History of Islam in Bradford explored in new book

Bradford is one of the top five cities in England that have large Muslim populations, and as a result a large number of mosques have been built in the last few decades.

Dr George Sheeran, a senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, where he has taught and researched architectural, urban and landscape history, wrote the book, titled ‘The Mosque in the City: Bradford and its Islamic Architecture’.

In the book, he explores the history of mosques in Islam and why certain details, such as domed roofs, are so popular, as well as looking at less conventional buildings that have been converted into places of worship.

He also investigates what drew people from south Asia and the Middle East to the United Kingdom in the first place, and why some cities such as Bradford have seen such an influx.

Dr Sheeran, of Sunny Bank, Shipley, said that while he was researching Bradford’s vast array of mosques – estimated at around 80 across the district – he noticed two interesting points.

He said: “The first thing was that most non-Muslims see a mosque as a dedicated place to go and pray, and usually associate this with the large congregational mosques that are used for Friday prayers.

“In Islam, Muslims are required to pray five times a day, so really a mosque can be just be a room where people can go to pray."

He also noticed that the design and size of mosques varies massively across the district.

“The other interesting thing that came up was what those mosques represented in terms of the relative wealth of the people in the area and how well connected they are within the Muslim community.

“In the wealthy and best connected areas, the mosques can be very grand and feature some great architecture, whereas in the areas that are not as well off they are not as grand as the almost tower-like structures in the more affluent areas of the city.”

Most of the mosques have traditional design elements that are instantly recognisable such as domed roofs and minarets.

Domes, which are usually painted either green or gold, are one of the most recognisable parts of mosques, and the tradition of including them dates back to around the eighth or ninth centuries.

Mosques in the Middle-Eastern cities of Medina, Damascus and Jerusalem were among the first to incorporate domes into their design, but didn’t become popular until Islam spread into Iran in the 11th century and towards Turkey in the 12th century, by which time they had become common.

The green colour alludes to the colour of the dome above the Prophet’s tomb in Medina, and the golden domes refer to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which are two of the most sacred locations in Islam.

Minarets – tall slender towers with a balcony from which Muslims are called to prayer – are thought to first have appeared at the Great Mosque in Damascus in the seventh century, and since then have become common and widespread.

While their use for calling people to prayer has been overtaken by loudspeakers, they are important symbolic features of mosques, representing the location of the call to prayer.

As well as purpose built places of worship that have been built in the city, many building have been converted into mosques, including the former church on Shearbridge Road, Great Horton, a converted cinema on Toller Lane, Girlington, and a former textile mill on Cross Lane, Great Horton, as well as many former houses that have been converted into religious buildings.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, from the Bradford Council for Mosques, said that mosques have become an integral part of Bradford and its way of life.

He said: “They have a rich cultural and religious heritage, and I do not think you can imagine Bradford without mosques standing alongside churches, cathedrals, gurdwaras and other religious buildings.

“When people talk about Bradford they talk about different faiths and faith buildings existing alongside each other.”

He also said Bradford has grown to embrace the culture of Islam.

“Bradford has always been extremely generous in receiving different faiths and cultures and ways of life.

“Also I think there is much more understanding and accommodation and community cohesion in Bradford for those of us who live in the city.

“Bradford does not get the acknowledgement and credit it deserves for the links between different faiths communities, so people who do not live in the city sometimes get a negative view of it.

“I have children and grandchildren in the city, and we all love Bradford!”

Mr Sheeran also believes that the presence of mosques and their grand, historic architecture are contributing to changing opinions of the city.

He said: “There is no doubt that Bradford has changed over the years and has moved away from the image of a city synonymous with the textile and engineering industries.

“New geographies are needed of what used to be known as ‘Worstedopolis’ and the new mosques are enlivening the city’s skyline and contributing to that re-orientation.

The book is on sale for £6, and is available from PLACE, a research centre based at York St John University. For more information on how to buy ‘The Mosque in the City’, visit www.place.uk.com