About Us - Waqf

I. Establishment

The Finnish Islamic Foundation was established in 1994 under the name "Finland Mosques Foundation", with the main objectives of:

Purchasing and managing mosques and Islamic centres.
Providing Islamic cemeteries.
Introducing Islamic civilization.
Serving the public space of the Muslim community in Finland.

II. Name Change

Due to the diversification and expansion of activities, the name was changed from "Finland Mosques Foundation" to "The Finnish Islamic Foundation" in 2011. This reflects the broad nature of its outlined tasks and its growing role in serving Muslims in Finland.

III. Challenges and Difficulties

The Foundation faced significant difficulties in collecting donations, both internally and externally.
Challenges increased after the opening of multiple prayer rooms in areas close to Muslim residences, which affected attendance at the central mosque.
The Foundation bore additional financial burdens due to repair and maintenance costs for the main mosque building, which were not part of the original plan.

Major Projects

1. The Foundation's Mosque and Centre in Helsinki

The Helsinki project was the first and most important project of the Foundation
Work on the project began from the time of establishment.
After several attempts, a suitable place was purchased, and the mosque and centre were officially opened in 1999.
The premises were fully furnished and equipped, transitioning from renting a mosque to owning one.
All financing instalments were paid off four years ahead of schedule, in 2010, thanks to donation efforts.

2. The Foundation's Mosque and Centre Project in Turku

Work is still ongoing to complete the funding and planning for this project.
The project is supervised by a select group of responsible brothers in the city of Turku.

3. Activities and Initiatives

The Foundation has supported other mosques in southern and eastern Finland by providing rental guarantees.
The Foundation launched a trial for an operational Arabic school at its headquarters for five years, but the inability to obtain an official license prevented its continuation due to the absence of government funding.

Future Plans and Expansion

After completing the Helsinki project and the increase in the number of prayer rooms in the capital and elsewhere, the need arose for:

A central congregational mosque to accommodate Muslims for Friday prayers and worship, serving as an educational and foundation platform.
A multi-service centre that aligns with the continuous growth in the number of Muslims.
Implementing foundation investment projects that support the financial independence of the Foundation.
Expanding financial activities, including collecting Zakat, Sadaqah, donations, and establishing new foundations.
Establishing a school for teaching the Arabic language and Islamic studies to meet the growing demand, as the number of Muslim children studying Islamic religion in official schools (grades 1-9) has reached about 8000, representing about 1.5% of the total school-age population.

It is worth noting that Helsinki is the only European capital that does not have a purpose-built, standalone mosque, which highlights the importance of establishing such a project.