Hawzah News Agency – The Mosque can be found in the south-eastern part of Copenhagen at a convenient location close to local amenities. The construction of the Mosque began in 2010, with a significant contribution from The World Federation of KSIMC through a number of generous donors from our community as well as the efforts of some local personalities from three Islamic centres under the supervision of His Eminence Sayyid Mohammad Mahdi Khademi, son of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Husain Khademi (Sadr). Despite numerous administrative obstacles, Alhamdulillah, the construction was completed in 2015.
The two thousand one hundred square meter mosque is topped by a turquoise dome and two thirty-two-meter minarets. The new building of Imam Ali (as) mosque has three floors including a place for holding the congregational prayer which has the capacity to accommodate one thousand five hundred people along with a conference hall equipped with modern service machines.
In addition to the main prayer hall, the Mosque consists of several facilities such as: a ladies-only gymnasium, several spacious classrooms, conference hall, studio, library, research centre and two fully furnished flats for guests and visiting scholars.
Activities undertaken by the Mosque
In addition to the programs that are held to commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of the Ahlul Bayt (a) and other significant events, the Mosque conducts weekly educational programs that are held on Fridays. The diverse topics for these speeches are derived from the Qur’an and the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (a), and generally address the issues that the average Danish Shia youth can relate to, as well as the challenges and way of life in Denmark as a Muslim. Although the target audience for these speeches are the community’s youth, Muslims of all ages attend these programs.
Social Activities
Social activities play a vital role at the Imam Ali (as) Mosque. The Mosque has a dedicated committee with members of both genders on the panel that is responsible for arranging the activities after the Friday weekly programs. The activities vary from having a general discussion on a specific topic to dinner outings separately for the brothers and sisters. This helps promote the Shiite community amongst the youth in Copenhagen.
Recreational Trips and Events
The Mosque organises a bi-weekly recreational trip or an outdoor event for the young Shias living in Copenhagen. These events include activities like paintball, campfire, picnics, etc. and are essential in creating a closer bond between the youth, strengthening the foundation for the future Shiite community. Over the years, a significant number of events have been held.
The Children’s Mosque
Childhood is full of imagination and creative ideas, so the Imam Ali (as) Mosque has set it as an objective to let the little ones unfold their creativity, particularly when it comes to religion. A Children’s Mosque has been created as a result of this, where not only do the children have an opportunity to express themselves but are also taught about Islam while doing so.
Translation and Publication Works in Danish
In order to make Islamic literature available for the local community, several works from well-known scholars have been translated and published in Danish by the Mosque. Some of these works include the “Treatise on Rights” by Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn (a), books by Ayatullah Shaheed Murtadha Mutahhari like “Man and Faith”, “The World View of Tawheed”, the famous book “The Compassionate Family”, and many more.
Guided tours and lectures for Non-Muslims
On the first Sunday of each month, the Imam Ali (as) Mosque opens its doors to all visitors who wish to receive a guided tour of the Mosque. A tour like this allows people – Muslim and Non-Muslim – to experience the magnificent place and at the same time get a unique insight into Islam and Shiism. The Mosque also offers guided tours for educational institutions. It is worth noting here that clerics from the Imam Ali (as) Mosque are frequently invited to deliver lectures in various universities and venues around the country to discuss several topics of interest, and through these activities, they have become increasingly popular on the national level.
Interfaith Work
The Imam Ali (as) Mosque has a great relationship with the religious community in Denmark, especially the Churches. The interfaith work allows them to have an open dialogue on all matters regarding faith with the Non-Muslim communities and promotes a message of understanding and respect among these communities. One of the greatest achievements of the Imam Ali (as) Mosque since it opened is the strong relationships it has built with the University of Copenhagen.
First Visit from The World Federation
In September 2021, during his tour to Europe, the Head of the External Tableegh Department, Shaykh Nadir Jaffer, visited the Imam Ali (as) Mosque and took along with him the blessed Flag from the holy grave of Imam Husain (a).
This was the first time that a delegate from The World Federation visited the Mosque after its opening. Shaykh Nadir has established strong relations with the Danish community and has also discussed exciting plans for future collaborations.
Head of External Tableegh, Shaykh Nadir Jaffer said:
It was another excellent experience to visit Denmark and engage with the community. I feel the community is now reasonably well established with good infrastructure. It was very encouraging to learn and take note of the very balanced and positive growth of the message of Ahlul Bayt (a) in Europe. I thank the entire team and all the donors for their generosity in making this work possible. I pray for the success of the Imam Ali (as) Mosque in Copenhagen and may the community continue to strengthen its ties with its local community and spread the message of Islam.