Fazl Mosque
| Fazl Mosque | |
|---|---|
Front entrance of the Fazl Mosque | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | SW18, London United Kingdom |
| Geographic coordinates | 51°27′04″N 00°12′27″W / 51.45111°N 0.20750°WCoordinates: 51°27′04″N 00°12′27″W / 51.45111°N 0.20750°W |
| Affiliation | Ahmadiyya Islam |
| Website | www.ahmadiyya.org.uk/ |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style | Indo Style |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 0 |
The Fazl Mosque (also known as the London Mosque) in London was inaugurated on October 23, 1926. It was the first Ahmadiyya mosque built in Britain and the first purpose built mosque in London. The majority of the money was contributed by Ahmadi women in India, who gave their jewellery and belongings to build the first purpose-built mosque in London.
The Fazl Mosque is located in Southfields, London near King George's Park and Southfields train station. The foundation stone was laid in 1924 by Hazrat Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad who was visiting London as the representative of Islam at The Conference of Living Religions that was being held at The Imperial Institute in South Kensington. The foundation ceremony was attended by 200 guests.
A stone embedded in the wall at the main entrance to the Mosque reads the following message by the Khalifah:
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST BENEFICENT AND THE MOST COMPASSIONATE. WE PRAISE AND INVOKE HIS BLESSING ON HIS PROPHET THE EXALTED ONE WITH THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD HE ALONE IS THE HELPER. Verily my prayer my sacrifice my life and my death are for Allah the Lord of all the worlds. I, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad Khalifatul Masih II Head of the Ahmadiyya Community which has its headquarters at Qadian, Punjab, India, lay the foundation stone of this Mosque today the 20th Rabiul Awwal 1343 Hijra to seek the pleasure of God so that His name be glorified in England and the people of this country may also partake of the blessings which have been vouchsafed to us. I pray to God that He may accept this humble and sincere effort of all the members of the Ahmadiyya Community, both women and men and that He may provide means for the growing prosperity of this Mosque and may He make it for ever and ever a centre for promulgating the views of purity, piety, justice and love and may this place prove a sun of spiritual light radiating forth in this country and in all the countries around the blessed beams of the Heavenly light of the Holy Prophet Muhammad the chosen one of God and the seal of the Prophets and of Ahmad the Promised Messiah the Prophet of God, the Vicegerent and the reflection of Muhammad (may peace and the blessings of God be upon them both). Amen.19-10-1924
The construction of the mosque started in September 1925 and ten months later the work was completed. The mosque accommodates 150 worshippers and was named the Fazal Mosque by the second Khalifa (Fazal meaning Grace) - it also the only mosque known in London Mosque. Its first Imam was Maulana Abdur-Rahim Dard.
Khan Bahadur Sheikh Adbul Qadir, ex-Minister of Punjab Legislative Council, formally opened the Mosque in October 1926. Six hundred distinguished guests who were representing numerous countries, as well as local MPs and other dignitaries attended the ceremony and the function was well reported in the press.
In addition to the regular flow of MPs, Mayors, Councillors, scholars and students, The London Mosque has been host to a number of distinguished visitors from far and wide. The founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, visited the mosque on several occasions and made his famous speech in its grounds when he decided to return to India to represent the Muslims in the sub-continent. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Shahzada Faisal Bin Adbul - Aziz also visited the mosque in 1935 as did his father, King Saud of Saudi Arabia.
Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan - the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, a President of the International Count of Justice and President of the UN General Assembly - lived at the premises for many years.
The third Khalifa also visited The London Mosque many times and it has also been blessed both by the presence of the fourth Khalifa as well as the present Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
As the range and frequency of activities in the mosque progressively increased there was need for more space. This increase saw the construction of the multi-purpose Mahmood Hall, as well as the Nusrat Hall, in the grounds of the mosque. From Sunday school classes and school visits, to Question and Answer sessions and international meetings, The London Mosque has been and continues to be a hive of activity promoting education and religious awareness. Since1926 The London Mosque has had eleven Imams; the current Maulana Ataul Mujeed Rashed who has been serving as its Imam since 1983.
Since 1994 the Mosque has also been involved with the world's first global Muslim television station, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International. MTA broadcasts 24 hours a day and is run entirely by volunteers.
With the expansion of The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the capacity of The London Mosque has become insufficient and further premises in Surrey and Morden have been acquired. However, the historic significance and role of The London Mosque continues to ensure its special and indeed unique position for both the global Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as well as Britain.
The mosque is the residence of the Ahmadiyya's Khalifatul Masih since April 1984. The mosque was the main venue for the Friday Sermon delivered by the Khalifa for many years until the completion of the Baitul Futuh mosque in 2003.
See also
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fazl Mosque. |
- All mosques in the UK and Ireland
- Fazl Mosque
- Bashir Ahmad Rafiq (Imam of the Al Fazl Mosque 1972 - 1979)
- List of Missionaries: The U.K. Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission
- Building of Mosques Worldwide an Ahmadiyya Priority