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About us

Our Aim

Our primary goal is to serve the basic needs of the Muslim community in Olomouc, comprising mainly of foreign medical students at Palacký University but also some local residents. These mainly include providing a prayer facility to attend the regular Friday prayers and access to halal meat which we deliver from Brno.

Among the population of Olomouc, Muslims form only a tiny minority. Although there are no exact statistics, we estimate the number of Muslims present in Olomouc to be around 100. The total count can, however, heavily fluctuate depending on the incoming and outgoing students. 

Our second aim is to educate others about Islam. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world but also the most misunderstood. We wish to invite those who want to learn about Islam with an open mind to our masjid for a cup of tea and a friendly discussion. Our intention is to have a positive and friendly relation with the people of Olomouc and beyond. 

We do not preach our faith by approaching people on the street or knocking on their doors; rather we show the beauty of Islam through good actions and speaking kindly with those who consciously choose to come to us.

Invite ˹all˺ to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord ˹alone˺ knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is ˹rightly˺ guided.

Quran 16:125

Our History

The current prayer room in the city centre — Al-Firdaus — was first established in 2009 by a group of medical students from Malaysia who were studying at Palacký University at the time. Prior to that there were no facilities to accomodate for the needs of Muslim students, let alone the Muslim residents of Olomouc. Simultaneously a small website was established where the students used to organise events. However, it has unfortunately remained inactive for several years till the present day. 

New initiatives were taken within the last few years to revive the community spirit and Al-Firdaus remains fully active with regular Friday Jummah prayers.

In the recent years, a small prayer room at the Neředín dormitory was made available for the students and is often being used by those staying in the complex. As of September 2021, it remains closed due to covid restrictions.

Leadership of the OMC

Presidents
Mustafa Ali & Awais Nusrat

Who's the Imam of Al-Firdaus? 

The word Imam in Arabic translates to 'leader' or 'model'. The word itself has several meanings depending on its usage. In this context, it is simply the title given to the one who leads the prayer. Generally, the role of the Imam is given to the person who knows how to recite the Quran the most, followed by those who are the most-versed in the sunnah.

Our Imam is a certified 'Hafiz'. This means that he has memorised the entire Quran, all 6236 verses, word by word and can recite any verse from heart. With such a qualification, his role as the Imam of Al-Firdaus focuses on leading the prayers. When he is unavailable, another member of the community may take over to lead the prayer.