Ahmadiyya in the United Kingdom
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in United Kingdom was established 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]
History
[edit]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]
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International Headquarters
[edit]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.
Anti-Ahmadiyya Campaign
[edit]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
[edit]
As of 2017, there are 30,000 Ahmadis in the UK in 150 local chapters.[10][11]
Mosques & Buildings
[edit]Presently, there are 38 Mosques & Buildings belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK.[12]
Greater London
[edit]Greater London and Muqami regions:
Muqami
[edit]- Mubarak Mosque (Built in 2019) – Tilford (Muqami)
- Jamia UK (Built in 2012) – Haslemere (Muqami)
Greater London
[edit]- Baitul Aman (Built in 2012) – Uxbridge
- Baitul Ehsan (Built in 2017) – Mitchem
- Baitul Futuh (Built in 2003) – Morden
- Baitus Subhan (Established) – Croydon
- Baitul Wahid (Built in 2012) – Feltham
- Darus Salam (Built in 2020) – Southall
- Fazl Mosque (Built in 1926)
- Noor Mosque (Established. Inaugurated in 2014) – Crawley
- Tahir Mosque (Established 2012)
Kent
[edit]Also known as 'East Region'.
- Baitul Ahad (Built in 2010) – East Ham
- Baitul Ahad (Established) - Waltham Forest
- Nasir Mosque (Built in 2014) – Gillingham
Midlands
[edit]East Midlands
[edit]- Baitul Ehsaan (Established in 2008) – Leamington Spa
- Baitul Hafeez (Established in 2018) – Nottingham
- Baitul Ikram (Built in 2016) – Leicester
- Baitul Saboor (Established in 2024) – Burton Upon Trent
West Midlands
[edit]- Baitul Atta (Built in 2012) – Wolverhampton
- Darul Barakaat (Built in 2004) – Birmingham
- Baitul Muqeet (Built in 2018) – Walsall
- Baitul Ghafoor (Built in 2012) – Halesowen
North East
[edit]- Baitul Haleem (Established) – Keighley
- Baitul Hamd (Established in 1980) – Bradford
- Al Mahdi (Built in 2008) – Bradford
- Nasir Mosque (Built in 2005) – Hartlepool
North West & North Wales
[edit]- Baitul Lateef (Established) – Liverpool
- Baitur Rasheed (Established) – Blackburn
- Baitus Sadiq (Established) – Rhyl
- Darul Amaan (Built in 2012) – Manchester
Yorkshire
[edit]- Baitul Afiyat (Built in 2008) – Sheffield
- Baitul Atta (Established) – Spen Valley
- Baitus Salaam (Est 2002. Inaugurated in 2023) – Scunthorpe
- Baitul Tauhid (Established in 2008) – Huddersfield
- Baitus Samad (Established) – Huddersfield
Scotland
[edit]- Baitul Mahmood (Established) – Dundee
- Bait-ur-Rahman (Established. 1984)
South Wales
[edit]- Baitur Raheem (Established)
Media and culture
[edit]Television & Radio
[edit]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
[edit]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 of United Kingdom
[edit]Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Fifth Caliph and current leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Mirza Tahir Ahmad – Fourth Caliph during his time the Community's headquarters moved to United Kingdom from Pakistan.
Dr. Abdus Salam - First Muslim Nobel Science Laureate and a devoted member of the community, lived in Putney, London
Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon – Member of the House of Lords, UK, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and South Asia and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict[13]
Iftikhar A. Ayaz – Tuvaluan Consular Official, UK
Abdul Rahim Dard – writer, missionary, Imam of the historic Fazl Mosque and political activist for the Pakistan Movement
Fateh Muhammad Sial – the first Ahmadi missionary sent overseas by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Bashir Ahmad Orchard – first Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of European descent
References
[edit]- ^ "28 February - 5 March". Al Hakam. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "Fazl Mosque". Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ "The Baitulfutuh Mosque- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: An Overview". www.baitulfutuh.org. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "Western Europe's largest mosque opens in Morden". The Guardian. Press Association. 2003-10-02. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ Mughal, Fiyaz (2016-10-11). "Anti-Ahmadi hate crime has gone unchecked for too long – and the consequences are terrifying | The Independent". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "The murder of an Ahmadi". The Economist. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Mosque warned over 'kill Ahmadis' leaflets". BBC News. 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ Nasser, Tahir (2016-04-25). "The Muslim Council of Britain is failing Ahmadis like Asad Shah | Tahir Nasser". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "Hate crime investigation into threats against Ahmadi Muslims". Channel 4 News. 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ^ "A religious killing in Scotland: A quiet man with a loud message: A horrific murder prompts fears of more attacks on a small Islamic sect". The Economist. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Why Britain's Ahmadis are worried". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ^ "🇬🇧 United Kingdom". Ahmadiyya Mosques. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
