Origins / Beliefs

Islam is one of the major world religions which began over 1400 years ago in Arabia when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received a series of revelations from Allah through the Angel Jibreel, or Gabriel. These revelations form Islam’s holiest book, the Qur’an.

‘Allah’ is the Arabic word for God and a ‘Muslim’ means “one who submits (to God)”. Muslims regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the seal of the prophets.

The literal meaning of the word Islam is peace and submission, suggesting a tranquil way of life based on total devotion to the will of Allah. Muslims believe the purpose of existence is to worship Allah. Islam is a way of life, governing religious practice and morality, but also social relationships, marriage, divorce, kinship, economic and political relations.

Practice

The essentials of Muslim practice are set out in the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’:

Shahadah: A declaration of faith that there is no diety except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.

Salat: Five daily prayers are performed at appointed times, after performing ablution and facing towards Makkah. These prayers can be performed alone at home or in congregation at a mosque.

Zakat: The giving of alms or money to the poor, 2.5% a year of a persons accumulated wealth. This is also worship as a means of spiritual purification.

Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. The aim is to sympathize with the less fortunate and to control one’s desires by abstaining from food, drink, smoking, swearing and sexual contact.

Hajj: A pilgrimage to the ‘Kaaba’ in Makkah, the most sacred mosque, required once in a lifetime of those who can afford it. Pilgrims carry out a series of rituals connected with the life of Ibrahim (Abraham) and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Meeting and Greeting

Muslims greet each other by saying ‘Assalaamu alaikum’ meaning ‘Peace be upon you’. The reply would be ‘Wa alaikum assalaam’ meaning ‘And upon you be peace’.

Diet

Muslims will eat all meat, except pork, provided that it is ‘Halal’ (slaughtered according to Islamic stipulation). Intoxicants are strictly forbidden (Haram).

Dress Code

Both women & men dress modestly: women generally cover the body and head, whilst mens clothing is designed to avoid exposing the legs above the waist.

Death

Muslims do not cremate the deceased as they believe that man was created from the earth and to the earth he should return. They do not believe in reincarnation but in life after death, that all mankind will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement to account for their actions before Allah.

History of Islam in Preston

The first Muslims to arrive in Britain can be traced as far back as the 14th Century. However the arrival of the first Muslims in Preston was in the 1950’s, when a small group from South Asia responded to an advertisement in the Yorkshire Post, and came to work in the Courtauld textile factory. These communities from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh still form the largest part of the Muslim community in Preston along with a minority from Saudi Arabia, Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia.

In 1960, there was no mosque in Preston. The small community of Muslims celebrated the festival of Eid in the snow in Avenham Park! As time progressed, the first Masjid (mosque) and Madressa (Islamic school) were built in a converted terrace house in Claredon Street. Later, this developed into the Jamea Mosque, next to a Church and the Sikh Gurdwara, also in Clarendon Street. However, the first purpose built mosque in Preston and the whole of the North West is the Raza Mosque on St Paul’s Road. There are now around 10,000 – 12,000 Muslims in Preston and around a dozen mosques.