The Fazl Mosque in Wandsworth, also known as London Mosque, is commemorating 100 years since its establishment as London’s first mosque. The original opening a century ago was attended by approximately 600 eminent guests and was described by contemporary observers as an architecturally impressive building. The mosque, home to members of the UK’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, has been designated as a listed building by Historic England as of 2018.
Leadership at the mosque emphasizes its integration within the surrounding community. According to Mahmood Rafiq of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, the institution distributes sweets to local children during Eid, exchanges Christmas greetings with neighbours, participates in environmental upkeep, and expresses solidarity with other faiths facing hostility. The mosque’s stated core message is described as “love for all, hatred for none.” While leadership reports that the mosque has not experienced significant Islamophobia, they note an increase in lower-level incidents of harassment. For its centenary, the mosque plans to provide 10,000 free meals to homeless individuals.
Beyond its primary function as a place of worship, the building has served multiple purposes throughout its history. During the second world war, it operated as an air raid shelter, and in recent times it has functioned as a blood donation centre and COVID-19 vaccination site. The original construction was financed substantially by Ahmadi Muslims from Qadian in India, many of them women who sold personal jewellery to support the project despite knowing they would likely never visit the completed structure.
The mosque’s historical significance extends beyond its religious role. An imam serving the mosque in the 1930s, Abdur Rahim Dard, reportedly influenced Indian politician Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s decision to return to India, where he became governor general of Pakistan following its independence in August 1947. The mosque maintained early traditions of hospitality characteristic of its era, including serving tea with scones and clotted cream to visitors. Munir Dean, a long-time member whose grandfather and father contributed to the mosque’s development, describes the founders as envisioning faith, peace, and human unity in the aftermath of the first world war.
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