With majestic mountains, lakes and adrenaline-pumping activities, Queenstown in New Zealand is a popular destination for travellers. But while there's a sizeable number of Muslims in New Zealand and more Muslim travellers visiting the country, you might be surprised to find that there are no mosques in Queenstown ?
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Credit: Giphy
The good news is, that's about to change! Queenstown Muslims have been rallying funds to establish the first-ever mosque in the city. Read on to find out how you can help ?
Credit: Queenstown Islamic Center on Facebook
While the Queenstown Islamic Center was established more than 10 years ago, Muslims there haven't had the chance to perform Friday prayers at a mosque. All this while, they have been renting out a hall at the St. Peter's Church for Friday prayers but occasionally, they have to pray out in the cold at the lakeshore if the hall is not available. It is definitely heartening to hear that non-Muslims are lending a helping hand to Muslims, even more so since the Christchurch shooting in 2019 ❤️
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However, with a growing resident Muslim population of 30 families and more Muslim travellers from Malaysia, Singapore, UK and Australia, they will soon need a bigger space. Currently, the residents have to travel for around 3 hours to the nearest mosques in Otago, Oamaru and Invercargill. Plus, a mosque would be perfect for Queenstown Muslims to gather as a community and teach religious education to Muslim children. Not to mention that Muslim travellers will also have accessible resources on where to find halal food and pray in Queenstown.
To contribute to the building of the mosque, head over to My Fund Action or Launchgood. You can fulfill it as part of your zakat obligations too. After all, helping to build a mosque reaps great rewards in Islam. Uthman ibn Affan reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]
Let's hope the Muslims in Queenstown will have a place to pray Friday prayers and Tarawih by the next Ramadan, InsyaAllah ?
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