Essex Muslim Centre, Chelmsford Posted May 31, 2026
About Essex Muslim Centre
Essex Muslim Centre (EMC) was founded in Chelmsford within the last two years and has grown rapidly ever since. During Ramadan this year we welcomed a world-renowned Shaykh from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif to lead the Salaah, which brought a significant increase in the number of worshippers attending. In April we completed the acquisition of our own Masjid in North Chelmsford — a permanent home for our growing community.
EMC is committed to providing the highest possible standard of engagement with our community, guided by the Qur’aan Kareem and Sunnah.
Prime, Growing Location
Broomfield Hospital
One of the area’s largest acute hospitals, with a significant number of Muslim staff from all backgrounds, including doctors sponsored from across the Muslim world, among them Egypt.
ARU & Local Schools
Anglia Ruskin University has a large Muslim student population, with its School of Medicine attracting Muslims from the UK and worldwide. KEGS and County High — two of the country’s leading grammar schools — also draw many Muslim families to the area.
Nearby Masjids & Prayer Spaces
Central Mosque in the heart of the city holds two well-attended Jumu’ah prayers, as does the Hamptons Sports Centre (capacity 500+, under 3 miles south-east). Jumu’ah and some weekday prayers are also held locally at Beaulieu Community Centre (about a mile away), and further afield at Langton Hall (4 miles east), Widford Hall (south-west), ARU, and Broomfield Hospital.
A Diverse, Growing Ummah
Our community is increasingly diverse, with significant Bengali, Pakistani, Indian and other South Asian representation, alongside growing Arab, African and revert numbers.
Current Community Activities
- Five daily prayers
- Weekly Tajweed workshop
- Weekly talk
- Youth academic and careers support
- Regular community events, including iftars and gatherings
The Role
EMC is looking to appoint a Casual Jumu’ah Imam & Khateeb to lead the Jumu’ah prayer on an on-request basis.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Confidently deliver a Khutbah on a set topic, relevant to the Islamic calendar or to the community, with appropriate reference to ayaat from the Qur’aan Kareem and authentic narrations from the Sunnah.
- Engage effectively with a diverse congregation across a wide range of ages, backgrounds and levels of Islamic knowledge, with particular focus on the youth.
- Listen to and act on feedback from the congregation — especially youth, parents and elders — to enhance the EMC community experience.
- Contextualise the tafseer of the Qur’aan Kareem and explanation of Ahadeeth into English in a way our youth can understand, relate to and reflect on.
- Lead the Salaah, reciting ayaat from the Qur’aan Kareem that reinforce the message of the Khutbah.
- Recite the Qur’aan Kareem with correct rules of Tajweed, including stopping and madd extension in the correct places, and correct makharij (pronunciation of letters).
- Confidently deliver du’aa in Arabic, translating into English where appropriate.
- Deliver all Masjid announcements clearly and in a way the congregation can understand.
- Safeguard any children encountered and deal with any concerns appropriately.
- Maintain excellent interpersonal skills at all times, remaining comfortable receiving feedback or being questioned, and exercising sound, diplomatic judgement in line with the Qur’aan Kareem and Sunnah.
- Demonstrable prior experience delivering in-depth, engaging Khutbahs with a defined topic and learning outcome in a recognised Masjid setting.
- Ability to correctly reference ayaat from the Qur’aan Kareem and Ahadeeth, and to confidently deliver the tashahhud opening and closing du’aa of the Khutbah in Arabic.
- Demonstrable Tajweed proficiency, evidenced by an award or certification in Qur’aan Kareem recitation from a recognised learning institution, an ijazah, or having read in front of a known Shaykh.
- At least 2 years’ experience delivering Khutbah in a recognised Masjid setting.
- Certification or qualification in Islamic Studies, such as Fiqh or Ifta’a, at Higher Education or Level 5 equivalent or above, from a recognised learning institution.
- An ijazah in Tajweed recitation of the Qur’aan (such as the riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim) from a Masjid, teaching institution, or recognised Shaykh, with demonstrable experience reciting to this standard.
Note: This is a casual, on-request position — the Imam & Khateeb will be called upon to lead Jumu’ah as needed rather than on a fixed rota. #J-18808-Ljbffr
