It May Not Seem Like A Masjid
We were concerned to watch a video about Hamptons, produced by the Islam TV channel and titled “Your Local Jumu’ah - Chelmsford Muslim Society”
The video clearly demonstrates the extent of the use of the building for or in connection with public worship and religious education, and rather proves everything that residents have been saying to the city council.
The owners have a right to use the venue, but that must remain within the current planning permission, and not replace sports and leisure uses, with public worship and religious education.
“It’s quite central in the Non muslim area”
The opening segment is a piece to camera by Ayman Syed, Chairman of the Chelmsford Muslim Society, who explains about how CMS are promoting a “pray and play ethos “ , encouraging the Muslim community to come for Salah (prayer) and then stay and continue.
He goes on to make the bizarre statement that the centre is “quite central in the Non-Muslim area”. Really Mr Syed ! Speak to any local resident, there isn’t a designated or perceived Non-Muslim area in Great Baddow, just a rich and diverse community.
It’s a clear case of “othering” demonstrating an “us vs. them” way of thinking about human connections and relationships. Othering essentially involves looking at others and saying "they are not like me" or "they are not one of us.".
“We’ve not excluded them”
Mr Syed goes on to explain that we (CMS) haven’t excluded them (the non Muslim community).
While he is correct that Squash and Tennis and hiring the Main Hall is still available to everyone, the social uses of the centre are all but gone.
The loss of bars led to an exodus of all the dance and social uses apart from Line Dancing, and the Buddhist Meditation classes would probably also disagree with Mr Syed’s claims that the centre is open for the whole community.
There’s pretty much nothing suitable for the predominantly older community who live around the venue.
“WE have the main hall to use as an overflow”
Shaykh Shams (Head Imam at CMS) then takes us on a guided tour of the mosque area, clearly stating that during the summer holidays and Ramadan, that the Main Hall is used as an overflow prayer room. You can see in the photo below, that the Main Hall is laid out with prayer mats.
“it’s a revenue for the masjid”
The tour continues upstairs and visits the conference rooms, which now accommodates the 21 weekly classes held by the Makarim academy.
Shaykh Shams explains that he conference rooms can still be rented, generating a revenue for the Masjid.
Surely any revenue from the core business, should go to Hamptons Sports and Leisure Ltd, to reinvest in the business, and not into the multiple bank accounts operated by the Chelmsford Muslim Society ?
It’s no wonder that the squash courts look tatty and unloved, and the tennis section are relying on charity to upgrade the floodlights.
Other “highlights in the video
We completely condemn the use of a young lad to describe how he loves the “vibe” at Hamptons. it’s not age appropriate language for someone of his age, and it’s obvious he’s been coached.
The student interviewed in the Main Hall, lives in Brentwood, but comes to Chelmsford to see Shaykh Shams. We thought Hamptons was just an overflow prayer facility for local Muslim residents ? Clearly not.
The filming of the wonderful Piers (the head tennis coach) is cynical and clearly also staged for the video.
The video also features a sermon from Shaykh Shams (Head Imam at CMS), on “skeletons in the closet, a subject he should be an expert on !
KBO