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My Passion: One man's unique role in law and religion
Qari Asim, associate solicitor in real estate in the Leeds office of DLA Piper, talks about his role as an Imam.
I work as a solicitor during the day but my evenings and weekends are spent in a very different role – working as an Imam, a Muslim leader of prayers, in the magnificent Makkah Mosque in the Hyde Park area of Leeds.
Although I was born in Pakistan, I grew up in Leeds and went to university here. I have always found it to be a cosmopolitan, dynamic and vibrant city, and believe that both of my roles have an important part to play in its future.
Through my day job, I deal with commercial property work, supporting the construction of the infrastructure of the city and the purchase, disposal and letting of buildings in the region – all visible signs of the prosperity of the region and the economic boom Leeds has gone through in recent years.
My work in the mosque is concerned with intangible assets – assisting a worshipper to connect with his or her Lord, working on projects to enhance community relations and increasing mutual respect between communities in order to allow them to come together and live in harmony.
I have been a full-time Imam for five years, following an intensive training programme which I undertook at the same time as studying to pursue a career in law.
I had memorised the entire Muslim Holy Book, the Qur'an, by heart at the age of 11, and I continued to study the sciences of Islam until the age of 21.
I am the youngest Imam in the country and the only full-time Imam to have a career other than being an Imam.
My duties include fulfilling the spiritual needs of the Muslim community; leading daily prayers, performing wedding ceremonies and funerals, and offering advice and guidance.
I have recently been elected to the executive board of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board to represent Yorkshire & Humber and the North-East.
My vision has always been to make the mosque a beacon for the whole of the country. Makkah Mosque is a particularly beautiful building – its interior has more calligraphy and art work than any other mosque in the UK and has won prizes for its beauty and architecture.
It also recently received national recognition when it was voted the UK's Model Mosque 2009 in a reality TV-style competition. It was extremely refreshing to see that not only Muslims but people of other faiths voted for Makkah
Mosque.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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