A LIBRARY specialising in Islamic books will be opening inside a Bradford Mosque, giving young people the opportunity to discover Islamic texts among other books.
Madrasah Madania Tahfeezul Quran (MMTQ), Lidget Terrace, Bradford, has turned one of its rooms into a library to benefit those who attend the mosque as well as the community.
Hundreds of Islamic books get published every year; however, they aren’t always picked up by mainstream libraries, making them inaccessible for people across the district.
Rehana Meer, Centre Manager said: “We’ve currently got about 2,500 books, across a range of topics, both fiction and non-fiction.
“We just want to make this type of knowledge accessible and give our students the chance to read and debate.
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“There are a range of books and we encourage people to read and if they come across something controversial to share their thoughts and debate with students in a safe manner.”
This community-led initiative has been fully funded through donations.
The library provides a safe space where young people are encouraged to step away from their devices and spend time in a beneficial manner.
She added: “We want to promote Muslim authors and share their work within our community as well as build on young Muslim identities.
“Young Muslims need to see themselves reflected and represented in the books they read and especially from a young age.
“This is a chance for people to learn about Islam from reliable and authentic sources.
Rehana feels the library will benefit the community in many ways, especially as an avenue for educating the younger generations about religion and opening them up to contemporary scholars.
As with any religion, there is diversity and the library hopes to promote tolerance and give readers the chance to discover and understand the struggles and experiences of Muslims around the globe.
There will also be weekly mother and baby storytime sessions for toddlers and pre-schoolers, book clubs, debate clubs, activities and on demand sessions for homeschooling families.
MMTQ Manager, Abdussalam Meer said: “This unique initiative has been set up to educate and ignite the passion of reading in our young people.
“It will bring the community together through our storytelling sessions and book clubs.”
The library will open its doors to the public on Sunday, August, 21 with a segregated launch. Women and girls are invited to come along between 12pm-3pm and men and boys can come between 3pm-6pm.
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