The construction of the Al-Ihsan Trust Masjid is progressing steadily, with the concrete being poured for all three floors now successfully complete. This marks a major milestone in the project, bringing us closer to the completion of this vital place of worship and community gathering.
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Following on from the construction of the steel frame for the masjid building, the steel frame for the dome has now been added. This will be the base for the copper dome roof when the Masjid is eventually finished Insha Allah.
Throughout February-April 2024, the steel to construct the frame of the new Masjid was delivered and assembled on site within a space of a few weeks. Cranes and workmen on site continuously worked through the challenging winter weather to assemble approximately 85 tonnes of steel which is required to build the frame of the Masjid.
The cost of the 85 tonnes (85,000kg) of steel is approximately £325,500. You can donate 50kg of this steel for the Masjid at a cost of just £200. We are delighted to bring you the latest update on the Masjid project, a testament to our collective vision and dedication to providing a place of worship for all. Alhamdulillah, in July 2023 the foundation stone was laid by Hadhrat Moulana Salim Dhorat Sahib, and since then we have made significant progress.
A retaining wall has been built within the foundations to support and reinforce the earth adjacent to Track Road following the excavations that took place and the foundations that were dug earlier in the year.
The wall was built using reinforcement mesh drilled into the ground and concrete poured into temporary shutters. The concrete wall was then tanked to waterproof it, before filling the gaps at the back of the wall with soil again. The initial digging of the foundations and lower ground floor for the new Masjid building at the Al-Ihsan Trust has just recently been completed. Diggers and numerous trucks were on site for approximately a week excavating and removing tonnes of soil in preparation to commence the foundations for the new Masjid.
A special dua was also conducted on site following the excavations led by Shaykh Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah) from the Islamic Dawah Academy in Leicester. The event was also attended by local imams, ulama, scholars, and a large number of the public from the local area. Alhamdulillah we have reached a major milestone this year as work has commenced on the site. Demolition of the existing cottage on the land required to build the new masjid has now begun and is currently in progress.
Once the demolition has been completed and the land has been cleared of all debris, the foundations work required for the new masjid building can then begin, followed by the construction of the steel frame. We are now in a position where we are ready to commence the groundworks at the site of the proposed masjid, for which we need to raise sufficient funds in order to start the work by our target date which is November 2022.
The tender process is already underway in order to appoint contractor partners for the supply of materials and construction of the masjid. We aim to choose suitable partners in the coming months in order to be ready to start the groundworks. In the spring of 2021, a porta cabin was delivered and installed on the site of the proposed new masjid to commence prayer with jamaat whilst the planning works for the new masjid were still ongoing.
The cabin was organised and funded by the committee members of the Al-Ihsan Trust, and volunteers helped in redecorating the exterior and interior of the cabin to provide a comfortable prayer space. As most of you will be well aware, the Al-Hikmah Centre performs a unique and vital role in our community that provides, social, educational and community activities and services for the whole community. Indeed the centre's role in being a vaccination centre for Covid-19 has raised national praise and coincided with a visit from our Prime Minister.
For the last 7 years or so there have been Tarawees held during Ramadhan and this year is no exception despite fully adhering to social distancing measures linked with Covid-19. We have seen the congregation growing year by year to serve the community there. |