EM_MMISS Guide A5 12pp LR

A Guide to
Preserving the
History & Heritage
of Muslims in Britain:
Mosques, Madrasahs & Islamic
Supplementary Schools
Edition 1
1

Introduction
There are four million Muslims living in
Britain and although there has been an
established Muslim presence here for many
centuries, there is very little representation
of Muslim lives reflected in British history,
museums or archives.
The majority of mosques and related Islamic
institutions serve communities that have
developed since 1945 and some as early
as the late 1800s. The stories of the early
house mosques, how communities came
together to raise funds and how classes for
children’s Islamic and cultural education
were organised by parents and elders are
in danger of being lost. However, it is not
too late to start collecting these stories and
preserving documents to provide future
generations with historic evidence of the
story of Muslims in Britain.
Who Are We?
Everyday Muslim was established in 2014
with the purpose to document and archive
the presence and contribution of Muslims
in Britain; by collecting images, interviews
and documents to provide a comprehensive
portrayal of Muslim life. Preserving Muslim
history and heritage in Britain is integral to
our aim; to educate and empower the Muslim
community in the importance of creating
tangible connections between their Muslim
heritage and the representation of their
identity in our wider society. We have worked
very closely with The National Archives to
develop this introduction to help Islamic
education organisations and mosques to
begin preserving their history and heritage.
The National Archives is the official archive
for the records of the UK Government. It
also fulfils a leadership role for the wider
archive sector, sitting at the heart of a diverse
network of archives and seeking to ensure
that the richness and variety of our heritage,
past and present, is reflected in its archives.
Why Should You Preserve
History and Heritage?
‘If you don’t begin to record
your history, then how
will future generations
value the stories of how
the community was first
established? Or even
understand the importance
of their personal
experiences, culture
and heritage in Britain?’
2 3

Much of Everyday Muslims’ work with the
Muslim community, museums and archives
has revealed that an understanding of
heritage, culture, religion and family are
important in forming identity; ‘…many young
Muslims feel they have an inadequate grasp of
their own heritage and history, against which
to balance the other influences in their lives.’ 1
The lack of representation in museums and
archives has not gone unnoticed and gives us
all an opportunity to readdress the absence
of our stories by documenting them ourselves
in our own words. Many local archives and
museums have community outreach
in supporting your work.
1 Living apart together British Muslims and the paradox of
multiculturalism Munira Mirza, Abi Senthilkumaran and Zein Ja’far 2007.
This guide will help you to understand what
archives are and how you can use them
to retain your organisation and community’s
history. It will also explain how you can use
this information to develop resources
to use on open days, school visits and
in the classroom. These can include:
• Recording Oral Histories
• KS2/3 classroom resources
• Heritage workshops
• Develop heritage open day tours
presentations/activities
• Booklets and curriculum-based resources
for school visits
• Family history lesson plans for madrasahs
and community groups
• Exhibitions
• Podcasts
• Documentaries
• Archive research
• Websites
• Archive Collections
You can see examples of these on the Everyday
Muslim website; everydaymuslim.org
In recent times there have been a variety
of ways in which we can experience Muslim
heritage in Britain. Muslim history Tours
of London; Historic England has published
a guide to the built heritage of Islam
in Britain, Shahed Saleem’s The British
Mosque: An Architectural and Social History;
8 Brougham Terrace in Liverpool, the first
known fully-functioning mosque in England
is being restored. Also, Everyday Muslim
project has successfully raised awareness
through exhibitions, conferences and
educational resources. It is currently leading
the Shah Jahan Mosque archives project and
there are archives projects at various stages
at East London Mosque, and London Central
Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre.
What are archives?
The archive is a collection of documents
or records providing information about a
place, institution, person or group of people.
These can include, letters, photographs, film
or audio recordings, minutes of meetings,
publications, leaflets, newsletters and many
other examples relevant to your organisation.
Over time these records can become
of historic significance.
Pages 6 to 7 show a list of the main types of
records likely to be created by a mosques,
charities or madrasah and identifies those
which have historical significance and should
be kept for the future. It also can be used to
help organise the current records created
by the mosque, including those created and
stored electronically.
As far as possible the archives should reflect
all the activities of the mosque community.
They should therefore cover not only the
official records but also seek to capture
the experiences and perspectives of the
worshipping community: photographs and
amateur film, festival programmes, personal
diaries, oral history reminiscences and
scrapbooks.
4 ©Amena Amer
5

Here is a list of what can
be included in a mosque
archive
Key general information
Include the date of the establishment of the
mosque, major events in its history such
as move to new premises and prominent
members whether clerical or lay associated
with the mosque.
Classification of the
records
Governance
Minutes of governing bodies
Trust deeds
Constitution
Charity Commission schemes of management
Annual reports
Membership records
Official correspondence of officers and leaders
Rites and customs
Imams’ or worship leaders’ sermons (recorded
and written)
Hajj arrangements
Marriage contracts (e.g. Nikah Nama)
and certificates
Marriage registers where the mosque has
been licensed to conduct marriages
Records of life events (birth, coming of age,
death etc)
Records of conversion to Islam (e.g. Shahada)
Education and youth
Registers
Madrasah pupil records
Curricula
Annual lesson plan
Finance and resources
Annual accounts
Trust accounts
Fund-raising appeal accounts and literature
Mosque property
Deeds
Tenders, specifications, architectural plans
and drawings, photographs relating to major
projects e.g. new buildings and extensions
Inventories
Logbooks
Correspondence
Library accession registers
Mosque charities
Trustees’ accounts
Annual accounts
Staff
Personnel files for key members of staff
Publications
Newsletters and magazines
Press releases
Ramadan timetables
Invitation cards for events
Records of festivals and special events
including invitation cards
Calendars
Scrapbooks and newspaper cuttings
Sharia Courts
Fatwas - copies of judicial rulings
Case files
Interfaith and wider community activities
Notes, minutes and other records of meetings
Publicity material
Images
Postcards
Photographs
Prints, drawings and paintings
Personal papers
Diaries
Correspondence including e-mails
Study notes
Photographs
Newspaper cuttings
©Amena Amer
Pastoral advice
Visitor books
6 7

Practical Issues
Where to Start
Selection
Packaging
It is best to start with knowing what your
while individual mosques vary considerably The People
The Building
For any organisation, the most important step In the long-term paper archives, photographs organisation already has. If you only have
in terms of their size, age and resources, Where did the community pray before there How old is the mosque?
is to gather documents, books, photographs and other potentially fragile heritage material a few documents or records or even nothing
all have a history that is worth preserving. was a mosque here?
Can you give a brief history of the building
promotional material (heritage material) and should be protected by suitable packaging at all don’t worry. You can use the list as
Also, the congregation, the staff and the
Do the community represent a particular and the community’s presence there?
those historical records which have passed and boxing to ensure they are protected a starting point to begin to start archiving.
community that use the mosque will have
ethnicity/culture/madhab?
out of current use.
from damage. In the shorter term, the main There are also many other ways in which you
many memories and experiences you could
Have other buildings been used in the past?
aim should be to box files of loose papers can begin to record your history and add
capture through audio or video recording or Who were the founders?
When did you first occupy your current
Some documents may be of no permanent
in robust containers and to ensure they are them to your archive.
even writing down their story.
Do you have a record of the leaders of your building?
value, lack artistic merit, contain little or
no evidential worth or be widely duplicated. clearly labelled with brief descriptions of the
Below are some example questions that can community and their roles and achievements? Is it purpose built, like around 200 of the
Your Community
For example, there is no need to keep
contents. Plastic bags and containers should
help you to gather important information about Are there photographs of them?
mosques in Britain, or adapted, or a mixture
not be used. Bound volumes need not be Start with your community; the simplest way
multiple copies of printed publicity material
your mosque and its community. You will be Are there any old documents, minutes of of both?
boxed unless they have lost their covers but to start a project is to record stories and
and newsletters, or routine correspondence.
able to change or add more questions based on meetings?
Do you have a photographic record?
can be shelved upright. Do not stick adhesive memories and collect photographs from your
the knowledge you have about your community.
Storage
tape or self-adhesive labels directly onto community. This is a great way to involve all
Do you have the plans and sketches used
documents or volumes.
ages to interact with each other and share
to design the present-day mosque?
All heritage material, when it is not in use,
experiences and memories. The recordings
Is this the only mosque in this area?
needs to be kept in secure accommodation,
Access
can include themes such as; childhood;
protected in a locked room with a cool, dry
Usually the answers to these questions can
Keeping archives makes little sense if they education, migration, food, celebrations,
environment suitably protected against
be found in the archives of an organisation.
cannot be accessed. However, it is an
prayer, and culture. These stories can become
fire, flood, theft, pests and other hazards
These are, the historic records that provide
organisation’s choice to what is made public records of history and education. They can
including damp and mould. Access to
the corporate memory of an organisation or
and when and how the information is used be used to develop exhibitions and
the storage area should be restricted to
mosque and the community. If you, don’t have
and shared.
curriculum related educational resources
authorised members of the mosque. Cellars
any archives or access to them, then this is
to be used in classrooms or during open days
and attics should be avoided if possible It is also important to remember an
your opportunity to begin documenting your
where the wider community can be invited
as they can be damp, at risk from leaks, or organisation holding records has a responsibility
history and heritage.
to learn more about their Muslim community.
vulnerable to extremes of heat and cold. under Data Protection legislation to protect
the confidentiality of all its records containing Now consider the building. It is estimated
personal information about living people. there are around 1,500 mosques in Britain and
8 ©Amena Amer
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Next Steps
We are already working closely with
community groups, mosques, schools,
academics and heritage and archive
organisations to develop resources
to support their efforts in identifying,
documenting and celebrating the contribution
of Muslims in society today and in an
historical context. Collaborations can support
aims to engage with a large and diverse
audience with the purpose to promote
understanding, awareness and learning
about the everyday aspects of Muslims lives.
If you would like to learn more about our
work, you can contact us on:
info@everydaymuslim.org
There is also much more advice on archives
put together by Tim Powell from The National
Archives on our website: everydaymuslim.org
Some basic sources
of advice on archives
The National Archives
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archivessector
The Archives Sector part of The National
Archives’ website offers a range of advisory
material to support archive services of all kinds.
You can also contact the Archives
Sector Development for advice at
asd@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Dr Tim Powell is the department’s first
contact for religious archives.
Your local record office (this may be called
the archive, history or heritage centre)
This will usually be accessible through your
local authority’s website. Alternatively,
consult the Find an Archive search on The
National Archives’ website
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
find-an-archive
Staff at the local record office will have
the local knowledge that helps place your
mosque and community in its historical
context. The archives of religious bodies –
mostly Christian but including other faiths
– already will form a significant part of their
holdings, so they are aware that particular
sensibilities may need to be observed.
The Religious Archives Group
https://religiousarchivesgroup.org.uk/
The RAG website has a range of information
and guidance available in its Advice and
Guidance section. Where there is demand,
RAG has also run training courses for nonprofessionals
with responsibility for looking
after archives. It also has an email list, which
is a useful forum for those seeking advice on
specific matters.
The Community Archives and Heritage Group
http://www.communityarchives.org.uk/
The resources section of the CAHG website has a
range of guidance and information on caring for
archives. It makes annual awards to community
archives and heritage groups; and the Everyday
Muslim project is a previous winner.
The East London Mosque Archive
http://eastlondonmosquearchives.org.uk/
The East London Mosque and London
Muslim Centre Archive has a purpose-built
Strong Room, developed in line with archival
standards for the long-term storage of
archives. The Archive hopes to serve as a
repository for preserving British Muslim
history and welcomes deposits from
individuals and institutions that wish to
donate their archives for safe-keeping.
Compiled by:
Tim Powell National Archives
Sadiya Ahmed - Everyday Muslim
Many Thanks to:
The National Archives
East London Mosque Archive
Elias Kupfermann
Shahed Saleem
10 ©Amena Amer
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