Baitur Raheem Mosque

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Baitur Raheem Mosque
مسجد بیت الرحیم
Baitur Raheem Mosque, Cardiff.jpg
The Baitur Raheem Mosque in Cardiff
Religion
Affiliation Islam
Branch/tradition Ahmadiyya
Location
LocationSanatorium Rd, Cardiff CF11 8DG
Baitur Raheem Mosque
Interactive map of Baitur Raheem Mosque
Coordinates 51°28′46.1″N3°12′49.7″W / 51.479472°N 3.213806°W / 51.479472; -3.213806
Architecture
Typemosque
Style Islamic
Established2014
Completed2025
Specifications
Capacity550
Dome 1
Minaret 1
Minaret height17m
Site area1,200 m2 (13,000 sq ft)

Baitur Raheem Mosque (English: House ofthe Merciful) is a purpose-built mosque in the Canton area of Cardiff, Wales, located on Sanatorium Road. It is the first purpose-built Ahmadi mosque in Wales which was inaugurated on 23 November 2025. [1] [2] It is a two-storey complex built on a 1,200 square metres (13,000 sq ft) site with a capacity of 550 worshippers. [3]

Contents

History

Plans for a dedicated Ahmadiyya mosque in Cardiff were first proposed in the early 2010s, following which a site was acquired in the Canton, Cardiff, where a prayer centre was established back in 2014 when it was bought as former warehouses at a cost of £350,000. [4] The history of Ahmadiyya in Wales dates further back to the early 20th Century with Welsh converts to Ahmadiyya. [2] The construction of the mosque was planned and lead by the elder association of the community, Majlis Ansarullah, the second of the kind after Nasir Mosque in Hartlepool in 2005, with the foundation stone laid on 9 September 2023. [2] [5]

Controversies

Preliminary proposals submitted by the community to the local council for a purpose-built mosque were refused following objections by the local community, intially on the bases of "traffic concerns". [6] In October 2016, leaflet campaigns, such as 'No mosque' leafletting were carried out against the propsal, and the council received around 60 letters and over 500 signatures objecting to the development. [4] [7]

During the same year, a Labour councillor, Sue White, resigned over alleged bullying and racial discrimination over her support for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, two days prior to another councillor, Manzoor Ahmed, leaving the Labour Party. [8] [9] The following year, Labour councillor Ali Ahmed was accused of misleading the planning committee, over the extent of the community's beliefs and demographics. [10]

Inauguration

The mosque was inaugurated by the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad on 23 November 2025. [1] [2] The reception held in commeration of the inauguration of the mosque was attended by local and national guests, political and faith leaders such as High Sheriff of Glamorgan and councillors, among other guests. [11]

Architecture

The mosque consists of a central dome and one minaret with a height of 17 meters. The mosque is divided in to three halls, including a central prayer hall which accomodates 270 worshippers, a community hall and a lower hall. [1] [3]

Central prayer hall Baitur Raheem Mosque Prayer Hall.jpg
Central prayer hall

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Price, Stephen (2025-11-26). "Watch: Newest Mosque in Wales opens in Welsh city". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Weekly, Al Hakam (2025-11-23). "Beacon of mercy in Wales: Huzoor inaugurates Baitur Raheem Mosque in Cardiff". www.alhakam.org. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  3. 1 2 "Alhamdulillah: Inauguration Of Bait-ur-Raheem Mosque, Cardiff | Official Website Of Majlis Ansarullah UK". 2025-12-07. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  4. 1 2 Deacon, Thomas (2019-08-20). "Construction finally starting on controversial mosque". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  5. Hakam, Al (2023-09-22). "Foundation of new mosque laid in Cardiff". www.alhakam.org. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  6. Deacon, Thomas (2017-03-16). "Plans for a new Cardiff mosque building refused for second time". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  7. "Cardiff mosque extension plan granted with conditions". BBC News. 2018-03-15. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  8. Porter, Tom (2016-11-30). "Labour councillor resigns after being 'bullied' for supporting persecuted Ahmadi Muslim sect". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  9. Silk, Huw (2016-12-08). "Ex-councillor's Cardiff Labour claims inquiry to get under way". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  10. "Councillor denies 'feeding lie' over mosque to committee". BBC News. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  11. Arif, Ehtesham Ahmad (2025-11-24). "Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Inaugurates Bait-ur-Raheem Mosque, Wales' First Purpose-Built Ahmadiyya Mosque". Press & Media Office. Retrieved 2025-12-13.