Minhaj-ul-Quran International Nelson

The town of Nelson in Lancashire is unique in that it hosts two Minhaj-ul-Quran centres, reflecting the significant growth of the community there. Minhaj-ul-Quran’s presence in Nelson dates back to the mid-1990s and has since expanded. The two buildings – one on Carr Road and one on Brunswick Street – each serve distinct but complementary roles for local Muslims. Below, each centre is detailed separately, including their histories, facilities, and contributions to community life.

The Minhaj Education Centre on Carr Road in Nelson was established on 21 March 1995, making it one of the earliest MQI setups in the UK after London. The community acquired a large three-storey building (a former commercial premises) and transformed it into a multipurpose Islamic centre. After necessary renovations, the Carr Road facility opened as a hub for education, training, and welfare in the region. The building includes a beautiful mosque space – a prayer hall that can accommodate around 700 worshippers at a time – as well as classrooms, a library, and administrative offices. This centre quickly became the heart of Minhaj-ul-Quran’s educational and charitable activities in Nelson.

The facilities at Carr Road are extensive. The prayer hall is located on one of the upper floors, adorned in a simple and serene style, where daily prayers and gatherings are held. Local residents come for the five daily prayers, and the atmosphere is one of peace and brotherhood, with people of all ages attending. There are dedicated classrooms and training rooms at this centre; in fact, right from its inception, the building was used to train children in Quranic recitation and Islamic studies. Highly educated and specialist teachers (many from Minhaj-ul-Quran’s own training programs) have been providing their services here to ensure quality education for the youth. The presence of these classrooms means that the Carr Road centre effectively functions as an Islamic school during evenings and weekends, teaching hundreds of children from Nelson and surrounding towns.

Additionally, the centre houses the offices of the Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF) and other MQI administrative wings, making it somewhat of an operational headquarters. In fact, for many years, the Carr Road site served as the central office of Minhaj Welfare Foundation UK, coordinating charity work and humanitarian projects. The ground floor of the building is utilized for welfare operations – there is office space where staff and volunteers manage projects such as zakat collection, donation drives, and relief fundraisers. Attached to this is a community hall where goods can be stored and sorted (for example, food packets or charity clothing) and where community members can come for assistance. The centre also established a respectable Islamic library and media centre. Shelves of books – from classical Islamic texts to contemporary works by Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri – line the library, and there are facilities for listening to recorded lectures and Quranic recitations. This library serves students and researchers who want to delve deeper into Islamic scholarship.

The religious programmes at the Carr Road centre are centered around education and spiritual development. For children, daily Qur’an classes take place after school hours, where they learn to read the Qur’an with proper pronunciation and memorise essential surahs and du’as. There are also weekend classes that cover Islamic beliefs (aqeedah), seerah (life of the Prophet), and basic jurisprudence – essentially providing a full Islamic studies curriculum at a supplementary school level. For adults, the centre hosts weekly dars-e-Qur’an (Qur’anic lesson) sessions and halaqa (study circle) meetings where both men and women can learn in separate arrangements. Special lectures by visiting scholars are common; Nelson’s community has benefited from talks by senior MQI scholars and guests from Pakistan. The Carr Road mosque also holds Dhikr gatherings and `Halqa-e-Durood` (circles of sending salutations on the Prophet), particularly on Thursday evenings, in line with the Sufi-influenced spiritual ethos of Minhaj-ul-Quran. During the holy month of Ramadan, the Carr Road centre is full of life: Taraweeh prayers are offered (often led by young huffaz, or memorizers of Qur’an), and Quranic tafsir sessions might be held between prayers. The centre’s mosque is also a venue for Itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan – devout community members seclude themselves for worship, and MQI provides organisation and lectures for them nightly during that period.

A hallmark of the Carr Road branch is its strong focus on community welfare and outreach. As the base of Minhaj Welfare Foundation in the area, this centre has spearheaded numerous charitable initiatives. Under MWF Nelson’s banner, the centre has annually conducted zakat collection drives and coordinated the collective Qurbani (sacrificial meat distribution) during Eid al-Adha. These projects ensure that local eligible families, regardless of background, receive support and that Islamic charitable duties are fulfilled efficiently. Furthermore, the Nelson team has been at the forefront of responding to international crises: for example, when parts of Pakistan were struck by severe drought or famine, the Nelson centre led fundraising campaigns to send aid. In 2005, after the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia, Minhaj Welfare Foundation Nelson campaigned vigorously and collected significant donations, even dispatching a team to Indonesia to deliver relief on the ground. Such efforts have put Nelson on the map as a generous community with a global humanitarian vision. Locally, the Carr Road centre engages in food relief – they have organised food bank collections and distributions for the disadvantaged in Pendle (the borough including Nelson). The centre’s volunteers often cook or collect hot meals to feed the homeless in nearby towns, demonstrating care for neighbours of all faiths.

One particularly innovative outreach effort from Nelson is its community radio station. Since 2002, the Minhaj-ul-Quran Nelson team has run Milad FM 107 (often operating during the Rabi-ul-Awwal Milad period and Ramadan), a radio station broadcasting a message of peace 24 hours a day. This radio service, transmitted from Lancashire, has reached thousands of homes, allowing people – especially those who might not be able to attend the mosque regularly, like the elderly or infirm – to listen to Qur’an recitations, nasheeds, lectures, and community announcements right from their homes. It has been a powerful tool for spreading Islamic teachings of love and harmony, and for keeping the community connected. During Ramadan, the radio offers suhoor and iftar reminders, Quran lessons, and children’s programming, effectively uniting Nelson’s Muslims on the airwaves.

Youth and women’s involvement at the Carr Road centre are noteworthy. From the beginning, the centre was envisioned not only as a mosque but as a training centre for children and youth, and it continues to fulfil that role. Many of the young men who learned Qur’an here in the 1990s are now, as adults, volunteers or even teachers at the centre, creating a positive cycle of mentorship. The youth group at Nelson – often coordinated with Minhaj Youth League UK – arranges sports tournaments, outdoor trips (like hiking in the nearby countryside), and youth seminars on contemporary issues (e.g., dealing with social media challenges or career development while maintaining faith). These activities keep the younger generation engaged with the mosque beyond just ritual worship.

Women have a strong and respected presence at the Carr Road branch. Minhaj Sisters Nelson is very active; they host regular ladies’ study circles and Tajweed classes for women on the premises. Women frequently gather for collective prayers and learning, especially on weekends. The Carr Road centre provides space for women’s community initiatives – for example, workshops on parenting from an Islamic perspective or health awareness sessions for Muslim women often take place here. Women volunteers contribute to organising events like the community iftar (breaking of fast) gatherings and celebratory milads. In one instance, Minhaj-ul-Quran Nelson, in collaboration with Minhaj Sisters, hosted a large community iftar that brought together Muslim and non-Muslim residents to share a meal and dialogue. This kind of event highlights how women’s involvement at the centre helps extend its welcoming ethos to the broader community.

In terms of its role in the local community, the Carr Road Minhaj-ul-Quran centre has become an indispensable part of Nelson’s religious and social landscape. It serves not only as a mosque for daily worship but also as an education centre, a charity office, and a community meeting point. Many local Muslims have their first touchpoint with formal Islamic learning in the classrooms of Carr Road. The centre’s emphasis on welfare means that it’s widely known even among other communities – numerous interfaith visitors, local councillors, and charity representatives have walked through its doors, often to collaborate on projects or attend open days. The positive relationships fostered by the centre were evident when, for example, local churches and the mosque joined together for neighbourhood peace walks, demonstrating unity against extremism and negativity. The Carr Road centre’s consistent message of peace, integration, and service has helped break down barriers and project a positive image of Muslims in the wider Nelson and Lancashire community.

Jamia Masjid Minhaj-ul-Quran Nelson on Brunswick Street

As the Nelson community grew, the need arose for a second, larger facility – leading to the establishment of the Brunswick Street centre. Some years after the first centre, Minhaj-ul-Quran Nelson acquired a building on Brunswick Street that was formerly a social club. This premises was purchased and converted into a grand Islamic centre to accommodate the increasing population and community activities. The Brunswick Street site, now commonly known as Jamia Masjid Minhaj-ul-Quran, is today the main mosque for many in Nelson. It features a prominent dome and a minaret on its facade, which have become an instantly recognisable landmark in the area.

The facilities at the Brunswick Street centre are impressive. The centre houses a spacious Jamia mosque – essentially a large prayer hall designed for big congregations. The prayer area is much more expansive than that of the Carr Road centre, allowing not only Nelson residents but also worshippers from nearby towns (like Brierfield, Burnley, and Colne) to join for major prayers. The interior is elegantly simple, with ample open space on the carpeted floor for prayer rows. There are designated sections for women both on the main floor and a balcony area, ensuring that women can attend prayers, especially Jumu’ah and Eid, comfortably in this mosque.

The religious and educational programmes at the Brunswick Street Jamia Masjid mirror and extend those at Carr Road. Five daily prayers are established, and this mosque is especially filled for Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers. The Friday sermon at Brunswick Street often addresses contemporary issues and is delivered in a mix of English and Urdu/Punjabi, considering the largely South Asian heritage congregation, to ensure everyone benefits. During Ramadan, the Brunswick Street mosque becomes a focal point: Taraweeh prayers are conducted here due to its larger capacity, and Huffaz (memorisers) recite the Qur’an in nightly portions so that by the end of Ramadan the entire Qur’an is completed in prayer.

The centre conducts regular dawah (invitation) and educational sessions. For example, weekly gatherings might be held every Thursday night in this grand mosque, featuring nafli majlis (optional prayer gathering) and a talk by an Imam or guest speaker. These sessions are opportunities for the community to increase their knowledge and spirituality in a group setting. The subjects range from Quranic exegesis to the importance of charity, and often they include collective Salawat (sending peace and blessings on the Prophet) and dua for the community.

The mosque plays a leading role in community bridging in Nelson. It actively participates in Pendle Borough’s interfaith network. The mosque has hosted “Visit My Mosque” open days where local residents, councillors, police officers, and school teachers are invited. They are greeted by volunteers who give them a tour, explain Islamic practices, and answer questions – often with refreshments and friendly conversation, breaking down stereotypes. The feedback from such events is typically very positive, with visitors appreciating the openness and the chance to see a working mosque up close. One such event was part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, where Jamia Masjid Minhaj-ul-Quran opened its doors to the public for an afternoon of dialogue and exhibition. The centre’s leaders also attend civic events – for instance, the mosque’s imam or director might speak at community cohesion events organised by the council, or hold stalls at local fairs promoting peace and distributing Islamic literature and free Qur’ans.

The Brunswick Street centre, like Carr Road, is deeply involved in social welfare. Often the planning and announcement of welfare projects happen at the Jamia Masjid during Friday sermons. For example, the mosque has mobilised funds for local causes like supporting a children’s hospice in Lancashire or sending aid to flood victims in the UK. It also carries out the distribution part of charity drives: every Ramadan, food packages and zakat from the community are distributed to needy families discreetly from the mosque premises. Likewise, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mosque was a coordination point for volunteers delivering groceries and medicines to those shielding at home, regardless of faith, exemplifying the Islamic principle of caring for one’s neighbours.

For women, the Brunswick Street centre has been empowering. It regularly hosts ladies’ Mawlids and ijtema (women’s congregational gatherings) where sometimes hundreds of women come together. A notable feature is that women and girls themselves often manage and perform in these events – reciting the Quran, singing nasheeds, giving short speeches – thereby building confidence and a sense of ownership. One such event was a children’s Mawlid organised after months of study circles; the children (boys and girls) who had been attending the weekly study circles, run by Minhaj Sisters Walsall for example, showcased their learning by hosting the Mawlid event themselves. While that particular reference is about Walsall, similar initiatives occur in Nelson, indicating a pattern across Minhaj centres of nurturing youth leadership. Minhaj Sisters Nelson cooperates with the Minhaj Women League to run programmes like mother-and-daughter workshops, health seminars (e.g., sessions on mental health or healthy eating specifically for women), and community service like visiting the elderly. Women volunteers also help maintain the cleanliness and decoration of the mosque, especially before big events, pouring their love and care into the house of Allah.

Role in the community: The establishment of the Brunswick Street Jamia Masjid elevated Nelson’s status in the region as a centre of Islamic learning and gathering. It works in tandem with the Carr Road centre – often Carr Road focuses on educational and welfare operations, while Brunswick Street focuses on larger congregational prayers and community-wide events. Together, they allow Minhaj-ul-Quran to cater to every aspect of community life in Nelson. The Brunswick Street mosque, in particular, has become the go-to place for major Islamic festivities. During Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, the mosque fills multiple shifts of Eid prayers.

By providing Nelson with a grand mosque and community centre, the Brunswick Street branch has also allowed Minhaj-ul-Quran to extend its community development programs. The centre has hosted training sessions for imams and teachers, regional meetings for MQI volunteers from across the North, and even UK-wide gatherings such as the Itikaf (spiritual retreat) for women, which in some years has been arranged in multiple cities, including Nelson. This means Nelson’s experience and best practices are shared and benefit other communities as well.

In summary, Jamia Masjid Minhaj-ul-Quran on Brunswick Street plays a pivotal role in the spiritual and social life of Nelson’s Muslims. It symbolizes growth – the growth of the community and the growth of Minhaj-ul-Quran’s work. Its inclusive and welcoming atmosphere has drawn many into the fold of the mosque, even those who may have been distant before. With its large prayer space, libraries, and event halls, the centre serves as a beacon of knowledge and devotion. Moreover, by actively engaging in charitable initiatives and inviting the wider society in, it firmly establishes that the mosque is not an isolated place of worship, but rather a community centre open to all. Nelson’s two Minhaj-ul-Quran centres, each with their unique strengths, together foster spiritual upliftment, education for the young and old, interfaith harmony, and compassionate service – truly reflecting the values of spirituality, education, and community development that Minhaj-ul-Quran upholds.