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 Baitul Futuh Mosque - London Road, Morden, UK
N 51° 23.859 W 000° 11.984
30U E 694792 N 5697767
This large mosque is located on a former industrial site in between Morden South railway station and the railway carriage cleaning shed. The foundation stone was laid in October 1999.
Waymark Code: WMJKVA
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/01/2013
Views: 3
The mosque's website
tells us:
The mosque complex provides the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community with a central focal point for meetings, social
and religious events on a national scale that was no longer possible in the
much smaller London mosque. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community acquired the site
in 1996 which was previously “Express Dairies”, and the late Hadhrat Mirza
Tahir Ahmad, the fourth Khalifa laid the foundation stone on 19th October
1999.
The first mosque built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in England was the
Fazal Mosque situated in Southfields, South West London. The Fazal mosque
which is commonly known as the London Mosque was built by the funds provided
by the ladies section of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1924.
Wikipedia also tells us:
The Baitul Futuh Mosque (English:
House of Victories) is a mosque in London. It is the largest mosque complex
in Western Europe. Completed in 2003 at a cost of approximately £5.5
million, entirely from donations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the
mosque covers an area of 5.2 acres (21,000 m2) and the full complex can
accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers. It is located in the south-west London
suburb of Morden, London Borough of Merton, next to Morden South railway
station, approximately 700 yards from Morden Underground station.
Mirza Tahir Ahmad launched an appeal for funds for the building on the 24
February 1995, and the land was purchased by the Tablighi Jamaat on the 29
March 1996. The foundation stone was placed by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the then
head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on 19 October 1999, in a ceremony
attended by 2000 guests, and inaugurated by the current head of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on 3 October 2003. Although
based at Fazl Mosque, Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivers his weekly Friday Sermon
from Baitul Futuh. The opening ceremony was attended by over 600 guests;
those present included High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners,
Members of European Parliament, Members of Parliament, Mayors of London
boroughs, councillors, university lecturers, and representatives of 17
countries.
Several events are held at the Bait'ul Futuh Mosque to serve both the Muslim
and greater community. In addition to regular prayers, its services include
annual Peace Symposiums, school tours, other local community events, as well
as the 'Merton Youth Partnership Annual Conference', hosting the BBC Radio 4
Programme Any Questions?, and is included in Open House London.
The Baitul Futuh Mosque has acted as the centre for the 'Loyalty, Freedom
and Peace Campaign', which seeks to promote Islam as a peaceful religion,
and to improve the integration of Muslims and non-Muslims.
The Peace Symposium 2010 chose the location to award the first Ahmadiyya
Muslim Peace Prize to Lord Eric Avebury. The award is for lifetime
contribution to the cause of Human Rights.
The Mosque receives over 10,000 visitors a year from schools, faith groups,
public service organisations, charities, local and central government, and
other groups.
The plan to burn the Qur'an by the Dove World Outreach Center on the 9th
anniversary of 9/11 attacks was strongly condemned at the Baitul Futuh
mosque by several politicians and religious leaders, representing various
faiths, such as Church of England, Catholic Church, Judaism, Bahá'í Faith
and other Islamic sects.
In August 2013, the mosque was the site of the largest Eid celebrations in
the UK.
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