What is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community?

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The London Mosque Credit: ITV Border

On October 3, 1926, the construction of London's first mosque was completed - and it was built using plans drawn up by an architect from Windermere.

The London Mosque was built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the first foundations were laid in 1924 by the group's leader Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad.

  • The Ahmadiyya Movement was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, in a small village in India.

  • Ahmadi Muslims believe that Prophet Mohammed is the final law-bearing prophet and that other prophets that can come will be sub-ordinate to him and here to revive his message. They believe that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the Messiah but also a prophet who came to revive the true message of Islam as brought by the Holy Prophet.

  • In 1913 the UK branch of the movement was established, and the foundations for London's first mosque were laid down in 1924.

  • In 1947 the community moved its headquarters to Pakistan, but six years later orthodox Muslim groups formed the "anti-Qadiani movement", leading to consistent persecution of the group, which is still happening today, according to rights groups.

  • In 1974 Pakistan's first Prime Minister introduced a constitutional amendment, declaring Ahmadis non-Muslim.

  • The Ahmadiyya Community then moved its headquarters to the UK, which continues to be the centre of the movement.

  • Today, the community has more than 100 branches throughout the UK, and the leader, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, lives in London.

  • The group is outspoken in its condemnation of violence and terrorism, and has a pledge: "I solemnly pledge that I shall always be ready to sacrifice my life, wealth, time and honour for the sake of my faith, country and nation."