Queen Elizabeth II: Scunthorpe Islamic leader recalls mosque visit - BBC News

2022-10-01 03:55:06 By : Mr. Michael Ma

A Scunthorpe Islamic leader has reflected on the day "history was made" when the Queen visited a town mosque.

The 2002 visit to the town's Islamic Centre was the first time the Queen had set foot inside a British mosque.

Abid Khan, chairman of the North Lincolnshire Multi-Faith Partnership, said of the visit: "We felt recognised."

He described the Queen as "a wonderful individual", adding her legacy will be felt for years to come.

Reflecting on the significance of the visit, Mr Khan said: "History was made that day. People still talk about it."

Mr Khan remembered the monarch asking, "This is aligned to Mecca?", in reference to the prayer mat pattern woven into the carpet.

"I remember clearly talking to her for a few minutes," he said. "Obviously, there were a lot of people and lots going on."

The Queen was presented with a copy of the Quran.

Mr Khan believes the visit, part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee tour, "built bridges" between communities, not just in Scunthorpe but further afield.

Scunthorpe would forever remember the Queen with fondness, he said.

"All of us, of all faith and non-faith, will remember Her Majesty's legacy of public service and celebrate her achievements," Mr Khan said.

He said he would also remember her parting words to him: "Keep up the good work, young man."

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.

Obituary: A long life marked by a sense of duty

Queen Elizabeth II: A life in pictures

This is the moment history stops

King Charles III, the new monarch

Recycling points to be removed in North East Lincolnshire

Sixteen Ukrainian refugees coming to North East Lincolnshire as Putin stays on warpath

Peter Houghton murder: Inquest hears Hull Kingston Rovers fan 'intervened in a fight' during night out in Scarborough

Watch moment speeding driver crashes into fence in Yorkshire as police launch crackdown

Infinity Float: Inside the Leeds flotation pods business inspired by the Joe Rogan Podcast

Eleven injured after car hits bystanders at car meet in Scunthorpe

Reckless Putin will not intimidate us - Biden

Putin raises stakes in speech full of anti-Western bile

Ian batters South Carolina in second US landfall

An 'absolutely crazy' week for the UK economy

Tortured for refusing to teach in Russian

'Our candidate isn't perfect, but he beats the alternative'

'My husband either reaches Europe or dies at sea'

How I helped bring down dope cheat Lance Armstrong. Video How I helped bring down dope cheat Lance Armstrong

Protests, storms and statues: Photos of the week

The 1,500-year-old discovery that shocked a murder investigation

Putin raises stakes in speech full of anti-Western bile

What Russian annexation means for Ukraine's regions

Why Gen Z are drinking less

The books too powerful to read

The African city Europeans tried to erase

© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.