Mosquée Al Wifaq

A former appliance store, now a mosque? That’s the surprising story of Mosquée Al Wifaq. Mosquée Al Wifaq stands on the very spot where the first Boulanger appliance store opened its doors thirty years ago. It was 1976, on Rue Voltaire, at the corner of Rue Lavoisier. The humorous invitation for the store’s grand opening even featured Bernard Boulanger and Jean Nys, the director, posing with a baby carriage. On Friday, March 12th, the store was overflowing with people eager to see the latest washing machines and gas stoves. Today, that same space holds a different kind of significance. The consumer “temple,” as some might have called it, has been transformed into a place of worship. Mosquée Al Wifaq, with its prominent minaret, is managed by the Association Entente des Cultures. Interestingly, four adjacent shops—a butcher, a snack food place, a barber, and a telephone store—are part of the mosque’s property. The profits from these businesses contribute to the mosque’s resources. The Friday prayer sermon, or khutbah, at Mosquée Al Wifaq is delivered in both Arabic and French. This bilingual approach reflects the mosque’s commitment to serving a diverse community. Imagine the echoes of the khutbah filling the space where once the hum of appliances and the chatter of shoppers reigned. It’s a transformation that speaks to the ever-evolving landscape of Mons-en-Baroeul.