Kirkcaldy mosque services suspended for lockdown as spiritual guidance moves online

The mosque, which is led by Imam Mansoor Mahmood, is offering the online services to ensure that no one in the community is left alone and or isolated.

When the country went into lockdown last March, Imam Mansoor and his team sprang into action delivering food to vulnerable people, and offering services online.

His quick reaction to the pandemic saw shortlisted for the ‘Most Impactful Imam’ category at the 2020 British Beacon Mosque awards.

Imam Mansoor said: “Although being in lockdown has caused religious gatherings to be suspended, the mosque is continuing its services online and over the telephone.

“We are continuing religious education classes online as we have been doing since the first lockdown in March, and are delivering the Friday sermon and recitals on Facebook Live.

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"We also provide a counselling service over the telephone. This is to cater for mental health issues and any religious advice our congregation may need.

"We also have local community members who are not Muslim call in for a chat. We always tell people that spiritual care is not only for religious groups, a person's spirituality is very specific them – it is whatever keeps them positive about life.

“Although we are not providing support to families with food, we are however, referring them to Sarah’s Help In Economic Living Difficulties (S.H.I.E.L.D) who are doing a fantastic job in providing support to communities in Fife.

"We are also working with Fife Centre for Equalities who receive various grants to help the community. We work with them to make the community aware about its work.”

Imam Mansoor adds that the show of community spirit he has reassured him

We need to remain patient through this pandemic as we have been doing so since last March,” he said. “It is reassuring to see that there is so much support for our community in Fife during this difficult time.

"The silver lining of this pandemic is that it has brought everyone together, whenever someone has struggled there has always been an organisation who has come out to support them.”

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