The Inclusive Mosque Initiative (IMI) was founded in 2012, in London, UK. It is a grassroots activist organisation which works towards promoting the understanding of an intersectional feminist Islam. In practice, this means that IMI spaces and events are organised to be as inclusive as possible; unlike many existing mosques and religious organisations, IMI is not divided along linguistic, sectarian, political or ethnic lines. The organisation makes every effort towards providing disabled access to and within its venues, including British Sign Language (BSL) within its services, and giving translations of Arabic words when used.
The organisation is based in London and occasionally holds events in other UK cities. IMI is a registered charity in the UK with a board supported by advisers, volunteers, and two members of staff. The team that runs IMI "are a collective of practising Muslims who are part of many Muslim communities… [they] come from a range of Islamic backgrounds, including Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Quranist, Salafi, Barelvi, Islamic feminist, traditional, secular, progressive, unsure and conservative... [their] backgrounds also reflect the diversity within British Islam, including: Arab, mixed heritage, Malaysian, Central European, South Asian, East African, white reverts, North African and Persian".
Significantly, the organisation was founded by two female activists, and female leadership remains central to their ethos. The initial conversations were between two women. Though the issue of gender justice in action was and still is a key component in the formulation of IMI, the differences in race, religious practice-denomination, age and activist experience helped shape the IMI concept to be plural from its outset. The beginning of IMI emerged from their frustrations with the situation for women in many British mosques, where often women’s sections do not exist and ‘sometimes the facilities for women are very inferior, cramped, and not at all conducive to the attitude of worship.’ The Inclusive Mosque Initiative aims to offer alternative spaces of worship and promote Islam in a way which particularly includes marginalised communities. In 2015, the Inclusive Mosque Initiative UK became a registered charity.
IMI’s religious activities
IMI’s long-term aim is to build permanent, carbon-neutral mosque spaces which can function as physical centres for the organizations ongoing activities. In the meantime, IMI’s prayer spaces are ‘nomadic,’ based on the 'pop-up restaurant' or shop format, and traveling around the city of London and, less often, the country, in rented spaces; ‘Venue sites have therefore included cafes, secular community centres, a church, Buddhist centre, an Islamic institute and public parks.’ Since its inception IMI has held over 80 group prayers, and spiritual services, including zhikr, Qur'anic discussion circles, and multiple discussion and social events. Throughout the year IMI offers jummah services, iftaars and special events for religious festivals, and Eid prayers.
In 2015 it held a jummah in recognition of International Women's Day at St Johns Church in Waterloo London, hosting notable scholar and activist Dr. Wadud.
Other IMI events
In addition to such religious services and practices, IMI organizes regular social events and discussions, which take up contemporary themes and facilitates discussion. In addition to its ongoing interest and commitment to eco-Islam, IMI’s working themes seem to be threefold; (1) gender and sexuality, (2) disability and mental health, and (3) interfaith, intrafaith and commonalities amongst humans.
IMI events usually feature a respected speaker, religious scholar, or specialist on the topic, and allows for informal exchange of ideas and experiences in an intentionally safe space. They also actively welcome non-Muslims to their spaces, which distinguishes IMI from many other mosques, and have held interfaith prayers and events in spaces rented from other faith-groups (such as St Johns Church, London). In practice IMI further proactively works towards welcoming and respecting everybody who attends their events, and promoting acceptance on both the inter-faith, and intra-faith levels. As the founders say;