we cannot ignore any issues raised by neighbours in terms of inconvenience caused by people arriving and leaving at dawn, and we have tried to accomodate their concerns by changing the jamaat times and keeping the noise down to a minimum. inshaAllah we will continue to apply for permission (currently we are continuing to attend for fajr prayers as we are allowed to under the planning process).
also this is a good time for the local muslims to consider the importance of patience when faced with any hardship
Allah Subhanawataala says in the Quran:
“Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit, Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him. ” [Quran 2:45-46]
once could use this as an opportunity to become even more regular in one's salat, especially with jamaat at the Centre. for therin lies the path to success in this world and the next.
The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is no affliction which strikes the Muslim except that
Allah expiates with it (sins), even with a thorn that may poke him.” (Bukhaaree & Muslim)
taken from the ET today:
A muslim group has said it will appeal after plans to open a community centre for dawn prayers were rejected.
Kettering Muslim Association had applied to change one of the conditions for 123 Headlands, in Kettering, after it was given permission to convert a house into a community centre.The group wanted to be able to open for Fajr – morning prayer – which must be recited from dawn until sunrise.
A list of sunrise times was submitted to Kettering Council, with the earliest time for sunrise on June 20 at 4.39am.
At the moment the centre closes between midnight and 9.30am and Kettering Muslim Association said usually only about six people would use the centre for morning prayer.
But Kettering Council has decided to turn down the application, saying the condition was imposed to protect the amenity of occupiers of neighbouring properties.
A report by officers stated: "Its removal would allow activity associated with the permitted use during the early hours of the morning, and enable the daily arrival and departure of people in vehicles as early as 4am and before 6pm, for more than half of the year. Such use, even at low levels of activity would produce unacceptable noise disturbance to occupiers of nearby residential properties."
Kettering Muslim Association chairman Imran Shuja said: "The community is very disappointed and feels let down by the council in not allowing them to practise the basic requirement of their faith as practised by communities in most towns and cities in the country.
"We offered a very fair compromise by delaying the prayers to the last possible moment, something the members were happy to go along with within the interest of community cohesion, and now feel somewhat rejected.
"We will consider our options and continue with our aims of providing a centre that is of benefit to local Muslims and other communities, for which we're extremely grateful for the support we have received, especially from other faith groups in the town."
