About Us
Mosques Association of Kent is a coalition of Mosques established in July 2018 to bring together as a cooperative body all Mosques and other Islamic religious teaching or Islamic charitable institutions in Kent as defined by our belief that there is: “None worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet and messenger of Allah”.
The need for the Association was a desire to provide a united platform geared in promoting the needs, concerns and aspirations of the Muslim community in Kent.
Our primary task is that of fostering unity among the diverse and vibrant Muslim communities in Kent, awareness of Islam among non- Muslims, and nurturing a better understanding for improving community relations.
The Muslim population is one of the most diverse and vibrant in the UK, and the Masjid accommodates all ethnicities, nationalities, tribes and sects.
We aim to foster cooperation and collaboration amongst the local mosques, whilst maintaining their unique identities.
Background:
In 1998 Br Raschid Sohawon was the Chairman of Canterbury Mosque. He invited members from the Gillingham Mosque and the Ashford community to discuss creating an association to network and collaborate with the few Mosques that that existed at the time. The aim was to strengthen and support the Muslim community at a time when access to advice and facilities were limited. However, the concept did not gain much traction at the time.
The idea was revisited in 2008 as the number of Mosques in Kent had increased and the community and the Muslim population had grown in Kent. Unfortunately, there was still insufficient support to sustain the project.
More recently in 2018, a conversation between Brs Raschid and Zubair Malik from Gillingham revived the project. They endeavoured to get 3 representatives from as many other local mosques as possible to agree to meet and discuss how they could work together for the benefit of the community. In June 2018, the meeting was setup and the Mosques Association of Kent (MAK) was born.
Mak CEO
Dr Craig Nader Kennett
aka Azeem Nader
Is General Secretary of Kent Muslim Welfare Association from 2004 – present, which manages and runs Gillingham Mosque.
Has long time experience in leadership within the Muslim community and helping to manage the running of a Masjid and its connected Madrassa as well as the charitable organisation which it lies under.
Acts as spokesperson and representative for the Muslim community Medway on many occasions in the media, printed news, radio, and television.
Has overseen the conversion of charitable organisations to companies limited by guarantee.
He is helping to lead the community in Gillingham forward and is helping to spearhead the forward planning by assisting with buying land, gaining planning permission, and building a new Jamia Masjid and Islamic community centre to accommodate over 2000 worshippers in Gillingham.
