The rich history of the mosque in Almelo unfolds in the early 1960s, when Mr. M. Znagui Hassani SR left his native Fes, Morocco, and emigrated to the Netherlands. In 1968 he settled his family in Almelo by purchasing a house, but it was only a few years later that he also acquired another property, located across the street from his home address. Here he provided shelter to guest workers by renting out rooms and beds. Over time, the building, once a guest house, became vacant, and Mr. Znagui Hassani decided to make it available as a prayer room.

 

This admirable act inspired further considerations regarding obtaining a dedicated building to support the growing Muslim community, which at the time consisted of approximately 60 families, including members from surrounding villages and towns. However, the lack of sufficient financial resources posed a significant challenge. In response, an association was founded and statutes were drawn up. Financial support came from the involvement of some leaders within the community, as well as generous donations from both locals and other mosques.

 

Ultimately, a suitable space was found at Tuinstraat no. 8-10, consisting of two buildings that were combined into a spacious prayer room with an upstairs apartment. The funds collected were used to renovate the property, with the community actively participating in the vast majority of the work, while professionals were called in for technical adjustments.

 

Years later, an expansion took place by purchasing the adjacent building, Tuinstraat 6. After renovation, lessons were given here to both young people and the elderly. However, an unfortunate incident occurred when a fire broke out at the neighbor's house (Bargain hall Jalink), which also destroyed part of the mosque. In light of this event, the directors were faced with the choice of renovating or looking for another location. A community member brought up a photo from a real estate agent showing the image of the current mosque.

 

With the continued growth of the community and the influx of many Muslim asylum seekers, the mosque ultimately proved to be too small. The need arose to find a more spacious prayer space. After thorough investigation, the current location of approximately 3,300 square meters was discovered. Intensive work and renovation took place over several years, fully financed by the community, with the female members making a significant contribution to this joint and valuable initiative.