Cambridge Central Mosque being opened

Cambridge Central Mosque which was built in the city of Cambridge in United Kingdom and is the first environmentally friendly mosque in Europe was opened by a ceremony which was attended by the President of Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.   

The opening ceremony of the mosque which was built by the support of Türkiye Diyanet Foundation was attended by the President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş as well.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, the President of Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned his glad to be together with the Turkish and Muslim community on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Cambridge Central Mosque and Complex which is the first environmentally friendly mosque of Europe.  

Stating that the Cambridge Central Mosque will be the best response to Islamophobia which is at rise lately, Erdoğan said “This mosque which has been the example of solidarity against discrimination from the first moment will continue to be the center for the unity, affection and peace, Insha Allah.”

Stating that they did not only perform an opening of a mosque and a complex, but also they gifted this city with a monumental masterpiece which rejects conflict and hatred with all bricks and patterns of its very own, the President Erdoğan wished for the Cambridge Central Mosque which is the fruit of many efforts for over 10 years to be beneficial to all Muslims living in United Kingdom, especially for the citizens with Turkish origin and all cognates.

Mentioning that he gratefully commemorates David Marks, the architecture of the mosque, who deceased in 2017, the President of Republic of Turkey Erdoğan wished blessings from Allah (swt) for Baraka Han who initiated a donation campaign for the construction of the mosque while he was a student in Cambridge University and deceased at very young age.

"The product of a strong solidarity and cooperation”

Emphasizing that the Cambridge Central Mosque is the product of a strong solidarity and cooperation, Erdoğan talked as “Several institutions of ours, especially the Presidency of Religious Affairs and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation greatly supported the process to gift this city with this mosque. I congratulate my brothers Abdul Hakim Murat and Yusuf İslam who lead the project together with the Diyanet Foundation, and esteemed members of the Board of Trustees of the Mosque sincerely.”

Stating that as one of the masterpieces of woodwork and winner of several awards in this respect, the Cambridge Central Mosque can accommodate 1,300 men and women, President Erdoğan noted that just like its supporters, the architecture of the Cambridge Central Mosque too, truly reflects cultural richness.

Erdoğan stated that the Complex which is built on 5 thousand and 270 square meters incorporates various third space facilities such as an exhibition hall, a conference room, mother-child space, teaching areas and a cafeteria and along all these peculiarities, the Cambridge Central Mosque is a first in Europe in terms of its environmental sensitivities.

“The Cambridge Central Mosque is a masterpiece which is a candidate to perpetuate and revive our tradition of hospitality” 

Delivering that this place of worship which was built by utilizing the most recent technological facilities with its naturel ventilating system, solar panels, airborne heat pumps, rainwater purification system, rooftop luminaires which decrease the need of illumination, and green roof is also the first environmentally friendly mosque of Europe, Erdoğan used expressions as “In addition to these, the Cambridge Central Mosque and Complex is a masterpiece which is a candidate  to perpetuate and revive our tradition of hospitality in these lands.” 

Stating that the community garden of the mosque was designed with a unique understanding for reflecting heaven and the beauties of this world, Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

"Cambridge is renowned throughout the world for its quality of education alongside with its cultural diversity. I think this place of worship which is constructed in a city of education which accommodates thousands of students from different corners of the world will be the best response to Islamophobia which is at rise lately. This mosque which has been the example of solidarity against discrimination from the first moment will continue to be the center for the unity, affection and peace, Insha Allah. I believe that this masterpiece which reflects the elegance of our civilization will also be a source of pride for our citizens and the all other Muslims who live in the UK.”

“Islamophobia are overgrowing like a poison ivy”

Pointing out that the values which kept humanity together over ages are under threat more than ever before, the President Erdoğan talked as, "In countries which have for long years been the cradle of democracy, racism, discrimination and Islamophobia are overgrowing like poison ivy. Muslim shops, homes and places of worship belonging to the Muslims and members of the other religions are targeted by racist and fascist groups almost on a daily basis. Muslim women are harassed on streets, in markets and at workplaces only for wearing a headscarf. Such actions do not only victimize Muslims but also effect Jews, colored people and other groups who are different in their identities, appearances and religious affiliations.”

Drawing the attention of the fact that attacks against especially mosques and places of worship for other religions have reached an incredible degree, Erdoğan reminded that there were terrorist acts against mosques in New Zealand, churches in Sri Lanka and synagogues in the United States of America, and because of these actions, hundreds of innocent people who had not any objective apart from only performing what their religion required have lost their lives and tens of people were injured.   

Underlining that as a matter of fact, places of worship have immunity even in times of war, Erdoğan used expressions as, "Let alone murdering, lives, goods and honors of people who took refuge in the places of worship were always protected throughout the history. If the places of worship are targeted, bombed, exposed to arson and the civilian in these places are murdered cruelly in a region, it means that alarms are ringing for the humanity.”

Reminding that they say at every opportunity that the terror is the joint enemy and problem of the whole humanity, not only of Turkey, Erdoğan stated that the word of “Islam” originates from the word of “silm” as “peace” in Arab language.  

“It is not right to associate terror with Islam”

Expressing that they draw attention to the fact that it is not right to associate terror with Islam, which is a religion that means peace, Erdoğan continued as follows,

"It is not right to associate terror with Islam. If you will keep doing this, we curse them too. Because the fact that one terrorist is a member of Islam religion or is a Muslim does not give anyone the right to defame Islam. One cannot say ‘Islamic terror’ depending on this. Turkey whose President I am for the time being, is the country which fights against DEASH more than any other country in the world. There is no second country which fights against DEASH as much as we do and now there are members of DEASH in our jails seriously. We took more than 3 thousand members of DAESH down in Al-Bab of Syria only, we are still continuing it. Because DEASH has nothing to do with Islam and they are not from us. In our religion, killing an innocent person equals to murder the whole humanity. A Muslim cannot be terrorist and no terrorist comes from Islam."

Erdoğan said that they refuse and will not accept the label of Islamic terror which is made a current issue by some people insistently.

Reciting the verse 46 of Surah Hijr which is written on the door of the Mosques, Erdoğan used these expressions, "The Almighty Allah states that ' Udhuloohea bi saleamin eamineen,' which means ' Enter ye here, in peace and security.' This call which comes to this age is not only for us, the Muslims, but for you, the entire humanity. There is no room for casting people out, making discrimination and having hate. I would like to ask all of our brothers and sisters and all of our fellows, who live in Cambridge, to enter here with a peaceful heart and in security.

President of Religious Affairs Erbaş, “Mosques are the door of the thought of Islam, which is opened to the world.”

Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony and expressing that Islam is a religion which wants the entire humanity to have peace and wealth and commands people to work for this, President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş said “All prophets guided humanity in the way of tawhid (unity), justice and good morals in order to ensure implementation of this objective.”

Reminding that the briefest expression of morals of Islam is to obey to the Creator and treat to all the created ones with compassion and mercy, President of Religious Affairs Erbaş continued his words, “The greatest responsibility assigned to Muslims by the belief of Islam is to defend fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone regardless of their race, belief, color, language, geography, and culture and to work of goodness of everyone.”

Drawing attention to the point that the world is the joint home of over 7 billion people, President Erbaş stated, “For this reason, constructing a better life and future by adopting the world issues altogether should be our joint objective. It is possible for us to establish a more beautiful World without questioning beliefs, judging thoughts and discussing the social, economic, environmental, etc. issues, which affect all of us.”

President Erbaş expressed that Islamic belief accepts being responsible towards the environment, meeting needs of people and giving trust to them, and smiling to people to make them happy as worships.

“Muslim should have an understanding of thinking goodness of others more than himself”

Indicating that Prophet Muhammad said, “A Muslim is a person from whose hands and words other people are safe”, President Erbaş continued,

“The most prominent qualification of morals of Muslims is to ask all the good things both for themselves and for others and not to deem the unwanted things proper for others. I need to express clearly that every Muslim should have an understanding of thinking goodness of others more than himself according to the morals told us by the Holy Qur’an and shown us by the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. Our mosques are the places which contribute much to raise up such people who have these characteristics.”

Bu uttering that mosques are symbols of unity, life, share, and collaboration, President Erbaş said, “Mosques are the places where love, mercy, peace, and friendly conversation is experienced in the liveliest way.”

“We should exert efforts to live the values which are represented by mosques”

Emphasizing the fact that mosques are places where superior humanity order is taught, President of Religious Affairs Erbaş added these,

“Mosques are the centers of science where courses of science and morals, skills, wisdom, decency and social intercourse are taught. Mosques are the door of the thought and morals of Islam, which is opened to the society and world. Therefore, as we construct mosques today, exerting efforts to live, protect and revive the values which are represented by mosques is our non-ignorable responsibility. In this manner, this beautiful mosque is the most tangible indicator of the fact that we can do many good works together. Because this mosque has been the joint work of the humanity with from the beginning of its construction, with all the contributions and supports which are made and provided by humans from every thought. Essentially, due to this qualification of this mosque, we, the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation attached greater importance to it and tried to contribute it as much as we can.”

President Erbaş said that he believes that Cambridge Central Mosque is going to be one of the most ideal places where peace and mercy principles of Islam and the good morals of Muslims which surrounds the entire humanity are represented.

Pioneering the mosque project, Yusuf Islam said in his speech that he gave at the opening ceremony of the mosque, by expressing that it is a great moment and he himself had become Muslim after entering a mosque newly constructed in London 42 years ago.

Expressing his thanks to Türkiye Diyanet Foundation for its contributions, Islam said, "I would also like to thank President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who provided support to us and to all people who contributed to this mosque openhandedly. We would not be able to complete this mosque without their help."

The first environmentally friendly mosque in Europe

In the project; aesthetic and the sense of art of Islam religion the way of living of Prophet Muhammad, and the importance attached by him to protect the environment were based. Design of the mosque was determined at the end of a competition held within the framework of these bases and the mosque has been awarded 9 prizes this year only.

While the design of the yard of the mosque, which was completed in April 2019 and in which thousand people can establish prayer at the same time, was constructed according to Islamic traditions, great importance was attached also to its buildings’ being environmentally friendly. The mosque, in which natural materials such as wood and marble are used mostly, draws attention with its characteristics of having zero carbon footprint.

Rainwater is stored for irrigation of plants and cleaning, approximately 40 percent of the mosque’s electricity is generated through solar energy. Thanks to the system which is placed on the roof of the mosque and turns air temperature into heat, water in the hot water tanks and the ground is heated. Thanks to the sensors, hot air is absorbed by the divisions above and fresh air is given in the event that the oxygen amount inside decreases or temperature increases.

Windows are placed on the ceiling of the mosque in the form of a dome in order to have light from above and reflect sunlight directly to inside of the mosque in compliance with its characteristics of being environmentally friendly.