Frequently Asked Questions

At Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC), we are dedicated to promoting a deep understanding of Islamic tradition. We recognize that Hudood laws, which pertain to penalties for certain major sins in Islam, have their roots in our sacred texts and Hadith.

However, it’s crucial to emphasize that our discussions regarding Hudood laws are solely theoretical and educational. We, as GLMCC, hold our scriptures in the highest regard, but we do not advocate or support the practical application of these penalties in the United Kingdom.

We firmly believe that all Muslims must comply with the laws of their respective countries, which includes respecting the established rule of law. Islam underscores the importance of due process and firmly rejects any form of vigilante justice. We stress the significance of our community members being law-abiding citizens who positively contribute to the societies they are a part of.

Moreover, it’s important to note that all speakers at our events are instructed to approach these topics within this specific context. This approach reflects our commitment to nurturing a nuanced and respectful understanding of Islamic tradition while adhering to the laws and values of the country in which we reside.

Our stance on LGBT Issues: A Message from Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC)

At Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC), we uphold the principles of Islamic faith, which are deeply rooted in our sacred scriptures. It is essential to be clear that Islam endorses and affirms only the marriage between a man and a woman. From an Islamic perspective, this means that premarital, extramarital, and homosexual relationships are considered forbidden.

These principles are firmly established in our scriptures, reflecting our religious beliefs. However, it is equally important to emphasize that our commitment to these principles does not translate into intolerance, abuse, or discrimination towards those who do not follow the Islamic faith in this regard.

We want to clarify that any rebuke or critique that may be expressed from our platforms is strictly confined and limited to the moral condemnation of these relationships, as they are in direct opposition to what is established in our faith. Our intention is not to promote harm or hatred but to express our adherence to our religious values.

The United Kingdom is a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious country, where individuals from diverse backgrounds coexist. We recognize and respect that everyone has rights under UK law, regardless of their orientation, ethnicity, or faith.

At GLMCC, we categorically reject any form of harm, whether physical or otherwise, directed at any person, irrespective of their color, race, or orientation. Our core beliefs are clear, and so is our commitment to fostering cohesiveness and understanding within our diverse society.

We encourage open dialogue, respect for differences, and the peaceful coexistence of all members of our community. It is our sincere hope that through mutual understanding and respect, we can build a harmonious and inclusive society where everyone’s rights and dignity are upheld.

At Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC), we categorically condemn all acts of terrorism, whether committed by individuals or states, regardless of religious or political affiliation. We hold a particularly strong stance against those who perpetrate such acts in the name of our faith.

Taking the life of innocent human beings is an abhorrent and heinous act, so grave that it is emphasized in the Qur’an. God has made it clear that taking one innocent life is equivalent to killing the entirety of humanity:

“…it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life, it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.” [Qur’an 5:32]

It is the unanimous consensus among scholars that our duty in this country, and indeed all around the world, is to live peacefully as compassionate and engaged citizens. Our responsibility is to provide moral leadership, to uphold the values of peace, compassion, and justice that are inherent in our faith.

At GLMCC, we are committed to fostering a sense of community, respect, and unity among all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds. We firmly believe that through peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and understanding, we can contribute to a harmonious society that rejects extremism and upholds the principles of compassion and humanity. Together, we can stand against the misguided actions of those who seek to divide us through violence and hatred.

GLMCC is split into departments with the CEO overlooking the whole organisation.
There are five main departments, each with a dedicated lead:
1) Operations, 2) Services, 3) Fundraising & Marketing, 4) Dawah, 5) Education.

Trustees are voted in by the GLMCC membership. A term for a trustee is three years after which their position is up for re-election.

Our annual report and accounts are published every year which are audited by external auditors and provide an overview of our work.  We organise an annual community open day. There is a dedicated email address, feedback@greenlanemasjid.org which is accessible to the trustees and CEO. Every last jummah of the month, the CEO and management are available for people to discuss any suggestions and feedback.

We currently employ three Imams. The role of each Iman varies from leading salah, organising Dawah lectures and engaging with youth.

At GLMCC we have qualified Imams who have graduated from prestigious Islamic universities and have strong links to some of the major scholars of our time. Every religious decision that is made is passed through them.

The process of recruitment is managed by our HR department. All roles are advertised via our marketing platforms. A team of senior managers interview candidates and after an internal discussion decide which applicant gets the job.

The current ratio of workers by gender is roughly 50:50.

Yes, we have a code of conduct that all staff and volunteers must adhere to at all times.

Taskforce GLM was set up as a way to collect funds to support various projects overseas, delivered by partner humanitarian charities. . The benefit of the Task Force (TFGLM) was to hold the charity partner to account and oversee the projects on behalf of our congregation. Alhamdullilah 7 years later we are still performing this function and have overseen 7+ million pounds distributed. Our Taskforce still continues to be run by volunteers.

The fundraising capacity and opportunities at the masjid are limited. In order for us to effectively raise money for our charity projects abroad, a significant proportion of the available fundraising opportunities are allocated to TFGLM including the 27^th night of Ramdan where hundreds of thousands of pounds are raised. In line with a return that is average for the charity sector, the masjid does receive sponsorship money to support our projects.

At GLMCC we are careful to ensure that all funds are spent on services which benefit the community most. We oversee the delivery of over 40 unique services alhamdulillah. As a masjid, we also invest a considerable amount of money in Dawah efforts. Regular tendering takes place to ensure good value across all services. Additionally, we have a multiple approval process for recruitment and rely year-round on a large base of volunteers who offer brilliant support.

The running cost of the masjid and its activities are entirely covered by the congregation which is a mix of weekly donations (jumuah and donation boxes), educational and activity fees, tenants’ rental and online fundraising. We have also started to explore local grants for our welfare work. As a masjid, we do not receive overseas government funding for our running costs. We did receive a donation from some donors in Kuwait towards the refurbishment of the building a few years ago, and they continue to support the Islamwise project. Other than this, all income is from the local community alhamdulillah.

All roles at the masjid are benchmarked against the charity sector. Currently, the masjid is paying below-average salaries when compared to the sector and other Islamic organisations in general, with many staff just above the minimum living wage. We have over 60 staff, mainly part-time madrasah and education teachers, and have an annual salary bill of circa £500k. This is something that we are looking to address going forward inshaAllah.

All gift aid collected by the masjid from all departments is put towards the running costs of the masjid. This is particularly important as sometimes some departments have a funding shortfall which can then be covered by this fund. We have also used gift aid to sponsor humanitarian aid and other projects.

We have over 40 services which are run from our centre all of which require financial resource. These services fall under five main departments: Dawah, Welfare, Youth, Education and Operations (for a full list of services and financial breakdown please visit our website and read our annual reports). We recently won two awards from separate organisations for best run mosque in the UK. These awards are not mentioned in an attempt to elicit praise; however, we hope that it reflects that our work and efforts are recognised nationally.

Yes, we actively apply for grants that are in line with the masjid’s values.

If you look at the GLM annual reports, you will see that for the last few years we have had an excess of £2,000,000 coming into our account. The vast majority of this money is raised by our humanitarian wing, Task Force GLM (TFGLM), for humanitarian projects abroad. This money has been donated to a specific cause so MUST be spent on what it was raised for. This is not our money to use – it would be both haram, and illegal. These funds come into our account and are then transferred to our charity partner.

As GLMCC has grown, naturally our expenditure has gone up. We are currently expanding our services to the wider Muslim and non-Muslim community and are putting more funding into welfare services, dawah/outreach, education and social campaigns, which has increased our base costs. In the last year we have done more talks, conferences, school visits, mosque tours, weekend courses, welfare activities, social campaigns, media engagement, community engagement and community partnering than before. With the growth of our projects (alhamdulillah), we have more users which then means we need to scale up. As we continue to grow, naturally, we need more funding. Our accounts show that there was a shortfall last year, which displays that we are not storing money but spending it to benefit our community and the ummah as we receive it.