Activities and Functions

Religious and Cultural Activities

Majma holds various religious services and gatherings throughout the year which include:

Special programmes during the month of Ramadhan comprising:

* Daily recitation of the Holy Qur’an prior to Maghrib prayers,

*  Maghrib and Isha Congregational prayers,

*  Eftar (the meal with which the fast is broken),

* Talks and a brief explanation of Ahkam (Islamic laws)

* Classes including question and answer sessions,

* Special programme for the nights of Qadr (the nights of exceptional blessing in which the Glorious Qur’an was sent down to the Holy Prophet (s.a.), lasting from Eftar till Sahar (the last meal before the fast begins in the morning).

A series of programmes for the months of Muharram and Safar comprising:

* The first ten evenings of the month of Muharram to commemorate and honour the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (a.s.), his family and his faithful followers at Karbala.

* Special programme on the day of Ashura, after which Muslims from many Islamic Centres gather at Hyde Park from where they process to Majma distributing leaflets along the way explaining the occasion to non-Muslims.

* The last ten evenings of the month of Safar to commemorate the departures from this life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.), Imam Hassan a. and Imam Reza (a.s.).

Special programmes to celebrate the birthdays of Masoomeen (members of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)), various Eids and other joyous occasions, as well as those of mourning to commemorate the deaths of Masoomeen (a.s.).

* Weekly Thursday evening Komail supplications, congregational prayers and talks.

* Weekly Friday prayers where the Khotbehs (sermons) are delivered in Persian and Arabic with extracts in English and a written English translation available.

Service Functions

The Islamic universal Association offers various services to the Muslim community.

* Courses are run to teach the Holy Qur’an and the basic principles of Islam to youngsters, particularly in the summer.

* People’s religious and Ahkam inquiries are answered in person by telephone and post and now by e-mail as well.

* Conversion is facilitated and so far more than one thousand, eight hundred people have converted to Islam in Majma.

* An extensive library has been established with thousands of different titles open to those interested during the week.  The library also sends books to libraries all over the world as gifts.

 Majma co-operates closely with other Islamic centres in the UK and abroad in cultural and religious matters.

* Reasonable financial help is provided to those in need. For example some students who need to study but lack financial support and can find no other source come to the IUA for help, which we can provide according to our means. But in this matter the IUA also advises those who have an Islamic sense of responsibility to allocate some of their own wealth to this end, creating opportunities for students who aim to serve society by offering them re-payable loans as the IUA has done for a long time and still continues to do within its very restricted means. Also help is giving to those who have come to the UK seeking medical treatment if they are having financial problems. To help fund this humanitarian and very worthwhile service the IUA encourages people to donate using the charity boxes provided at Majma.  

* Advising new arrivals in the UK who seek help in finding accommodation or have any other inquiries.

* Performing religious marriage ceremonies and divorce for Muslim couples. Since the establishment of this centre, 1622 marriages and 358 cases of divorce have been registered.   

* Giving help in emergencies. For many years the I U A has supported the victims of disasters such as earthquakes, floods etc.  For example we contributed successfully after the earthquake in Afghanistan several years ago and also in the earthquake which occurred in the city of Bam this year. Further to this the I U A decided to establish an orphanage under the supervision of the trustees of the late Ayatollah al Uzma Gulpayegani (p.b.u.h) and opened an account in Melli Bank in the name of “Hawadith Naaghahani” for donations in support of this very worthwhile project and to get things moving quickly.

Melli Bank Plc

I.U.A. Havades Nagahani

11th Floor

One London Wall

London EC2Y 5EA

Account No. 2222-202206-005

Finally two very important points are worthy of note.

1. Everyone must accept the realities of life and react appropriately but in order to do this one needs a comprehensive programme encompassing all the issues of life both in this world and the next in order to prosper in both. Wise people manage their lives according to an orderly programme that brings them peace of mind and it is this type of person who can establish charitable foundations, hospitals, Mosques, libraries, Islamic centres etc as a result of their efforts, benevolence, aspiration to lofty purposes and their belief in Allah (s.w.t) and the Day of Judgment. These people are dear to everyone in this life and are well positioned on the final day because Allah (s.w.t) will have kept for them every single good deed that they did in this world. The Holy Qur’an in Ayah 30 of Surah Al-Imran says:

“On the Day when every person will be confronted with al the good he has done, and all he veil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil. And Allah (s.w.t) warns you against Himself (His punishment) and Allah (s.w.t) is full of Kindness to the (His) slaves.”

2. As mentioned at the beginning the IUA is an independent organisation established by the late Grand Marja Aaytullah al-Uzmh al-Seyyed Muhammad Reza Golpayegani (p.b.u.h.) and it is thanks to the support and contribution of generous people, donating both time and money, that we have been able to achieve any success in our aims of serving the community, in particular the Iranian sector.

We therefore ask Allah (s.w.t) to bestow His grace upon us under the care of the presence of Imam Hujjat Ibn al-Hassan, the promised Mahdi (a.j.f.), that we may better serve all Muslims and especially the followers of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Friday Prayers, hold at Islamic Universal Association of London with Imam Juma’h Hojjatol Islam Moulana Alemi which every week thousands of worshipers from all over UK join's Friday Salaat, All Welcome.