23 JULY 1983

London Islamic Cultural Society was formed in the home of President Abdool Alli by a small group of Muslims predominantly from Guyana, South America; who saw the need to bring together its members both religiously and socially.

 

The primary aim of the Society was to engage, communicate and support the diverse community by establishing a Mosque/Cultural Centre and to provide essential services which would also benefit the wider multi-ethnic community.

 

LICS was officially registered in 1983 as a charity governed by its constitution. Before LICS was formed into a charity and subsequently once established all gatherings and observation of Islamic/cultural events were held in our first ’home’, the home of our President, Abdool Alli and as numbers grew, the Society began using school halls.

 

24 MAY 1985

LICS purchased its first centre, a house in Parkview Road, Tottenham N17 for a price of £41,260. Funds for this purchase were raised by donations and Interest Free Loans and were fully paid prior to its sale in 1987. Our first centre in Park View Road very quickly became too small for this progressive, dynamic Society as numbers of users grew.

 

06 JULY 1987

LICS went on to purchase 389-395 Wightman Road, N8 at auction for a price of £150,500. Our President Brother Alli and Imam Al Haj Ebrahim McDoom attended the auction and secured this wonderful site for LICS.

 

This building was originally the home of the Hornsey & Wood Green Synagogue. Proceeds from the sale of Park View Road, donations and Interest Free Loans collectively freed this building of debt. 

 

This centre allowed the Society to provide better facilities for our users and secured our commitment to working in harmony with all schools, faith groups, the council, other agencies, hospitals and the Police to secure a brighter and better future for all people in our community.

 

As the Mosque/Cultural Centre developed it was quickly realised that more space was needed for our ever-growing users, in particular better facilities for our sisters and their families.

 

31 OCTOBER 1991

Following discussions with Haringey Council, LICS negotiated and purchased land adjacent to our existing building for £32,500. Outline planning permission was also agreed by the council for LICS to erect a purpose-built Mosque/Cultural Centre. Users and members once again raised the purchase price so that the land was free of debt shortly after acquisition. 

 

In 1996 the Society was granted full planning permission to erect the First Purpose-built Mosque/Cultural Centre in the borough of Haringey. Our young brother architect Haroon Phobee designed the building and Al-Haj Mekaeel Maknoon provided legal guidance. Both brothers did so free of charge for the sake of the House of Allah.

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15 SEPTEMBER 1998

Building works commenced to erect the new building and a dream became a reality  for our President, Brother Abdool Alli for his visionary leadership, his foresight and burning ambition to succeed and to provide something for the people in our community.

 

The task of undertaking construction of a building this size was an enormous one and filled with many pitfalls but supported by a dedicated team of helpers working together we achieved what seemed to be impossible. Brother Capan Er helped LICS at a time when our appointed contractors failed, by providing skilled craftsmen to complete the beautiful building we have today.

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​12 JULY 2002 / 25 AUGUST 2002

The new Mosque was officially opened with representatives from the council, Police, Faith Groups, dignitaries, valued members and members of our community. In 2002, LICS became a Trust with a Board of Trustees.