Lebanese Muslim Association

The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) is a Sunni Muslim community and welfare organisation based in Lakemba, in south-western Sydney, Australia. Although the organisation is commonly associated with the Lebanese Australian community and is variously spelled “Moslem,” “Moslems” or “Muslims” in historical and public references, its activities serve a broader Muslim population. It was established in 1962 by Lebanese immigrants who sought to create an institution addressing the social, religious, educational and recreational needs of Muslims in Australia while also representing community interests. The association became a company limited by guarantee in 1973 under the registered name The Lebanese Moslem Association. It is registered as a charity, although the referenced material states that it is not entitled to receive tax-deductible gifts. Its principal base is adjacent to Lakemba Mosque, also known as Masjid Ali Bin Abi Taleb or the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque. The LMA owns and operates the mosque, which was completed in 1977 and is described as Sydney’s first purpose-built mosque. The mosque remains the organisation’s principal venue for congregational worship, religious education, community events and public engagement. The LMA operates three mosques in New South Wales. Lakemba Mosque is its best-known institution and hosts major Eid prayers that regularly attract very large congregations. Othman Bin Affan Mosque in Cabramatta opened in 1994 in a former Salvation Army hall and serves Muslims in the western Sydney area. Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque in Young also opened in 1994, after a former cinema was converted for Muslim worship, and serves the local rural community. Beyond mosque administration, the association provides religious and social services, collects and distributes zakat and sadaqa in accordance with Islamic principles, and maintains community structures such as a Women’s Committee. Its mosque-tour program invites schools, universities, Christian groups and other visitors to learn about Islam and Muslim religious practice. The tours have operated for decades and bring thousands of visitors to Lakemba Mosque each year, making public education and interfaith engagement a visible part of the LMA’s role. The organisation has also participated in public policy and political discussions affecting Australian Muslims. It endorsed the Liberal Party in the 2011 New South Wales election, but did not directly endorse the Liberals in the same way during the 2015 election campaign. In 2015, the LMA criticised Opposition Leader Luke Foley during the campaign. The association also declined to participate in a federal early-intervention program aimed at countering violent extremism, with contemporary reporting attributing the decision to concerns about the scale and continuity of available funding. The organisation had received government funding for community development and participation initiatives, including approximately A$2 million in 2014 according to the referenced material. The LMA’s public identity therefore combines mosque and worship management, social welfare, charity distribution, education, community representation and civic engagement. Its most prominent physical and symbolic asset is Lakemba Mosque, while its broader institutional footprint is defined by its three New South Wales mosques and its long-running role in the development of Muslim community life in Australia.

The Lebanese Muslim Association emerged from the settlement of Lebanese Muslims in Australia during the postwar period. In 1962, a group of Lebanese immigrants established the organisation as a community project intended to meet social, religious, recreational and educational needs. The association also sought to advocate for Muslims in Australia and to create permanent institutional facilities for worship and community life. The organisation was formally registered in 1973 as an Australian company limited by guarantee under the name The Lebanese Moslem Association. Its registered structure enabled it to manage property, programs and community activities on an enduring basis. It is also registered as a charity, although the referenced material notes that it is not entitled to receive tax-deductible gifts. A major stage in the association’s development was the construction of the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque on Wangee Road in Lakemba. Construction took place between 1977 and 2025 according to the referenced article’s historical summary, while the mosque itself is identified as completed in 1977. Commonly known as Lakemba Mosque, it was the first purpose-built mosque in Sydney and became the LMA’s central religious and organisational facility. The mosque is widely regarded as one of Australia’s largest and hosts exceptionally large Eid congregations. The LMA expanded beyond Lakemba by establishing or taking responsibility for additional mosques in New South Wales. Othman Bin Affan Mosque in Cabramatta opened in 1994 in a former Salvation Army hall. In the same year, Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque opened in Young after a former cinema was adapted for Islamic worship. The Young mosque serves a smaller rural Muslim community, while the Cabramatta mosque extends the organisation’s service area across western Sydney. The association’s institutional work has included congregational prayer, religious teaching, welfare assistance, charitable distribution and community representation. It collects and distributes zakat and sadaqa under Islamic principles and has established a Women’s Committee to address women’s needs within the community. The organisation has also developed a long-running mosque-tour program at Lakemba Mosque. Schools, university groups, Christian organisations and other visitors attend the tours, which provide an introduction to the mosque and to Muslim beliefs and practices. Thousands of visitors reportedly participate each year. By 2002, the LMA was reported to have more than 1,100 financial members. More than 5,000 people attended Friday congregational prayers, while tens of thousands of members and non-members used its facilities during religious festivals and other major occasions. These figures illustrate the association’s role as more than a membership body: its mosques function as major gathering places for the wider Muslim population. The organisation has also engaged with government policy and electoral politics. In 2011, it endorsed the Liberal Party during the New South Wales state election. In 2015, it refrained from directly endorsing the Liberals while criticising Opposition Leader Luke Foley during the campaign. Around the same period, the federal government proposed early-intervention programs to counter violent extremism. The LMA declined to participate, with reporting attributing the decision to dissatisfaction with the level and continuity of available funding. The association nevertheless received government support for community development and participation activities, including several grants in 2015 and reported funding of approximately A$2 million in 2014. The LMA remains an active Australian Muslim institution centred on Lakemba Mosque and supported by its other New South Wales mosques. Its historical significance lies in the way it developed from a Lebanese immigrant initiative into a broad community organisation serving worshippers, families, visitors and civic stakeholders across several generations.

• 2015

  Government-program and election engagement

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The LMA declined participation in a proposed violent-extremism intervention program, received community grants and criticised Luke Foley during the state election campaign.

• 2011

  New South Wales election endorsement

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The LMA endorsed the Liberal Party over Labor in the state election.

• 2002

  Membership and congregational reach documented

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association was reported to have more than 1,100 financial members and large Friday and festival congregations.

• 1994

  Othman Bin Affan Mosque opened

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association opened a mosque in Cabramatta in a former Salvation Army hall.

• 1994

  Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque opened

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  A former cinema in Young was converted into a mosque serving the local rural Muslim community.

• 1977

  Lakemba Mosque completed

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque, commonly called Lakemba Mosque, was completed as Sydney’s first purpose-built mosque.

• 1973

  Formal registration as a company limited by guarantee

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was formally registered under the name The Lebanese Moslem Association.

• 1962

  Association established

  [1]Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Lebanese immigrants founded the association to provide social, religious, recreational and educational services for Muslims in Australia.

A long-established Australian Sunni Muslim community institution combining mosque administration, religious services, welfare, charitable distribution, education, public outreach and community advocacy.

• Mosque and congregational worship · 1977

  Lakemba Mosque

  Lakemba Mosque, also known as Masjid Ali Bin Abi Taleb or the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque, is the LMA’s principal facility and headquarters-area landmark. Completed in 1977, it was Sydney’s first purpose-built mosque and is described as one of Australia’s largest mosques. It hosts daily and weekly worship, religious events, community activities, public tours and very large Eid prayer gatherings.

• Mosque and community facility · 1994

  Othman Bin Affan Mosque

  Located on Water Street in Cabramatta, Othman Bin Affan Mosque extends the LMA’s religious and community services into western Sydney. It opened in 1994 after a former Salvation Army hall was adapted for mosque use. The facility provides congregational worship and serves the surrounding Muslim community.

• Mosque and community facility · 1994

  Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque

  Omar ibn al-Khattab Mosque is located in Young, a rural New South Wales town. It opened in 1994 in a former cinema and serves the local Muslim population, estimated in the referenced material at approximately 400 people. The mosque provides a permanent worship and community venue outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

• Public education and interfaith engagement

  Mosque Tours

  The LMA conducts tours of Lakemba Mosque for schools, university students, Christian groups and other visitors. The program explains the mosque’s role and introduces visitors to Muslim religious practices. It has reportedly operated free tours for decades and receives thousands of visitors each year.

• Charitable and welfare service

  Zakat and Sadaqa Services

  The association collects and distributes zakat and sadaqa in accordance with Islamic principles. These services form part of its broader welfare and community-support role, linking religious obligations with assistance for eligible members and community beneficiaries.

• Lakemba Mosque Tours

  Australia · New South Wales

  A long-running public outreach and education program offering mosque visits to schools, universities, Christian groups and other community organisations.

  Outcome. The program reportedly brings thousands of visitors to Lakemba Mosque each year and supports interfaith and public understanding.

  Source
• Zakat and Sadaqa Distribution

  Australia · New South Wales

  The LMA collects and distributes religious charitable funds under Islamic principles as part of its welfare activities.

  Outcome. The activity provides a continuing charitable service to the Muslim community.

  Source

• 2015

  Non-participation in a proposed violent-extremism intervention programStrategy

  Background

  The federal government proposed early-intervention programs to counter violent extremism as part of a wider funding package.

  Action taken

  The LMA declined to participate, with contemporary reporting attributing the decision to concerns about inadequate and non-recurring funding.

  Aftermath

  The association continued receiving some government support through community development and participation grants.

  Government funding reported as received by the LMA. Approximately A$2 million received in 2014; several community development and participation grants obtained in 2015 (2014-2015)

  Source

• 2015

  Limited political endorsement and criticism of Luke FoleyOther

  Background

  During the New South Wales election campaign, the association did not directly repeat its earlier formal endorsement of the Liberals.

  Action taken

  The LMA criticised Opposition Leader Luke Foley during the final stages of the campaign.

  Aftermath

  Foley won the Auburn seat, which had one of the state’s largest Muslim communities.

  Source

• 2011

  Endorsement of the Liberal Party in the New South Wales electionOther

  Background

  The LMA engaged in state electoral politics by choosing to support the centre-right Liberal Party over the incumbent Labor Party.

  Action taken

  The association endorsed the Liberal Party during the election campaign.

  Aftermath

  The Liberal-National Coalition won the election under Barry O’Farrell, although the source does not establish a causal relationship between the endorsement and the result.

  Source

1. 1Lebanese Muslim Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lebanese Muslim Association official websitelma.org.au