The growing Muslim community of Queenstown are rejoicing as, after years of sacrifice, arrangements as the town's first mosque opened earlier last week.
The Muslim population of the town and suburbs just around the city has grown to over 50 families and just over 100 members, and for years they had no place for themselves to call it a mosque to host regular prayers.
The nearest mosque to Queenstown, up until now was almost 200kms in Invercargill or Dunedin. Called the world's most beautiful city by many, Queenstown before the Covid outbreak and border closure hosted at least 3 million visitors as tourists every year.
Queenstown Islamic Centre on 5/159 Gorge Road, Queenstown Lakes District
Queenstown Muslim community earlier last Tuesday, December 8 received the keys of the property on 5/159 Gorge Road, Queenstown Lakes District after making 10% deposit for the property.
The total price of the property is $430,000, of which 10% was agreed to be paid to get the keys to the place and the rest to be paid by December 2021.
"We are very excited that the Muslim community finally have a place for worship, and up until now, we would hire community spaces on occasions and sometimes pray on Lake Wakatipu's shore," Chairman of Queenstown Islamic Centre, Mohammad Nadheem told the Indian Weekender.
"As soon as we cleared the first deposit, we received the keys of the building, and we made our first prayer in the mosque in the evening with the adhaan at sunset (maghrib)," Mr Nadheem added.
Muslim community praying in the newly established Queenstown Islamic Centre, NZ
The mosque also hosted its first Friday congregational prayers on December 11, which was a momentous occasion for the Muslim community living in the town.
The Muslim community started the fundraising drive to establish town's first mosque in March 2019 and were able to secure the place that will act as space for the Muslim community to host regular five times prayers, for Muslim children learn more about Islam, parenting seminars, youth programmes, and more.
"As of now, we have an Imam (Muslim cleric) from Auckland travelling here to host our Friday congregational prayers and local Muslim members hosting five times prayers. We are looking to get a full-time Imam appointed at the mosque as we settle down in the place in the next few weeks," Mr Nadheem said.
Queenstown Islamic Centre representatives are going to different mosques around the country to raise funds which will go towards making balance payment for the mosque building due next year.
Queenstown (RNZ)
"Over the coming weeks, we will slowly arrange Quran, Islamic books, and other small necessary items that worshippers in the mosque can read when praying or visiting.
"We will also be hosting a mosque open day soon and invite community members from different faiths and ethnicities to visit our mosque and get to know more about Muslims and the Islamic faith," Mr Nadheem added.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said he was pleased the district would have its own mosque and it made sense considering the international tourism it experienced before Covid.
"The Muslim community are quite a large part of our community. A lot of them are migrant workers. A lot of them have settled and are now resident New Zealanders in our part of the world, and I think having a place of worship for them is an important addition to our community," Mayor Jim Boult told Radio New Zealand.
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