MUSLIMS are planning the largest gathering of the faithful ever in Manchester at the MEN Arena to raise funds for a centre in Oldham.
The Oldham Young Muslim Organisation are billing the event as 'Expoislamia - A Call to Humanity' and they expect 20,000 people from all over the UK to attend.
The convention will also allow speakers to highlight the importance of people from different faiths working together and addressing economic and faith needs.
The proposed guest speakers include 'radical thinker' Tariq Ramadhan, scholars Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, Zaid Shakir, Dr Zakir Naik and former journalist Yvonne Ridley.
Entertainment will also be provided in the form of nasheed singers and comedy acts.
The cash will go to creating Oldham Muslim Centre which hopes to involve young people to promote the Islamic way of life through education and recreational activities.
The centre will cater for Muslims and non-Muslims. It will have a gym, an IT suite, classrooms and prayer room.
The three-storey building will cost over £1.5m. So far £250.000 has been pledged and organisers hope to start construction work in January 2007.
Said Kabir Ahmed of YMO: "Oldham has a population of 220,000, of which 30,000 are Muslims.
"The Muslim community is one of the deprived communities in the borough; this centre, inshallah, will help to make a difference in the social, health and religious needs of the community.
"We are in a situation where our current mosques only provide prayer facilities to predominantly male worshippers; this centre will make a positive difference for both male and females.
"We have been fundraising for the centre but the convention will be out biggest fundraising event to date."
The event will take place on 20 August. For more information contact Kabir on 07746 124 238.