AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
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Model Mosque Show
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This is a positive new show which will Inshallah bring balance to the debate on
the role of a mosque within British Muslim society. It will discuss not only
what makes a successful mosque in the UK but also ways in which to improve
standards within UK mosques. This is an incredibly important opportunity for
the selected mosques. There is a wide disparity in standards between the 1500
odd mosques in the UK. Model Mosque is a project that seeks to focus on the
positive, and by doing so encouraging co-operation between our mosques on a
national scale.
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OUR AIMS
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To create a blueprint, a model of a modern mosque
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After completion of the show, on November 25th,we will endeavour to create a
paper version of the winning mosque, outlining all the services and facilities,
the policies and procedures, which have contributed to making the winning
mosque the Model Mosque of 2007.
This document will then be sent to all UK mosques, along with other useful
information that will help the communities and management of UK mosques better
improve the standards within their own mosques. We will provide guidelines on a
variety of issues including media training, education policy, integration
issues, economic development and the role of women.
We will also produce a 1 hour special documentary on the winning mosque, which
will be used as a knowledge transfer tool and shared amongst all mosques in the
UK.
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To promote and share best practice amongst our mosques
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There is a wealth of knowledge and experience within our mosques. Trustees who
have been managing the affairs of a certain mosque for 20 years have valuable
insight into the inner workings of mosques. Problems one mosque is experiencing
may have already been solved effectively by another mosque in another part of
the country. But there are not very many avenues for this knowledge to be
passed on or shared amongst our mosques. Especially when the geographical
location of mosques can make it very difficult to arrange effective meetings of
mosque management committees. Model Mosque aims to tap into this vast source of
knowledge by highlighting best practice and illustrate this through the
use of video production, website and paper documents.
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To recognise and reward the best run mosques
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Mosques that are running smoothly, with all members of the community involved,
deserve some form of recognition. In all strata’s of society reward and
recognition for work well done is the cornerstone of successful teams. But
there seems to be no formal way of doing this within the UK. Model Mosque hopes
to address this by raising the profile of mosques that are making a real
difference to their communities. A successful mosque can add real value to the
lives of Muslims in that town/city. We need to show that as the Muslim Ummah we
appreciate the hard work that has been done over a number of years. To
celebrate success stories and raise the profile of well-run mosques
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To promote the most successful integration/open doors
policies
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Integration has become a real buzz word in politics in the last few years; it
has become one of the major challenges for the Government and for local
communities. A few simple policies can make a huge difference to race relations
in our town and cities. These integration policies form the basis of the future
for the next generation of Muslims living in the UK. People always fear what
they don’t understand; it is our duty to de-mystify the mosques and show them
for the spiritual and tranquil institutions that they are. We can do this by
taking a professional approach mixed with an open doors policy in our mosques.
Model Mosque seeks to identify the most successful of the integration policies
coming out of mosques and share these policies with all mosques. Insha-Allah
the benefit of this will be noticeable to the whole of the UK, both Muslim and
non-Muslim.
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To combat negative media portrayal of mosques
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Mainstream media portrayal of mosques has become a criminally one-sided
argument. Regularly we hear of terror plots being hatched in mosques, extremist
views being expressed in mosques, youth being brainwashed in mosques. How come
the mainstream media never report on any of the positive things coming out of
mosques? Perhaps because the reporting of successful mosques does not sell very
well compared to sensationalist horror stories. As a community we need to fight
back in the right way. Model Mosque aims to give the mosques of the UK a
platform to answer criticisms, to showcase the positives and present a balanced
argument using the power of media. We intend to publicise the mosques being
profiled in Model Mosque to the mainstream media.
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Jazakallah Khair
Abrar Hussain
Producer/Director
Model Mosque Show
abrar.hussain@islamchannel.tv
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ISLAM CHANNEL
