Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom

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The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in the United Kingdom in July 1913 as one of the oldest Islamic associations in the UK. The community has built its presence with the establishment of significant sites such as The London Mosque in 1926. Over the decades the community has grown and become known for its annual convention the Jalsa Salana , interfaith dialogues and humanitarian efforts. The UK has also served as the headquarters of the community since 1984 currently in Islamabad, Tilford, in Surrey. [1]

Contents

Baitul Futuh.jpg
The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London, the largest mosque in the UK, and one of the largest in Western Europe.
Fazl Moschee.JPG
The Fazl Mosque, also known as The London Mosque
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Mubarak Mosque, Tilford, the central mosque of the Ahmadiyya headquarters

History

In July 1913, Fateh Muhammad Sial was the first missionary sent overseas by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and was under the direction of Hakeem Noor-ud-Din, the first caliph of the movement. Not many years after arriving, the need for a mosque in the UK became apparent and in 1926, the Fazl Mosque was formally opened in London and it became the city's first mosque. [2] [3] The community expanded and built many mosques and mission houses across the country. The most notable of which is Baitul Futuh Mosque in South London stands as one of the largest in Western Europe. [4]

International Headquarters

Since the forced exile of the fourth caliph of the community, Mirza Tahir Ahmad from Pakistan in 1984, the Fazl Mosque, London served as International Headquarters for a period of 35 years before moving the International Headquarters to Mubarak Mosque, Tilford on 15 April 2019. It is also the centre for its international annual convention, the Jalsa Salana, which is held in Alton, Hampshire at Hadeeqatul Mahdi.

Anti-Ahmadiyya Campaign

The movement, though free to practice their faith in the UK, suffers from Sunni bigotry in the UK. It has faced instances of persecution of discrimination over the past century. [5] They are not recognised as Muslims by the Muslim Council of Britain and are targets for vilification by the Khatme Nubuwwat Academy. [6] [7] [8] Ahmadi students face discrimination in educational settings and workplaces. [9]

Demographics

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Locations of major Ahmadi Muslim Mosques in the UK

As of 2017, there are 35,000 Ahmadis in the UK in 150 local chapters. [10] [11] Presently, there are around 45 Mosques & community centres belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK, out of which around 25 are purpose-built mosques. [12] Additionally there several centres across England which are used for Salat and events. [13]

Greater London

Greater London and Muqami regions:

MosqueRegionCityYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Mubarak Mosque Muqami Tilford 19842019( 51°11′26″N0°45′04″W / 51.19069°N 0.751°W / 51.19069; -0.751 (Mubarak Mosque) )
Jamia UK Muqami Haslemere 2012 (Est).( 51°05′39″N0°44′14″W / 51.09416965°N 0.73723098°W / 51.09416965; -0.73723098 (Jamia Ahmadiyya UK) )
Baitul Aman MosqueMiddlesex Uxbridge 2012 (Est).( 51°31′24″N0°27′58″W / 51.5234°N 0.4661°W / 51.5234; -0.4661 (Baitul Aman Mosque) )
Baitul Ehsan Mosque Mitcham 2017 (Inaug.)( 51°23′29″N0°09′54″W / 51.3913°N 0.1651°W / 51.3913; -0.1651 (Baitul Ehsan Mosque) )
Baitul Futuh Mosque Morden 2003 (Built)( 51°23′46″N0°11′56″W / 51.3961°N 0.1989°W / 51.3961; -0.1989 (Baitul Futuh Mosque) )
Baitul HadiHertfordshire Watford Est.( 51°38′33″N0°25′08″W / 51.6424°N 0.4190°W / 51.6424; -0.4190 (Baitul Hadi) )
Baitus Subhan Mosque Croydon 2009 (Est.)( 51°23′02″N0°06′14″W / 51.3839°N 0.1038°W / 51.3839; -0.1038 (Baitus Subhan Mosque) )
Baitul Wahid MosqueMiddlesex Feltham 2012 (Est.)( 51°25′51″N0°24′10″W / 51.4307°N 0.4028°W / 51.4307; -0.4028 (Baitul Wahid Mosque) )
Darus Salaam MosqueMiddlesex Southall 19802020( 51°30′36″N0°22′23″W / 51.5100°N 0.3731°W / 51.5100; -0.3731 (Darus Salaam Mosque) )
Fazl Mosque Southfields 1926 (Built)( 51°27′04″N0°12′27″W / 51.4511°N 0.2075°W / 51.4511; -0.2075 (The London Mosque) )
Noor Mosque Baitus Subhan Crawley 2014 (Est.)( 51°07′34″N0°11′35″W / 51.126°N 0.193°W / 51.126; -0.193 (Noor Mosque) )
Tahir MosqueSouth Bromley 2012 (Est.)( 51°26′02″N0°00′36″E / 51.4339°N 0.0099°E / 51.4339; 0.0099 (Tahir Mosque) )

Kent

Also known as 'East Region'.

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Baitul Ahad Mosque Newham East2010 (Inaug.)( 51°32′02″N0°02′21″E / 51.533891°N 0.039033°E / 51.533891; 0.039033 (Baitul Ahad Mosque) )
Baitul Ahad Waltham Forest Est.( 51°35′15″N0°01′37″W / 51.587398°N 0.026878°W / 51.587398; -0.026878 (Baitul Ahad) )
Nasir Mosque Gillingham 19752014( 51°23′41″N0°33′04″E / 51.39481427°N 0.5511943°E / 51.39481427; 0.5511943 (Nasir Mosque) )

Midlands

East Midlands

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Baitul Ehsan Mosque Leamington Spa East Midlands2008 (Est.)( 52°17′19″N1°32′29″W / 52.288608°N 1.541299°W / 52.288608; -1.541299 (Baitul Ehsan Mosque) )
Baitul Hafeez Mosque Nottingham 2001 (Est.)2018( 52°57′21″N1°07′01″W / 52.955939°N 1.116966°W / 52.955939; -1.116966 (Baitul Hafeez Mosque) )
Baitul Ikram Mosque Leicester 1990s2016( 52°36′52″N1°07′09″W / 52.61454466°N 1.1192681°W / 52.61454466; -1.1192681 (Baitul Ikram Mosque) )
Baitus Suboor Burton upon Trent 2024 (Est.)( 52°48′22″N1°36′24″W / 52.806102°N 1.606758°W / 52.806102; -1.606758 (Baitus Suboor) )

West Midlands

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Baitul Ata Mosque Wolverhampton West Midlands2012 (Inaug.)( 52°34′59″N2°06′06″W / 52.583175°N 2.101566°W / 52.583175; -2.101566 (Baitul Ata Mosque) )
Darul Barakaat Mosque Birmingham 19992004( 52°28′36″N1°51′54″W / 52.4767°N 1.8651°W / 52.4767; -1.8651 (Darul Barakaat Mosque) )
Baitul Muqeet Mosque Walsall 20092018( 52°34′50″N1°58′58″W / 52.580523°N 1.982831°W / 52.580523; -1.982831 (Baitul Muqeet Mosque) )
Baitul Ghafoor Mosque Dudley 2012 (Inaug.)( 52°27′51″N2°01′45″W / 52.464112°N 2.029302°W / 52.464112; -2.029302 (Baitul Ghafoor Mosque) )

North East

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Al-Mahdi Mosque Bradford North East2008 (Built)( 53°48′04″N1°44′40″W / 53.8011°N 1.7444°W / 53.8011; -1.7444 (Al-Mahdi Mosque) )
Baitul Hamd 1980 (Inaug.)( 53°47′33″N1°43′45″W / 53.79241545°N 1.72915579°W / 53.79241545; -1.72915579 (Baitul Hamd) )
Baitul Haleem Keighley <2008 (Est.)( 53°51′51″N1°54′23″W / 53.864071°N 1.906414°W / 53.864071; -1.906414 (Baitul Haleem) )
Nasir Mosque Hartlepool 2005 (Built)( 54°41′35″N1°12′58″W / 54.6931°N 1.2162°W / 54.6931; -1.2162 (Nasir Mosque) )

North West & North Wales

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Darul Amaan Mosque Manchester North West2000s2012( 53°27′44″N2°14′22″W / 53.46227002°N 2.23944977°W / 53.46227002; -2.23944977 (Darul Amaan Mosque) )
Sadiq Mosque Rhyl, Wales 2014 (Est).( 53°18′54″N3°29′53″W / 53.314946°N 3.498081°W / 53.314946; -3.498081 (Sadiq Mosque) )
Baitul Lateef Mosque Liverpool 2015 (Est.)( 53°25′28″N2°57′19″W / 53.42454°N 2.95536°W / 53.42454; -2.95536 (Baitul Lateef Mosque) )
Baitur Rasheed Blackburn 2021 (Est.)( 53°44′39″N2°30′16″W / 53.744219°N 2.504511°W / 53.744219; -2.504511 (Baitur Rasheed) )
Baitul Aziz Bolton 2024 (Est).( 53°36′06″N2°32′58″W / 53.601655°N 2.549316°W / 53.601655; -2.549316 (Baitul Aziz) )

Yorkshire

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Baitul Afiyat Mosque Sheffield Yorkshire20062008( 53°23′15″N1°27′02″W / 53.3876091°N 1.45069153°W / 53.3876091; -1.45069153 (Baitul Afiyat Mosque) )
Baitul Atta Mosque Spen Valley 1990s?( 53°42′21″N1°39′12″W / 53.705805°N 1.653444°W / 53.705805; -1.653444 (Baitul Atta Mosque) )
Baitul Baseer Doncaster 2023 (Est.)( 53°29′06″N1°11′19″W / 53.484894°N 1.188574°W / 53.484894; -1.188574 (Baitul Baseer) )
Baitus Salaam Mosque Scunthorpe 20022023( 53°35′11″N0°40′25″W / 53.58628°N 0.67371°W / 53.58628; -0.67371 (Baitus Salaam Mosque) )
Baitul Tauhid Mosque Huddersfield 2008Currently being renovated and rebuilt

( 53°39′45″N1°47′08″W / 53.66240548°N 1.78558773°W / 53.66240548; -1.78558773 (Baitul Tauhid Mosque) )

Baitul SamadEst.( 53°39′04″N1°46′47″W / 53.65102261°N 1.77967223°W / 53.65102261; -1.77967223 (Baitus Samad) )

Scotland

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Bait-ur-Rahman Mosque Glasgow Scotland 19841985( 55°51′58″N4°17′24″W / 55.866022°N 4.290068°W / 55.866022; -4.290068 (Baitur Rahman Mosque) )
Bait-ul-Mahmood Mosque Dundee ?( 56°28′21″N2°58′08″W / 56.472461°N 2.968935°W / 56.472461; -2.968935 (Bait-ul-Mahmood Mosque) )

South West

MosqueCityRegionYearNotes
EstablishedInaugurated
Baitur Raheem Mosque Cardiff, Wales South West?Currently being renovated and rebuilt

( 51°28′46″N3°12′50″W / 51.479466°N 3.213778°W / 51.479466; -3.213778 (Baitul Raheem Mosque) )

Media and culture

Television & Radio

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community first began its media broadcasts in 1992 with Ahmadiyya Muslim Presentations (AMP), a part-time channel which would broadcast the weekly sermons of the caliph. This evolved into the 24-hour TV channel, now known as MTA1 World as the first Islamic TV channel in the UK in 1994. It was launched on the Sky UK platform and operated from The London Mosque. Since then, it has launched several other channels around the world while maintaining the Baitul Futuh Mosque as its headquarters. In early 2016, the community launched the Voice of Islam radio channel which covers several cities across the UK, including Greater London and Greater Manchester.

Periodicals

The community publishes several magazines and newspapers aimed for the benefit of the community. The two main newspapers run by the community in the UK are the Daily Al-Fazl in Urdu and Al Hakam, an English periodical. The Daily Al-Fazl started an international service in 1994, where it was published in Islamabad, Tilford, and in 2023 it became as the permanent headquarters of the periodical.

Notable Ahmadi Residents

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References

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