Mosque buildings to become family homes after new place of worship opens in Aberdeen

By Ben Hendry

May 30 2022, 5:28 pm

Old prayer rooms at the mosque on The Spital in Old Aberdeen could soon be transformed into homes. Picture by Paul Glendell

Parts of Aberdeen’s first mosque could soon be turned into homes after its owners upgraded to a bigger premises.

Prayers first rang out at the religious building on The Spital in 1978.

With a growing membership, the Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre (AMIC) was last year given permission to take over the old Frederick Street Business Centre.

And on March 24, Imam Ibrahim led worship at their traditional Old Aberdeen home for the final time.

Since then, it has still been used by locals.

End of an era. We just prayed the final official salat at Spital Mosque led by our beloved Imam Ibrahim. From Fajr on…

Posted by Aberdeen Muslims on Thursday, 24 March 2022

Buildings were homes before being taken over by mosque

Now, AMIC has lodged plans to turn buildings that formed parts of the mosque into family homes.

Planning papers submitted to Aberdeen City Council by Neil Rothnie Architecture detail the changes.

The documents state: “The two properties formed part of the mosque as additional support areas.

“The mosque has recently acquired new, larger premises and will relocate all or most of its services.

“Numbers 168 and 170 The Spital were originally constructed as dwellings and have been subject to minor alterations, these minor alterations are proposed to be reversed.”

The buildings at the far left of this image will be converted from “support areas” at the mosque back into houses under the plans. Image from Google Maps.

Floor plans sent to the council show how the building has been used as a women’s prayer hall, with two meeting rooms and special Wudu facilities – for ritual washing before prayers.

Aberdeen’s Spital mosque was ‘not fit for purpose’

When the plans for the Frederick Street move were sealed, AMIC explained that the Spital venue lacked space for a crèche and disabled access.

Bosses also said bigger prayer rooms were needed.

The mosque on the Spital has become an Aberdeen institution over the decades.

AMIC chairman Ma’aruf Razzak said: “Many of the Muslim community, like myself, were born and raised in Aberdeen and the Spital mosque holds a dear place in our hearts.

“Whilst this will always remain the case, the new site will provide a modern and spacious masjid and community centre that can cater for the wider needs of the community.

“The Spital site has not been fit for purpose for a long time with many limitations in terms of the services and facilities we could offer from there.”