Brief History of Bradford’s Muslim community

The arrival of British Muslims in Bradford, predominantly from South Asia commonwealth nations to plug the shortfall in UK labour resource, fall into 3 distinct phases:

1)1950s and 1960s

2)1970s, and 1980s

3)1990s.

The 50s and 60s was the period of initial emigration when many, principally young men, came to Britain. They all shared the same ambition, “work hard, saving enough and return” Guided by these principles, they were inclined to put up with poor working conditions, lower wages and discrimination, both at work and outside. Inhibited by language and a hostile, strange and alien environment they very much kept themselves to themselves, seeking comfort and refuge amongst their own.

Economic and social factors in the UK, combined with the harsh realities in countries of origin held in check any notion of a swift return home. Once the myth of return began to dissipate and, fearing a tightening of immigration control, the singleton breadwinners promptly and hastily put in motion plans to seek UK entry of spouses, children and, in some cases, parents and grandparents. This was very much the trend throughout the 70s of the South Asian Muslims in Bradford and elsewhere. With the arrival of dependents, the family began to take roots bringing into contention quality and access to basic amenities such as education, housing, health and employment.

By the 1990s, the new economic migration from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh had petered out. New migrants where now limited to spousal arrivals where applicants were able to satisfy demanding immigration rules.

The emergence of the family unit brought to the fore religious and cultural needs and sensitivities in the provision of education, housing and health. The 1980s in this regard might be looked upon as a period of the awakening for the British Muslims; a community beginning to assert itself in matters of public policy and debate. Hitherto, the British Muslims had been regarded as hard working, passive and inclined to turn a blind eye to racism and discrimination. The Muslim community needed a platform for challenging concerns and for negotiating acceptable policy and practice, hence, the establishment of Bradford Council for Mosques.

Bradford’s Mosques ( Masajid)

The first act of the holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, on arrival to the holy city of Medina, was to select a site and build a masjid, a house of Allah dedicated to His worship; a symbol of the presence of a Muslim community. Ever since, wherever Muslims went to settle, they  saw building a masjid as their foremost collective religious duty.

In Bradford, the first Masjid was established in June of 1958 in a terraced house by the Bradford Muslim Association. It provided rudimentary facilities for collective worship and an educational for teaching of the basics of Islam to children. This first Masjid still exists today on the site, however, it has been extended by embracing the adjacent properties to vastly improved and expand facilities. The second Masjid was established in 1965 at Southfield square by the Jamiyiat Tabligh ul Islam, also in a terraced house. That Masjid, too, exists today, and, again, has been extended to the adjacent property.

The 70s and 80s saw proliferation of Masajid and Madaaris (Muslim faith schools) reflecting the growth in confidence and size of the Muslim community. These establishments were of varying scale and quality set-up in terraced houses; disused warehouses; vacant church buildings; cinemas and other public buildings. The first purpose-built masjid in the district was in Keighley. The first purpose-built Masjid in Bradford was built by the Tawukklia Islamic society in Manningham, mainly but not exclusively  to serve Muslims the Bengali diaspora.

Today, there are approaching 130 Masajid and Madaris throughout the Bradford Metropolitan District. The purpose-built Masjids have been steadily increasing in numbers, adding minarets and domes to the district’s skyline. This required enormous amount of planning, resources and long-term commitment from teams of passionate and devout volunteers , essentially from poor, nascent Muslim communities. The recent emergence of lofty Masajid structures on a grand scale indicate the growing confidence of the Muslim community and a recognition and commitment to Bradford as their permanent home.