SICM also has a registered charity operating under the name of Battlers Well Foundation (BWF). The Organisation
The organisation is known as Shia Ithna'ashari Community of Middlesex (SICM) and its centre in North Harrow is known as Mahfil Ali. Background
The origins of SICM can be traced to the arrival in the UK of a number of students from East Africa in the mid sixties. Soon, These students go
t aquainted with other Shi'a students from Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq and Gulf countries. There was already a resident Pakistani community and the students participated enthusiastically in organisations like the Idara-e-Ja'aferiyya. In the universities and colleges the Shi'i students formed an organisation called the Muslim Youth Association (MYA). These activities resulted in the formation of close bonds between Shi'a students and communities from all over the world. The small community of Khoja Shi'as from East Africa had an organisation called the East African Union, but for religious functions particiapted with the Muslim Youth Association or the Idara-e-Ja'aferiyya. With the events in East Africa forcing many families to leave their countries and settle in the UK, the early seventies saw a large influx of people into the UK. Many of the East African Muslim students also stayed on in the UK on a more or less permanent basis. As the needs for holding religious and other community functions became more regular and the community became larger, the requirement for "permanent" places became urgent. SICM was one of the many organisations which was established to meet this growing need. The Founding of SICM
With a sizeable settled community in Middlesex, there emerged the practice of having regular Iftar in Ramadhan, initially in individual houses and later in hired halls in the vicinity of Harrow. There were already over 100 Shi'i Muslim families living within 2/3 miles of the centre of Harrow and the gatherings were well attended. Gradually, the activities evolved and an organisation called the Shia Ithna'ashari Community of Middlesex (SICM) was formed to provide an institutional framework for arranging the meetings and gatnerings. In addition to Ramadhan, gatherings began to be held on every Friday evening and on the occasion of the birth or death anniversry of the a'aimmas. Local community/assembly halls were hired for this purpose. For the last twenty years on every Friday evening SICM has had a meeting in which a wide variety of issues relating to Islam and the Muslim World have been discussed. Learned and competent people from all walks of life have contributed to the discussions on many occassions. SICM, after a long process of lobbying of the local authority was able to secure the rental of the West Harrow school premises on a 12 monthly basis. With the rental of premises, the activities increased manifold. In addition to regular Friday functions, SICM started daily Qur'an classes for young children, daily evening congregational prayer (salaat), morning salaat on weekends, regular sports sessions and many other specialised meetings and seminars. There was a major seminar on the Nahj al Balagah and one on the Concept of Vilayat-e-Faqih. Muharram majalis were also held for the first time. As the rental of the West Harrow school came up for renewal SICM was fortunate enough to persuade the Harrow borough to let the North Harrow Assembly Hall (NHAH) to the organisation. The NHAH was by then under the threat of closure because of cuts in local authority budgets. As expected within a year the Hall came up for sale. SICM, with the help of its Councillors, well wishers, and supporting bankers was able to acquire the Hall as its permanent worship, meeting and gathering place. Inside North Harrow Assembly Hall
With the purchase of the premises, the activities of SICM have become much more consistent. Presently the following are regularly held:
D'ua programme on Thursday evenings
Friday lectures
Daily Qur'an reading, Children's programme and Iftar, during the month of Ramadan
Majalis in English on birth and death anniversaries of Ma'sumin and during Muharram
Occasional seminars and other programmes
Weekly Tafsir classes
Sunday morning children's school under an independent organisation, Husayni Madrasah
Weekly sports club at a local leisure centre
Sports session for children on weekends
'Id Prayers
GCSE and A/S level tuition classes
Daily Salaat
Ghusl, Kafan and Burial facilities
Regular Youth trips and functions
In addition, SICM through the Battlers Well Foundation (BWF) has secured a vital facility. A dedicated graveyard with over five hundred burial spaces has been reserved at the Woodcock Hill Cemetery in Harefield. The cemetery already houses over two hundred graves. Future Plans
The SICM centre is now well established. The main hall has been extensively refurbished. Within 10 years, it is intended to build a new purpose-built structure at the existing site which will incorporate:
Library and information centre for Muslims and those seeking sources on Islam
Internet access provision for the community
Seminar rooms and lecture theatres
Educational coaching classes
Cafe and Restaurant
Sports centre
Throughout its 30 years of activity SICM has remained true to its objectives of bringing a diverse group of Shi'as together and also develop mutually re-inforcing and respectful relations with the Muslim community at large. This will continue to be its mission as it develops its activities further and becomes a focal point for Muslims in the North West of London.
