Manchester Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre (also known as “Victoria Park Mosque”) is a mosque in Manchester, England. Sometimes referred to as Jamia Mosque, it is situated in the middle of Victoria Park, Manchester close to the Curry Mile.[1] It plays a key role in Manchester's Muslim community.[2][3] Imam and Khateeb Hafiz Mueen ud Din Akhtar and Qari Hafiz Javed Akhtar are leaders of the mosque, but left in 2018. Qari Javed also leads taraweeh prayers in Ramadan.[4]
The Victoria Park Mosque began as two adjacent houses, one owned by the Syrian Textile Merchants operating in Manchester since the early 1900s,[5] and the other owned by the mainly Indian community living in the nearby areas of Rusholme and Longsight.[citation needed]
In 1971, the Jamiat-ul-Muslimeen, Manchester, commenced work on a purpose-built mosque in Victoria Park and the two houses were demolished and the "new look" Mosque took its current form. Several expansions and modifications have taken place over the years.[citation needed]
This mosque acts according to the teachings of the Barelwi sect of the Indian subcontinent. Subcontinent.[6][7]