Our History
Altrincham lies eight miles to the southwest of Manchester in north Cheshire. The area is noted for its many historical sites such as Dunham Massey (National Trust), Tatton Hall, the Bridgewater Canal and early railways. Altrincham is an interesting example of a medieval chartered borough (AD1290) which later became a centre for engineering. There is easy access to the Manchester region with its great Ship Canal, the industries of Trafford Park and the city itself with many historic sites and museums such as the North West Museum of Science and Industry.
However, although there is an abundance of Islamic Centres in Greater Manchester, there was no such centre in Altrincham and its surrounding area. The Muslims in this area had to travel to masjids elsewhere to perform their prayers. Alhumdul’Illah, after more than a decade of hard efforts the Association was finally able to establish an Islamic Cultural Centre in the heart of Altrincham, in Grove Lane, Hale.
The impetus behind setting up an Islamic centre in Altrincham came from Dr. Altaf Ahmed. He was in the UK from Bangalore to study for his MRCP examinations. Whilst in the UK he stayed with his friend Dr. Farooq Siddiqui in Hale. Dr Altaf Ahmed stressed the need for any Muslim community to establish a masjid in its area. The need for a masjid for Muslims in Altrincham was a necessity as the nearest masjids were in Manchester.
A meeting of concerned individuals living in Altrincham was called. This was held at Syed Nazir Ahmed's house in The Coppice, in Hale just before Ramadan in 1992. Among those present were Syed Nazir Ahmed (Chair), Dr. Abdur Rab Alvi, Dr. Ali, Dr. Farooq Siddiqui, Dr. Akmal Ahmed and Br Salim Ahmed. At this meeting the intention of setting up a masjid in Altrincham was decided upon. The most urgent need was to arrange for ‘tarawih’ prayers to be performed during Ramadan. Having made their intention, the group drove around Altrincham meeting families and making a list of Muslims living in the area. An initial list of forty households was made. A church hall on Hale Road was booked and a Hafiz-e-Qur’an was arranged from Bolton to lead the Tarawih prayers. With the help of Allah (swt) the first Tarawih prayers were held in the area with over twenty people regularly attending.
The Tarawih prayers were a great success, by the Grace of Allah, and in the following year, 1993, the prayers were held at Syed Nazir's Ahmed’s house. In 1994 and 1995 the Tarawih were held at St. David's Church in Grove Lane, Hale, where, alhumdul’Illah, the Islamic Cultural Centre is now established. From 1997 to 2002 the Tarawih prayers were held at the Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic High School. Finally, in 2003, after the Islamic Cultural Centre was established in the old St. David's Church, Grove Lane, the community were able to hold the first ever Tarawih prayers in their own place. On the first night of Ramadan the place was filled to capacity. It was a blessed Ramadan, alhumdul’Illah. Community Iftar’s were held every Saturday and the first ever Eid prayers were held in Altrincham with breakfast being served to everyone after the prayers.
The activities of the Association started to develop in 1995 after the arrival of Dr. Munir Ahmed Butt, a GP by profession, but a leading member of the Islamic Society of Britain, and someone who was well versed in Islam and Arabic. The activities started with weekly men's and ladies' study circles.
On 22nd September 1995, the first constitution of the Association was drafted and the organisation was named as the 'Altrincham Muslim Association'. Following the establishment of the Association, the first public talk was given by Yusuf Islam, entitled: The Straight Path to Peace’ on 23rd September 1995. This was followed by a week of activities for Islam Awareness Week.
1. The Constitution
The first constitution (1995) set the objectives of the Association as: ‘To set up and develop a Masjid and Islamic Cultural Centre in Altrincham, with prayer facilities (for men and women), a madrassah for the Islamic education of children, and space for activities for children, youth, ladies and for the old. Activities will be limited to those that are morally and ethically acceptable within Islamic principles. No activities of a nationalist or party-political nature would be allowed. The Masjid and Centre will primarily serve the Muslims of Altrincham regardless of colour, nationality, or religious sect, as long as they believe in the Oneness of Allah, and in the finality of His Prophet Muhammad ’
The ‘Memorandum of Association’ (2003) setting up the Association as a charity states the objects of the charity as:
- To promote the benefit of the inhabitants and primarily the Muslims inhabitants of Altrincham, Cheshire and the surrounding areas without distinction and in particular:
- To advance the Islamic faith in accordance with the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him);
- To advance the education of the general public, and in particular those of the Muslim community
- To provide facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the said inhabitants in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life
- To establish or secure the establishment of a centre and to maintain and manage the same in furtherance of the above objects
Online version of our Constitution.
2.Activities Organised
The list of activities is a long one, and alhumdul’Illah. These include a madrassah; weekly men's and ladies' study circles; girls' youth club and circle; boys' youth club and circle; monthly lecture programme; tarawih prayers; Eid dinner; family picnics; ladies' swimming; men’s' swimming; girls' camps; boys' camps; Islam Awareness Week; exhibitions at libraries and the Trafford Centre; dawah stall in Altrincham Town Centre; Jummah prayers at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and North Cestrian Grammar School; talks at local schools and churches; GCSE Islamic Studies.
3.Speakers
The Association has had the honour of having eminent Islamic scholars and speakers during its monthly lecture programmes including: Yusuf Islam; Dr. Jamal Badawi; Sara Joseph; Dr. Munir Ahmed; Ahmed Thompson; Mahmud Manning; Dr. Amina Coxon; Abdul Latif Whiteman; Dawud Wharnsby Ali; Ibrahim Hewitt; Prof. Salim Al-Hassani; Siddique Seddon; Athsham Ali; Mohammed Abdul Malik; Dr. Abdus Salam Sarumi and Ajmal Masroor.
4. Working With The Wider Community
The Association is committed to working with the wider local community and as such are involved with the following:
- Founding members of the Altrincham Interfaith Group
- Official Chaplain at Wythenshawe Hospital
- Directorship of Trafford Community Leisure Trust
- Members of the Police Community Liaison Committee
- Members of the Trafford Education Scrutiny Group
- Represented on the Trafford Black and Ethnic and Minority Group
- Member of the Trafford Jinja Association
- Providing support for Altrincham Grammar Girls' and Boys' Schools’ bids for specialist language status