Ar-Rahmah Academy · Chorley
Islam Awareness & Education Centre — from a local house in 2004 to a dedicated centre of worship and learning for the community of Chorley.
About Us
Ar-Rahmah Academy is based in Chorley, Lancashire — a small market town in the North West of England with some 200 Muslim households, mainly from the Indian sub-continent, and a growing community from the Middle East.
The Academy was established in 2004 under the auspices and guidance of the eminent scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullahu). Sheikh Saleem is the founder of the Islamic Da'wah Academy in Leicester, UK, and one of the most influential scholars in the country. More information regarding the Sheikh can be found at www.idauk.org.
Ar-Rahmah Academy was established to engender a better understanding and awareness of the teachings of Islam among the general community, and to address common misunderstandings regarding Islam through an Islam Awareness facility.
A prime objective was to provide a high standard of basic to advanced Islamic Education for Muslims — in particular the youth and children.
Prior to the Academy being founded in 2004, young Muslim children in Chorley had access to only very basic Islamic education. Children above the age of eleven or twelve had access to no Islamic education whatsoever, and education for adults was also non-existent.
After consulting Sheikh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullah), it was decided that the long-term solution was to work towards establishing a dedicated educational institute.
Our Journey
Ar-Rahmah Academy was founded under the auspices and guidance of Sheikh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullah). Educational activities — primarily Qur'an recitation with tajweed and memorisation — began in a local house. The number of pupils steadily grew.
As pupil numbers grew and teaching in a house became problematic, the Academy purchased its first property at 142 Lyons Lane, Chorley. This enabled a significant expansion of activities, most importantly providing Islamic education for teenage girls.
Classes established:
From 2007 onwards, as the community of Chorley grew and witnessed the positive work of the Academy, pupil numbers continued to increase. In 2011 the search for a larger property began, and in 2013 the former church on Park Road, Chorley was purchased for £320,000.
The property is situated in a prime location — a walking distance from the town centre and excellent for commuters, with major motorway links (M6, M65 and M61) just minutes away.
After the first phase of building works at the Park Road property were completed, male students were relocated to the new, larger premises.
Late 2018, the Academy took the decision to move the remaining female pupils into the Park Road property. The second phase of building works was completed in April 2019, bringing all pupils of the Academy together under one roof for the first time.
Due to the Park Road property being over one mile from the only other Masjid in Chorley, the main hall was converted into a Masjid — allowing teachers, pupils, and nearby Muslims to offer their prayers with ease. The five daily prayers, including Jumu'ah, are now held at Masjid Ibraheem.
Alhamdulillah
The Academy is home to approximately 120 pupils and is staffed by 5 male and 6 female teachers, all British born and formally qualified graduates of well-known UK Islamic institutes.
By the Grace of Allah
26
Pupils completed full Qur'an memorisation (Hifz)
7
Female Huffaz among the 26 graduates
7
Female graduates of the 6-year Arabic & Islamic Studies Course
120+
Pupils currently benefiting from classes
Numerous pupils have learnt to recite the Qur'an and acquired basic Islamic knowledge and practices. With the establishment of Masjid Ibraheem and the growing Chorley community, the Academy anticipates a significant increase in pupil numbers.
"We aspire to mould young individuals with moral and spiritual attributes which have been characteristics of the luminaries of Islam throughout the generations, so that they too may become a beacon of spiritual light."
Mission Statement
Transparency
Ar-Rahmah Academy is a UK registered charity (number 1115618), registered on 28th July 2006. Detailed information including annual accounts can be found on the UK Charity Commission website.
The main source of funding has been Qardh-e-Hasanah — interest-free loans given by Muslim brothers and sisters. The loaned amount is returned on a date fixed by the lender. Lent amounts have varied between £500 and £80,000. Donations have also been a vital source of funding.
The Academy is continually working to repay these interest-free loans and to become loan-free. Please see the How You Can Help page for the current outstanding balance.
The Academy has always aspired to initiate a facility for non-Muslim brethren — a welcoming place for those interested in learning about Islam. The Academy believes this would benefit both Muslims and the wider community. This project is planned to be initiated once the overall interest-free loans are significantly reduced.