CHRISTCHURCH – Ahmad Iqbal Hadi Mohd Zamani, a student at the Faculty of Management and Leadership, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), chose Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, to spread the message of Islam by delivering sermons and teaching the Quran to the surrounding community.
A 23-year-old final-year student in the Da’wah and Islamic Management program, born in Gombak, Selangor, Iqbal began his industrial training on 18th March 2024, and is expected to complete it on 5th July 2024.
Iqbal is accompanied by two other friends who are also undergoing Industrial Training at the same place: Muhammad Aiman Mohamad Noradi and Abdul Basit Mat Daik.
“I chose Al Noor Mosque because I wanted to challenge myself and gain experience working abroad. This mosque attracted my attention due to its uniqueness, being a blend of various ethnicities, cultures, and different Islamic schools of thought, making it a unifying entity for the ummah,” said Iqbal.
Differences in Islamic schools of thought and cultures often pose challenges in mosque management. The lack of preachers also makes the effort to spread da’wah difficult. However, the experience of learning about the various cultures of the different communities there is very valuable to him.
“This experience is a very precious lesson, and I hope to use it for the benefit of the ummah in the future,” he added.
Al Noor Mosque is not just a place of worship but also a da’wah centre in Christchurch. It serves as a tourist destination, offers classes for converts, and functions as an Islamic reference source. The Muslim community in Christchurch consists of over 30 ethnicities and various Islamic schools of thought, totalling around 4,000 people.
Written by: Adika Hakmi Ab Ghani