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Author: Markaz Shaykh Rabee'

A project 3 Years in the making!

Written by Markaz Shaykh Rabee' on . Posted in News.

Assalaamu ’alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

Alhamdulillah, whilst the Markaz Rabee’ Bin Hadi continues – by the permission of Allah alone – we thank Allah that after three years of planning, we are now making steady progress.

Time goes fast, and it was in September 2023 that we made a formal offer for the unit at 100 Claremont Road to open the Salafi Bookstore and Islamic Centre. It was at the same time that we requested, and were granted, first refusal on the neighbouring units.

Since then, the Salafi Bookstore has served as a hub for many brothers and sisters, hosting the Children’s Qur’an School, Weekend School (Qur’an, Arabic and Islamic Studies), the Girls’ Youth Club, regular sisters’ events, adult Qur’an and Arabic classes, and lessons with Ustadh Abdul Hakeem Mitchell and visiting students of knowledge (hafidhahumullah).

Alhamdulillah, by the permission of Allah, the Salafi Bookstore was our first step and proved to be key in making this project possible. Our intention was always to try and acquire the neighbouring units for this project, and having the bookstore in place made that possible.

So we ask Allah to help establish this, for indeed there is no might nor power except His. We ask Him to establish this place of Sunnah for our local brothers and sisters, making it a means of guidance, steadfastness and benefit, and a place wherein the believers find tranquillity and affability with one another, as mentioned by Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahullah). We ask Allah to place barakah in it, make it a means of goodness for the community, and protect us all from fitan, both apparent and hidden. Aameen.

Planning Update on the New Masjid Project: Markaz Rabee bin Haadi Al-Madkhali

Written by Markaz Shaykh Rabee' on . Posted in News.

Alhamdulillah, the property has already secured planning permission within Use Class F1, which is a significant milestone. F1 is a planning use class for learning and community institutions and includes uses such as educational and training centres, museums, libraries, public halls, and premises used for religious instruction and places of worship.

As is common in planning matters, the permission was granted with certain conditions, including restrictions on the current operation. Our planning professionals adopted this strategy to first secure the change into the F1 planning use class (to confirm the building can be used for communal purposes) before progressing to the next stage.

We are now following the advice of our architect and planning team, who are managing the process of applying to amend the current planning conditions and broaden the approved use in line with the long-term vision for the building. This staged approach is a recognised planning strategy and it is not unusual for permissions to be refined or amended over time. Planning matters naturally take time and require patience.

Throughout this process, the planning, refurbishment and fundraising have all been progressing in parallel. This allows the building to be secured and prepared for the community whilst the planning process continues through its remaining stages, bi’idhnillah.

We remain confident in the professional advice we have received. Our architect has reassured us that the next stage is to apply to amend the current planning conditions and, in his professional opinion, he cannot identify any reasonable planning grounds upon which such an application should be refused. We will continue to provide official updates as the process progresses, in shaa’ Allah.

The project team are here to provide updates to anyone who wishes to enquire at any time, in shaa’ Allah, and we will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.

May Allah place barakah in this project, unite the hearts upon the truth, and grant success to everyone striving to establish His houses. Aameen.

Markazrabee.org/donate

Our Journey Toward Establishing the Masjid

Written by Markaz Shaykh Rabee' on . Posted in News.

Our Long Journey to a New Masjid Space

For many years, our community has been searching for a permanent home — a proper masjid where we can pray, study, connect with each other, and serve the wider community. Alhamdulillah, after a long period of effort, patience, and dua, we have now secured a new space on Claremont Road. We wanted to share the full story so everyone understands this didn’t happen overnight.

A Search That Began Many Years Ago

Our efforts to find a suitable masjid premises actually go back to 2008/2009, when we started looking seriously along Wilmslow Road in Rusholme. Over the years we explored many options and came close on several occasions:

  • 2014 & 2018 — We had serious discussions on different properties.
  • September 2022 — We were very close to securing a site. Terms were agreed and it looked like it was going to happen, but after further checks we discovered a grave beneath the building. After consulting with scholars and elders, we made the difficult decision to walk away. It was a principled choice — we didn’t want to compromise on something so important.

Even after that, we didn’t stop. We kept looking and assessing new opportunities.

Continuing the Search (2023–2024)

In September 2023, we made a formal offer for the bookstore unit at 100 Claremont Road. The landlord accepted the offer in principle, and we agreed on the main terms. From the outset, we also enquired about the neighbouring units in the same building and were granted first refusal at that time. Expansion was part of our intention from the very beginning.

We maintained regular contact with the agents (Sterling Properties) and the landlord over a considerable period. This was never a one-off enquiry — we kept the relationship active and consistently reaffirmed our interest.

Throughout 2024, we continued viewing other options. One example was in November 2024, when we visited a former church building in the Moss Side / Hulme area. We were open to different types of properties as long as they could work well for the community long-term.

Moving Forward with Claremont Road (2025)

Things progressed more actively in 2025. On 24 June 2025, we had a formal viewing of the additional space at Claremont Road with the agent. Brothers Amjad and Abul Farooq Kamal attended with Faizal Kara. It felt like a significant step forward after years of groundwork.

Alhamdulillah, after all these years of consistent effort, we were able to secure the site.

What This Journey Has Taught Us

Looking back, the biggest lesson has been the importance of sabr (patience). We could have rushed into something that wasn’t quite right, but we chose to keep searching, keep consulting, and wait for the right opportunity.

This process has involved:

  • Careful due diligence on every property
  • Walking away when something didn’t feel correct
  • Building genuine relationships with agents and landlords
  • Always keeping the long-term benefit of the community in mind

Looking Ahead

We’re not sharing this to revisit old stories, but to give clarity and show that this outcome is the result of more than 15 years of quiet, behind the scenes work. The new space still needs significant renovation and development before it can fully open as a masjid, but we’re excited about what’s to come, insha’Allah.

We ask Allah to place barakah in this project and make it a source of good (khayr), unity, and benefit for the entire community — young and old, brothers and sisters, and everyone who walks through its doors.

JazakumAllahu khayran to everyone who has supported, made dua, or contributed in any way. May Allah reward you all.

Lease Signed and Keys Collected

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Alḥamdulillāh, some wonderful news for everyone — we have now received the keys 🔑 to the units for Markaz Shaykh Rabee’ bin Hādī al-Madkhalī.

We ask Allāh to place barakah in this effort, make it a means of spreading the Da‘wah upon the Qur’an & Sunnah, and benefit the Muslims through it. Work will begin soon, inshā’Allāh. Please support however you can, to help spread the Da‘wah to Allāh.

Narrated ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a similar house in Paradise” al-Bukhari

New Masjid Name…

Written by Markaz Shaykh Rabee' on . Posted in News.

By the permission of Allāh, we have now secured the site – Alḥamdulillāh! And we are pleased to announce it will be called Markaz Shaykh Rabee’ bin Haadi al-Madkhalī after our noble Shaykh (raḥimahullāh) who recently passed away. 

The Shaykh was well known for his juhūd (tireless striving), his tamyīz (clarifying truth from falsehood), as well as his ṣidq (truthfulness) and precision, and his strong adherence to the evidences. He was steadfast in loving and defending Ahlus Sunnah. It was therefore a clear and fitting choice to honour him in this way. We ask Allāh to have mercy upon him and reward him abundantly for his service to the Sunnah.

We hope to follow his example in this new place, as true honouring of the scholars and the imams of the Sunnah, is in following the methodology that they were upon, strviing in the path of Allah and calling to it, adhering to their lessons, holding firmly to their advice, and following the authentic texts, without distorting or innovating into the religion.

Final administrative steps are being completed, including procuring quotes for the required renovation works, launch of a dedicated website and fundraising campaign, to follow soon, in shā’ Allāh.

We ask Allāh that this masjid becomes a place where these affairs are established and he places barakah in our affair.

New Masjid Coming

Written by Markaz Shaykh Rabee' on . Posted in News.

Alhamdulillāh, we are pleased to announce that after many years of searching, we have finally found a premises to open a second Salafi Masjid in the Central/South Manchester area.

The search has been a long-term project beginning in 2008/2009 with a building on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme. We had proposals and negotiations on several buildings in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2024… but Qadarallāh, none came to fruition. Most notably, in late 2022, we had agreed terms on a premises and were close to proceeding. However, it later transpired that there was a grave beneath the actual building. So, after consultation with our elders and mashaykh, we walked away. We thank Allāh for protecting us and granting us something better.

We are in the final stages with a new location, having agreed terms with the landlord and close to securing planning. We are just finalising administrative details before making a full announcement. To be realistic, the masjid won’t open immediately—once our building control application is submitted, renovations and setup will begin.

We will be launching a brand-new website dedicated to this project very soon. Once this is done, which is likely to be after Ramadhān, we will be able to start our fundraising campaign. We look forward to providing more details in the coming months, in shā’ Allāh. Please keep this project in your du’ās – Allah facilitate it and accept it and make it a means of good!

Pls share the poster below!