Didsbury Mosque

{{Short description|Mosque in Manchester, England}} {{Infobox religious building |image=Didsbury mosque.jpg |caption=View from the intersection of Barlow Moor Road & Burton Road |building_name=Didsbury Mosque |location={{flagicon|England}} 271 Burton Road, Didsbury, Manchester, England<ref name= "Didsbury Mosque1">{{cite web|url=http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps-mobile.php?id=1799 |title=Didsbury Mosque and Islamic Centre|work = Muslims in Britain |date =25 April 2015}}</ref> |geo={{coord|53|25|22|N|2|14|49|W|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |religious_affiliation= Salafi/Ikhwan<ref name = "scrutiny"/> |district=Didsbury |leadership = Sheikh Mustafa Abdullah Graf<ref name = "Sheikh Graf">{{cite web |url=http://didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=5&type=4 |title=Sheikh Mustafa Abdullah Graf |date=2017 |access-date=26 May 2017 |archive-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213165014/http://didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=5&type=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |architect= |architecture_type=Chapel |year_completed=1883 / 1965 |construction_cost= |capacity=950 (including women)<ref name= "Didsbury Mosque1"/> |dome_quantity=0 |minaret_quantity=1 | website = http://www.didsburymosque.com/ }}

'''Didsbury Mosque''' is on Burton Road in Didsbury, Manchester, England. The building was originally Albert Park Methodist Chapel, which opened in 1883,<ref>France & Woodall (1976). A New History of Didsbury. E.J. Morten, 203. {{ISBN|0-85972-035-7}}</ref> but closed in 1962 and was later converted into a mosque. It has an attendance of around 1,000 people.<ref name=autogenerated1>South Manchester Reporter: [http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/366556_true_meaning_of_islam News: True meaning of Islam] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310151753/http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/366556_true_meaning_of_islam |date=10 March 2009 }}</ref> The mosque Sheikh is Mustafa Abdullah Graf.<ref name = "Sheikh Graf"/>

==Distinctive aspects== The Didsbury Mosque and Manchester Islamic Centre says that it "represents a wide range of the Muslim community of various origins and/or Islamic schools of thought".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=2&type=4 |title=About Us |access-date=28 May 2017 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603060857/http://www.didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=2&type=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mosque holds open-days with displays, talks, question-and-answer sessions, and guided tours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/manchester-islamic-centre-and-didsbury-mosque |title=Manchester Islamic Centre and Didsbury Mosque |date =3 August 2016 }}</ref>

Didsbury Mosque has a gardening volunteering group for maintaining their paradise themed garden on Burton Road containing roses, sweet peas, Mediterranean plants, salad garden with pergolas. A Youth group has also been set up encouraging them to play table tennis, badminton, chess and others along with food, Islamic reminders and prayers.

The mosque has a ''Sharia'' (Islamic law) Department which issues ''fatwas'' (Islamic decrees), oversees family affairs, helps calculate ''zakat'' (a type of alms-giving), and provides advice and mediation with regard to financial transactions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=14&type=12 |title=Didsbury Mosque, Sharia Department |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=8 June 2017 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603221629/http://www.didsburymosque.com/Page.aspx?id=14&type=12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

With radio coverage of most of South Manchester, the mosque broadcasts ''adhan'' (Islamic call to prayer), prayers themselves, Friday sermons, and daily reminders, as well as talks and lectures given in the prayer hall of the mosque.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The Manchester Islamic Centre is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=327235&SubsidiaryNumber=0 |title=327235 - The Islamic Centre (Manchester) }}</ref>

During the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown they offered hot food and a foodbank for their neighbours and those in need as well as briefly holding a pop-up vaccine centre.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Didsbury Mosque|date=2021-05-21|title=Home|url=https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDidsburyMasjid%2Fposts%2F4526793830734736|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Facebook|language=en}}</ref> On 21 January 2021 an emergency flood warning given to many Didsbury residents encouraged them to evacuate.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=Freeze expected on heels of flooding damage from Storm Christoph|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/21/north-west-england-and-wales-badly-hit-by-floods-from-storm-christoph|access-date=2021-07-13|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In response, the Mosque provided voluntary emergency overnight stay for residents including the Didsbury West councillor.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-21|title=Didsbury flood alert: From lockdown river haven to major evacuations|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-55747524|access-date=2021-07-13}}</ref>

==Attendees==

There are strong Libyan ties within the mosque,<ref>{{cite news |date=22 November 2017 |title=Born in Britain, forged in Libya: the Manchester suicide bomber's story |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/born-in-britain-forged-in-libya-the-manchester-suicide-bomber-s-story-1.677961 |url-access=registration |access-date=23 November 2025 |work=The National}}</ref> with various people from the mosque having been involved, in Libya, in the civil war.<ref name="Libya">{{cite news |author=Jones, Sam |date=27 May 2017 |title=Terrorism: Libya's civil war comes home to Manchester |url=https://www.ft.com/content/42cabb04-4203-11e7-9d56-25f963e998b2 |url-access=subscription |accessdate=31 May 2017 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> In 2011, the (current) mosque imam travelled to Libya, where he aided moderate rebel groups to help topple Gaddafi.<ref name = "Libya"/> Another person from the mosque was described variously as a "member" and a "senior member" of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/worried-parents-took-manchester-bomber-to-libya-and-confiscated-passport-xf030mpfh |title=Worried parents took Manchester bomber Abedi to Libya and confiscated passport |author=Trew, Bel|work=The Times|date= 25 May 2017|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> A regular worshipper at the mosque, Abd al-Baset Azzouz, al Qaeda operative left Britain in 2009 to join the terror group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan, before heading to Libya to run an al Qaeda network in the east of the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hume |first=Tim |date=2017-05-25 |title=The Manchester bomber grew up in a neighborhood struggling with extremism |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-manchester-bomber-grew-up-in-a-neighborhood-struggling-with-extremism/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> At least two British recruits of Islamic State also worshipped at the mosque.<ref name = "scrutiny">{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/manchester-bombers-mosque-comes-under-scrutiny/3875583.html |title=Manchester Bomber's Mosque Comes Under Scrutiny |work =Voice of America| author=Dettmer, Jamie|date =29 May 2017|accessdate=31 May 2017}}</ref> Rapper and ISIS soldier Raphael Hostey worshipped at the mosque together with Salman Abedi, who went on to set off a suicide bomb at Manchester Arena in 2017. Hostey travelled to Syria where he was killed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parveen |first=Nazia |last2=Morris |first2=Steven |last3=Pidd |first3=Helen |last4=Halliday |first4=Josh |last5=Connolly |first5=Kate |date=2017-05-25 |title=Salman Abedi had connections to gangs and terrorists in Manchester |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/25/salman-abedi-had-connections-to-gangs-and-terrorists-in-manchester |access-date=2025-11-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In December 2017, mosque attendee Mohammed Abdallah, was jailed for 10 years for being a member of Islamic State, where he was listed as a "specialist sniper".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2017-12-07/british-jihadi-with-links-to-manchester-arena-bomber-salman-abedi-guilty-of-islamic-state-membership/ |title=British jihadi with links to Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi jailed for being Islamic State member |author=Karia, Sejai|work=ITV News |date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

== Link to Manchester Arena bombing ==

The perpetrator of the Manchester Arena bombing was identified as Salman Ramadan Abedi, an attendant of the mosque.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-26 |title=Everything we know about Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/26/everything-know-manchester-suicide-bomber-salman-abedi/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="guardian2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40019135|title=Manchester attack: Who was the suspect Salman Abedi?|date=23 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=23 May 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/23/manchester-arena-attacker-named-salman-abedi-suicide-attack-ariana-grande|title=Manchester Arena attacker named by police as Salman Ramadan Abedi|last=Parveen|first=Ian Cobain Frances Perraudin Steven Morris Nazia|date=23 May 2017|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref> His father, Ramadan Abedi (also known as Abu Ismael), called the ''adhan'' at the mosque;<ref name="guardmosque2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/23/manchester-arena-attacker-named-salman-abedi-suicide-attack-ariana-grande|title=Manchester Arena attacker named by police as Salman Ramadan Abedi|date=23 May 2017|work=The Guardian|accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://heavy.com/news/2017/05/salman-abedi-didsbury-mosque-islamic-centre-islam-muslim-isis-sharia-father-abu-ismail/|title=Salman Abedi & Didsbury Mosque: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|date=23 May 2017}}</ref> his older brother, Ismail Abedi, was a tutor in the mosque's Qur'an school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/92911194/the-face-of-hate-manchester-arena-attack-suspect-salman-abedis-home-raided|title=The face of hate': Manchester Arena attack suspect Salman Abedi's home raided, disturbing book found|date=24 May 2017}}</ref> Both men were arrested.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://heavy.com/news/2017/05/ismail-abedi-salman-brother-arrested-ismael-23-year-old-suspect-photo/|title=Ismail Abedi: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|date=24 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=Guardian/> The mosque released a statement condemning the terror attack.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title=Didsbury mosque distances itself from Manchester bomber|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/24/didsbury-mosque-distances-itself-from-manchester-bomber}}</ref> The mosque also held a moment of silence to remember the victims of the bombing.<ref name=Guardian/>

Muslims opposed to militant Islamic ideologies, cited by the Voice of America, have said that the mosque must bear some responsibility for Abedi's radicalisation because of the conservative Salafi brand of Islam it allegedly espouses.<ref name = "scrutiny"/> Rashad Ali, senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and counter-terror expert, told Vice News the mosque preached a "fairly radical, puritan" brand of Salafist Islam and was "effectively taken over at certain points by various Libyan militia groups, including ones associated with the Muslim Brotherhood." He said the Abedi family subscribed to a radical political strain of Salafism, a background which suggested the bomber would have had a shorter pathway to radicalisation than others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-manchester-bomber-grew-up-in-a-neighborhood-struggling-with-extremism/ |title=Road to radicalization |author=Hume, Tim|date=25 May 2017|work=Vice News}}</ref> According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, 10 days before the Abedi bought his concert ticket, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque, made a call for armed jihad, according to scholars.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manchester mosque sermon 'called for armed jihad', say scholars|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44729727|website=BBC|author=Titheradge, Ed and Thomas Noel|date=16 August 2018|accessdate=31 December 2022}}</ref> An investigation by Greater Manchester Police into the report found that no offences had been committed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/16/police-investigate-links-between-arena-bomber-and-manchester-imam|title=Manchester police investigate arena bomber's links to imam|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=16 August 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=1 October 2018|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020033/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/16/police-investigate-links-between-arena-bomber-and-manchester-imam|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47040825 |title=Didsbury Mosque 'military jihad' sermon probe ends |work=BBC Nes |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=13 November 2024}}</ref>

One attendee said in 2017 that allegedly, "every other Friday khutba [sermon] at Didsbury was about how bad ISIS are" and that the bomber allegedly, "hated the mosque",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/manchester-libyans-react-killer-midst-170525230213138.html|title=Manchester's Libyans react to killer in their midst|website=www.aljazeera.com|accessdate=26 May 2017}}</ref> whereas another attendee said Salman Abedi "learned the Qur’an by heart" at the mosque.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ian Cobain|last2=Frances Perraudin|last3=Steven Morris|last4=Nazia Parveen|title=Salman Ramadan Abedi named by police as Manchester Arena attacker|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/23/manchester-arena-attacker-named-salman-abedi-suicide-attack-ariana-grande|accessdate=27 May 2017|work=The Guardian|quote=Salman and his brother Ismail worshipped at Didsbury mosque, where their father, who is known as Abu Ismail within the community, is a well-known figure. “He used to do the five and call the adhan. He has an absolutely beautiful voice. And his boys learned the Qur’an by heart.}}</ref> On 4 November 2017 the mosque was put on lockdown after receiving a "threatening letter".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abbit |first1=Beth |title=Didsbury Mosque on lockdown in response to 'threatening letter' |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/didsbury-mosque-police-cordon-threat-13858128 |website=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=11 September 2019 |date=4 November 2017}}</ref>

==2021 Arson== On 10 and 11 September 2021 an arson attack caused minor damage to a door. Passersby helped put the fire out. Police have CCTV footage and are investigating, they are asking for help from anyone with dashcam footage or other information that may help in their enquiries.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/11/police-investigate-arson-attack-on-didsbury-mosque-as-a-hate Police investigate arson attack on Didsbury mosque as a hate crime] ''The Guardian''</ref> Police stated, "We believe there were several vehicles that may have driven past at the time and would ask anyone who may have any dashcam footage to get in touch." and asked witnesses to call 0161 856 4973 or 0800 555 111 anonymously. Furthermore it was also revealed that they had received threats to destroy the mosque for a period before the arson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/15092021-didsbury-mosque-to-host-heroes-dinner-for-arson-attack-saviours/|title = Didsbury Mosque to host 'heroes dinner' for arson attack saviours|date = 15 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Didsbury Mosque: Police investigate fire as hate crime |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-58528886 |website=BBC News |access-date=26 October 2021 |date=11 September 2021}}</ref>

==2025 Sharia Law Advertisement==

On 24 July 2025, an advertisement was posted in the government's Find A Job portal, for a job labelled "Sharia Law Administrator", sparking backlash from right-wing MP's affiliated with the Reform UK party, and Conservative Party (UK).<ref name="manchestereveningnews.co.uk">https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mosque-hits-back-against-misinformation-32154411</ref>

Posts made by MP's such as Nigel Farage claimed that the country was being 'destroyed'. He said: "Our country and its values are being destroyed," in a post on X.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2087529/nigel-farage-dwp-shariah-law-job-ad</ref> Rupert Lowe, an independent MP, posted: "I've formally questioned the DWP on what the hell they are playing at... We live in Britain - we do NOT have, or want, Shariah law."<ref>https://disa.org/mosque-rebuts-claims-of-misinformation-regarding-sharia-compliant-job-advertisement/</ref>

The mosque released a statement on the events saying individuals on the 'far-right' had 'maliciously misinformed the public to incite hate and for political gain or out of ignorance' following the publication of the ad, by the Manchester Islamic Centre (MIC). The mosque had advertised for the role within its religious service and it was not a government-funded post, but rather had a salary paid for by the mosque from community donations. The job was posted by the independently registered charity - not affiliated with the Government.<ref name="manchestereveningnews.co.uk"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.didsburymosque.com Didsbury Mosque Website] * [http://www.didsburymosque.com/MosqueFlash.htm Didsbury Mosque Virtual Tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314135315/http://www.didsburymosque.com/MosqueFlash.htm |date=14 March 2014 }} * [https://www.youtube.com/user/DidsburyMosqueUK Didsbury Mosque, YouTube channel] * [https://www.youtube.com/user/Manchesterislcentre Manchester Islamic Centre, YouTube channel]

Category:Churches completed in 1883 Category:Former Methodist churches in the United Kingdom Category:Mosques converted from churches in the United Kingdom Category:Mosques in Manchester Category:Mosque-related controversies in Europe Category:Didsbury