In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Our beloved brother Abu Maryam (Tariq Al-Kashmeeri)- the one known for his love of Salafiyyah and its adherents- reminded us as follows…”The year is 2002…By the Grace of Allāh the Salafī Masjid in Birmingham opens its doors for the first time!  After years of struggle, feeling constrained, seeing the word “Salafī” tarnished and frowned upon, not having anything but a Bookstore and Islamic Centre [this centre being used for a bookstore, lessons, teaching young children], Allāh blessed us with a Masjid at a time when the Salafīs didn’t have the Masājid and Marākiz they have today. We were overjoyed, overwhelmed and grateful for the Blessing of Allāh upon us!!

The Masjid was instantly a base for the dissemination of knowledge. Brothers and sisters gathered, the smell of freshly painted walls, new carpet and perfume in the air! Abū Talhah (رحمه الله) teaching, Abū Hakeem (حفظه الله) returned from Al-Madīnah, Abū Khadeejah (حفظه الله) teaching; Abū Idrees would soon return. A place to now invite our elders Abū Iyaad, Abdulilah, Uways (حفظهم الله). Abū Hakeem opened this book and taught the Salafīs how to run their first Masjid in our city!

The point of mentioning this is that, as our scholars mentioned many times, giving thanks to Allāh is a necessity due to His Mercy and abundance of blessings upon the Salafī youth here. No doubt, Allāh has showered us with blessings upon blessings since that time. We’ve had Masājid and Marākiz open, up and down the country and our brothers and sisters in those communities have felt the same joy we felt.

As Allāh ﷻ said:  [‎وَإِذۡ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمۡ لَىِٕن شَكَرۡتُمۡ لَأَزِیدَنَّكُمۡۖ – And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings)…] [Surah Ibraaheem. Aayah 7]

Alhamdulillah, how times have changed! As Abū Khadeejah mentioned the other day in his speech after Jumu’ah, “Although they (Ahlul-Bid’ah) may hate it, the Salafīs are front and centre now!” Blessings upon blessings! We can’t thank Allāh enough for these affairs and must *keep striving to aid one another for the Sake of Allāh. Heartwarming to see new projects near completion and commutes getting stronger, may Allāh continue to bless our communities and keep us united upon the Sunnah. [end of quote]

May Allaah preserve our beloved brother Abu Maryam, preserve all the Maraakiz and teachers Aameen.