accessible from the
Mortuary area and it travels up to the first floor, opening at the Main Hall.
The lift is also used during funerals to transport coffins to and from the Main
Hall for funeral prayers. The lift was kindly donated by Riaz Sheikh in loving memory
of his late wife Mahvera Sheikh, may Allah (The Most High) reward them both.
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