UPDATE (Mar 2022): We are nearly halfway to reaching our target of half a million pounds. Last year, with your generous support, we raised £220k. The remaining £280k need to be raised this year, insha’Allah.

The ELM’s dome and minarets

The landmark dome and minarets of the East London Mosque have stood as the proud embodiment of the British Muslim community for over 36 years. They have become a widely recognised feature of the London skyline.

Why do they need to be replaced?

The dome and minarets are made of fibreglass, a lightweight material with good weather-resistant properties. Although the lifespan is not as long as heavier materials, such as copper, this would have been a more affordable option when the mosque was built.

Now the lifespan of these fibreglass structures has come to their end, so they must be replaced.

Why will it cost so much?

Not only will a new dome and minaret caps need to be manufactured, the old ones will have to be carefully removed, then it will be quite an operation to put the new ones in place – almost certainly requiring a crane (see old newspaper article below of original installation), substantial scaffolding, and temporary protection within the mosque itself. The tiled sloping roof leading up to the dome also needs to be restored.

The Mosque has sought the help of experts throughout the process, from identifying solutions for the existing fibreglass, to considering alternatives to either keep costs down or extend the lifespan of the new dome. We also have to liaise with the local planning department to ensure compliance.

The costs have been estimated to be around half a million pounds. Unfortunately, this work is not eligible for any grant funding, so we have to bear the costs ourselves.

How you can help

We urge our Muslim community to take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute towards the replacement costs. Please help us preserve the Mosque by donating whatever you can afford, either on your own behalf or on behalf of someone else.

The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day. They perform Salah (prayer), and give Zakah (charity), and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. [at-Tawbah 9:18]

All donors giving £1,000 will have their name, or the name of a loved one, commemorated on a special display. These will be our Golden Donors! If you want to make it easier to become a Golden Donor, you can spread the cost simply by choosing to make regular payments, e.g. 20 months at £50 per month.

(Please note - there is a 32 character limit for the names)

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If you are a UK taxpayer, please don't forget to choose the Gift Aid option when you make your donation.

If there is any surplus from this appeal, it will be used for our general charity costs.

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