to decline as the old pastor and many other older members gradually died off and the new generation found other things to do with their time other than attend church. Since the late 1980s, attendance had fallen to a mere handful. In 1991, the building was noted to be in need of structural repairs which the small congregation could not afford. As a result, the building had lain dormant for a number of years. Since then the old church had been partially repaired and used successively as a childcare nursery, a social club for highland walkers and more recently, a drop-in youth center. However, the building was officially condemned by the local council two years ago as more serious repairs were required, and since then the old church had stood empty. It had now been purchased quite cheaply by the local Inverness Islamic Society as a property in need of major renovations.
The Malik family are today visiting the old church building that the Islamic Society plans to convert into a mosque. Dr. Malik had been for many years a respected urologist at the city’s Raigmore Hospital and as the Chairman of the Inverness Islamic Society, he has been tasked with overseeing the conversion works to be done for the mosque. Dr. Malik had come to the UK from Islamabad in Pakistan with his family as a small boy and they were one of the first Muslim families to immigrate to Inverness. Dr. Malik was visiting the building today for a preliminary inspection with his two sons, Yousef and Afzal and his only daughter, Nilofer. His oldest son, Yousef is twenty-one years old, unemployed and considers himself a strict Muslim. Yousef was very proud of his family’s leading role in building the mosque and had already started an online website touting the mosque as the ‘UK’s most northerly Masjid.’4 Nilofer is twenty years old and studying for a medical degree and has hopes one day to follow in her father’s footsteps. Nilofer feels protective about her youngest brother, Afzal who has only just turned seventeen years old. She feels that Yousef is a bad influence on him with his strict understanding of Islam and she is suspicious of Yousef’s so-called friends. Afzal left school at sixteen much to his father’s disappointment with very poor grades and only a single GCSE in math. He had gotten a job at the local Tesco supermarket but quit after only two weeks. A kind-hearted young man, his lack of academic ability is only surpassed by the abundance of his love for his family. His loyalty to his siblings is conflicted between the reciprocated love of his sister and respect for his older brother.
Inside the old building, there are large empty plastic paint tubs doubling as buckets strategically placed around the floor to catch the water from the leaking roof. A few old broken wooden chairs make up the sum of the furnishings and an old gray tarpaulin doubles as a carpet covering part of the floor. The floor itself is covered by layers of dust and several of the walls have holes in them where the plaster has come away. However, none of this dampens the enthusiasm of Dr. Malik.
“So, this is the south-east side of the building so this will be the Qibla5 wall.” Announced Dr. Malik to his children running his hand along the wall affectionately.
“Of course, we’ll have to remove all this old shelving. And then this would be a good spot for the Mihrab.”6 He continued enthusiastically.
“And we can definitely have a mosque kitchen,” exclaimed Nilofer excitedly as she inspected the old sink and cooker.
“What do you know?” retorted her older brother Yousef. “You’ve never been to a mosque, and you never pray, you just hang out with your kafir7 friends.”
“Just because I’m not a fanatic like you and your friend Jamal does not mean that I do not believe.” Nilofer snapped back.
“How can you say that?” demanded Yousef. “Jamal is a good Muslim!”
“If you want to ruin your life then that is your problem.” Retorted Nilofer, “Just keep Afzal out of it!”
“Astagfirullah8 sister, you have no Haya,9 you . . . ” retaliated Yousef.
“That’s enough!” thundered Dr. Malik. “This place will be our mosque. You will treat it with respect. I won’t hear any more arguing.”
They all fell silent.
Afzal looked out of one of the stained-glass windows onto the street and saw Jamal walking towards the old building.
“Jamal is here!” Afzal exclaimed to his brother pointing out of the window.
“Come, brother, let’s go see him,” Yousef said smiling.
“Afzal, you will stay here with us.” Nilofer smiled at her younger brother. Nilofer sensed that Jamal was trouble and she was hoping to persuade her young brother to stay away from him.
Afzal looked at his older brother for what to do.
“Come on, Afzal. Don’t listen to a girl!” Yousef glared at Nilofer as he put an arm around Afzal’s shoulder and guided him to the door.
The two Malik brothers rushed out the old oak door to greet Jamal as Nilofer scoffed, stamped her foot, spun on her heels and then rejoined her father as he continued with the inspection.
“As-Salaam-Alaikum10 brother!” Yousef declared as he hugged Jamal with the traditional Pakistani one-armed hug.
“Wa-Alaikum-Salaam11 my brothers!” Jamal replied as he hugged both the brothers.
“You have come to see our mosque which we are going to build.” Exaggerated Afzal.
Jamal raised his index finger. “Insha’Allah,12 brother, Insha’Allah.” Jamal reminded him.
“Yes, of course, Insha’Allah, of course.” Afzal agreed sheepishly.
“Come on, come in and see.” Yousef urged.
“Another time brother, Masha’ Allah,13 my brothers. It is a fine building indeed and a worthy work, but we have another business to do today. I want to introduce you to a new brother. His name is Mustafa and he has recently come to the faith and has a fire in his heart for Sharia.14 He has been communicating with a brother in the Ummah15 Come let us go and see him.”
They all walk off towards Mustafa’s house talking excitedly. Afzal looks back at the window of the old church and sees his sister watching them walk away. He quickly looks away and continues walking with the others.
4. Masjid: Arabic transliteration meaning: Mosque.
5. The Qibla is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays. It is fixed as the direction of the Kaaba in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
6. The Mihrab is a semi-circular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla.
