In memory of Janab Ashfaq Ahmad Shamim Sahib, former KMWA chairman

Janab Ashfaq Ahmad Shamim Sahib was Chairman of Gillingham Masjid and Kent Muslim Welfare Association from the late 1980s until the late 1990s.

We were very sad to hear about the death of Janab Ashfaq Ahmad Shamim Sahib.

We all belong to Allah and to him we shall return. May Allah grant him the highest station in Jannah and may Allah shower his blessings and mercy and forgiveness on his family for their patience.

Janab Ashfaq Ahmad Shamim Sahib played a huge role in serving the Muslim Community in the Medway Towns and his generosity and sacrifice has benefitted many Muslims over the years – he should be recognised for his organisation and financial contribution for the extensive renovation of Gillingham Masjid in the early 1990s which we still benefit from largely today.

During his time as Chairman he managed the Masjid and brought a real spirit of community through the programmes and events organised. He also brought Jannazah services to Medway when he built the Shamimia Masjid in Chatham. May Allah reward him for his sincere service to the community, the people he helped, the lives he touched, and his intentions to do good for the community.

Masjid Open for only Juma Prayer from 1St January 2021

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wo barakatuhu.
We hope you and your families are well.
We have been monitoring the situation with respect to restarting communal Salaat in the Masjid. We are proposing to start Salaat- ul Jummah next Friday 1st January 2021 in shah Allah. There will be only one Jamaat at 1.30pm sharp. Brother Enam will organise the bookings. You will need to text Enam on his mobile.
Enam will return a reply with a booking number.
The maximum number will be 50 worshipers.
Age restrictions will apply – unfortunately, one over 70 years will not be allowed.
No children under 14 will also be allowed.
It will not be possible to provide seats for people.
The usual restrictions and checks will apply. There will be temperature checks.
Entry is at the discretion of the management and volunteers on that day.
Anyone arriving without prior booking or without appropriate ppe will not be allowed.
Please bring as before your own prayer mat, a bag for your shoes and your own mask / ppe.
Br Enam’s number is: 07402 815119.
Please book by Thursday afternoon. Please turn up if you book – you are otherwise wasting someone’s space – if you do not turn up having booked, you will not be not be given priority the next time.
If you feel unwell or suspect any illness – do not come to the Masjid – respect the health of others.

There will be a short Khutba in Arabic followed by the Salaat ul Jummah.
May Allah reward you for your patience and cooperation.

Tributes to Anwar Khan after life of community work in Medway

Anwar Khan Sahib who tirelessly worked for the benefit of the local Muslim community

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/tributes-paid-after-lifetime-of-community-work-234150/

Mr Mohammad Anwar Khan, who has passed away on Thursday 10th September 2020, at the age of 80, will be remembered by all who had the privilege to know him for his good nature, dedication and hard work for the advancement of the local Muslim community.

Anwar Sahib was a community spirited person and, ever since moving to this area, he immersed himself in the affairs of local Muslim community. Anwar Sahib was the proud father of three daughters and one son and he treated friends and strangers like they were his own family as well. As well as helping individuals with their personal problems, he strived to advance the cause of the Muslim community, as a whole, by developing working relations with statutory authorities. He even continued this work, via phone, throughout the lockdown brought about by coronavirus.

Over the years, he nurtured good relations with these authorities; through his networking, he ensured that the Muslim viewpoint was represented at appropriate levels to local authorities and police, education, social and health services. He welcomed Muslims moving into the area and was forever on the lookout for people who could help contribute to the greater good of the community.

Over the last three decades, he was the driving force behind the KMWA’s search to find a plot of land to a build a new mosque and facilities for the Muslim community, which outgrew the current mosque many years before. It took years of persuasion and presentations, countless meetings to local politicians and council officers before a council owned plot was identified for community use and was purchased by the KMWA. This would not have been possible without Anwar Sahib’s relentless efforts and optimism.   

May Allahswt grant him a high place in Jannah and give the community he left behind the ability to complete the work he was instrumental in starting and getting to the current stage of development. Ameen.

Eid-ul-Adha Salaat Timing Fri 31St July 2020 + Booking Details

Assalamu alaikum
Please note that….
1) Eid Salaat will be held at 8am, 9am and 10am. The same restrictions apply – the restrictions will be reposted below.
For booking please contact Br Waseem Mirza on 07495220620 any day AFTER 2pm only.
You will be given a booking number for the Salaat time booked. If you do not have a valid booking number for the Salaat time then you will not be allowed – so please ensure you obtain the correct number and turn up for the correct time that was booked.
For future Salaat ul Jummah the booking can only be taken by contacting Br Enam on 07402815119 after 2pm.
Again you will be given a booking number so please do not turn up without one. It will not be sufficient to just turn up and say you booked it. We have a maximum number of 30 people for any one Jamaat and so please help us to run things safely.